Sasha Bryan, RDH

Heart to Hands Award Nomination

Nominee: Sasha Bryan, RDH

Excellence in the dental hygiene profession is about more than clinical skill alone — it also requires strong leadership, clear communication, and a genuine commitment to patient-centered care. Sasha Bryan, RDH, a practicing hygienist at Aspen Dental, brings all of these elements together in her work each day. Her impact reaches beyond her own operatory, influencing the colleagues she mentors and, ultimately, the patients they serve.

In addition to her clinical role, Sasha serves as an onboarding hygiene trainer for Aspen Dental, where she plays a critical part in helping new hygienists transition confidently into practice. She introduces them to new workflows, documentation standards, patient communication protocols, and overall practice expectations. What sets Sasha apart is her focus on purpose. She ensures that hygienists understand not just how to complete tasks, but why those steps matter. By tying workflows directly to patient safety, efficiency, and quality of care, Sasha helps hygienists recognize how their daily decisions directly affect patient outcomes.

Her mentorship style is structured, approachable, and highly supportive. Whether she is demonstrating instrumentation techniques, walking through charting workflows, or modeling effective patient conversations, Sasha emphasizes consistency and accuracy while encouraging questions and open dialogue. New graduates, and even experienced hygienists entering a new role, often arrive with uncertainty. Sasha provides stability during that transition, offering reassurance, motivation, and practical guidance that helps clinicians build confidence quickly. This confidence allows hygienists to focus on delivering attentive, high-quality care rather than second-guessing their processes.

A central part of Sasha’s leadership and training approach is her signature framework, The S.A.U.C.E. Method. The method is a mindset-driven approach to dental hygiene that blends technical expertise with interpersonal awareness, helping hygienists balance productivity, patient engagement, and self-regulation. The acronym represents:

• S — Skills

• A — Awareness

• U — Understanding

• C — Communication

• E — Education

Sasha teaches new team members how to apply this framework during patient interactions and clinical decision-making. By introducing this philosophy early in a hygienist’s journey at Aspen Dental, she helps train clinicians who are more present, more confident, and better equipped to deliver consistent, patient-focused care while also reducing their risk of burnout over time. Sasha has also presented this framework on several different platforms, including a CE course at Brown Girl RDH.

Sasha speaks openly about the realities of burnout in dental hygiene and the many forms it can take, from emotional fatigue to declining motivation. Her guidance encourages hygienists to recognize the influence they have within the practice and to approach their work with intention and accountability. This perspective is shaped by more than 20 years of experience in the profession and continues to guide how she mentors others today.

Her patient care philosophy reflects this same mindset. Sasha approaches every patient as a whole person, understanding that individuals often arrive with complex life circumstances beyond their oral health needs. By acknowledging these realities and responding with professionalism and empathy, she fosters trust and improves communication. This approach not only enhances patient experience but also supports better clinical outcomes.

Sasha also emphasizes the importance of positive professional environments. She encourages hygienists to seek out collaborative, solution-focused relationships that support growth and shared learning. She believes that when hygienists feel supported and empowered, they are better positioned to perform at their best.

Through her clinical care, mentorship, and educational leadership, Sasha consistently demonstrates her commitment to strengthening the dental hygiene profession. Her ability to train, guide, and inspire the next generation of hygienists plays a direct role in improving the quality of care delivered across the profession, making a lasting impact on both clinicians and the patients they serve.