Most people either loved going to the dentist as a kid—or absolutely hated it. Where did you fall? How come?
I loved it! My favorite part was getting my teeth polished. It was a combination of the sound, the sensation, and the flavor of the paste. And who doesn't like the fresh feeling after a good cleaning?
What (or who) inspired you to get into dentistry? How so?
I taught English at a bilingual kindergarten in China for several years. The cultural attitude towards dental hygiene in China is very different from that of Western culture — many, if not most, of my students, had mouths full of decay with missing teeth. It wasn't until spending so much time around these young children that I noticed the link between oral health and speech development, not to mention peer acceptance.
While we tend (see what I did there?) to make dental hygiene more of a priority than some other cultures, professional dental hygiene care is often seen as a luxury rather than a necessity. I want to be a part of the paradigm shift to bring the role of dental hygiene to the same status as going for a biannual check-up at the doctor.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
Just seeing the transformation a thorough cleaning makes on a person's smile is rewarding enough! I love bringing a little happiness to someone's day.
What famous person (alive or dead) is your dream dental patient? Why?
Mick Jagger because of his famously large mouth. I imagine he could open up really wide and make my job easy!
What’s your dream toothpaste flavor?
This might not give the the freshest breath, but my favorite flavor would probably be a plain coffee frappé. This has to already be a thing, right?
What’s something your patients might be surprised to learn about you?
I have lived in 5 countries: Korea, Australia, Taiwan, China, and the United States.
How do you recharge after a long week? What’s your go-to activity for hitting the restart button?
Going for a walk, sitting at a café, and enjoying a nice hot flat white.
What dental stereotype are you most passionate about changing?
I want to change the idea that dental hygiene is just the cherry on top of dental care. Dental hygienists play a crucial role in preventing and treating disease, providing patient education to maintain and improve oral health, and addressing health disparities in underserved communities.
What is the absolute coolest thing about the human mouth?
The mouth is one of the best indicators of overall health! The earliest signs of disease often show up in the mouth, so make sure to visit your dentist regularly as part of your systemic healthcare.
In another life, if you weren’t working in dentistry, what would you be doing?
Graphic design. I'm somewhat of an artist, and this was my original career goal until I decided dentistry was the right path for me!
When I’m in the patient chair, I’m probably grooving to {blank} in my headphones.
I feel like this is a good time for some relaxing classical music: Bach, Tchaikovsky, or Chopin. Or a nice atmospheric playlist.
What’s something that really, really, really makes you smile? Like, really?
I'm trying to avoid the typical millennial answers of coffee, pizza, and wine, so... how about kittens? Kittens always make me smile! Honestly, any kind of animal makes me smile. Squirrels, birds, bunnies, deer...crocodiles...wildlife in general. I'm a big animal person.
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