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This October, we’re celebrating the essential role dental hygienists play in the health of children. Do you know an outstanding dental hygienist? Nominate them to be recognized during My Smile Matters, the official Dental Hygiene Month campaign of America's ToothFairy. Click here to nominate a hygienist.
The dental hygienists below were nominated last year by their peers for going above and beyond to help underprivileged kids in their communities. We chose five who stood out to receive prize packages that included a gift from Waterpik, a certificate of recognition, a Smile Guardian education resource kit for community outreach, and other fun America’s ToothFairy swag.
Nominated by Meagan Sieron
Tiffani is a remarkable pediatric dental hygienist with an unwavering commitment to promoting healthy smiles and community well-being. She embarked on her journey in dental hygiene in 2013, earning her degree and quickly becoming a valuable asset to her community. For four years, Tiffani dedicated her skills to a rural Community Health Center in southern Missouri, where she specialized in making dental visits enjoyable and stress-free for young patients.
Her passion for community service shines through her oversight of pediatric oral health school events, where she and her team distributed vital oral care supplies and educational materials to 993 children last year alone.
Tiffani has a diverse range of certifications, including being a Qualified Orofacial Myologist, a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), and a Certified Munchee Practitioner with Myo Munchee.
She is passionate about giving back to her community through volunteer work. She dedicates her time to organizations such as Give Kids A Smile, The Missouri Mission of Mercy, Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis, and the Open Door Animal Sanctuary, which is the largest no-kill shelter in the greater St. Louis area.
Tiffani's involvement goes well beyond her workplace. She's an active member of esteemed professional organizations like the ADHA, MDHA, PDTA, IATP, IAOMT, and IAAH. Her commitment to continuous learning and staying updated with the latest advancements in pediatric dental care exemplify her dedication. In 2023, Tiffani earned the distinguished title of Fellow of the American Dental Hygienists' Association, a testament to her outstanding career and significant contributions to the dental hygiene community.
Nominated by Lauren Hufford
In her nomination, Lauren told us, “Shannon is one of a kind! She has worked for our office for over 16 years. She truly makes a difference with our patients and our team and she always goes above and beyond!”
Shannon stands out due to her kind nature, her ability to help others, and her outstanding work ethic and compassion toward others. She deeply cares for her patients and gives her all to each and every patient that she sees. She thinks nothing of coming in on her day off to see a patient who has a strict schedule. She often times will use her own money to buy additional toys for the kiddos treasure chest or patient-specific toys that she knows will help improve their experience. Which in return will ensure they come back for routine visits and develop healthy habits.
Shannon inspires her entire team to do better and be better for the patient. Her schedule is booked 7 months out because patients of all ages want to be seen by her. She works just as much on the patient relationship as she does on patient education. She makes sure she does everything she can for her patients oral and systemic health.
Nominated by Aimee Vail
Eileen was nominated by one of her patients who said, “Eileen delivers best in class dental hygiene care to me and the rest of her patients. She goes above and beyond to build relationships with hand written notes for special occasions for her patients.”
She is always seeking opportunities, like her dual role as Hygiene Mentor, to lead and train herself and others on new guidelines. She is passionate about educating her patients and trained in the latest technologies to be the best Prevention Specialist. She works at a large DSO and she now feels she has a voice to help other people.
Nominated by April Brown
Lori is a dedicated public health dental hygienist at The Transylvania County Health Department in Brevard, NC. She has worked for years to provide dental education and screenings to the kids in her community. She finds creative ways to provide education to children, even taking on projects outside of her work hours. She demonstrates true compassion for the kids and goes out of the way to make sure the kids have proper dental care, even though it's a challenge to find in her small community. She works hard and never hesitates to reach out a helping hand to others in need.
Nominated by Darryl Torculas, DDS
Darryl experienced Nancy’s dedication and commitment to children in need first-hand when they volunteered on a mission trip together. In his nomination he said, “She worked tirelessly to see as many patients as we could within the time we were allowed; also creating makeshift dental chairs in order to make this goal happen. Her bedside manner and ability to turn fear into something positive is just outstanding.”
Thank you to everyone who nominated dental hygienists. We wish we could recognize them all! To learn more about our Dental Hygiene Month campaign visit MySmileMatters.org.
