Having a professional to talk to is very important, and a dentist can sometimes be extremely busy and not as available for consultation without making a separate appointment and paying extra. A hygienist generally has a bit more time to talk to patients, and while I would be limited in my duties and my ability to advise patients, I would not be limited in my joy and my encouragement of them. Everyone has a passion for something and I certainly understand those who do not see the fascination with dental hygiene as a career. Not everyone has a desire to stick their hands into people's mouths every day. However, I feel that my calling is to make people want to smile, and this is something that I can do for many of them as a hygienist. There are others ways to try to accomplish the goal of making people smile, but dental hygiene is one of the most direct. If I can keep their teeth clean I can also help their overall health in a couple of ways. When they look better they will feel better...

It has been proven that smiling and being happy is good for a person's health and longevity. Having clean teeth also helps keep germs and bacteria and plaque from getting into the bloodstream, and that can keep a person's heart and arteries healthier, too. People do not realize how many germs they have in their mouths and those germs can contribute to inflammation of the arteries and serious conditions like heart disease. I cannot guarantee that people will never get sick if they get their teeth cleaned regularly, but I can do my part to help them live longer and healthier lives. I can also educate them so that they keep their teeth cleaner between visits to the dentist, and that will make my job easier and more efficient, as well. When dedicated people have the opportunity to get a high-quality education and then go out and perform a service that they are passionate about, everyone wins. Studying dental hygiene at Howard University will allow me to be a part of that.