What does CDHA membership mean to her?

Isabella is excited to become an active member of her community and make connections with dental hygienists who are passionate about their field.

How does she hope to make a difference?

Through empathy and kindness, Isabella hopes to create positive dental experiences for patients who feel anxious or afraid. She wants to help change their perspectives on dental care.

What is she passionate about?

Patient education is central to Isabella’s vision for her career. She hopes to help patients understand their periodontal health and the specific steps they can take to maintain or improve it.

Her encouragement for future dental hygienists

“Believe that you can do this and, most importantly, say out loud that you can do this!”

She also encourages students to stay on top of their responsibilities, accept that not everything will go as planned, and trust the process.

How do your students and faculty serve or improve oral health within the surrounding community?

Our students and faculty help improve oral health within the surrounding Santa Cruz County community by providing accessible and affordable dental hygiene services to individuals who may otherwise have difficulty obtaining care. Many communities in the area, such as Watsonville, include low-income individuals and families who face financial and other barriers to accessing healthcare, including preventative dental care.

Through the Cabrillo College Dental Hygiene Program, students gain hands-on experience while serving members of the community under the guidance and supervision of faculty. Students provide preventative dental hygiene services, oral health education, and personalized instructions on proper brushing, flossing, and overall oral health habits. These services help patients better understand the importance of prevention and encourage them to take an active role in maintaining their oral health.

By combining education, prevention, and affordable access to care, our students and faculty contribute to improving oral health and reducing barriers to dental care within the surrounding community.

Why are you proud to be a dental hygienist?

I am proud to be a dental hygienist because our profession gives us the opportunity to make a real difference through prevention, education, and compassionate care. I also love that dental hygiene continues to evolve and gives us the opportunity to create new paths for ourselves while improving the patient experience.

How do you hope to make a difference in the profession or your community?

I want to help change the way people see dental hygienists and what is possible within our profession. Through Bye Bye Biofilm, I hope to demonstrate that hygienists can collaborate, build innovative models of care, and create a practice centered specifically around preventive dental hygiene.

Why are you proud to be a dental hygienist?

I am proud to be a dental hygienist because I have seen firsthand how access to preventive care can impact a person's health and quality of life. Dental hygiene allows me to build relationships with patients, meet them where they are, and provide care with dignity and compassion.

How do you hope to make a difference in the profession or your community?

I want to help create more opportunities for hygienists to serve patients who have difficulty accessing traditional dental care. I also want to show that hygienists do not have to work alone. Collaboration between hygienists can create new opportunities for both our profession and the communities we serve.

What does being a CDHA member mean to you?

As a new dental hygiene student, being a CDHA member gives me an opportunity to learn about the profession beyond the classroom and become more connected to the dental hygiene community. As our student representative, I want to bring that knowledge and new opportunities back to my classmates, help them feel connected to the profession they are entering, and encourage them to get involved in our community. As I continue learning, I’m excited to discover where my own interests and voice can contribute to the profession.

Why are you proud to be a dental hygienist?

I'm proud to be a dental hygienist because we care for the whole person. The mouth tells the story of the body, and hygienists are often the first to notice, educate, and connect patients to the care they need. That trust is a privilege I never take for granted.

How do you hope to make a difference in the profession or your community?

I hope to make prevention truly inclusive, so that every patient, including neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ patients and those working to quit nicotine and vaping, receives care that meets them where they are. I also advocate to protect the RDH credential and support students through CDHA's Student Relations Council, so the next generation of hygienists feels seen from day one.

How do you hope to make a difference in the profession or your community?

I hope to improve access to care for the special needs and elderly communities. I want to make an impact by reaching people who may be left behind in oral healthcare because they do not fit the traditional dental office setting or cannot afford the care they need.

What role did dental hygienists or students play?

Registered dental hygienists and dental hygiene students provide free or low-cost preventive care, including dental cleanings and oral hygiene education. They also help patients understand their oral health and the connection between oral health and overall health.

How did the activity benefit the community?

These efforts bring access to care to parts of the community that are often lacking dental services. Patients who may otherwise be unable to afford or access traditional dental care have an opportunity to receive preventive and restorative treatment in a supportive environment.

What was the most meaningful part of the experience?

The most meaningful part is being able to help people who may feel that they are past the point of being helped, or whose circumstances have led them to believe they are not worth proper oral healthcare. Being able to provide compassionate care and remind patients that their oral health matters can have a lasting impact.

How can other dental hygienists become involved in similar efforts?

Join your local CDHA component and connect with the Public Health Outreach Chair to learn about opportunities to become involved within your community or participate in outreach efforts locally and abroad.

What would you like the public to understand about the role dental hygienists play in their communities?

Dental hygienists are prevention specialists and oral health educators. We bring awareness to the oral-systemic connection and help communities understand ways they can prevent oral disease and potentially avoid costly and extensive interventions in the future.

Why are you proud to be a dental hygienist?

I’m proud to be a dental hygienist because our profession goes far beyond providing clinical care. We are educators, advocates, researchers, and often the professionals who build long-term relationships with patients and help them understand the connection between oral health and overall health. Dental hygiene gave me the opportunity to combine my background in dentistry with my passion for prevention, education, and patient care, while also opening doors for me to contribute to research and the education of future dental hygienists.

Who or what inspired you to pursue dental hygiene?

My journey into dental hygiene was a little different. I originally earned my Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 2017 before moving to the United States. Starting over in a new country was challenging, but it also gave me the opportunity to discover dental hygiene and see the profession from a completely different perspective. What began as a new pathway in dentistry became a profession I truly fell in love with. I realized that dental hygiene allowed me to stay connected to patient care while also pursuing my interests in education, research, prevention, and advocacy.

What does being a CDHA member mean to you?

Being a CDHA member means being part of a community that gives dental hygienists a collective voice. My involvement with CDHA has allowed me to connect with other professionals, continue learning, serve my local component, and advocate for the advancement of our profession. It has also shown me how important professional involvement is. Our profession becomes stronger when hygienists participate, share their perspectives, mentor one another, and advocate for the future of dental hygiene.

How do you hope to make a difference in the profession or your community?

I hope to make a difference by connecting clinical practice, education, research, and advocacy. As an educator, I want students to feel supported not only academically and clinically, but also as individuals navigating the challenges of professional education. As a researcher, I want to bring attention to issues that may be overlooked but directly affect students’ well-being and success. My recent research on food insecurity and housing instability among dental hygiene students is an example of that goal. Ultimately, I hope my work encourages meaningful conversations and helps create a stronger and more supportive profession for the next generation.

What dental hygiene issue would you like your voice to help change?

One issue I want to continue bringing attention to is the well-being of dental hygiene students and the barriers they may face while completing their education. My research examined food insecurity and housing instability among dental hygiene students, challenges that can remain invisible even while students are expected to meet demanding academic and clinical requirements. I hope to continue using research and advocacy to help our profession recognize these challenges and explore ways to better support students throughout their education.

What advice would you give to a future dental hygienist?

Stay curious, get involved, and never limit yourself to what you think a dental hygienist is “supposed” to do. Clinical practice is only one part of this profession. There are opportunities in education, research, advocacy, leadership, public health, and so much more. Take opportunities even when they feel outside your comfort zone, find mentors, ask questions, and keep learning. Some of the opportunities that shaped my career began simply because I was willing to get involved and try something new.

Why are you proud to be a dental hygienist?

I’m proud to be a dental hygienist because our profession allows us to make a meaningful impact far beyond the operatory. We are clinicians, educators, advocates, and leaders. Dental hygiene has given me the opportunity to care for patients while also growing into roles where I can support and empower other professionals.

What does being a CDHA member mean to you?

Being a CDHA member means having a voice and being part of a community that continues to move our profession forward. I value the opportunity to connect with other hygienists, advocate for our profession, and represent the Los Angeles component alongside colleagues who share the same passion for dental hygiene.

How do you hope to make a difference in the profession or your community?

I hope to use my clinical experience, education, and current work in dental ergonomics to help hygienists build healthier, more sustainable careers. I also want to encourage more hygienists to become involved in their professional organizations, advocate for themselves, and recognize how influential our collective voice can be.

Who or what has inspired you to pursue Dental Hygiene?

I have always been drawn to healthcare, education, and hands-on work. Dental hygiene is special because it brought all of these passions together in a way that felt meaningful to me. Throughout my life, I have found true fulfillment and happiness from helping and serving others. This profession has given me a sense of purpose, allowing me to make an impactful difference in patients’ lives while doing something I truly love.

What advice would you give to a future dental hygienist?

Always remember why you chose this profession, and don’t forget to take care of yourself as you grow in this career! Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and remind yourself that you are only human. Perfection is out of reach for all of us, and confidence comes with experience. Realize that you will forever be learning and growing in both knowledge and skill. Enjoy the journey, appreciate the people you meet along the way, and never forget the impact you have the opportunity to make. Most importantly, be patient with yourself, trust the process, and remember that even the smallest moments can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life.

Why are you proud to be a dental hygienist?

I am proud to be a dental hygienist because we have the ability to positively impact someone's health through prevention, education, and compassionate care. Dental hygiene has also given me opportunities to advocate for our profession, mentor others, and explore new ways of providing care.

What does being a CDHA member mean to you?

Being a CDHA member means having a voice in the future of our profession. It gives me the opportunity to connect with other hygienists, support professional development, advocate for our patients, and contribute to the continued growth of dental hygiene.

How do you hope to make a difference in the profession or your community?

Bye Bye Biofilm is a collaboration between three independent dental hygienists who each own and operate their own hygiene businesses. By coming together as partners, we are able to combine our individual experience, skills, and resources to create an independent hygiene practice in Woodland Hills focused specifically on preventive dental hygiene care.

We hope our collaboration demonstrates that hygienists can build their own businesses while also supporting and collaborating with one another. We want to create a patient-centered experience while encouraging other hygienists to think creatively about their careers and the possibilities within independent practice.

Why are you proud to be a dental hygienist or dental hygiene student?

I am proud to be a dental hygienist for 3 main reasons. I get to touch lives of numerous patients, developing a meaningful relationship unlike any other health care professional. I get to follow my love for science and make it tailored to each patients individual needs. And I help improve whole body wellness by educating the connection between oral and systemic health

Who or what inspired you to pursue dental hygiene?

I was born with 2 supernumerary teeth and having to have oral surgery at just a couple of days old has had me in the dental office since the very beginning. My passion for teeth and a beautiful smile started in the orthodontist chair. So I had to make the decision of either dental school or hygiene school. By shadowing I learned the connection between a hygienist and patient was much deeper than the dentist and the patient.

What does being a CDHA member mean to you?

Being involved in CDHA allows be to connect to a professional community that supports, inspires and advocates for all dental hygienist in California. I get to grow my leadership skills, collaborate with different colleagues from across the state, and I help advance my profession.

How do you hope to make a difference in the profession or your community?

I strive to educate my community in the oral/systemic whole body connection and being involved in CDHA I get new up to date information, which is extremely important!

What does your work as CDHA’s lobbyist involve?

Working with legislators, stakeholders, committees, staff, the Governor’s office, agencies, departments, boards and bureaus to enable clients to meet their policy and political goals. Daily that looks like meetings – lots of meetings, testimony in hearings; drafting, passing or opposing legislation; continually learning about my clients and their issues, connecting clients with the right stakeholders and policy makers to resolve issues. It’s about finding common ground and solutions.

What recent advocacy effort or accomplishment with CDHA are you especially proud of, and why does it matter to dental hygienists?

Most recently (Spring 2026), the defeat of AB 1925. This bill would have required the Dental Hygiene Board of CA to license foreign trained dentists as RDHs with fewer requirements. I’m very proud we killed it as this was the Chairman’s bill and normally would fly through the legislative process. Due to years of relationship building, organization and action by hygienists, and understanding the legislature and its processes, we were able to defeat this bill sponsored by CDA and groups that the legislature usually says yes to. We saved hygienists from having to pay higher licensing fees and from their own regulatory board having to eat the cost to establish this new program that would have provided no benefit to hygienists or patients. Another CDHA success!

What would you like members to know about the work happening behind the scenes to represent their interests?

CDHA leadership, which is made up of passionate, knowledgeable dental hygienists from throughout California, volunteer their time, energy and resources to further the dental hygiene profession. They often do so with little gratitude. Days, nights and weekends they show up to legislative bill hearings, Dental Hygiene Board and Dental Board meetings, CDHA committees and run an entire organization to benefit all dental hygienists. They work with Aaron Read & Associates to change the law to further access to dental hygiene care in a state that makes it difficult.

Why is it important for dental hygienists to stay involved in advocacy, and how can they help?

Without your engagement your profession will be run over by other stakeholders in the oral healthcare space who don’t care about you or the care you provide your patients. For instance, there is a big push currently to require less education and training for health professionals (think OPA, Dental Therapy) – this in no way benefits the public – yet it is gaining traction as a way to get underserved people into careers more quickly and yet pay them less. That is why it is important to stay involved. You help by reading emails from CDHA and visiting CDHA’s advocacy webpage. Participate in CDHA lobby day events. When there is a Call To Action on a bill, contact the legislators requested with the message provided. Attend DHBC meetings. Lastly, verify that legislative information is true before you share it. You can always check with me and your GRC Co-Chairs.

What do you find most rewarding about working with CDHA?

You are a force for good. You care deeply about people’s health and the impact it has on their lives, and I get to be part of that. I love that I get to help you further your policy and political goals as you are out in the community day to day bringing health to people. CDHA is full of passionate, smart, and kind people that work hard and it inspires me to give you my best.

What does being a CDHA member mean to you?

Being a CDHA member means finding my voice, growing as a hygienist, and being part of a community that inspires me.