Spanish 
English With over 20 years of experience, Estrella, a dental hygienist at DeBary Dentistry for the past two years, has seen firsthand how dentistry has transformed and her role has evolved as a hygienist. Following in her father's footsteps, she began her career in healthcare as a certified nursing assistant. Still, her lifelong fascination with looking at people's teeth when they talk quickly led her in a different direction.
In 2001, she started dental assisting, and before long, she knew she'd found her calling in dental hygiene. "I absolutely love it," she recalls. "And 20 years later, I still do."
For Estrella, hygiene is about so much more than teeth. "Hygiene isn't just about hygiene; it sometimes has very little to do with teeth and gums. It is about the person," she says. Within minutes of meeting a patient, she can sense their personality, comfort level, and what approach they'll respond to best. Every patient is unique, but her goal is "to try to impress them like I did on day one, whether it's a new or existing patient. People will love a good cleaning, but won't always remember it. They will remember how you made them feel in the chair, which makes them come back."
Estrella has also seen dentistry evolve into a far more comprehensive approach. "We review everything from medical histories, risk factors, even lifestyle changes because what's going on in the body shows up in the mouth," she says. She leans on transparency, compassion, and visuals when presenting treatment plans. "Patients need to see what you see. Photos, X-rays, and education make all the difference, especially when discussing complex or costly procedures."
Dentistry, she acknowledges, doesn't always have the best reputation. Many patients walk in with memories of bad past experiences. That's why she takes a proactive role in preparing patients for what's to come. "If a doctor comes in and says they need a crown, it can leave a bad taste in their mouth," she explains. "But if I've already walked them through what I'm seeing, it softens the blow. I'll joke with patients that I'm the bad guy, so the doctor doesn't have to be. It's all about teamwork." That is the best help you can give to a doctor. Just have your doctor's back, and have a good relationship with them.
Teamwork also plays a significant role in creating a thriving practice. Estrella emphasizes the importance of communication and mutual support in a busy multi-doctor office with eight hygienists."We have each other's backs," she says. "If someone's drowning, you jump in and help. That's how we keep things running smoothly."
Her message for aspiring hygienists? Don't go into the profession just for the paycheck. "If you don't love people, you'll burn out," she warns. "Our job is to make patients feel like they're the only person that matters at that moment. That's what keeps them coming back."
From handling tough patients with kindness to navigating insurance conversations with empathy, Estrella reminds us that dental hygiene is as much about people as it is about procedures. And for her, that's exactly what makes it such a rewarding career.
