PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2020-present, Dr. Howard Steinberg, DMD, MDS

Dr. Howard Steinberg is a prosthodontist located in Tucson, AZ.

Part Time. Responsibilities include providing dental hygiene services to patients who have a history of significant tooth loss, damaged teeth impacting their mouth function, jaw structure issues like improper bites or TMJ disorders, facial tissue damage from accidents or surgery, and patients needing extensive cosmetic dental work, including those requiring full or partial dentures, dental implants, crowns, bridges, and veneers to replace missing or damaged teeth.  Patients often had bad past experiences or negative feelings towards dental care.  It has been a unique experience with many rewarding and successful patient interventions, where advanced deterioration of a patient's teeth have lead them to this office.  I maintained the dental hygiene department, focusing on maintaining and tracking workflow supplies, adjuncts such as power brushes, water lavage tools, and intrapocket therapies.  Created a decrease in downtime with effective communication skills. Identified chronic broken-appointment offenders and implemented new systems to better reduce open time. Improved the procedure mix by identifying maximization of proper CDT codes and identifying periodontal problems and guide the patient into definitive care. Being proactive in deciding what procedures will happen on the next visit, and scheduling appropriately. Implemented systems to track the amount of elective dentistry that is presented and scheduled. Created a system for follow up, to include making phone calls after hours to help enhance the patients positive experience and feeling of being more than just a patient but truly personally cared for. Prioritizing patient education to facilitate treatment outcome success is critical in this office.

2018-present, Dr. Deron Davenport

Davenport & Linaker is a general dentist located in Tucson, AZ.

Part time. Responsibilities included providing comprehensive dental hygiene services to patients in this family dental practice.  With my proficient understanding of restorative and elective procedures, identification of patients that would benefit from the doctor's skills has been helpful. Understanding my role to broach the subject and promote restorative procedures in a way that piques the patients interest without overselling has been valuable. Using developed active listening skills, explaining the risks verse benefit for patient acceptance, even when discussing elective dentistry, has increased production and patient acceptance for treatment. Providing clear explanations in plain language, addressing concerns openly, providing visuals when possible, and involving the patient in decision-making by asking open-ended questions and checking for understanding throughout the conversation has proven a successful model. Building relationships and rapport over time has been instrumental in gaining the trust of my patients. Maintaining thorough clinical notes that include critical data not only on treatment history but also their personal details is important to me, so I am able to tailor my communication style, approach, and treatment plan to better suit their individual's needs and preferences, fostering a stronger connection. This office shares my core values and is a team of one, where ideas are welcome and there is a sense of family within the office and with the patients.

2010-present, Dental Hygienist Temp

To supplement my various part time positions, I've worked as a dental hygiene temp both in the Washington, DC area and Tucson, AZ.  Practices I’ve worked for include: Sunset Dental, Prime Dental, Bear Canyon Dentistry, Riverwalk Dental, Dr. Buza, Dr. Wissinger of E Dental Solutions, Dr. Williams of Ideal Dental, to name a few. Working as a temp taught me how to adapt quickly, be ready for anything and kept me engaged with openness towards new ideas and ways of doing things.

2016-2017, StarBrite Dental, Dr. Mariam Seifi, D.D.S.

StarBrite is a dental practice located in North Bethesda, MD.

Part time. Responsibilities included providing dental hygiene services in a fee for service practice. Treated 8 patients or less a day, often seeing adult periodontal patients who had very limited dental experiences. Regardless of patient's dental history, this boutique practice focused on efficient and effective patient treatment with a congruous dental team. As the hygienist, I was expected to discern medical information, assess treatment needs, make recommendations and follow through with treatment plans. Nutritional counseling and oral hygiene was discussed in my patient education with every patient at each visit. Intraoral camera, Velscope and fluoride were incorporated regularly in treatment. Thorough clinical record keeping and unrushed informed explanations of all treatment needs was also a priority in my dealings with patient care. This office catered to a vast patient base and was deliberate in every patient interaction. Being a compassionate practitioner, catering to the needs of patients and to their comfort every step of the way, was integral for the thriving success of this fee for service practice.

2012-2016, Dr. Andrew Finizio, D.D.S.

Dr. Finizio is a dental practice located in Rockville, MD.

Part time. Responsibilities included providing dental hygiene services for a long-standing family practice that included a team approach to office management.  Treated 10 or less patients a day, including; patient assessment, treatment plan recommendations involving cohesive communication between doctor and myself, ensuring patient understanding of treatment plan with motivating, positive communication regarding procedures and home care needs.  This is a paper office with traditional xray technologies.  I maintained detailed and organized patient charts, established recare, scheduled follow up appointments. Monitored hygiene department supplies, maintained instruments through hand sharpening, helped with sterilization, other housekeeping and record filing as needed and time allowed.  

2010-2016, Century Dental, Dr. Golestani, D.D.S.

Century Dental is a dental practice located in Germantown, MD.

Part time. Responsibilities included providing comprehensive dental hygiene services to patients in this family dental practice, where there had been one hygienist serving this office for 25 years.  I rapidly gained the trust of my patients, some who only had experience with one hygienist their entire life.  Many requested me as their hygienist going forward.  I took the initiative to incorporate some welcomed fresh ideas into office routines, which encouraged better efficiency in production and workflow. Initially this was a paper office using traditional xrays.  I assisted the doctor in various decisions involving transition to digital xrays and helped train staff with the new technology.