As a student:She is a 1995 graduate from Gainesville State College/Lanier Technical School. As an eight-year-old tomboy, she lost a tooth in a bicycle accident. "The dental team was so warm and kind to me. I knew I wanted to help people the way they helped me. The wonderful care I received from the dental team turned that little daredevil into a dental hygienist."
On a daily basis:She has worked with Dr. Charles Arp for 10 years. She is better known as the founder of DentalPost.net, an online job listing service in dentistry among others. "As a dental hygienist, there is a tremendous reward that money cannot buy when you make patients feel better about their smiles. We use our mouths for all kinds of communication, and if a patient's mouth is not healthy, it can affect that person's whole demeanor. By helping patients become healthier, I feel like I'm improving their life and their self-esteem."
About Tonya:Her husband, Chris, and she have 10-year-old twin daughters, Teagan and Ramsey. In her spare time, she enjoys snow skiing, Ultimate Frisbee, and following Georgia Tech football.
Cover photography by Michael Stothard
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