Behind the scenes of RDH magazine, we have many unique, accomplished dental hygiene professionals helping us share helpful, timely content. Let’s meet one of them!
What changes in dental hygiene are you most excited about in the next few years?
I am excited about the potential expansion and utilization of in-house membership plans in dental offices. I believe that these plans can improve access to care for all. Currently, the limited coverage provided by many dental insurance companies is dictating the treatment chosen—or, unfortunately, rejected—by many patients. We also have many patients who struggle with finding affordable dental care due to their lack of insurance.
Amber Metro-Sanchez, BA, RDH
Professional affiliations: Comfort Dental of Fort Wayne, ADHA, Water Pik, Colgate
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Areas of expertise: Working with both my left and right hands, constructively dealing with difficult patient situations, creating positive dental experiences for anxious and fearful patients
Dental membership plans are a solution for both of the above dilemmas. They cut out the middleman and allow people to receive care at a reasonable rate. The practice benefits too, as it doesn’t have to spend time with claim submissions or write-offs. Furthermore, patients are motivated to receive regular care with a dental office of their choosing.
What’s been the most memorable part of your career journey?
As far as my dental hygiene career goes, the most memorable event for me was being selected as a member of the 2015 Colgate Oral Health Advisory Board. The experience was a key turning point for my career. I randomly entered the contest and I never thought for a second that I had a chance at winning.
As a result of being a board member, I was able to meet with an amazing group of dental hygienists from across the United States who inspired me and taught me that I could become more. I was utterly astounded by the enormous amount of passion that these hygienists felt for our profession and the impressive ideas that they shared. They were the foundation to every success in my dental hygiene career.
What piece of advice do you wish you could have given to yourself five or ten years ago?
I wish that I would have had more confidence in myself earlier on in my career. I held off on writing for such a long time because I was afraid of failure. I have always been overly critical of myself. I had always wanted to write professionally since I was a child as I love sharing my thoughts with others, but I held myself back unnecessarily. My advice would be to do what you are passionate about and don’t ever look back.
