I’ve been in the field 25 years. I feel the other infectious diseases were so far before—they were already resolved. I feel more protected with a face shield. I definitely think the head cap is nice too because your hair is protected. I just feel cleaner and safer. The only thing I could see for me personally changing [after this is over] is just using the level 3 mask instead of two—your ears get pulled and it’s uncomfortable. You find creative ways to fasten the loops around your head.

Even though in the beginning there was a lot of unknown, the PPE and extra steps are working. At the end of the day when you’re tired and can’t breathe and overheated…it’s worth it in the end. Knowing we’re all in this together and trying to help one another out, I’ve enjoyed myself while I’ve gone back to work. It’s been good to reconnect with coworkers. It’s not fun to be isolated and be away from colleagues you know so well.

The support [Ultradent] gave me and our clinicians—each time we went on a beautiful humanitarian trip to China—is a heartfelt memory. They generously donated most of the products for the dentistry we provided to orphans and the impoverished elderly.

I recall a letter I wrote to Dr. Fischer:

I had this patient who had failing kidneys. He was on dialysis for nine years. There were about six times where he almost found a kidney. I eventually got a different job, and in February of this year I got a phone call from my old practice. The patient had the office call me to tell me he finally was getting a kidney. That patient asked them ‘Please call that hygienist and tell her, because we used to talk about it all the time!’ He was the most positive, chill, little Polynesian in a broom hat. He would even try to tip me, and I was like ‘No, you keep it for your kidney!’

When I see patients who haven’t been to the dentist in a really long time, there’s always a lot of hugs and tears when the appointment is done. Patients tell you a lot of secrets when you are a hygienist. Your mouth is a very personal space. Your spouse, your dentist, and your hygienist are the only ones who are in your mouth. It becomes a very intimate relationship. I would hear about marital problems, homeless struggles, closet homosexuals struggling with their identity—I mean I get to really connect with people. I’m so lucky to have that kind of trust.

When I realized things [with COVID-19] were going to be longer term we had a flood of questions. There was a lot of fear but a lot of support…People were kind of going through the same thing and it affected dental in such a severe way, so it definitely was a huge outlet for people. We turned on post approval because we had so many of the same questions from a lot of people: PPE, unemployment, COVID, etc. They turned into full-on discussion threads. [. . .] You don’t always verbalize what you’re going through but it’s nice to have those people there. People just need to support each other.

During the emergency phase we had someone who needed fillings done. After the filling patient I started feeling sick, I had every single symptom…but I tested negative for COVID-19. I got the test again and it was still negative for COVID. I went to my own doctor and it turned out the be a sinus issue. I still had to quarantine…There was a lot of fear surrounding how I got sick and it was such a hassle to get back to work.

I feel like we’re doing what we need to do to prevent those close calls though. It’s too detrimental not to do these things now. It’s not going to be the last disease to create change like this. [. . .] There are some people who run from it, and there are some people who run to it.