From Employee to Employer: My Entrepreneurial Journey as a Dental Hygienist
At 17, still in High School, I was ringing up groceries until a single dental appointment at my orthodontist changed everything. Until then, I had no idea what my career path would be. That was 25 years ago—a lifetime, yet it feels like yesterday. After seeing how short-handed the orthodontist office was, I offered to help them out. Almost like the assistant’s assistant. I began by wiping down chairs after patients, I cleaned alginate bowls, gathered the setups for the assistants to bring to the chair, and interacted with patients, among other duties.
Then, as I got more comfortable in my new working environment, I took a more active interest in the actual procedures and how the dental sector operates moved my way up quickly to becoming lead assistant at just 19 years old. I decided it was time to further my education and realised that the prevention end of the industry was where I wanted to be.
Having had no genuine interest in college at the time of graduating from High School, it was a curveball for me to fall into this industry just by working in an office. I started my studies and found that this was truly my passion. Now, with 20 years of experience as a dental hygienist, I decided to buy myself a little gift this year — my own practice.
I decided to purchase a long-standing dental hygiene-only practice in Colorado. If you had told 17-year-old Michelle that she would own her own practice someday, I think she would have laughed in your face! I thought I would forever be an employee, but it turns out I was destined to be an entrepreneur. But this is not my first step into the entrepreneurial life.
Moving From Employee to Employer
For years, I clung to the safety of being an employee, suppressing my entrepreneurial spirit out of fear. But deep down, I knew I was meant for more. I let fear of failing hold me back for too long. I am a strong (some might say feisty) woman who doesn’t let much scare her, but when it came to taking that leap from employee to businesswoman in my own right, the courage I had shown in many other situations in my life didn’t seem to be there.
In hindsight, perhaps my resistance to starting my own hustles was a part of the path I needed to walk so that I could learn so much from others. It’s possible I wasn’t ready, or maybe the dental world wasn’t ready for me to challenge the status quo just yet.
So I worked in various offices and learned as much as I could. I worked in education, in corporate, and ebbed and flowed out of practicing clinical care in many types of dental settings. It took some time for me to realize that I was doing things the hard way by squashing my entrepreneurial spirit and pretending that being my own boss wasn’t my true path to success and happiness.
When I finally realized that I was wasting my business acumen and fighting spirit by working for others, I was ready to tackle the world of entrepreneurship. It started with a podcast and has led me to own three different companies: MichelleStrangeRDH, Level Up Infection Prevention, and now Smile-Logic, LLC.
Why I Almost Walked Away
It wasn’t all plain sailing along the way. I encountered some very steep learning curves and frustrations while navigating the complex regulations of various states’ licensing laws as a roaming dental hygienist. I have worked in offices where infection control practices or patient care horrified me, but they wouldn’t listen to the advice I was providing via my company, Level Up Infection Prevention. I’ve, unfortunately, had some rough times when I’ve almost given up and considered walking away. Finding out there are people who will speak very negatively about you when you are not in the room, but cheer you on to your face was a hard hit through the years.
Facing a lawsuit over my intellectual property, going up against a big corporation, and learning that some business partners can pretend to have your best interests at heart, but ultimately throw you under the bus, have been some of the bigger challenges I’ve faced. But even after those hard lessons, I still believe in the industry and feel that your network is everything. These experiences have been invaluable in shaping my journey and have taught me lessons that I carry with me every day.
The Rise of Independent Hygiene Practices
Dental hygienists owning their own practices are not very common in the USA, and in fact, only a few states allow independent hygiene clinics in various capacities. Some states allow hygienists to practice ownership in collaboration with a dentist or under their supervision. That’s why I bet on Colorado’s progressive laws, which allow full ownership without the requirement for a dentist to supervise.
The number of independent hygienist practices is increasing, despite some regulatory and legal limitations. Demand is rising, particularly in underserved areas where patients face challenges in accessing basic care. Having dental hygiene services available in areas that have traditionally been underserved by dentists can only be a positive development from my viewpoint.
3 Lessons for Aspiring Dental Entrepreneurs
As I travelled this path, I have learned that each step, no matter how small, gets you closer to your goal. If you are considering following in my footsteps and striking out on your own in this industry, here are some lessons I have learned that might help you.
1. Bet on Yourself—Even When It Terrifies You
I stayed an employee for years out of fear. However, the moment I trusted my skills, opportunities began to appear.
2. Your Network Is Your Safety Net
From my intellectual property lawsuit to software disasters, the right people saved me. Network with vendors, after continuing education, and any opportunity you get.
3. Regulations Are Not Roadblocks
State laws may currently limit RDH independence, but they’re changing. They are changing because people are speaking up, speaking out, and challenging the status quo for the greater good of patient care and the progression of our industry. Be one of those people.
The dental industry needs disruptors. Will you be one?
Achieving My Dreams
Setting up on my own has been hard work, especially after years of intentionally avoiding topics like CDT codes and production. I am now having to dive headfirst into topics like this as a practice owner. Other hiccups, such as finding out that I had to pay extra money to change from one software to another and discovering that the patient records of the practice I bought were not mine due to privacy protections with the cloud software company, led to me having to spend more money than anticipated while setting up my practice.
While there have been many difficulties along the way, the results have been worth it. On the upside, I have a fantastic network, which is key to my success. The amazing humans I have met along the way that are keeping me going on the hard days, holding my hand as I learn new things, and cheering me on when I succeed. Past negative experiences have taught me how to pick them a little better, so those around me are the people I truly can rely on.
At the end of the day, I see that this is my path. I am meant to be an owner, I am meant to be a leader, and I am meant to make an impact on the people who allow me to take care of them in my new practice. The lessons I learned have reinforced the importance of a strong support network, and I encourage you to build one for yourself as you embark on your entrepreneurial journey.
Making the Lessons Learned Matter
Yes, the transition from being an employee to becoming a business owner can be fraught with worries and stress, it can throw up obstacles you would never imagine were possible, and it can leave you with a lot less in your bank account initially. But it is worth it. The lessons you learn along the way help you become a better businessperson, and the people you encounter teach you so much.
I now realize that all the struggles were part of my path. They were moments to teach me and to help me appreciate the good times more. If you are considering striking out on your own, do it, but make sure that you surround yourself with a network of support that will help you, not hinder you.
If a grocery-store cashier turned practice owner can do it, so can you. Start small—launch a side hustle, network relentlessly, or master one new business skill each quarter. The dental industry needs more leaders like you. Be brave, believe in yourself, and start on your true path to success.
I like to think that 17-year-old me, lost and clueless about what she wanted in life, would be very proud and relieved to see that I have somehow figured it out.