Reinventing Dentistry: How I Found My Place in Dental AI

Hi DeWs,

My name is Maria Jackson, and I’m a dental hygienist by trade, but my journey in dentistry started long before that.

I grew up watching my dad, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who practiced in Peru before bringing our family to the United States. Dentistry was always part of my life, and honestly, I never gave myself the chance to explore another path because I loved it so much. It’s something deeply personal that I share with him.

I earned my Bachelor’s in Biology from Florida International University, initially planning to become a dentist. Along the way, I discovered a passion for education, and someone encouraged me to explore dental hygiene. That decision changed everything.

I went on to earn my degree in dental hygiene from the Fones School of Dental Hygiene and have now spent over 15 years in the field. I’ve worked clinically, taught for a few years, and spent most of my career within DSOs. I truly enjoyed that environment, the structure, the support, and the people.

But life shifted.

I struggled with infertility for seven years. During that time, I was diagnosed with severe endometriosis, underwent multiple surgeries, and went through multiple rounds of IVF. Seven years later, I finally became pregnant, and today I have a three-year-old son who I truly consider my miracle baby.

During my pregnancy, I developed severe carpal tunnel syndrome, and that moment forced me to stop and really think.

What would my future look like if I couldn’t physically practice anymore?

That question changed everything.

Six months postpartum, I underwent carpal tunnel surgery. That experience made everything very real for me and solidified the need to rethink my future.

I knew I wanted to stay in dentistry, but I also knew I needed to reinvent myself.

At the time, I was already working with an AI software, providing clinical feedback. That exposure sparked something in me. I became deeply interested in dental AI and started applying nonstop.

And I kept getting rejected.

That was one of the hardest parts of my journey.

I had to make a decision. Walk away, or go all in.

I chose to go all in.

I enrolled in a Master’s program in Applied Digital Technology with a focus on AI and business analytics. I completed it while working full-time in a DSO and raising a young child. At the same time, I continued interviewing relentlessly.

Eventually, one company gave me a part-time opportunity, and I took the risk.

Leaving a stable clinical role was scary. I had a family to support. But I believed in what was possible.

Fast forward to today, I now work fully remote in dental AI.

I’m a fractional clinical advisor, a fractional CTO, and I work in product development, helping build solutions that actually work in real clinical environments.

And what I’ve realized is this.

The path into dental AI shouldn’t be this hard.

I didn’t need to struggle the way I did. I didn’t necessarily need a Master’s degree. I needed guidance, access, and the right connections.

So I built what I wish I had.

Today, I’m the CEO and Founder of Dental AI Solutions, where I help dental professionals, especially hygienists, transition from chairside roles into the world of AI.

I coach them, guide them, and show them a real, tangible path forward, because this industry needs clinical voices, and they deserve a seat at the table.

And I’ll be honest. Along the way, I’ve been told more than once that by helping others break into this space, I’m creating competition for myself.

But I refuse to see it that way.

One of the most powerful takeaways I had from the last DeW retreat I attended was a simple but important theme. Women support women. We uplift each other. And there is truly room for everyone to grow in this space.

That resonated with me deeply.

I attended the retreat as a non-member, and from the moment I walked in, I was welcomed with open arms. Everyone was incredibly friendly, uplifting, and genuinely supportive. I never once felt like an outsider.

What stood out to me even more was that no one tried to sell me or convince me to join. There was no pressure, just real connection, encouragement, and community.

And that’s exactly the kind of environment I believe we should continue to build in dentistry.

My website: mariadentalai.com