Registered Dental Hygienist
Adrienne Frerichs-Racheli, RDH
Specialization
Soft tissue management and patient education.
Year of Hire
Education
Registered Dental Hygienist, Dental Hygiene Anesthesia, Erie Community College.
Affiliations
American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA)
Professional Accomplishments
Excellence in Clinical Dental Hygiene Procedures, Erie Community College.
Nomination for Distinguished ECC Alumni 2023.
Who has been influential to you in your career?
My family and past professors. They have taught me discipline and patience to achieve my goals in my life and career. They have instilled empathy and respect for others which is critical when providing healthcare services to the community of all walks of life.
Describe a time in your life when you experienced, or witnessed, the importance of good quality healthcare.
When I was younger I was not a fan of the dentist. I always seemed to have trouble with my teeth. I felt like I was always being scolded by the clinicians, but rarely educated on why I should take better care of my mouth. I didn’t completely understand at the time, how important having healthy oral tissues played a role in total body health. Now as a dental hygiene professional, I take great pride in educating and encouraging my patients to take steps to improve their total body health by starting with their mouths. It’s incredible to witness how the body responds and repairs itself in just a short amount of time when good oral hygiene habits have been implemented.
What is something about your education experience that is unique?
I purposely pursued a career in dentistry to help overcome my anxiety and fear of the dentist. In doing so, I feel I have a unique understanding and empathy for my patients who are less comfortable with dental procedures.