Dental Hygienist
Hope Didas, RDH
Year of Hire
Education
Monroe Community College, Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
Board Certifications
Registered Dental Hygienist
Professional Accomplishments
Served as Social Media Chair for the Student American Dental Hygienists' Association, managing online presence and engagement.
Participated in oral health education at the 2022 multi-region Special Olympics basketball competition (located at Nazareth College)
Who has been influential to you in your career?
One of the most influential people in my career path was my dental hygiene professor, Casey Bianchi. She not only taught me the technical skills of patient care but also emphasized the importance of compassion and building trust with patients. Watching the way she connected with people inspired me to bring the same level of care to every patient I see.
When have you seen the impact that good quality healthcare can have?
I had a patient who...had neglected her teeth and was anxious about returning to the dentist. I performed scaling and root planing and have since seen her consistently for periodontal maintenance visits. At an appointment, she told me, "I never used to take good care of my teeth, but because of you, I've learned how good it feels to be consistent and now look forward to coming for my cleanings." Moments like this speak volumes to me about the positive impact quality healthcare can have on patients, and it's a memory I will carry with me throughout my career.
What is something about your education experience that is unique?
One unique aspect of my education was balancing a very heavy hygiene school workload with my extracurricular activities. I served as the Social Media Chair for the Student American Dental Hygienists' Association, managing communications and creating posts to help spread information about our fundraisers to raise money for our national board exams. I also played on my college volleyball team during my first semester of dental hygiene school. There were many times I finished assignments on the bus traveling to tournaments, which taught me the importance of time management and gave me perseverance.
What else do you want people to know about you?
I want people to know that I'm passionate about providing my patients with the educational tools they need to deliver the best care for themselves at home. I also love getting to know my patients on a personal level, so I'm always an open ear -- please tell me about yourself when you come in for your cleanings!