Meet Our Hygienists

Bailey Hart

What inspired you to become a dental hygienist? My aunt was a hygienist for 30 years, and when she passed away, the whole community came together to remember her. That really spoke to me.

How long have you been working in this field? 12 years.

What’s your favorite part about being a dental hygienist? My team and getting to know my patients.

If you could give one piece of advice that everyone should follow, what would it be? Always remember every patient has unique needs and expectations.

If you could create a new toothpaste flavor, what would it be? Bring back Aqua Fresh Orange.

What are your hobbies or interests? Gardening, working out, volunteering at the school, and going to the lake.

Care to share who you consider the most important people in your life? My family—my husband and daughters are my whole world.

What is a hidden talent or something someone would be surprised to learn about you? I’m related to Elvis Presley.

Do you have any memorable stories from your time as a dental hygienist that you’d like to share? Just watching my patients go through all seasons of life and being there for them.

What’s the most common misconception people have about your job? People think we’re just “gum gardeners,” but we prevent and treat disease, which can have a systemic effect.

How do you handle a nervous or anxious patient? I listen, understand their previous bad experiences, and make sure they’re as comfortable as possible.

Do you have a favorite dental product or gadget that you can’t live without during your workday? My loupes.

Without using their name, describe a patient experience that has left a lasting impact on you. I have a patient who has been coming to see me for about 10 years. When I got hired on with Ballard, he wrote me a job recommendation letter for the hiring manager. In it, he said I helped save his teeth from gum disease and that I took the time to ensure he understood his care. That made me feel like God put me exactly where I can be used as a tool to care for others.

Taylar Wooton

What inspired you to become a dental hygienist? I have always wanted to help people, and becoming a dental hygienist allows me to encourage people to be confident in their smile and overall oral health.

How long have you been working in this field? Assisting for four years and hygiene for under six months.

What’s your favorite part about being a dental hygienist? The connections made with patients.

If you could give one piece of dental advice for everyone to follow, what would it be? Limit the frequency of sugary or acidic foods and beverages to avoid cavities, and eat a balanced diet.

If you could create a new toothpaste flavor, what would it be? Pineapple and coconut.

Outside of work, what are your hobbies or interests? Pickleball, shopping, and board games.

Care to share who you consider the most important people in your life? My fiancé Zack, my mom and dad, two sisters, and grandparents.

What is a hidden talent or something someone would be surprised to learn about you? I like to cook and bake, but I eat out a lot, so no one would know.

Do you have a favorite dental-related pun? What is it? Brush in the morning to keep your friends; brush at night to keep your teeth.

Do you have any memorable stories from your time as a dental hygienist that you’d like to share? The connection I made with an elderly patient to help her through a rough time in her life.

If you could invite any celebrity to your office for a check-up and cleaning, who would it be and why? Miley Cyrus, because she has been one of my favorite celebrities since my childhood.

What’s the most common misconception people have about your job? That all we do is "clean teeth."

How do you handle a nervous or anxious patient? Turn off the lights, wrap them up in a blanket, and be gentle.

Do you have a favorite dental product or gadget that you can’t live without during your workday? Relief suction—it makes mine and the patient’s lives easier.

Without using their name, describe a patient experience that has left a lasting impact on you. I worked on a smile makeover for a patient who was unhappy with her smile and rarely smiled. Her reaction to her new smile made an everlasting impact on my life and motivates me every day to help every patient feel confident in their smile.

Kamry Perez

What inspired you to become a dental hygienist? The hygienist who cleaned my teeth as a kid inspired me. She made a huge impact on me by educating me on the importance of oral hygiene. That’s when I realized I wanted to be that person for someone else.

How long have you been working in this field? Three years.

What’s your favorite part about being a dental hygienist? Having the ability to connect with patients on a personal level, working one-on-one with them, and seeing the positive impact of improving their oral health.

If you could give one piece of dental advice that everyone should follow, what would it be? You don’t have to floss all your teeth—just the ones you want to keep.

If you could create a new toothpaste flavor, what would it be? Cookies and cream.

Outside of work, what are your hobbies or interests? Taking care of plants, spending time with family and friends, watching the Cowboys and Chiefs, and working out.

Care to share who you consider the most important people in your life? My fiancé Johan, my parents, my sister, and my dog.

What is a hidden talent or something someone would be surprised to learn about you? I’m a college basketball player.

Do you have a favorite dental-related joke or pun? What is it? What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear.

Do you have any memorable stories from your time as a dental hygienist that you’d like to share? During dental hygiene school, I participated in community service events where I provided preventative services to individuals who couldn’t afford to go to the dentist.

If you could invite any celebrity to your office for a check-up and cleaning, who would it be and why? Patrick Mahomes. I’m a huge fan, and I love watching him play. I think it would be pretty awesome to clean the teeth of the best player in the NFL.

What’s the most common misconception people have about your job? When I tell people my profession, they always say, “You just clean teeth.” Yes, I clean teeth, but I’m also highly educated and a healthcare provider. I’m a prevention specialist here to help mitigate risks of systemic disease.

How do you handle nervous or anxious patients? I communicate clearly, create a comfortable atmosphere, and offer ways to lower anxiety, such as laughing gas, to help patients feel more relaxed during dental procedures.

Do you have a favorite dental product or gadget that you can’t live without during your workday? Floss.

Without using their name, describe a patient experience that has left a lasting impact on you. I had a patient in her 40s who came for her first dental visit. She had poor oral hygiene and had been a smoker for over 10 years. After I educated her about how poor oral hygiene and smoking can lead to numerous oral problems, she was in disbelief. She wanted to learn more and was interested in changing her lifestyle habits. At her next appointment four months later, the first thing she told me was, “You changed my life.” Those words gave me purpose and impacted me immensely.

Meagan Birt

What inspired you to become a dental hygienist? I did my dental assistant externship at the Fort Worth Federal Penitentiary and got to shadow their hygienist. That’s when I realized I wanted to do that.

How long have you been working in this field? I started off as a dental assistant in 2009 and became an RDH in January 2016.

What’s your favorite part about being a dental hygienist? Two things:

1. Getting to wear comfy scrubs and shoes every day.

2. The satisfaction of cleaning teeth that really need it.

If you could give one piece of dental advice that everyone should follow, what would it be? I’d rather you floss daily and brush once a day than never floss at all.

If you could create a new toothpaste flavor, what would it be? Dreamsicle

Outside of work, what are your hobbies or interests? I like to hang out with my teenagers—when they let me!

Care to share who you consider the most important people in your life? My kids

What is a hidden talent or something someone would be surprised to learn about you? I am an encyclopedia of useless and random music facts.

Do you have a favorite dental-related joke or pun? What is it? One of my favorite movie scenes is in The Hangover when Stu yells, “Oh no, my lateral incisor!”

Do you have any memorable stories from your time as a dental hygienist that you’d like to share? As a dental hygienist, I saw a case of ANUG (acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis), which is really rare.

If you could invite any celebrity to your office for a check-up and cleaning, who would it be and why? Jim Carrey—I’m sure he’s a favorite at his dentist’s office.

What’s the most common misconception people have about your job? A lot of people don’t realize how much education I have.

How do you handle nervous or anxious patients? I’m an anxious patient whisperer. I don’t take things personally and realize that anxiety presents in different ways.

Do you have a dental product or gadget that you can’t live without during your workday? A universal sickle scaler.

Without using their name, describe a patient experience that left a lasting impact on you. I’ve had a few patients who have passed away, and each one has left an impact in different ways.

Britney Pittman

What inspired you to become a dental hygienist? Being able to provide a service that helps people.

How long have you been working in this field? Since January 2013.

What’s your favorite part about being a dental hygienist? My patients. The relationships I have built mean so much to me.

If you could give one piece of dental advice that everyone should follow, what would it be? Be careful who you swap spit with—the bacteria in their mouth can make it easier for you to get cavities.

If you could create a new toothpaste flavor, what would it be? Dr Pepper

Outside of work, what are your hobbies or interests? Spending time with my niece, planning my next Disney trip, and going to Disney World.

Care to share who you consider the most important people in your life? My relationship with the Lord and my parents. They have built a wonderful foundation for my faith.

What is a hidden talent or something someone would be surprised to learn about you? I played the drums for 10 years.

Do you have a favorite dental-related joke or pun? What is it? Grinding isn’t for the club—or your teeth. Get a night guard.

Do you have any memorable stories from your time as a dental hygienist that you’d like to share? Helping patients through their mental health struggles.

If you could invite any celebrity to your office for a check-up and cleaning, who would it be and why? Lisa Vanderpump. When she was on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, they said she had bad breath. I want to help her.

What’s the most common misconception about your job? That it’s just cleaning or only what insurance covers. Dental cleanings are not one-size-fits-all—just like your doctor appointments.

How do you handle nervous or anxious patients? I try to make appointments lighthearted. I love making people laugh, and I will also pray with my patients.

Do you have a favorite dental product or gadget that you can’t live without during your workday? An Oral-B electric toothbrush—it’s life-changing.

Without using their name, describe a patient experience that left a lasting impact on you. I had a patient who had experienced a rough couple of years (multiple battles with cancer, nearly dying during a routine surgery, and her daughter-in-law passing away unexpectedly). Despite it all, she was so positive about life. I asked her how she stayed so positive, and she said she changed her mindset from “what if” to “even if.” She said, “Even if the sky falls, God’s still got me.” That stuck with me and has changed my mindset.

Christine Kleinau

What inspired you to become a dental hygienist? To help people in ways that they can’t or don’t know how to help themselves and make a positive difference in their lives.

How long have you been working in this field? 10 years as a hygienist, 8 years as an RDA, and 18 years in dentistry.

What’s your favorite part about being a dental hygienist? Patient care—being able to recognize their needs and implement specific recommendations while considering limitations, medical history, oral health, goals, and delivering individualized service.

If you could give one piece of dental advice that everyone should follow, what is it? A healthy mouth is an investment in your overall health and well-being. Remember, everything is connected head to toe.

If you could create a new toothpaste flavor, what would it be? Champagne

Outside of work, what are your hobbies or interests? Spending time with my husband and daughter, whether it be golfing, shooting, doing DIY projects, or simply enjoying our plethora of animals. Being with them is my favorite. I also enjoy running for various causes to raise awareness.

Care to share who you consider the most important people in your life? My husband and daughter first and foremost, and all of my 16 animals are close behind them.

What is a hidden talent or something someone would be surprised to learn about you? I hate flossing.

Do you have a dental-related pun? What is it? I’m not really funny, but I normally try to joke with a patient about how much water there is going to be and say something about them not knowing they’d get their daily dose of water with me, or I’ll try not to water them.

Do you have any memorable stories from your time as a dental hygienist? That’s a tough one. Over the years, there have been so many that it keeps me loving my job every day.

If you could invite any celebrity to your office for a check-up and cleaning, who would it be and why? Celebrities don’t really excite me. Get me a respectful human in my chair, and I’ll be happy to care for anyone and everyone.

What’s the most common misconception people have about your job? All I do is "clean teeth."

How do you handle nervous or anxious patients? With open communication—finding out what and why, so I can help guide them through each step of their appointment and gain trust.

Do you have a favorite dental product or gadget that you can’t live without during your workday? Shower-Floss

Cathy Leons

What inspired you to become a dental hygienist? I had an opportunity to become a preventative dentistry specialist, what the army calls a dental hygienist. I was encouraged by the dentist I was assisting, LTC Lutrell, to apply.

What’s your favorite part about being a dental hygienist? Helping patients.

If you could give one piece of dental advice that everyone should follow, what is it? Floss.

Outside of work, what are your hobbies or interests? Spending time with family, reading and riding horses.

Care to share who you consider the most important people in your life? My family are the most important people in my life, followed by Ruger, my German Shepherd, and Mr. Ming, my cat.

What is a hidden talent or something someone would be surprised to learn about you? I can play the violin.

What’s the most common misconception about your job? That we just clean teeth. There is so much more!

How do you handle nervous or anxious patients? I try to make them feel as comfortable as possible. I offer them a blanket if it’s cold or a blanket under their neck during polishing.

Do you have a favorite dental product or gadget that you can’t live without during your workday? Oral-B IO toothbrush.

Dani Epp

What inspired you to become a dental hygienist? Wanting to pursue more of a patient relationship in my career and make a difference in educating on oral health.

How long have you been working in this field? 24 years total – 17 years as an assistant and 5 years in hygiene.

What’s your favorite part about being a dental hygienist? Establishing patient relationships, being part of an amazing team, and improving patients’ oral health over time.

If you could give one piece of dental advice that everyone should follow, what is it? Consistency is key. Set achievable goals in your daily routine, and let me do the rest.

If you could create a new toothpaste flavor, what would it be? Blueberry lemon.

Outside of work, what are your hobbies or interests? Riding horses, cooking, working out, and I’m addicted to Peloton and coffee.

Care to share who you consider the most important people in your life?  My husband, three kids, my parents, and my mini friends.

What is a hidden talent or something someone would be surprised to learn about you? I have a gun collection and have been known to be pretty good at target shooting.

Do you have a favorite dental-related pun? What are dental x-rays called? Tooth-pics.

Do you have any memorable stories from your time as a dental hygienist? I won the award for “Most Likely to Get Engaged” in hygiene school.

If you could invite any celebrity to your office for a check-up and cleaning, who would it be and why? Jesus, that would be a pretty cool conversation.

What’s the most common misconception people have about your job? We don’t just "clean teeth."

How do you handle nervous or anxious patients? Meet them where they’re at, get on their level, and make them feel comfortable and understood.

Do you have a favorite dental product or gadget that you can’t live without during your workday? Loops and an ultrasonic scaler.

Without using their name, describe a patient experience that has left a lasting impact on you. I have so many patients who have touched my heart and become really great friends. They are what makes my job so fulfilling. Seeing them devoted to their oral hygiene, taking pride in their accomplishments and goals, makes it satisfying and brings me joy.

Heather Spencer

What inspired you to become a dental hygienist? My mom and aunt are both hygienists.

How long have you been working in this field? 14 years.

What’s your favorite part about being a dental hygienist? The ability to help others.

If you could give one piece of dental advice that everyone should follow, what would it be? Brush in the morning to keep your friends; brush at night to keep your teeth.

If you could create a new toothpaste flavor, what would it be?Vanilla

Outside of work, what are your hobbies or interests? Crafts, redoing furniture, hunting, fishing, and spending time with my family.

Care to share who you consider the most important people in your life? (Yes, fur babies are included!) My husband, our two kids, and our six dogs.

What is a hidden talent or something someone would be surprised to learn about you? I can curl my toes under and walk like a ballerina.

Do you have a dental-related pun? What is it? What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear.

Do you have any memorable stories from your time as a dental hygienist that you’d like to share? One time a kid asked me, “What are all those dots on your skin?” I said freckles and explained what they were. He then said, “You look dirty, and you need to wash them off!”

If you could invite any celebrity to your office for a check-up and cleaning, who would it be and why? It would be one of my grandparents, one last time.

What’s the most common misconception about your job? That it hurts to get your teeth cleaned.

How do you handle nervous or anxious patients? I listen and let them talk, and I use a tell-show-do approach.

Do you have a dental product or gadget that you can’t live without during your workday? Floss picks.

Without using their name, describe a patient experience that has left a lasting impact on you.  I had a lady the other day, and we were talking about our families and everything we’ve been through. By the end of it, we were both crying. She gave me a hug when we were finished.