Reyna Gutierrez

Professional Practice Philosophy and Goals

Mission Statement:

I am committed to improving my patients and my community's oral health and overall well-
being by providing compassionate care, continuous education, and preventing oral disease.

Personal Objectives and Role as a Dental Hygienist

As a dental hygienist, it is my duty to provide quality care to every patient by utilizing the dental
hygiene process of care and by following the American Dental Hygiene Association's Code of
Ethics. By following the dental hygiene process of care with every patient, I am able to provide
comprehensive care to each patient by utilizing my skills and abilities to gather the data
necessary to create a dental hygiene diagnosis. Then, I will develop a dental hygiene treatment
plan in collaboration with a dentist. Next, I become a co-therapist with my patient by
establishing goals based on their individualized needs. I will then implement our care plan by
providing the necessary treatment. Once treatment is complete, I will evaluate these goals and
the provided treatment and follow proper documentation protocols. Throughout this entire
process, I will follow our Dental Hygiene Code of Ethics by exercising the following: individual
autonomy of my patients, confidentiality, societal trust, non-maleficence, beneficence, justice
and fairness, and veracity.

Career Goals:

My goals as a new hygienist are to develop proficiency in providing my oral health care services
and continuously expand my education through life-long learning by taking continuing education
courses, collaborating with my peers, and through self-study. My long-term career goals are to
find an office where I can plant my roots and provide comprehensive care to my patients part-
time, while also utilizing my expanded practice permit by providing care in special populations
like retirement homes and assisted living facilities.

Healthcare Values:

After graduating from the University of Oregon, I entered a successful sales career where I
learned how to work with diverse groups and discovered my love for helping others. After three
years, I craved something more. I wanted to pursue an opportunity in healthcare, and after some
self-reflection, I realized dental hygiene was the path for me. While pursuing my education, I
began working as a dental sterilization assistant. During this time, I assisted our hygienists, and
this experience reaffirmed my decision to pursue this career. During my program at Lane
Community College, I learned how to successfully collaborate with our dentists and instructors
when creating individualized treatment plans for my patients. I enjoy educating my patients
about their oral health and providing encouragement and instruction on maintaining or improving
it. I also enjoy making my patients more comfortable and developing trust at our clinic, which is
a place where many experience high levels of anxiety. I am reliable and respectful towards my
patients and peers and continuously strive to do what is right for my community.

Commitment to Cultural Diversity, Special Needs, and Vulnerable Populations:

I am committed to creating a supportive environment based on inclusion and diversion by

becoming culturally competent through active listening, participation, and education on different
cultures. In addition, I will continue to educate myself on special needs populations to serve
them in the best capacity possible. As a clinician, I will strive to provide care to those in
vulnerable populations, like those who have access to care barriers.

Vision for the Future:

My future place of employment will be an atmosphere where I can continue to grow in my

strengths as a hygienist. I want to find a place where I can develop collaborative relationships
with my peers and patients. A commitment to life-long learning is necessary in this profession as
new technology and medical discoveries are constantly emerging. Continuing education will
allow me to provide the best and most current oral health education to my patients, which is
essential for my patients in the understanding of prevention, reversing, and stopping oral health
disease. To be an excellent clinician, I must continuously strive to improve and expand upon my
knowledge so I can provide the best care for my patients.