Where Are the Hygienists? Tackling the Dental Staffing Deficit

Melissa K. Turner, BASDH, RDHEP, EFDA, affectionately known as @thetoothgirl, is on a powerful mission to transform the future of dentistry for both patient and practitioner.

An award-winning speaker, key opinion influencer, and hygienist, Melissa represents a new generation in dentistry through a focus on inclusion, practitioner well-being, and innovative technology. She is a 2022 recipient of the Sunstar Award of Distinction, the dental hygiene industry's highest honor, and is a top dental content creator nationwide. Melissa works closely with product/service companies and DSOs to drive conversations on brand strategy and development.

Chief hygiene officer and director of social strategy for Cellerant Consulting Group, she leads the Cellerant Best of Class Hygiene Awards, an unbiased, non-profit assessment of available technologies and products in the dental space.

An expert in teledentistry and mobile healthcare delivery, Turner is cofounder of the National Mobile & Teledentistry Conference and is a founding board member of the American Mobile & Teledentistry Alliance, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit membership association.

Turner is creator of the I Heart Dentistry Network, a community focused on supporting under-recognized groups of dental professionals and is cofounder of The Denobi Awards Gala, an annual red carpet awards program honoring outstanding individuals and unsung heroes who move the dental industry forward.