Jackie Tong, BDSc 2018, still remembers walking into S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Simon KY Lee Seniors Care Home for the first time. It was the start of her community rotations as a dental hygiene student, and it sparked an interest she wasn’t expecting.
Throughout her third and fourth year, she met with and treated seniors living in long-term care, previously incarcerated women and people living with mental illness. She explored northern regions of BC where people had to drive for hours to see a dentist and would often request teeth extractions so they could get dentures. She also participated in a community volunteer program called the Healthcare Travelling Roadshow, where she visited high schools to promote dental hygiene as a career, and fell in love with small-town living.
“The community rotations gave me a taste of how many marginalized communities there are, and each pulled at my heartstrings so much that I knew I wanted to work as a community-based hygienist,” says Jackie. “I learned in school that while I might not be able to solve many of the challenges my patients face, I can at least be a resource and help them with their oral health.”
After graduation, Jackie worked in clinics for a few years before launching her own business in 2021. The Travelling Hygienist is comprised of hygienists and dental assistants who travel across BC, offering teeth cleaning, dental exams, X-rays, polishing and fluoride treatment in a dental van, as well as in-home, bedside, wheelchair-side and in facilities.
“The goal is to make oral healthcare as equitable and accessible as possible,” says Jackie. “We end up doing a lot of free dental work because if someone can’t pay, we just absorb the cost. The most important aspect is making sure people are getting the care they need so they can stay healthy into the future.”
The team sees around 40 patients a week whose needs vary—some enjoy the convenience of a hygienist coming to their home, while others can’t access a clinic due to distance or mobility issues. Jackie is based in Vancouver and drives the mobile van across the province. Kaila Turri, BDSc 2018, operates a van in the Okanagan, and the team has two office spaces in the Kootenays. They also visit shelters, halfway houses and community centres, and are involved with CHANGE BC to help enhance oral healthcare in underserved communities.
“A lot of research, trial and error and sleepless nights went into starting The Travelling Hygienist, but every minute has been so worth it,” says Jackie. “I can honestly say the community rotations I did as part of my dental hygiene degree helped me find my passion and dictated my career path.”