By Lancette VanGuilder, BS, RDH, PHEDH, CEAS, FADHA
March 16, 2026

Your personal brand isn’t your logo or your title. It’s the reputation you build through everyday interactions—what people notice, remember and trust about you. Your brand is what others come to expect from you.¹

That expectation is shaped by how you show up, what you stand for, and the way you respond with integrity when it matters most. 

At the ADHA25 Annual Conference in Long Beach, I had the privilege of sitting down with leadership expert Anne Duffy, RDH, for a Fireside Chat session. As we talked through our different, but equally rewarding career journeys, one idea kept resurfacing: each of us brings something unique to this profession. There is only one you, and the profession is better when you show up authentically. 

Your brand already exists, whether you realize it or not. You develop it every day through your actions, your values, and how you use your strengths. The real question is whether you are shaping it intentionally or letting it form on its own. 

Ask yourself: what are you doing right now to shape your professional identity? 

In healthcare, your brand is ultimately your reputation combined with your impact. For dental hygienists, that impact can take many forms: the clinician patients trust, the teammate who steps up, the advocate who drives change, the mentor who invests in others, or the professional who speaks up with evidence and compassion. 

Authenticity Starts with Consistency 

An authentic professional brand starts with alignment between your work and your values. Who you are, what you value, and how you present yourself should remain consistent whether you are in the operatory, the classroom, the boardroom, or advocating for change.  

Authenticity does not mean trying to please everyone, nor does it mean modeling yourself after someone else. It means being clear about what matters to you and leading from there. Research consistently shows that authenticity strengthens trust, credibility, and professional effectiveness in healthcare leadership.² 

Influencer vs. Influence  

Social media has made visibility easier than ever. But visibility and influence are not the same thing. Influencers focus on reach and followers. Genuine professional influence is built on credibility, consistency, and trust that is earned through your expertise and integrity, not your follower counts.  

Dental hygienists create meaningful influence every day through patient care, education, leadership, and advocacy. Professional credibility remains one of the strongest drivers of trust in healthcare relationships.³ 

Know Your Strengths and Use Them Intentionally  

Leadership within dental hygiene takes many forms and your brand is reflected in how you lead. Some professionals lead through clinical excellence, others through education, research, mentorship, entrepreneurship, advocacy, innovation, public health initiatives, or interdisciplinary collaboration. There is no single “right” way to lead.  

In my experience, one of the biggest barriers to growth is not recognizing your own strengths. The key is understanding them and using them intentionally. Strengths-based leadership research shows that professionals who build on their natural talents experience higher engagement, confidence, and career satisfaction.⁴ Self-assessment tools like CliftonStrengths can help identify where you thrive. And revisiting them over time can bring clarity that helps you align your natural strengths with your professional purpose as your career evolves.

Start With Your Why 

A clear sense of purpose helps guide career decisions and gives professional growth more meaning.  

Ask yourself: Why did you choose dental hygiene? What challenges or opportunities motivate you most? Where do you want your impact to be felt?  

Research shows that professionals with a strong sense of purpose demonstrate greater resilience, leadership effectiveness, and career fulfillment.⁵ When your brand is grounded in purpose, decisions become clearer and your path more intentional. 

Growth Happens Faster in Community  

Most professional growth happens through connection, rather than isolation. Engagement with professional organizations provides opportunities for continuing education, networking, advocacy, leadership development, mentorship, and a stronger collective voice.  

Organizations like the American Dental Hygienists’ Association provide evidence-based education, national networking opportunities, advocacy initiatives, and leadership pathways that support both individual professionals and the profession as a whole.6  Membership is about actively shaping the future of dental hygiene. 

For those exploring entrepreneurship or nontraditional career paths, interdisciplinary communities such as Dental Entrepreneur Women (DeW) offer mentorship and support that foster confidence, creativity, and leadership growth.  

A Message for Newer Professionals  

If you are early in your career, know that leadership does not require a title or decades of experience. Get to know your strengths and what matters to you. Explore the many career pathways within dental hygiene. Find mentors, ask questions, join professional organizations, and stay curious.  

Leadership in dental hygiene does not begin someday. It begins when you decide to show up with intention. 

A Message for Experienced Professionals  

For those further along in their careers, this is a good time to pause and consider whether your current roles still align with your values and whether your work continues to challenge and motivate you. 

Your experience carries real weight in this profession. Your voice matters. And your willingness to mentor the next generation of dental hygienists can make a lasting difference. 

Lead With Intention  

Every dental hygienist has the opportunity to lead. Leadership is not defined by a title. It’s reflected in how you show up, how you serve others, and how you contribute to the advancement of our profession.  

Build your professional brand intentionally. Stay authentic, surround yourself with supportive communities, and lead with purpose. Let your strengths guide the kind of impact you make.  

The future of dental hygiene will be shaped by professionals willing to step forward and share their expertise — and understand that their individual contributions collectively move the profession forward. 

Be the leader only you can be.  

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References   

1. Peters, Tom. The Brand You 50: Fifty Ways to Transform Yourself from an “Employee” into a Brand That Shouts Distinction, Commitment, and Passion! New York: Knopf, 1999.  
2. George, Bill. Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003.
3. American Dental Hygienists’ Association. “Dental Hygiene: Focus on Advancing the Profession.” 2005. 
4. Rath, Tom. StrengthsFinder 2.0. New York: Gallup Press, 2007. 
5. Ryan, Richard M., and Edward L. Deci. “Self-Determination Theory and the Facilitation of Intrinsic Motivation, Social Development, and Well-Being.” American Psychologist 55, no. 1 (2000): 68–78. 
6. American Dental Hygienists’ Association. “Membership Benefits Overview.” Accessed February 17, 2026. https://www.adha.org/membership/membership-benefits-overview/. 

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Lancette VanGuilder, BS, RDH, PHEDH, CEAS, FADHA, is the Clinical Director of Sierra Sleep, Airway & Wellness Center in Reno, Nevada, where she focuses on airway health, sleep-disordered breathing, and interdisciplinary patient care. An international speaker and advocate for prevention-focused healthcare, she also serves as the 2025-2026 President of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA). Lancette is the host of the Beyond Breathing podcast, where she explores the connections between oral health, airway science, sleep and whole-person wellness.