The Gift of Knowledge: The Investment That Keeps Giving
Aug 21, 2025Becoming a self-employed mobile dental hygienist was a leap filled with several emotions: excitement, anxiety, determination, and just a little fear. I think I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. As a kid, I was often called “bossy”, and while that label isn’t exactly a compliment, it reflected my natural instinct to lead. So it was no surprise that once I began my career in clinical dental hygiene, I found it frustrating to work within someone else’s schedule or decision-making process. I wanted autonomy. I wanted to take control of how I practiced and how I served my patients. And so, I launched my own mobile dental hygiene practice.
The Price of Independence
Let’s be honest, going out on your own isn’t cheap. Dental equipment, supplies, transportation…you’re not just wearing the clinical hat anymore; you’re also the finance department. I chuckle when I hear new entrepreneurs talk about “writing things off,” as if that makes them free. A write-off is not a freebie—you still need to earn enough to cover that cost. In a solo practice, that responsibility falls squarely on you.
One of the greatest challenges (and also the greatest freedoms) is that you get to design your practice from the ground up. You choose your clientele, your equipment, your work style, and your setting. In the early days, many of us try to replicate the dental office model we worked in, but over time, most of us realize that model doesn’t translate perfectly to mobile practice.
Learning Through Experience
I still remember my first few home visits. I arrived like a dental pack mule, lugging what felt like 700 items to every appointment. It didn’t take long to realize I needed to simplify, while still staying compliant with safety standards. Now, I’m a well-oiled machine. When I show up with my equipment and oversized totes, I love to joke with residents: “Surprise! I’m moving in!” or “Nope, it’s not a massage table—it’s just a dead body.” (Cue raised eyebrows and laughter, followed by clarification that I’m, in fact, a dental hygienist there to help keep their smiles healthy.) Beneath the jokes is the serious message that my goal is always to make oral care more approachable, memorable, and accessible.
Keeping It Simple, Yet Impactful
I decided early on to keep my practice simple and centered on what matters most; supporting patients in daily biofilm control and improving their oral environment. In mobile settings, you won’t always have access to lasers or guided biofilm therapy machines, and frankly, if you’re only seeing a handful of patients per site, hauling around heavy-duty tech isn’t practical.
Instead, I’ve invested in tools that make my work easier and more effective: a top-notch portable chair (as comfortable as a portable chair can be), and a powerful delivery unit—the Aseptico ADU-17. Software and digital claims came later; for years, I mailed claims the old-fashioned way, and it worked just fine.
The Best Investment I’ve Made
By far, the most valuable investment has been in my knowledge-specifically, in oral-systemic health. I hesitate to use the phrase “game-changer” (because... cringe), but in this case, it’s accurate. And not just for me, but for my patients as well.
Working primarily with seniors and residents in healthcare settings, I’ve found that having a deep understanding of the mouth-body connection has transformed how I practice. It allows me to look beyond the typical appointment mindset and instead focus on sustainable, daily impact.
Some say all hygienists are oral-systemic specialists. I respectfully disagree. While we all graduate knowing that oral health impacts systemic health, that basic knowledge is just the tip of the iceberg. In reality, this field runs deep; the more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know. That’s both humbling and exciting. I’m committed to learning every day.
Empowering Others Through Knowledge
My focus now is on supporting patients by influencing their oral microbiome, managing xerostomia, and incorporating minimally invasive techniques. And because many of my patients have cognitive impairments, I often share this knowledge with their caregivers, nurses, and family members. It becomes a ripple effect of learning that benefits not just my patient, but their entire circle of care. Often, the insights I share leave people speechless, in the best way. Helping them connect the dots between oral and systemic health never gets old!
A Shift in My Career Path
After 24 years in the profession, 12 of those running my own mobile practice, I’m entering a new chapter. I’m a member of the “sandwich generation,” juggling busy kids, aging parents, and a busy practice among other professional projects. Time is my most precious resource.
So I chose to deepen my education in a way that worked for me, by completing the Oral Systemic Educator Certificate Program through the National Network of Healthcare Hygienists (NNHH).
Why I chose this program:
- It’s a comprehensive, foundational course in oral-systemic practice (no need to cobble together from several sources)
- It’s self-paced and conveniently accessible online—with instructor access and a growing community of students and graduates.
- It’s accredited by ANAB, ensuring high-quality, evidence-based education.
- It empowers me to integrate my practice more seamlessly into healthcare environments.
- It didn’t require returning to university-something that’s neither convenient nor affordable for me right now.
- It offers a formal post-nominal acronym (CH-OSE) that adds credibility and value to my practice, should I choose to use it.
- Finally, I want to be a part of the movement of integrating oral care formally into healthcare.
If you're curious about this certificate or any of the others that the NNHH offers, I encourage you to learn more at www.healthcarehygienists.org. I was so impacted by the program that I reached out to volunteer, and now I am part of the leadership team.
Looking Ahead
Twelve years into entrepreneurship, the journey has been incredibly rewarding. Along the way, I’ve accumulated not just equipment and experience—but wisdom. And now, I’m excited to share that with others.
In the near future, I plan to shift from being physically “on the tools” to virtually supporting others who are considering serving their community with a mobile practice. Coaching and mentoring emerging dental hygienists feels like the natural next step.
If mobile dental hygiene practice is on your radar, let’s chat. The gift of knowledge truly is the gift that keeps giving—and I’d love to pass it on.
Author: Colette Murray, RDH, CH-OSE
Colette has been an RDH for 22 years, with the last decade as an Independent Practitioner and mobile practice owner. Being a Certificate Holder in Oral Systemic Education allows her to bring in knowledge and understanding of the bidirectional nature of oral systemic health to further help her clients in the eldercare medical communities where she works. She has a passion for leadership and strives to be a positive mentor for her colleagues. She has over two decades of varied professional experience and endeavors to leverage that for the benefit of other providers in the dental industry. Special projects and collaboration are what keep her going, inspire and invigorate her. Colette is the Director of Growth at National Network of Healthcare Hygienists and has lead and participated in several successful initiatives as a leader or volunteer, adding value to her professional life.
