When you talk to Tammy about her work as a dental hygienist, something awesome happens: She hardly talks about teeth at all. Because even though her job is to help people keep their mouths clean and healthy, Tammy’s main focus is always the human being in her chair.
“People living with HIV are a special community,” she says. “They need to know they’re cared for. I always want my patients to feel like they are the most important thing to me. Because they are, and I’m here for them 100%.”
That includes people who have anxiety about going to the dentist. Anxiety in the dental chair is something Tammy has seen throughout her 40-year career, but she notes she’s seen it even more since she’s been at Vivent Health.
“I’ve had people with anxiety to the point where they were sobbing,” she says. “I just let them know we’re going to take our time, we’re going to listen to your needs, and we’re going to do this on your terms. If there’s something I can do to make your experience more comfortable, just tell me, because I’m on your side. I’m on your team.”
Tammy also recognizes that the dental chair isn’t the only thing that can be scary for folks. For some, just the idea of trying to get healthcare is overwhelming. Or when they have gotten healthcare before, they’ve been met with judgement. That’s something Tammy never wants anyone to feel at Vivent Health.
“Many who come here have had difficulty getting healthcare because they’ve been ostracized because they’re living with HIV,” she says. “So when they come here, I really, really want them to know I love them.”
Tammy graduated from Lake Land College with a degree in Dental Hygiene in 1982. She has over 40 years of experience.