Meg

Growing up as one of four children in a single-parent home in Anchorage, Alaska, I witnessed my mom work incredibly hard to support us through financial struggles. I didn't go to the dentist until I was 13 years old. At 16, I started my first job in the dental office where I was a patient—doing sterilization, x-ray developing, flipping exam rooms. In Alaska, you could be trained "on the job" as a dental assistant. Little did I know then, it was the field I would devote my career life to.

I worked in dental for over twenty years, essentially by default at first, until I reached a point when I decided I could (and wanted to) actually take it farther. I graduated from Wake Technical Community College in North Carolina with a degree in Dental Hygiene in 2016. I am now an Expanded Practice Dental Hygienist, eager to practice independently. After twenty-plus years in the field, including my previous work as a dental assistant, I have gained a comprehensive understanding of treatment needs, options, and techniques.

My main goal is to apply all my experience to giving back to those most in need. With a deep-seated commitment to making a tangible difference, I strive to channel my knowledge and skills toward improving lives in the face of adversity.

I opened Bona Fide Hygiene Care early in 2024 with a brick-and-mortar clinic in Springfield, during a time of unprecedented inflation. After a mere five months, I broke my wrist and was brought to an abrupt standstill. Life events spiraled, and I moved to the Oregon coast in October 2024. It didn't take long to see an even more critical need and shortage of accessibility to routine dental care in this smaller, rural town. Almost immediately, my re-opening business plan took a turn and I shifted my business model. I needed my services to be mobile to make the most impact.

After some serious brainstorming and re-evaluation, I managed to get a vintage Airstream. Renovating this classic trailer would be a ton of work, but it was the perfect vessel for my mobile clinic. Over the last several months, that is exactly what I have been doing—renovating. Some areas proved more difficult than anticipated, but I am staring at the finish line now with the need for one more financial push.