I was asked to write an article about the three ‘whys’.  First, why did I want to become a dental hygienist?  When I was young, my mother managed a dental office in a very small town.  Every day I would walk there after school and play in the operatory that was not in use.  Some of my friends would come along with me and we would take turns riding in the dental chair, playing with the instruments pretending to be dentists and dental assistants, and helping my Mom.  Well, at least I thought we were helping!  As I grew and began to get my permanent teeth, I developed major dental and occlusion problems.  I was soon in a retainer to help expand both arches.   Then, it was oral surgery and orthodontia.  My experiences were not unpleasant and I could not understand why some people disliked seeing the dentist.  As I grew older, I had the opportunity to observe a dentist and dental hygienist, and saw that the dental hygienist is the first line a patient sees when coming to the dental office.  She could interact with her patients and assist them in overcoming their fears from the moment they stepped into the office.  That is when I realized I wanted to become a dental hygienist.  I love helping people overcome their fears of dentistry.  Several of my patients have told me that I made a big difference in helping them get the dental care they needed and I am looking forward to helping others in the future.