Danny Diaz, RDH, has been in the dental field since he was 18, first as a dental assistant for eight years, and now as a dental hygienist for four years. His interests range from one-on-one patient education to introducing oral health education in schools to reforming government and insurance policies.
Statistics vary on the number of males in the profession, but range from 4.8% to 9%.1-3 Danny would like that number to grow as he sees the need for oral health care increase. His biggest goal is to spread awareness of the importance of oral health and providing access to dental care. He hopes to accomplish this goal in two ways. The first is by opening a mobile hygiene clinic. The second is through his social media platform on Instagram, @doyouprophy.
Related reading:
RCC Spotlight: Amanda Zubricki, That Deaf Hygienist
RCC Spotlight: I Heart Mobile Dentistry
A mobile dental hygiene clinic would enable Danny to spread awareness and provide care to the underserved. He states, “I am a big advocate for making oral health mainstream. There are so many people who don’t have access to dental care, and if they never get to a dental office, they may never know the importance of oral hygiene and how it can affect overall health.”
Danny created his Instagram dental social media platform, @doyouprophy, in January 2021. His goal is to bring awareness to the public about preventive dental measures. He also uses his platform to connect with colleagues all over the world to see what dental hygiene practices are currently being used in different regions. Danny believes the education system should include oral health within the health education curricula. He would also like to reform government and insurance policies to remove restraints to access to oral care. “We cannot and should not allow age restraints or access to care restraints based upon who provides the coverage, whether it be from a private, public, or government sector.”
The passion that Danny felt for dentistry at age 18 has only grown over the years. He states, “I haven’t had a change of career or a desire for another career. Being a dental hygienist is something I am passionate about.” He is channeling that passion to reach out to others. If you would like to connect with Danny, email him at [email protected] or follow him on Instagram at @doyouprophy.
Congratulations, Danny Diaz, and welcome to the RDH Community Connections (RCC) dental hygiene influencer program!
References
- Dental hygienist statistics and facts in the US. Zippia. https://www.zippia.com/dental-hygienist-jobs/demographics/
- Dental hygiene by the numbers. American Dental Education Association. https://www.adea.org/GoDental/Future_Dental_Hygienists/Dental_hygiene_by_the_numbers.aspx
- Program surveys. Commission on Dental Accreditation. American Dental Association. https://www.ada.org/en/coda/find-a-program/program-surveys
