Day in the Life of Breanne Moran

Recent grad, hygienist, DH Alumni Chapter Executive member, and accreditation member at the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada

01 May 2020

When did you graduate from the U of A?
I graduated with my diploma in Dental Hygiene in 2017 and promptly continued to complete the DH degree specialization in 2018.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
Currently, I dedicate most of my career to clinical practice as a dental hygienist at a clinic in Leduc. It's been a pure joy fostering impactful relationships with my patients and seeing their oral and overall health improve as an outcome. I continue to grow clinically and professionally and love the challenges and rewards that come with the job.

Another way I like to stay involved and engaged in the DH community is through volunteering as an executive member of the DH Alumni Chapter. It's gratifying work, and I appreciate how our events, bursaries and initiatives impact our alumni's lives. We aim to foster a community through which DH students, new graduates, our long-standing alumni members, and our alma mater are connected.

I am also privileged to represent DH students at the national accreditation level. For the last three years, I have been learning the inner workings of the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada and played a role in reviewing and conferring accreditation status to DH educational institutions across the country.

Since graduating, I have enjoyed discovering hobbies I love outside of the academic world. I consider myself to be a nature and outdoors enthusiast and wannabe environmentalist. In my spare time, you'll find me mountain biking, backpacking, backcountry skiing, skating, and snowshoeing. I even aspire to acquire mountaineering and avalanche training skills to venture deeper into the wild. Rain, snow, or shine, you'll find me outdoors!

What did you want to be when you were a kid?
My path to becoming a dental hygienist was not linear. When I was a kid, I wanted to become nearly everything — a lack of interest was never an issue. In high school, I thought I became more decisive with aspirations to become a veterinarian. I started university taking animal biology and agriculture courses and spent most of my time volunteering on farms. However, a job in a dental office setting was always something on my mind. I owe credit to my mother for persistently and enthusiastically encouraging me to become a dentist when I was a kid. Oddly enough, I loved the dental office and even gave my dental hygienist a gift when I was six years old. I thought I would make my mother proud and outdo her suggestion by becoming a dental hygienist!

Do you have a dental hero?
I have many dental heroes, but for the sake of this question, I'll name an academic hero. While completing my baccalaureate degree, I was exposed to a thought-provoking series of scholarly papers focusing on inequity and disparity in oral health written by Dr. Joanna Asadoorian, an oral health educator and researcher at George Brown College. I found her intelligent, insightful and reflective. I admire her dedication to advance health and innovation in education.

What is your favourite thing about being a hygienist?
What I love about being a DH is the community that comes with the designation. Whether I am on campus, at a CE event, volunteering, or engaging in the community, I am amazed by the passion, care, and drive of the individuals I meet. I feel a sense of camaraderie in this profession and a collective determination to serve the public and advance our field.

What's your favourite procedure (or just a task at work) to do?
Dental hygienists are guaranteed to provide many strange answers to this question; it comes with the territory. For me, I love preventative implant maintenance, especially using the Hufriedy air polisher with erythritol powder. This tool revolutionized my fight against biofilm on implant surfaces. I assure you nothing is more satisfying than seeing it all blast away under my magnified loupe lenses!

What has this crazy time been like for you?
Initially, the shock of COVID-19 and its associated impact was hard for me to process. Significant changes came suddenly, and for many people, this meant a complete upheaval of their routines, plans, and livelihoods. March brought uncertainty and challenges. I had to completely re-envision what the coming months would look like, what my priorities were, and plot out new goals. Though it initially seemed impossible, the tests of this time led to many positive outcomes. I am connecting with friends and family more (despite the distance). I am cooking and sharing delicious meals with my partner. My cats have never been loved more, and my house never cleaner. I have discovered massive open online courses (MOOCs) to satisfy my busy brain and picked up several new hobbies. Around me, I see the creative ways people are staying connected and defying the challenges. Some commendable examples include drive-through weddings, creative socially-distanced gatherings, surprise lawn decorating for birthdays, and connecting with quarantined or at-risk loved ones through online platforms. I admire the acts of resiliency, and I'm thankful for this time to focus on my health and wellbeing.

How is your clinic?
Unfortunately, my dental office is not open during this time. We are waiting for further guidance from ADA&C and CRDHA. Collectively, we are focusing on researching evidence-based practices for aerosol management and protocol development. I am also using this time to develop an evidence-based implant maintenance protocol.

Do you have any advice for graduates?
First, I want to congratulate all the new DH graduates on their significant accomplishments! You achieved this milestone despite the uncertainties and obstacles of this tumultuous time. I hope that you are all able to celebrate your convocation in a creative fashion that has never been done before. The DH alumni welcome you to our community, a position you have all rightfully earned! I understand you may be feeling emotions of uncertainty, insecurity, and apprehension.
Although the future is not clearly defined, I hope you all take comfort in the security networks in place to protect us and know that you will be joining a field of health professionals, researchers, associations, and colleges that are working diligently to ensure our safe return to work. Growth, advancements in technology, and novel ideas are often born during periods of crisis. I hope you all find offices that support you and your entrance into this field. Congratulations!

Get to know more alumni here!