Powering smiles through prevention: Celebrating the Hygienists behind the work
When most people think about a dental visit, they often picture the dentist. But behind every healthy smile is also another essential professional: the dental hygienist.
Dental hygienists are prevention specialists. They clean teeth, apply fluoride, place sealants, screen for early signs of disease, and educate patients about daily oral care. They are often the first to spot potential problems, and the first to help stop them before they start.
A commitment to prevention in South Dakota
At Delta Dental, the belief is simple: everyone deserves a healthy smile. The mission of the Delta Dental of South Dakota Foundation is centered on powering South Dakotans’ smiles, and prevention is at the heart of that effort.
Cavities, gum disease, and many oral health complications don’t have to happen. With the right education, tools, and early care, they can often be avoided altogether. That’s why dental hygienists are true prevention heroes, dedicated individuals working to prevent oral health problems before they occur.
The Foundation employs four full-time and two part-time dental hygienists, serving as community-based prevention specialists. Together, they bring 195 years of combined experience to communities across the state of South Dakota. Their work takes them everywhere, from a mobile dental truck to portable clinics set up in schools, from community health fairs to some of the most rural corners of South Dakota. They serve communities as small as Norris on the Rosebud Reservation to larger cities like Sioux Falls.
What prevention looks like in action
Delta Dental of South Dakota hygienists work to provide the best overall health by:
- Providing direct preventive care to children in schools
- Applying fluoride varnish (FV) and placing dental sealants
- Teaching students how to properly brush and floss using tools like our toothbrushing charts
- Educating families at health and benefit fairs about the importance of oral health
- Training medical providers and students about the connection between oral health and overall health through our program Partners for Prevention
- Introducing young students to career opportunities in dentistry
The impact: More than just a number
In 2025 alone, clinical hygienists with the Delta Dental of South Dakota Foundation provided $1,243,942 in preventive care to 2,770 children across the state.
Not only were preventive services provided, but the countless hours of educational conversations, classroom lessons, provider trainings, and community presentations given by our hygienists, also represent a considerable investment in the oral health of fellow South Dakotans.
How the community can help
Prevention works best when everyone participates. There are simple ways to support the work of dental hygienists and strengthen oral health across South Dakota:
- Say thank you. A handwritten note or small gesture of appreciation goes a long way.
- Encourage good habits at home — brushing twice daily and flossing every day.
- Visit a dental hygienist and dentist twice a year for preventive care.
- Share what you’ve learned about oral health with others.
When families, providers, schools, and communities work together, prevention becomes powerful.
Dental hygienists may not always be in the spotlight, but they are essential to keeping South Dakotans smiling. Through education, early intervention, and unwavering commitment, they are helping ensure that healthy smiles are not a privilege, but a possibility for everyone. And that is something worth celebrating!