Monica Torres
Merced
Summary
Dedicated Dental Hygienist with 15 years of experience, specializing in enhancing patient oral health through strategic education and advanced periodontal care. Fosters a compassionate environment that builds trust and encourages proactive dental care, ensuring patients feel valued and informed. Exceptional communication skills and adaptability facilitate seamless integration into diverse dental settings, consistently advocating for patient needs and satisfaction. Committed to promoting optimal oral health outcomes through a holistic approach to patient care.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Registered Dental Hygienist
Precision Family Dentistry
2025.12 - Current
- I provide coverage for their hygienist when they are not able to come in to work or need time off.
- I am also on call for their offices in Madera, Atwater, and Chowchilla.
- Provided compassionate patient care, ensuring comfort and trust during procedures, which enhanced patient retention.
- Implemented a new patient education program, increasing awareness of oral health practices and fostering proactive care.
Registered Dental Hygienist
Daily Dental Staffing
2019.08 - 2019.11
- Delivered comprehensive hygiene care across multiple offices, boosting patient load and efficiency.
- Implemented periodontal procedures, enhancing office production and patient follow-up adherence.
- Educated patients on oral hygiene, promoting regular maintenance and improving recall rates.
- Evaluated patient treatment outcomes to identify trends, optimizing care plans and driving measurable improvements in oral health.
Registered Dental Hygienist
Royal Highlands Dental
2017.06 - 2019.02
- Streamlined patient intake processes, enhancing workflow efficiency and contributing to noticeable gains in overall patient satisfaction.
- Fostered strong relationships with patients, creating a welcoming environment that encouraged open communication and trust.
- Monitored and analyzed patient care outcomes, implementing evidence-based practices that led to marked improvements in treatment effectiveness.
Registered Dental Hygienist
Abbey Dental
2017.01 - 2017.06
- Developed and executed comprehensive periodontal treatment programs, enhancing patient outcomes and practice profitability.
- Increased periodontal hygiene production by $400-600 per 7/10 patients, driving annual revenue growth.
- Streamlined patient record management and ensured strict adherence to patient medical history documentation and infection control protocols.
- Delivered professional teeth whitening and fluoride treatments, improving patient satisfaction.
- Enhanced scheduling efficiency by confirming and filling hygiene appointments during downtime.
Education
A.A.S. - Dental Hygiene
Fresno City College
Fresno, CA2005-06
Skills
- COMMUNICATION~ 55-90% of communication is non-verbal I not only listen to what my patients and colleagues say but also observe their nonverbal cues to assist in asking right questions and communicate necessary information
- PROBLEM SOLVING~ Abbey Dental Hired me to build their dental hygiene department within their facility By virtue of dental technologies, and patient education The patients were treated and made sure they were placed on a recall schedule Increasing patient load and driving revenue significantly Patients that were recommended periodontal treatment adjuncts also increased production substantially It was imperative the Hygienist make sure the patient was on the schedule for their recall and treatment if it was needed Growing our patient load and driving production up not only for the hygiene department but also for the dentists
- ADAPTABILITY AND FLEXIBILITY~ Working as a temporary Hygienist genuinely helped me to hone those two skills Every hygiene department and how they run their schedule can be different in many ways It was crucial that I became familiar with the staff, dental equipment, schedule, periodontal treatment adjuncts, etc At times, I was called into an office the morning of assist an office so they would keep their patient flow and not loose their hygiene production
- COMPASSION AND EMPATHY~ Working at Abbey Dental, the majority of the patients had not been treated in years Often, they would express shame and embarrassment I would empathize with them and help them reframe their situation by praising them for having the courage for seeking treatment
Certification
- LASER CERTIFICATION
- Laser Certification Course
- Dec 2016
- California Dental Hygiene License
- License #22265
- Dec 2005 — Feb 2026
LANGUAGES
Spanish (Native).
TIME GAP IN WORK HISTORY
- TIME AWAY FROM HYGIENE
- As you review my work history you will see a time gap. This was due to three factors:
- ~ My high risk twin pregnancy
- ~ Prolonged postpartum complications
- ~ The covid pandemic.
- Due to those reasons, I decided to stay home with my twin daughters. During that time, I kept up with my continuing education keeping my license active. Reading dental journals to keep my self updated. I also read and studied psychology and human behavior as a hobby. Pondered on how to implement this information to better communicate and understand the dental patient. Relocated back to California in 2022. My Daughters are now five years old and loving school making it a perfect time to join the work force once more.
Timeline
Registered Dental Hygienist
Precision Family Dentistry
2025.12 - Current
Registered Dental Hygienist
Daily Dental Staffing
2019.08 - 2019.11
Registered Dental Hygienist
Royal Highlands Dental
2017.06 - 2019.02
Registered Dental Hygienist
Abbey Dental
2017.01 - 2017.06
A.A.S. - Dental Hygiene
Fresno City College