For Seidy Lainez-Zuniga, being a dental hygienist is about more than helping people achieve healthy smiles; it’s about providing a safe space for care.

“I was drawn into the field because of all the opportunities to help others, especially as a Spanish speaker,” Lainez-Zuniga said.

Lainez-Zuniga didn’t always know that dental hygiene was her calling; she originally planned to go into nursing. What she did know was that she wanted to care for people in need and make a difference. However, as she neared the end of high school, she began to reconsider her path.

“I knew I wanted to go into healthcare, but I wasn’t in love with nursing,” Lainez-Zuniga explained. “The people around me kept telling me how important it is to pursue something you’re truly passionate about or else you’re going to get burnt out quickly.”

After graduating high school, Lainez-Zuniga found herself working at a dental office as a front desk coordinator while taking her pre-requisite classes. She also trained as a dental assistant. While there, she learned about the role of a dental hygienist.

“There is a lack of awareness of the role of dental hygienists. Patients often assume we are either the dental assistant or dentist.” ,” she said. “I myself was unaware until my experience in private practice, where I was able to observe what a hygienist does. I realized that this was what I wanted to do.”

As the only dental school in the Commonwealth of Virginia, VCU School of Dentistry offers the unique opportunity to train their hygiene students alongside their dental student counterparts. The program is only one of two in the state that offers a Bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene, as opposed to the Associate’s Degree offered elsewhere. With a Bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene, graduating students have increased exposure to the different specialties of dentistry, experience in research and increased career opportunities. 

To Lainez-Zuniga, applying to VCU’s dental hygiene program was no question.

While at VCU, Lainez-Zuniga spent her time getting involved with multiple student organizations in addition to her class and clinical requirements. She began to shine as a leader amongst her peers as a member of the ADEA Go Dental Advisory Committee, which introduces high school and undergraduate students to careers in dentistry and provides the resources they need to stand out in the admissions process. 

“I love being involved with ADEA as I would have greatly benefited from their resources. ” Lainez-Zuniga said. “I didn’t even know dental hygiene was an option for me. It’s really meaningful to be able to show that path to others and give them the opportunity to start down it sooner in life than I did.”

Lainez-Zuniga also was an active member of the Hispanic Student Dental Association and the Student Chapter of the American Dental Hygiene Association while at VCU. As a community health chair, she was involved in events such as Give Kids a Smile.  She described traveling to an ADHA conference in New Orleans as being one of the highlights of her dental hygiene education.There she was able to network with dental hygienists from across the country, as well as learn techniques to become a better clinician.

In addition to her dedication, passion and positive attitude, Lainez-Zuniga brought something extraordinarily valuable to the clinics and many organizations she volunteered for: fluency in Spanish.

Lainez-Zuniga first realized the importance of having a Spanish interpreter on hand when she was working as a dental assistant.

“A lot of private practices unfortunately don’t have readily accessible Spanish interpreters and translations for their patients,” Lainez-Zuniga said. 

Over 41 million people in the United States speak Spanish as their first language, according to Forbes. Lainez-Zuniga learned that only a small percentage of dental hygienists and dentists are fluent in Spanish.

While working as a dental assistant, Lainez-Zuniga saw firsthand how important it is for Spanish-speaking patients to have easy communication and understanding while receiving dental care. She described seeing the relief on a patient’s face when they realized that someone in the office could understand them as being one of the most rewarding aspects of her job.

“There is already so much anxiety involved during a dental visit,” Lainez-Zuniga said. “Imagine the added fear of not being able to understand the treatment you need or being able to ask questions due to a language barrier.” 

Lainez-Zuniga served as a Spanish language interpreter throughout her time in dental hygiene school. Whether it be through sharing laughs and offering reassurance to kids at Gives Kids A Smile, explaining treatment options to patients in the clinics or teaching her fellow students phrases in Spanish, Lainez-Zuniga worked hard to create a safe space for patients.

Dental hygiene school was not without its challenges. Lainez-Zuniga found mentorship and support in Heather Tuthill, M.P.H., R.D.H., senior dental hygiene clinical coordinator and assistant professor. The two bonded over a shared passion for helping patients and understanding the importance of communication.

“Seidy leads with empathy, and that alone sets her apart,” Tuthill said. “Her unwavering commitment to her community, especially the Hispanic community, shows a level of purpose that can’t be taught—it comes from within. It is inspiring and deeply needed.”

Tuthill noted the dignity that Lainez-Zuniga was able to give her patients through Spanish interpretation and translation.

“When a patient hears someone speak their language—especially in a clinical setting—it builds trust, understanding, and comfort. For many in the Hispanic community, navigating healthcare can be intimidating or isolating,” Tuthill explained. “When a provider speaks Spanish, it says, ‘I see you. I respect you. I’m here for you.’ Seidy bridges the gap for her patients, and the hygiene field needs more voices like hers to make care more inclusive, accessible and human.”

Staying true to her desire to help others and make a difference in her community, Lainez-Zuniga will be going into the public health field and working in a free clinic post-graduation.

“Public health really aligns with my goals and lets me focus on a patients’ needs without the obstacles of insurance and finances,” Lainez-Zuniga said. “I’m really excited to be able to give back to the community and continue to help people in need.”

“Watching Seidy grow over the past two years has truly been one of the most rewarding parts of my role,” Tuthill said. “She came into the program with a quiet determination, and over time, I’ve seen her blossom into a confident, compassionate and driven professional. It’s just the beginning of a beautiful journey for her.”