Today we’d like to introduce you to Shariffa Edwards.
Hi Shariffa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello there!
Though I am a woman that wears many different hats, today I want to focus on my journey as a Registered Dental Hygienist and proud mother of 3 beautiful children. I began working in the realm of dentistry in 2007 shortly after I gave birth to my oldest son. I started as a dental assistant, but decided in 2010 to return to school to study for dental hygiene. My children were my biggest motivating factor for the decision alongside my passion for giving back to my community.
In 2014 I graduated my program and began practicing dental hygiene in Seattle, WA. In 2018 I moved to Austin, TX with my 3 children and my journey continued. Today I look back and graciously count 18 years of being a dental professional and mom to 3 of the most amazing human beings I know.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course the road was lumpy, bumpy, twisty and rugged! But that’s what makes the straight paths that much more sweet. Life forced me to take some detours along the way; divorce, relocation, being a single mother, the loss of my own mother. Nonetheless, each detour redirected me to my destiny. Pursing Dental Hygiene helped me demonstrate to my children how to stay the course and show up for yourself. Seeing their mother achieve professional goals despite life’s obstacles, reinforced the promise that they too, can achieve anything they put their minds to. Together as a family, as one unit, we made it through some very difficult times. Now my oldest is preparing to depart for his freshman year as a University student, my daughter is a high school senior and my youngest son a sophomore. They may also face their own set of obstacles and detours. But I pray that the roadmap of my earlier years will be a compass for their own journeys. If they can just trust the process, they shall also arrive at the doorstep of their individual destinies.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
So as I stated earlier, I am a Registered Dental Hygienist. I have practiced dental hygiene for the last 11 years in both Washington State and Texas. Some areas I specialize in include delivery of local anesthetic via infiltration (TX), dental laser
therapy, Integrative and holistic dental hygiene practices, and periodontal therapy. Patients often compliment my calm and compassionate bedside manner, expert knowledge of the field and overall pleasant and professional demeanor. I am also a traveling hygienist, so I practice in various different offices 2 days out of the week, depending on my schedule and market need. Some days you may even find me humming my favorite tune while scaling away calculus. This often leads to patient conversations about my hobbies outside of the office segueing into my life as a recording artist and lead vocalist of a local band.
I love serving my community through dental hygiene because it’s so much more than just “cleaning teeth”. Oftentimes we become counselors, therapists, educators and healers all within an hour appointment slot. We empower patients in ways that extend beyond the dental setting , further reinforcing my reason for choosing this profession. I truly love what I do and how it helps me be a blessing to others.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Believe it or not, I get asked this question quite often being that I am a transplant. I always say that Austin drew me in with it’s small town vibe and big city opportunities. Austin is definitely becoming one of the hottest cities in America within the world of tech, music and real estate. Because of it’s attractiveness in those sectors, more progressive thinking, growth and diversity are inevitable. These are all good things! Austin manages to preserve much of it’s charm while still allowing growth and expansion; something that many cities struggle to balance; another great quality! But if I have to list something I like least about the city…like any other major city in America… it’s the traffic!
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