Peggy Revell
Local businesswomen Dawn Gustafson has been recognized with an “Enterprising Women” award by the PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise.
“I just think it’s neat that I was actually recognized because it’s such a new concept—independent dental hygiene,” noted Gustafson, whose business, LifetimeSmiles Preventative Oral Health Care, opened here in December, 2009 and is the only independent dental hygiene practice in Rainy River District.
Gustafson was recognized in the “New Business” category for the awards, alongside nine other women in different categories.
“Starting up a business like [LifetimeSmiles], it’s very new to Canada, to Ontario,” she remarked.
It’s only been since 2007 that dental hygienists have been able to set up as an independent business outside of a dental practice setting, and there are various government regulations and parameters in place that Independent Dental Hygienists (IDHs) have to follow.
“It’s something that you just don’t do alone. You have to have other people to help you,” Gustafson noted, adding that when she first set up her practice, she had help and advice from dental hygienists in southern Ontario who already had started to set up their own practice.
“For me, the dental hygiene part is easy because I’ve been doing it for so long,” she said. “But the business part is all new, and every day I learn something new about business.”
Gustafson was nominated for the award by the local Business Women’s Network, which wrote on her nomination form that she “is offering one facet of health care in an area of the province where there is a need for health-care professionals.”
With its “lower than traditional fees for services and extended hours,” Gustafson’s business helps to provide preventive oral health care to people with reduced incomes or those without dental benefits, the nomination also noted.
“Knowing that science has linked periodontal [gum] disease to health issues such as heart and lung disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s Disease, as well as premature and low-weight births, dental hygiene services are essential to the overall health of individuals and essential to the community and district,” it added.
Gustafson said many people don’t regularly have their mouth examined and treated on a regular basis due to fear, the cost, or lack of knowledge on the importance of good oral health.
“That’s the whole reason for independent dental hygienists—to increase access to the public for oral health care,” she stressed.
“A lot of people don’t realize how important it is.”
This prevention is important when it comes to issues like tooth decay and gum disease, she said.
“Some people wait until they have pain, and that’s not always a good idea because then the problem can be a lot bigger than if you had prevented it or caught it [early on],” she reasoned.
As part of this push to make oral health care more accessible, Gustafson currently is a part of a pilot project in Ontario which sees IDHs working to bring their services to First Nation communities, both at their offices and by going to the communities themselves.
“That’s important because a lot of times [for] people from those areas, it’s difficult to make it to the towns,” she noted.
And Gustafson is optimistic about the future of her business.
“I do see it growing. Of course, I’m all welcome for that,” she remarked. “I do hope that it grows enough that the public is aware of the independent dental hygienists and what they can offer.
“We’re a service to the community so that people have an alternate avenue to better themselves health-wise.”
To receive her award, Gustafson travelled to Thunder Bay on Nov. 8 for a day-long event along with the other recipients, where they attended workshops.
There also was a luncheon keynote speaker, Vancouver businesswoman Heather White, who appears on the television show, “The Cupcake Girls,” which gives a glimpse into running a small business.
“It was interesting to see how many women do have their own businesses—especially small businesses or growing businesses,” said Gustafson.
