Redefining the Dental Hygiene Career Path: From Clinical Practice to Cancer Research
From detecting oral cancer biomarkers in laboratory settings to conducting breakthrough clinical trials, one dental hygienist is shattering the perception that RDHs are confined to scaling teeth and charting periodontal pockets. On a recent episode of The Dental Handoff podcast, Dr. Kelly Tanner interviewed Brooke Benton, RDH, B.Sc., whose journey from aspiring dentist to pioneering oral cancer researcher at NYU's Translational Research Center reveals how dental hygiene expertise can forge unexpected and potentially life-saving pathways in healthcare.
When Dental School Plans Lead to a Different Calling
Like many hygienists, Brooke's journey began with different intentions. "I actually had aspirations to become a dentist," she explains. "I was the weird child that always liked going to the dentist. I was never freaked out by it. I wanted to have the mirror. I wanted to see everything that was happening."
After completing her Bachelor of Science in biology and chemistry, Brooke took her dental aptitude test in Canada. When her scores weren't as competitive as she'd hoped, she made what she thought would be a temporary detour.
"I thought, I know I love the field of dentistry. I'm going to apply for hygiene. I can do that for a year, retake my DAT, and then I'll probably go to dental school," she recalls. The plan was to gain insider knowledge about dentistry while becoming a more competitive applicant.
But something unexpected happened during her first year of hygiene school—she fell completely in love with the profession. "I said, forget dentistry. Who needs that stress? I want to be connecting with my patients," Brooke shares. She quickly recognized that dental hygiene offered something beyond the common misconception of "just cleaning teeth."
Blending Clinical Practice with a Researcher's Mindset
Even during her dental hygiene education, Brooke's curiosity led her down a parallel path. While completing her three-year program, she worked as a research assistant in a hospital, conducting systematic reviews on stroke and acquired brain injury.
"I've always loved research. I've always had this inquisitive mind and wanted to get to the bottom of things," she explains. This dual interest allowed her to craft a unique career after graduation—working four days in clinical practice and one day in research.
After finding the corporate dental environment misaligned with her personal goals, Brooke transitioned to a smaller rural practice serving a predominantly Mennonite population. This setting presented new challenges, including language barriers and cultural differences around preventive care that resulted in high rates of decay.
"That was a whole new experience coming from an urban setting where the population was mostly looking for cosmetic products," she notes. "I really enjoyed my dual role as hygienist and researcher."
Navigating Career Identity Through Major Life Changes
In 2019, Brooke's career path took an unexpected turn when she and her husband relocated to Manhattan for his postdoctoral work in neuroscience at Columbia University. This international move meant she couldn't immediately practice as a hygienist in the United States.
"As a working woman, and as somebody who works so hard to get that career—it's not an easy program—I wear that as a badge of honor," Brooke reflects. "I felt that [being a hygienist] really was part of my identity."
Finding herself unable to practice clinically due to visa restrictions, Brooke initially maintained her Canadian research position remotely. Eventually, seeking greater connection to her new community, she accepted a position at Columbia University conducting Alzheimer's research.
When the COVID-19 pandemic further disrupted her work environment, Brooke faced another pivot point. "I loved research, but I was missing that piece of dentistry, that piece of hygiene," she explains. This led her to discover an opportunity at NYU College of Dentistry's Translational Research Center, where she now studies oral cancer.
Since joining NYU, Brooke has obtained her New York dental hygiene license, allowing her role to expand beyond pure research. "I'm not only doing that clinical research piece, but I'm also working in the capacity of hygiene," she says. Her current work includes conducting oral examinations for studies on squamous cell carcinoma and pre-cancer patients, as well as research examining low-income pregnant women's utilization of dental and healthcare services.
Transferable Skills: The Hygienist as Researcher
When asked if she ever imagined her career taking this direction, Brooke laughs. "Absolutely not. I think there's just like a traditional path that most people see themselves falling into—I'm gonna do my program, get a great job in an office, and that's how I'm gonna go."
What makes hygienists particularly well-suited for research roles? According to Brooke, the same qualities make for excellent clinical practitioners: "A lot of us hygienists are very meticulous, very detail-oriented, perfectionist, type A. And that can lend itself to many different careers."
The transition to research felt natural to her because of these shared skill requirements. "The level of organization and attention to detail I have to bring to everything that I do in my day-to-day work felt very natural to me and kind of an easy segue."
But beyond the technical abilities, Brooke emphasizes that the human connection skills she developed as a hygienist remain valuable in research. "The great thing about clinical research is that I still get that patient interaction. It's so important to come to a situation and really hear people's stories and really understand what they're experiencing and going through, not just looking at it through a lens of sterility. And I think as hygienists, we do that really, really well."
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome to Forge a New Path
Like many professionals stepping outside traditional roles, Brooke faced moments of self-doubt. "It's so easy to fall into that sometimes negative headspace and say, well, what do I have to say? What do I have to offer? What do I have to contribute?"
The breakthrough came when she began reframing her thinking: "Understanding and trying to reframe your thought process to say, how can I utilize what I have and just build on that and put it in a different context? It's okay that it doesn't look exactly how I thought it was going to. How are we going to make the best of the situation and use it to grow?"
This growth mindset has enabled Brooke to pursue opportunities she never imagined, including a master's degree in clinical research at NYU rather than the public health path she originally envisioned. "I didn't even know that was an option that was available, and it's going to serve me so well in my future."
Groundbreaking Research with Practical Applications
Currently, Brooke works on several important research initiatives. One government-funded trial is investigating the off-label use of metformin—a common diabetes medication—to potentially halt or improve the progression of precancerous oral lesions.
"Squamous cell carcinoma has a five-year survival rate of only forty percent. It's one of the worst in the body," Brooke explains. "How wonderful would it be if we could get this FDA-approved drug that is on the market, easily prescribed, with very little side effects to the patient... and not have that lesion progress to a cancerous lesion?"
Her team's goal is to develop accessible screening tools for dental professionals—perhaps a chairside saliva test, swab, or finger-prick test that could identify high-risk patients. "You may have a hygienist that's not very confident with their oral exam of precancerous lesions, but if you have something quantifiable, then it's accessible. It's going to make a huge difference."
Another study focuses on identifying biomarkers associated with oral cancers. "We're looking at the biomarkers that are affiliated with those types of cancers to see if there's something to predict this, in hopes of being able to get in there before the lesion progresses and before it goes to chemo, radiation, surgery."
Looking Toward the Future of the Profession
While Brooke is passionate about her current role, she's already envisioning her next career evolution after completing her master's degree in May 2025. "I would really like to try my hand at education. I think that it's something that I could be really good at, something that I could share my story and help other people progress in their career and find that same joy, love, and passion for the profession of dental hygiene."
Her ideal future combines education with ongoing research—a multifaceted career that reflects her diverse interests. "I've just discovered about myself that I thrive and flourish when I'm presented with lots of different experiences and opportunities."
For hygienists contemplating their own career paths, Brooke offers encouragement: "To anybody watching who maybe is at a crossroads in their career or their life and they're not sure how they're going to come back from this or what to do next, just try and just go for it. Positivity will come your way. Believe in yourself. It may not look how you expected it to, but good things are coming your way. Just keep that tenacity and that open mind."
Through Brooke's story, we glimpse the expanding horizons of dental hygiene—a profession where clinical expertise can lead to groundbreaking research, education, and unexpected opportunities for those willing to embrace them.
Keywords: Dental hygiene research, oral cancer research, dental career alternatives, clinical research, NYU Translational Research Center, cancer biomarkers, dental hygiene education, metformin trials, precancerous lesions, dental research, non-traditional dental hygiene, squamous cell carcinoma, dental career evolution