Public Health
Shelley Brown
"This recognition is a voice for the forgotten. It is deeply meaningful to me because it brings visibility to patients who are often overlooked—those who are homebound, medically fragile, and at risk for serious health complications due to limited access to preventive oral care.”
About Shelley
Shelley Brown is a dental educator, speaker, content creator, and mobile clinician advancing accessible, innovative dentistry. She is co-owner of Hygiene EdgeUCATORS, supporting dental educators through professional development. Since 2009, she has been adjunct faculty at the Utah College of Dental Hygiene. Shelley also founded Homebound Smiles, a mobile practice serving underserved patients across Utah. She creates educational content as Shelley_the_Hygienist on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Holding a master’s degree in instructional design, she blends clinical expertise with modern education strategies.
Winning the WDHA also highlights the vital role dental hygienists play in prevention and the need for greater autonomy, allowing us to practice to the full scope of our education. Through my educational videos I will continue to raise awareness about what dental hygienists do, why autonomy matters, and how prevention changes lives.
Her mission is simple: every person deserves access to preventive oral health care, and every dental hygienist should be empowered to practice fully, without restrictive supervision.