Hygiene Spotlight features an exceptional dental hygienist every month. This month we are showcasing Kevin Ohashi Lopez, MHA, BSDH, RDH. Kevin is a clinician, international speaker, author, educator, and influencer in dental hygiene. He is a recipient of the 2024 Sunstar/RDH Award of Distinction.
Your passion for dental hygiene is clear. In one Instagram post, you called precision hygiene after minimally invasive care the “chef’s kiss.” Can you share how you discovered this passion and why you chose this profession?
My passion for hygiene started as a way to keep a door open while I was chasing performance. The school I applied to was right next to Disneyland, where I had started auditioning. At some point I gave in and went for hygiene school, and that is where I found something I did not expect: a genuine love for preventive dentistry. I quickly realized it was not just about cleaning teeth. It was a complete approach to the patient that made me feel like a true healthcare clinician. As I advanced in my career and learned more about precision and minimally invasive care, it clicked for me as artistry. Hygiene became the perfect mix of science, human connection, and my love for performance, and it gave me a profession where I could create a real and lasting impact.
You’ve achieved remarkable milestones in education at a young age. What steps or decisions helped you build such a strong foundation so early in your career?
It really helped that I had multiple mentors early on. I credit so much of my growth to watching how they navigated the profession. For me, observing them was like a master class. At the same time, I knew I had to be strategic in the way I moved. I treated my career almost the same way I once treated performing. It felt like audition after audition, where you show up, give your best, and keep going no matter the outcome. That mindset pushed me to say yes to opportunities, to take risks, and to not let setbacks stop me. The combination of mentorship and persistence built the foundation I stand on today.
For young hygienists considering a career in education, what advice would you offer them about breaking into teaching and mentoring?
I think it is important to gain perspective by not only traveling but also experiencing patients in all kinds of dental practices. That variety gives you a well-roundedness that strengthens your clinical skills and opens the door to teaching and mentoring. Education does not have to happen overnight. It comes with time and experience, and it grows from the willingness to share what you have learned. I truly believe it is important to give back to the profession in this way, because teaching and mentoring help shape the next generation of hygienists.
Did you always envision this path for yourself? How does where you are now align with the vision you had earlier in your career?
I initially did not imagine this for my career. As hygiene students, we were told there were alternative paths in sales and research, but I did not see myself in those roles. What shifted for me was when I decided to start @kevstalksteeth and started speaking for Sanders Board Prep. That was when I started to realize, “this could actually be something”. I think back to a class I had in hygiene school where we studied the book Ikigai. My instructor and I saw even then that my path had to find a way to merge my love for performing with my newfound love for dentistry. Today I can honestly say I get to live that, and I am so grateful that I truly love all that I do!
As a male in a female-dominated profession, what has your experience been like? Do you think more can be done to encourage men to pursue careers in dental hygiene?
Clinically, I think some patients assumed that as a male I would be heavy-handed, and I was able to debunk that quickly. Outside of the operatory, I did have moments of fear that being male might mean I would not be welcomed, or that I might take away opportunities from my female colleagues. What I found instead was the opposite. I admire this field because it is driven by the strength and talent of women, and I feel humbled that they opened their arms to me and became my mentors. If anything, the only “mean” comment I ever received was from another male, who once said, “There are only two guys here, and the other one is a girl.” But honestly, the women are winning in this profession, so I take that as a compliment. I do believe more can be done to encourage men to pursue careers in dental hygiene, not only by increasing representation but also by showing how men can support and uplift the profession alongside women.
What did teaching clinicians in Japan teach you about collaboration and the future of hygiene?
Cross-cultural collaboration is so needed in our profession. We can learn so much from each other when we open the door to sharing knowledge globally. Teaching in Japan showed me that while I assumed they were far ahead because of their early adoption of technology, they were not as advanced in certain areas such as instrumentation. At the same time, it reminded me that in the United States we need to be more open-minded in adopting new evidence-based modalities, rather than clinging to the idea of “this is how we have always done it.” Looking at the future of hygiene from a global perspective, I see two possibilities. We could become complacent and allow the profession to dim, or we could come together, align our goals, and shine brighter than ever by striving to do better for our patients.
Where do you see the biggest opportunities for innovation in dental hygiene in the next five years?
In the next five years I see the biggest opportunities for innovation in our profession coming from letting go of the idea that scaling is the centerpiece of what we do. Innovation means embracing a total-health approach to patient care. We are already seeing advancements in expanded scopes of practice and those are exciting. But what I am most looking forward to is seeing dental hygienists at the table in true interdisciplinary conversations with other healthcare professionals. When we are part of that dialogue, patients gain access to a more complete healthcare team, and that is where we can make the most impact.
Outside of your professional life, what do you enjoy doing for fun or relaxation?
I love traveling as much as the next person, but what I really enjoy is going back to Japan, where I lived for a few years. I also treasure the quality time I spend with my family in San Francisco, whether we are playing pickleball or singing together at church. And when I am not doing that, you can usually find me getting my steps in at Disneyland!
You can find Kevin at @kevstalksteeth and kevstalksteeth.com.