Luminita Dica, RDH, has been named a 2024 Sunstar RDH Award of Distinction winner. She operates Lumi’s Dental Hygiene Care, an independent dental hygiene clinic serving the Kitchener–Waterloo area.
Dica graduated from a dental hygiene program in 2008 after returning to school from a previous career as a dental assistant. Since then, patients have come to know her not only for her clinical excellence but also for her charitable work — including her annual fundraiser for the Kidney Foundation of Canada and her ongoing pro bono services each month.
Her practice has earned several honours, including the 2020 Diamond Award and the Record Reader’s Choice Awards in 2015 and 2016.
1. Your journey from dental assistant to award-winning hygienist and practice owner is truly inspiring. What motivated you to open your own dental hygiene clinic, and how did you know it was the right time to take that leap?
As a child, I always played with my dolls pretending I was a dentist. I loved the smell of a dental office. As a 7-year-old, I was mixing crushed aspirin with toothpaste, using my mom’s crochet hooks, on a little square of thick glass, and I placed fillings on my dolls’ cheeks.
Growing up in Romania, which was then a communist country, after graduating high school I didn’t pass the entrance exam for Medical University. Only on my third try, based on my marks, I entered the faculty of pharmacy instead of dentistry. I was already married at that time, and my husband wanted to emigrate to Canada. To get the visa, I had to change careers — I quit university, took a three-month college course to become a computer programmer assistant and worked one year to prove my skills. That’s how we arrived in Canada in 1995.
I wasn’t familiar with the profession of a dental hygienist. My first dental cleanings in Canada were very painful. Every time it was a new dental hygienist cleaning my teeth. I hated it. Until one day, a new dental hygienist came in and there was no bleeding and no pain at all. I wanted to kiss her hands. She wasn’t young. I told her I could tell she had a lot of experience — but she told me she had just graduated three months earlier. I was shocked. She is my inspiration, and because of her, I am a successful dental hygienist today.
I went to school at 38 years old with a husband and two children. I needed my mom’s help, so she came from Romania to cook, clean and take care of my children. Unfortunately, after three weeks, she passed away. She had a brain aneurysm we didn’t know about.
In September 2007, a new law passed that allowed people to open independent dental hygiene practices, and I said out loud in my class, “That will be me.” I worked for three years as a dental hygienist alongside successful dentists. One day, I had to clean an older lady’s teeth — she was a widow with a very small pension, and her daughter was paying for her treatment. With X-rays and consultation, her bill was high, and she had to come back for fine scaling.
I felt sorry for her and asked the dentist if I could clean her teeth during my lunch hour for free, and that she wouldn’t need to pay me. She said, “NO!” because “we are not doing charity work.” That was the moment I decided it was the right time to open my own practice and help people in need.
2. You’ve built a thriving practice with more than 2,500 patients — an incredible milestone. What do you think has been the key to growing and maintaining such a loyal client base?
Today, I have more than 2,700 patients and still growing. Some clients have moved out of the country or province, but when they visit Kitchener, they make sure to book a dental cleaning appointment with me.
I LOVE my job, and my patients feel my passion and dedication for building a good rapport so we can work together to improve and maintain their oral health. The success of my practice is the glowing smile of my happy clients. If you are in this business only for the money, clients will sense that.
3. Many of your patients describe your clinic as a “spa-like” experience that feels relaxing and empowering. How intentional was that approach, and why do you think that kind of environment matters in oral health care?
I was determined to build a beautiful practice with brand-new, top-of-the-line equipment and create a calm, relaxing atmosphere for my clients and gain their trust. I keep my office clean and fresh. When people walk in, they are very impressed.
4. You’ve also given back extensively — from offering free monthly prophies to organizing charity days for the Kidney Foundation of Canada. What drives your commitment to community service, and how has that shaped your professional philosophy?
Since I had that older widow in my chair and couldn’t help her, I promised myself I would help as much as I could once I had my own practice. I started with Gift From the Heart in 2013 on Valentine’s Day, but the need was higher than what I could offer in one day. Fourteen people were booked from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in 2013. In the following years, only 10 people per year benefited from the program.
Starting in 2018, I decided to do free cleanings every month for people struggling financially — 3–4 free cleanings per month, and this year, with so many job losses, 5–6 per month. The BEST part is that some clients don’t know it’s free until the appointment is over. Their tears and their smiles are priceless when they see the invoice: GIFT FROM THE HEART — $0.00.
The charity event for the Kidney Foundation of Canada began in October 2015 when I reduced the price for an hour-long cleaning to $100, and 10 people without dental benefits paid cash so $1,000 could be donated in memory of my mom, who had only one kidney. Total donations reached $11,000 as of this October. In 2020, during pandemic restrictions, the price increased to $125 and eight clients were treated that day.
My clients are very thankful and happy to participate in supporting the cause.
5. As an independent dental hygienist, you’ve invested in advanced technologies like Airflow and lasers to enhance patient comfort. What advice would you give to other hygienists considering upgrading equipment or expanding services?
Before purchasing equipment, I research, read reviews, take courses and ask questions because I want the best technology on the market. I like to treat people the way I like to be treated. If I go to a professional, I want a modern and clean environment with the best equipment possible. I strongly recommend investing in top-of-the-line equipment — clients appreciate being treated with the best.
6. Independent practice ownership in dental hygiene is still relatively new in Canada. What challenges did you face in setting up your practice, and what changes would you like to see to support independent hygienists?
It wasn’t an easy path, as many people asked if I had a dentist in my office. I also had issues with dental insurance companies and sending claims. Today, things are easier. Most people prefer to see an independent dental hygienist because it’s quieter — no drills, no crying, no pressure.
7. You’ve earned several awards, but you’ve said patient satisfaction is the ultimate recognition. Can you share a memorable patient story that still motivates you today?
My clients nominate me for different awards and vote for me. I am honoured by their trust and appreciation. Some take photos of their teeth before we start and another after we finish. It’s rewarding to hear their amazement at how much shinier and whiter their teeth look.
I have a client who is a pilot in Toronto. He would drive from Toronto to Kitchener for his cleanings and laser treatments. He wrote a review saying that no matter where his job takes him, he will always “fly back to Lumi.” I was in tears when I read it.
8. Outside your professional life, what do you enjoy doing for fun or relaxation?
I love spending time with my family, cooking Romanian dishes and cakes, going to church every Sunday and travelling back to Romania and Europe. I also enjoy cleaning and decorating my house.
You can find Luminita Dica on Instagram.