Esther Flores
Chicago,IL
Summary
Experienced Dental Professional with over 10 years as a Dental Assistant and current Dental Hygiene student expected to graduate in 2026. Expertise in general, cosmetic, endodontic, periodontal, and oral surgery procedures, combined with strong radiographic and patient education skills. Proven ability to enhance practice efficiency and foster patient relationships through comprehensive, high-quality care.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Dental Hygiene Student
Malcolm X College Dental Hygiene Clinic
Chicago, IL
01.2024 - 01.2026
- Performed dental prophylaxis, periodontal maintenance, and scaling and root planing to improve oral health outcomes for patients with varying levels of periodontal disease
- Performed comprehensive patient assessments including medical history review, periodontal charting, and risk assessments
- Provided individualized oral hygiene instruction and preventive education to empower patients in managing their oral health
- Took and interpreted dental radiographs including bitewings, periapicals, and panoramic images
- Applied fluoride treatments and dental sealants to enhance preventive care
- Detected calculus and plaque deposits using explorers and periodontal instrumentation
- Created patient-centered treatment plans and accurately documented care using electronic dental records to ensure continuity of care
- Treated diverse patient populations through community clinic rotations
Dental Assistant
Lincoln Dental Lounge
Chicago, IL
01.2021 - 01.2023
- Assisted with restorative, cosmetic, and surgical dental procedures, endodontics procedure
- Assisted chair-side during dental procedures by efficiently passing instruments and holding suction devices to support dentist's workflow.
- Took digital radiographs and panoramic radiographs
- Performed iTero digital scanning for Invisalign cases
- Took alginate and PVS impressions and bite registrations, fabricated whitening trays, adjusted nightguards
- Sterilized instruments according to established guidelines and protocols.
- Sanitized equipment, cleaned treatment rooms and restocked supplies after each patient's treatment to maintain cleanliness and prepare for next patient.
- Assisted with dental sealant placement and nitrous oxide monitoring
- Educated patients on oral hygiene practices and post-operative care to promote recovery and long-term dental health.
- Managed patient records using dental software, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality for optimal patient care.
- Monitored inventory levels of dental supplies and placed orders.
- Reviewed patient charts prior to visits to ensure that all relevant information was available for the doctor's review.
Lead Dental Assistant
Downtown Dental
Chicago, IL
01.2010 - 01.2017
- Served as lead dental assistant coordinating clinical workflow and training new staff
- Assisted dentists in general, cosmetic, endodontic, periodontal, and oral surgery procedures
- Performed CBCT scans, panoramic radiographs, and digital intraoral radiographs
- Completed iTero scans for Invisalign and restorative treatment planning
- Captured intraoral photographs for documentation and treatment planning
- Took alginate and PVS impressions and bite registrations
- Assisted with surgical procedures including extractions, implant placement, and suture removal
- Maintained infection control protocols and operatory preparation
- Managed patient appointments and optimized scheduling for seamless clinic operations.
- Prepared treatment rooms and sterilized instruments for dental procedures.
- Educated patients on effective oral hygiene practices and provided tailored post-treatment care instructions.
- Coordinated with dental lab to ensure timely and accurate processing of prosthetics and appliances.
- Trained new dental assistants on office protocols and best practices.
- Maintained inventory of dental supplies and ordered replacements.
- Implemented infection control procedures to comply with health regulations.
- Assisted in the training of new dental assistants by providing guidance on protocols and processes.
- Followed dentists' directions for giving patients desensitizing agents to prepare for anesthetic administration.
- Maintained patient charts, including medical histories, medications, and allergies.
- Educated patients on preventive oral health care practices such as brushing and flossing techniques.
- Positioned patients for treatment by making chair adjustments and prepared necessary equipment for procedures.
- Produced opposing models, study casts and impressions to provide dentists with information on relationship between teeth, gums, and dental arches.
- Escorted patients to exam rooms while making friendly conversation to prepare for cleanings and procedures.
- Explained dental services and payment plans to help patients make informed decisions.
- Educated patients on treatment procedures and post-procedure home care.
- Took preliminary impressions of patient teeth to prepare for custom impressions and fabrication of permanent dental work.
- Took bitewing, periapical, panoramic and occlusal X-rays and prepared for dentists to review.
- Organized dental instruments and equipment prior to each procedure to ensure efficiency.
Education
Associate in Applied Science - Dental Hygiene
Malcolm X College
Chicago, IL01-2026
Associate Degree - Health Sciences
Malcolm X College
Chicago, ILSkills
- Dental Prophylaxis
- Scaling and Root Planing
- Periodontal Maintenance
- Calculus Detection
- Calculus removal
- Periodontal Charting
- Periodontal charting
- Preventive Dentistry
- Oral Hygiene Instruction
- Hygiene PVS Impressions
- Patient Assessment
- Patient assessments
- Radiographic Interpretation
- Digital Dental Radiography
- Dental Radiography
- CBCT Imaging
- Panoramic Radiographs
- Nomad Handheld X-ray
- Infection Control
- Infection control
- Dental Sealants
- Dental Sealant Placement
- Fluoride Treatments
- ITero Digital Scanning
- ITero scanning
- Invisalign Scanning
- Intraoral Photography
- Alginate Impressions
- Dental Radiography
- Bite Registrations
- Electronic Dental Records
- EDR documentation
- Treatment Planning
- Case presentation
- Spanish Translation
Certification
- NBDHE Candidate, 03/26
- Illinois Dental Hygiene Licensure Expected, 06/26
- Local Anesthesia Certification
- Nitrous Oxide Monitoring Certification
Volunteer Experience
- National Kidney Foundation
- Chicago Family Health Center
- Howard Brown Health Center
- UIC Community Clinic
- GiGi’s Playhouse
Languages
- English
- Spanish
Clinical Competencies
- Dental Prophylaxis
- Scaling and Root Planing (SRP)
- Periodontal Maintenance
- Comprehensive Patient Assessments
- Periodontal Charting and Risk Assessment
- Calculus Detection and Removal
- Dental Radiography (Bitewings, Periapicals, Panoramic)
- Radiographic Interpretation
- Fluoride Treatments
- Dental Sealant Placement
- Oral Hygiene Instruction and Preventive Education
- Treatment Planning and Case Presentation
- Electronic Dental Records Documentation
- Infection Control and OSHA Compliance
- ITero Digital Scanning for Invisalign and Restorative Cases
- Alginate and PVS Impressions
- Bite Registrations
- Intraoral Photography
Clinical Hygiene Experience
Dental Hygiene Student, Malcolm X College Dental Hygiene Clinic, Chicago, IL, 08/24, 06/26, Performed comprehensive patient assessments including medical history review, periodontal charting, and risk assessments, Provided dental prophylaxis, periodontal maintenance, and scaling and root planing for patients with varying levels of periodontal disease, Detected calculus and plaque deposits using explorers and periodontal instrumentation, Took and interpreted dental radiographs including bitewings, periapicals, and panoramic images, Applied fluoride treatments and dental sealants as part of preventive care, Delivered individualized oral hygiene instruction and preventive education, Developed patient-centered treatment plans and documented care using electronic dental records, Treated diverse patient populations through community clinic rotations
Websites
Languages
Spanish
Professional
Timeline
Dental Hygiene Student
Malcolm X College Dental Hygiene Clinic
01.2024 - 01.2026
Dental Assistant
Lincoln Dental Lounge
01.2021 - 01.2023
Lead Dental Assistant
Downtown Dental
01.2010 - 01.2017
Associate in Applied Science - Dental Hygiene
Malcolm X College
Associate Degree - Health Sciences
Malcolm X College