Emily Hoffman, RDA
Emily Hoffman, RDA, is a highly skilled dental and orthodontic professional based in Red Oak, Texas. Currently serving as Digital Design Supervisor and Doctor Software Trainer at KLOwen Orthodontics, she leads a fast-growing digital lab that specializes in indirect bonding and digital orthodontic setups. In her role, Emily trains doctors multiple times daily on the KLOwen Software, oversees production planning, and supervises a team of 46 technicians—many of whom are dentists and orthodontists—demonstrating her expertise, leadership, and ability to bridge clinical knowledge with technology. Emily’s career began chairside as a sterile technician and dental assistant, earning her Registered Dental Assistant license through UT Southwestern. She expanded her experience into insurance coordination, accounts management, and office leadership, building a comprehensive understanding of both clinical and operational aspects of dental care. Her hands-on approach, dedication, and drive enabled her to grow within KLOwen Orthodontics from a setup technician to the top producer and now a supervisor. Passionate about mentoring and empowering others, Emily emphasizes quality, professionalism, and leading by example. She is committed to helping young professionals understand that success is achieved through persistence, practical experience, and continuous learning, not solely through degrees. A citizen of the Pottawatomi Nation, Emily balances her professional excellence with a dedication to family, community, and service, making her a respected leader and role model in the field of digital orthodontics.
• Registered Dental Assistant
• Lean Six Sigma
• Professional Development Courses
• UT Southwestern – Registered Dental Assistant License
• Employee of the Quarter
• Influential Woman 2026
• Influential Woman Network
• Citizen of the Pottawatomi Nation
What do you attribute your success to?
My success is driven by my daughter. She's my internal drive. When I became pregnant at 17 and had her shortly after I turned 18, I knew I needed to find a career path. Even when things were incredibly hard - when I was working three jobs, starting my day at 6 AM taking her to daycare, working as a dental assistant from 7:30 to 5, then picking her up and taking her to my parents' house so I could work my night shift at Kohl's or Lyft driving - I never gave up because of my children. When we just bought our house in November, I told my realtor that my children deserves a house, a home, and something beautiful. My children taught me that if you have drive and work hard you can do anything.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don't give up. Just don't give up, and just because it's hard right now doesn't mean it's always going to be hard. I had a memory pop up on my Facebook from six years ago when I was sitting at a table we had thrifted for $20 in a 1,100-square-foot apartment where we had three kids with almost no money. But I didn't give up. I told myself, no, this is just a moment, this is just part of my path. Me and my husband say almost every single day, we're like, how did we get here? And he's just like me - he didn't give up either. We work hard together.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I want people to know that just because you didn't go to college and you didn't get a big degree or choose that career path, that doesn't mean you can't be successful. If you have drive and you work hard and you want to go somewhere, you can do that, and you don't have to have a degree. Was it much harder for me to get where I am because I didn't have a degree? Absolutely. If I had a degree, I probably could have started with a better job instead of making $10.50 an hour. My experience has gotten me where I am. Success is based off of your drive and your effort and what you're willing to put into it, not just a degree. Also, treat others the way that I want to be treated, or would have wanted to be treated when I was in their shoes. I tell technicians all the time, what I'm asking from you is nothing I wouldn't ask from myself. Nothing I wouldn't ask them to do that I haven't already done or am not willing to get in there and do as well.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Adapting technology as it comes is one of the biggest challenges and opportunities in my field right now. We teach these doctors how to view these digital setups and how to use this technology, because ultimately, once they learn this, their practice is going to be so efficient. They're going to be able to see more patients and build their practice and grow.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work are maintaining quality and professionalism while also treating others the way that I want to be treated, or would have wanted to be treated when I was in their shoes.
In my personal life my most important values are my family. Even though I have a professional career my family still comes first, and always will. Work life balance is another important value I have had to learn.