Her Story
About Malaikah
From an early age, I knew I wanted to become a dental hygienist. I genuinely enjoyed visiting the dentist and was inspired by the impact my dental hygienist had on patients. That passion led me to pursue a career in dental hygiene, and I became a Registered Dental Hygienist in 2012.
Today, I serve as Vice President of the West Coast Dental Hygiene Association while also working as a consultant for dental practices. My focus is helping offices strengthen their hygiene departments by improving clinical systems, elevating standards of care, identifying gaps in periodontal and gingivitis diagnosis, and creating workflows that support better patient outcomes. Drawing from years of hands-on clinical experience, I provide practical strategies that enhance both patient care and practice performance.
My commitment to the profession extends beyond the operatory. Through my leadership role with the West Coast Dental Hygiene Association, I actively participate in legislative advocacy efforts that help shape the future of dental hygiene. Working alongside fellow professionals, we engage with state legislators, members of the Senate, and the House of Representatives to advocate for policies that strengthen the profession, improve access to care, advance public health initiatives, and support both dental hygienists and the patients we serve. I believe meaningful change happens when clinical expertise is paired with a voice in the legislative process.
In addition to my clinical and consulting work, I have embraced the evolving digital landscape as a digital creator, AI creator, and business strategist. I develop tools and resources for businesses, assist with marketing initiatives, create digital assets, and support website development projects. Through freelance work, I also provide content strategy, branding guidance, and image consulting for entrepreneurs and content creators seeking to strengthen their online presence.
My professional life is built on a balance of patient care, advocacy, and innovation. On clinical days, I am dedicated to treating and educating patients. On non-clinical days, I focus on consulting projects, legislative initiatives, digital development, strategic collaborations, and meeting client objectives.
One of my greatest passions is product innovation within the dental profession. I am actively developing concepts and solutions designed to improve patient outcomes, enhance preventive care, and bring meaningful value to both clinicians and the communities they serve. My goal is to create innovations that address real-world challenges in dentistry while supporting higher standards of care and improved health outcomes. Whether those innovations ultimately benefit me personally or simply advance the profession, my motivation remains the same: honoring the oath I took as a healthcare professional and contributing to solutions that help people live healthier lives.
At this stage of my career, everything I do is driven by three core principles: patient advocacy, professional advancement, and purposeful innovation. Through clinical care, consulting, legislative engagement, and product development, I remain committed to creating lasting impact for both the profession and the people it serves.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Malaikah
01What do you attribute your success to?
God, first and foremost- none of us are really that smart, you know? Also my resilience, my ability to look at the glass half full and just keep my head down, keep pushing, keep going forward in the direction I believe is north have attributed. I've always had the innate desire to give my absolute best at all times. Growing up without a mother or father had its challenges, but some how I alway knew what the expection should be. I've always understood I need to go above and beyond if I am going to do it, because that is the true epitome of giving your all.
I attribute my success to God, my intuition, my ability to adapt, and contantly challenging my perpective and ideas in order to evolve. Most of the journey has been me learning as I go but it's about continuing to push towards success; doing what I can say without a shadow of a doubt is the best option according to who it is that I am claiming to be, along with the final destination of the goal that I am pressing toward as my number one priority. There is no other option but to give my all. There is no other scenerio I can see myself in outside of the one where I am improving myslef along with any and everything I can along the way.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Not everyone has your best interest in mind.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Keep your why louder than everything else around you. That would be my advice.
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