Greetings! My name is Bradley Augustin. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and have lived here my entire life! New York is known for raising tough, resilient people. So growing up, i wasn’t afraid of much. But the dentist? Count me out! I was always fearful of going to the dentist because I never understood why they needed so many scary-looking tools to clean my teeth, when all I used was a ninja turtle toothbrush at home. However, there was one special hygienist at the office I would go to as a child who always took the time to explain to me what all the tools were for and how they helped her help me achieve better oral health. This eased my anxiety, and I began to look forward to getting my teeth cleaned. Her attitude with me left a lasting good impression, opening the door to the possibility of seeing myself as a hygienist one day.
Fast forward to adulthood. Prior to becoming a dental hygienist, I worked for Old Navy/GAP as a sales associate, and through hard work, was promoted to assistant manager. Despite being in a coveted position, I felt unfulfilled. I loved being a leader and working in a team environment to help customers, but I knew that continuing down that career path wouldn’t bring me happiness. So, I decided to enroll back into college and pursue a career in dental hygiene, where I knew I could still work in a team environment, but would gain a unique skill set that I can use to have a longer-lasting impact on people and positively impact their quality of life.
My academic journey in the NYCCT dental hygiene program challenged me and molded me to become the best dental hygienist possible. From the countless hours of studying literature to my didactic experience at the school’s clinic; I wholeheartedly believe that I am prepared to provide value wherever I practice and will truly change my patient’s outlook on their oral hygiene for the better. Now I have the opportunity, rather, the obligation to do for a child what my hygienist did for me!
