I have been in the private practice of Dental Hygiene since 1973 and have had the privilege of working along side a number of good hygienists in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Ohio throughout the years. However, Theresa Deaton is more than just one of the great hygienists I’ve worked with, she is in a league of her own….at the very top! Besides being the absolute best clinical hygienist I have ever known, she is a tremendous teacher/educator/instructor. As I practiced next to her in the same dental office for many years. I was educated daily by observing and listening to her interact with her patients. Her thorough and continually updated knowledge increased my own personal knowledge of periodontal disease, while also tutoring me in how to speak with patients about their disease processes. I watched how she was able to motivate patients into accepting and enrolling into periodontal treatment, and then motivate them to follow through with great outcomes. Theresa’s high standard of clinical, educational, and motivational excellence has encouraged and benefitted my professional life more than any course, class, or conference I’ve ever attended!