In this episode of Burnout Bites, Kari Carter-Cherelus, RDH, sits down with Jazmine Chavez, dental hygienist and owner/founder of Pearl House Dental Hygiene Studio and Pearl Genius Consulting, for an honest conversation about burnout, entrepreneurship, dental hygiene autonomy, practice ownership, and creating a career on your own terms.

Jazmine’s journey in dentistry began in dental assisting before she became a dental hygienist, clinical instructor, and entrepreneur. After experiencing burnout while working five days a week and commuting 45 minutes each way, she began questioning whether there was another way to practice without leaving the profession she loved.

That journey eventually led her to create Pearl House Dental Hygiene Studio, an independent collaborative dental hygiene practice in New Mexico. She later founded Pearl Genius Consulting, where she uses her experience to help other dental hygienists explore entrepreneurship and practice ownership.

Kari and Jazmine discuss the side of entrepreneurship that isn’t always visible on social media: long hours, administrative responsibilities, insurance, marketing, attracting patients, continuing education, and learning to create boundaries when there is always more work to do.

They also explore dental hygiene autonomy and the responsibility that comes with it. Jazmine shares why experience, strong clinical skills, continuing education, mentorship, and business knowledge are essential for hygienists interested in independent or collaborative practice.

The conversation also tackles the business of dental hygiene. Understanding production and practice economics doesn’t have to mean putting profits before patients. Instead, knowing your value, understanding comprehensive care, communicating effectively with patients, and recognizing how hygiene contributes to a practice can make you a stronger clinician.

Jazmine also shares her commitment to accepting Medicaid patients and discusses how innovative dental hygiene practice models may help improve access to preventive oral healthcare.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Becoming a dental hygiene practice owner

• Building Pearl House Dental Hygiene Studio

• Launching Pearl Genius Consulting

• Dental hygiene autonomy and collaborative practice

• Avoiding burnout as a business owner

• Understanding the business side of dental hygiene

• Production and patient-centered care

• Mentorship, continuing education, and advocacy

• Collaboration between hygienists and dentists

• Using social media to grow a business and professional brand

Jazmine’s story reminds us that burnout doesn’t always mean you need to leave dental hygiene. Sometimes the way you’re practicing dental hygiene needs to change.

Jazmine Chavez is a dental hygienist and owner/founder of Pearl House Dental Hygiene Studio and Pearl Genius Consulting. Her career spans dental assisting, clinical dental hygiene, education, entrepreneurship, mentorship, and advocacy. Through her businesses, she is expanding access to preventive care while helping other dental hygienists explore opportunities in practice ownership and entrepreneurship.

Connect with Jazmine

Pearl Genius Consulting: PearlGeniusCo.com Pearl House Dental Hygiene Studio: PearlHouseStudio.com Instagram: @pearlhouse.nm

🎙️ Burnout Bites is hosted by Kari Carter-Cherelus, RDH, author of The Ultimate Guide for Dental Hygienist Burnout and founder of KMC Strategic Solutions.