(HARLINGEN, Texas) - Texas State Technical College student Francisco Javier Montiel said his own experience having dental work when he was a teenager put him on his career pathway.

"I got braces when I was 14 years old, and they were removed when I was 16," Montiel said. "I developed a passion for dentistry because of that orthodontic procedure."

Now Montiel is studying for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene at TSTC's Harlingen campus.

Before enrolling at TSTC, Montiel graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in biomedical science and a minor in chemistry from Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 2017. He earned his dental assisting license from Harlingen Family Dentistry's Dental Assisting Training School the following year.

Montiel worked as a dental assistant for four years before enrolling in TSTC's Dental Hygiene program in 2022. He left the program because of a health issue but returned a year later with a new outlook.

"The program has challenged me to persevere through my failures and successes," he said. "I enjoy helping my classmates navigate through their first year of the program since I have that knowledge."

Raquel Rico is TSTC's Dental Hygiene program team lead.

"Francisco has shown a great focus on his studies and a passion for clinical practice," she said. "He strives for excellence and looks for tutoring opportunities when he needs more time to learn a skill."

Montiel has one thing in particular that he is determined to accomplish.

"My career goal is to do missionary work by providing general dental services as a dental hygienist in Mexico and Nicaragua, which are the countries that my parents grew up in," he said.

According to onetonline.org, dental hygienists in Texas earn an average annual salary of $89,160. The need for hygienists in the state was expected to grow 32% from 2020 to 2030, according to the website.

October is National Dental Hygiene Month, a time to celebrate the work of dental hygienists and promote good oral health.

For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

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