AADOM Member Stories: Maureen Joiner

Maureen Joiner, Office Manager at Children’s Dental Associates of NLC, PC in Bozrah, Connecticut! 

🎧 Prefer to listen? Tune into Maureen’s story HERE.

From Dental Hygienist to Practice Leader

After more than 30 years in dentistry, Maureen Joiner is stepping into a new chapter of her career: practice management.

Maureen spent much of her career as a dental hygienist at a multi-location pediatric dental practice in Connecticut. Today, she is using that clinical experience, along with the support of the AADOM community, to navigate the challenges and opportunities that come with becoming a practice leader.

From Clinical Care to Leadership

Throughout her longtime career with the practice, Maureen has watched it evolve and grow. Today, the pediatric group operates four locations with six dentists, approximately 15 to 18 hygienists, dental assistants, and additional team members.

As the practice’s longtime manager began transitioning out of the role, Maureen began making a transition of her own.

Although management wasn’t what she originally went to school for, Maureen quickly discovered that her clinical background was an asset. When a hygienist comes to her with a challenge, she understands because she has been in their shoes.

At the same time, management introduced her to an entirely different side of dentistry.

“When you’re a hygienist, you can leave your job at work,” Maureen shared.

In management, there are more open-ended responsibilities, ongoing projects, and decisions that don’t necessarily end when the office closes.

The transition has also given her a greater appreciation for everything happening behind the scenes to keep a dental practice running.

Learning to Lead Former Peers

One of Maureen’s biggest adjustments has been transitioning from working alongside her teammates to becoming one of their managers.

Her years as a team member gave her ideas about areas where she wanted to improve communication. But becoming a manager also taught her that effective communication requires more than simply sharing information.

She’s learning to listen, understand what her team needs, and recognize that different people communicate differently.

The transition has also required new boundaries. There are management situations she once might have discussed with a longtime coworker that are no longer appropriate to share now that she is their manager.

That’s where having a community of other dental leaders has become especially valuable.

Finding Her Management Community Through AADOM

Maureen joined AADOM as she began taking on more management responsibilities and quickly turned to the AADOM Member Forum for support.

Whether she’s searching existing conversations or asking a question herself, she appreciates having access to managers who have already faced similar situations.

That perspective is particularly helpful in a four-location practice. While some of Maureen’s challenges are specific to pediatric dentistry, others come from keeping communication, technology, and processes aligned across multiple offices.

AADOM gives her the opportunity to learn from leaders of practices of different sizes and specialties while connecting with those who understand the realities of dental management.

The Value of Connecting Face-to-Face

After attending an AADOM event in Connecticut, Maureen also discovered how valuable it can be to connect with other dental managers in person.

“It’s always nice to know that you’re not the only one going through whatever issues,” she shared.

Those conversations allow managers to exchange ideas, discuss what’s worked in their practices, and learn from one another’s experiences.

Maureen especially appreciated that the education didn’t stop at learning new ideas. There was also a focus on how attendees could take what they learned and successfully bring it back to their practices.

For new AADOM members, that’s one of the biggest opportunities she encourages them to embrace: get involved.

Explore the forum. Attend an event. Meet other managers and start conversations.

Continuing to Grow

Maureen is still early in her formal management journey, but she brings more than three decades of dental experience with her.

She’s continuing to explore AADOM’s educational resources, learn from other practice leaders, and develop her own leadership style as she moves further into management.

Most importantly, she’s discovered that she doesn’t have to figure everything out alone.

Having a community of people who understand the unique challenges of dental management gives Maureen a place to ask questions, troubleshoot challenges, exchange ideas, and continue growing into the leader her practice needs.

Maureen Joiner, OM, RDH:

Maureen Joiner has dedicated more than 30 years to dentistry, beginning her career as an on-the-job-trained dental assistant while pursuing dental hygiene. She attended the University of Rhode Island and joined Children’s Dental Associates NLC during her senior year while completing her bachelor’s degree.

Although she never expected her career to lead to pediatric dentistry, Maureen quickly found a fulfilling path at Children’s Dental Associates, where patient education and the role of the dental hygienist are highly valued. With the support and guidance of her colleagues, she developed a passion for working with children and their families.

After many years in clinical practice, Maureen transitioned into management. Drawing from her experience as a longtime team member, she was motivated to make a meaningful difference as a leader and support both her team and the patients they serve.

Not an AADOM Member Yet?

Now’s the perfect time to join the 10,000+ dental managers nationwide who rely on AADOM for real-world support, expert training, and tools to grow their careers and strengthen their practices. Join today for less than the cost of a daily cup of coffee and start unlocking leadership resources designed just for you!