We’ve all had an experience going to the dentist that we didn’t particularly like, but Felicia Montoute saw a career opportunity in dental hygiene that she couldn’t pass up. A resident of Bois D’Orange, Felicia attended the Leon Hess Comprehensive School, The Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and then went onto The City University of New York. After completing her studies, she worked in Connecticut for a year before returning home to further her career as a dental hygienist.
Now the founder of Smyle Therapy, Felicia sat with Dazzle Magazine to share the details of how she started her career, and her business.
Dazzle: What is a Dental Hygienist?
Felicia: I get that question a lot because it’s fairly new in St. Lucia. As a dental hygienist I focus on preventive treatments. When I say “preventive treatments” I mean dental cleanings, dental sealants and basically anything to prevent oral cavities and gum disease, we focus on that. The dentist does more invasive procedures; anything to get under the gums or involves cutting, the dentist does that.
Dazzle: How did you get the idea for your business and when did you start?
Felicia: My business is called Smyle Therapy. As a child, I had a very bad experience with dentists and I found it kind of funny that I got into this profession. I started off as a dental receptionist before I went off to study dental hygiene. I decided to call it Smyle Therapy because it’s more than just focusing on the person’s smile. It involves preparing them psychologically and making sure they’re comfortable and that they feel some sort of support when it comes to their mental health.
Dazzle: What inspired you to become a dental hygienist?
Felicia: I was inspired by my own experience. As I did my dental hygiene program I learned a lot, and because I could then understand better, I was able to get my braces done, remove my wisdom tooth and have a surgical extraction. People fear what they don’t understand and I realized that people need to be educated when it comes to dental hygiene or dental care. I saw it from both perspectives and because of that I was able to sufficiently provide the kind of care others needed.
Dazzle: When did you establish your business and what challenges did you face during your start up?
Felicia: My business was registered in 2016 and I decided to start with education first. I did a lot of educational videos and also did presentations for small groups such as private and public sectors. Then I decided to establish a physical business so I could focus on clients with dental fears.
The challenges were mostly personal; such as overcoming my fears in doing something new and innovative. We have approximately 5 registered dental hygienists on the island so venturing towards this new path that not many people have done was scary.
Not having anyone else to compare with was also a challenge. My inspiration was mostly from studying in the US and comparing what I wanted to do with dental hygienists there and in Canada.
Dazzle: How receptive are your clients?
Felicia: As a dental hygienist I know that I have to educate persons on what it is I do exactly. Most of my clients are receptive because my business is focused on persons with dental hygiene fears and 6 out of 10 persons fit that margin. Those who understand, accept it.
Dazzle: What services do you offer at Smyle Therapy?
Felicia: Smyle Therapy is a dental hygiene spa. It’s not a practice or a clinic, it’s more of a spa. With that in mind, I collaborated with a massage therapist from Body Oasis and also a hair and makeup artiste from The Finished Look. The reason for that is I wantedto make an environment and create a space where people thought more about self care and not strictly dental care. As a dental hygienist I do teeth cleaning and teeth whitening currently.
Dazzle: What is unique about your business?
Felicia: You can get all 3 services in one location. It’s very relaxing and all 3 businesses have people who care about their clients’ wellness and their comfort. There’s no waiting and no rushing; all clients are scheduled by appointments only just to ensure that we cater to each person in a reasonable time frame.
Dazzle: As an entrepreneur what challenges have you faced?
Felicia: I’m learning a lot on how to manage a business. I got training specifically on how to manage my business and my money. I always hear people say when you own a business, it’s not always easy and I understand that. You think that because you own your business you can take the time off that you need whenever you feel like it but it doesn’t happen that way. Before, I worked four days a week and had one day off, but now I’m always at the office.
Getting our names out there has also been a bit of a challenge. We use social media to draw in customers; Instagram and Facebook and sitting down for interviews.
Dazzle: What do you attribute to your success?
Felicia: The fact that I still have a dream and I still feel like I’m growing. There’s a lot that I want to do when it comes to getting the information out there and focusing on clients having a better relationship with dental providers. The fact that I feel that I still have all that information to share is what keeps me motivated.
Dazzle: What has been your biggest achievement so far?
Felicia: I would say opening my business. Actually taking the first step into opening Smyle Therapy has to be my biggest accomplishment to date.
Dazzle: Where do you see yourself in the near future?
Felicia: Maybe developing my business further. By next year or the year after, I would like to be more mobile; actually doing home visits for people who have fears and feel more comfortable at home.
Dazzle: Any mentors?
Felicia: Definitely Dr. Glass, because that’s where I started. I worked for him as a receptionist and that’s where I got inspired to study dental hygiene. My passion has always been education and before this, I always wanted to be a teacher so focusing on educating people about dental hygiene has to come before anything else. Dr. Glass was someone who always took the time to explain things to me when I had questions.
Dazzle: Do you have any advice to entrepreneurs just starting out?
Felicia: Just do it. Take the leap and try whatever it is. You’ve already failed if you never try, so take that first step.
Dazzle wishes Felicia and Smyle Therapy all the best intheir respective upcoming endeavors. Good luck!
