Once I began to pursue dentistry, I knew I wanted to devote my career to working with underserved communities. My mother is Samoan, which made me aware of the discrepancy in oral health in minority populations. As a result, I am determined to help bridge that gap as a healthcare provider and offer quality care to the communities and people who need it most.
Since dental school, I have worked with low-income communities and fought to provide them with affordable smile design. Creating a beautiful smile is life-changing for anyone, but for these communities, it often has a dramatic impact on their life outcomes. From helping them breathe better at night to finding employment more easily, a beautiful smile can improve a person's life in countless meaningful ways.
To make smile design available to all my patients, I made it my mission to learn as much as possible about dental materials. This knowledge has given me an advantage in being able to choose materials for my patients that are both high-quality and affordable.
Dr. Cherish Jensen is a general dentist specializing in cosmetic smile design, full mouth rehabilitation, extractions, and implants. Chief among her many achievements was a National Health Service Corps (NHSC) scholarship for two full years of dental school—a competitive Federal program that awards scholarships to students who provide care to underserved communities.
More recently, she was named the Crown Council’s 2021 Young Dentist of the Year, an honor she happily shares with previous recipients such as Dr. Chase Larsen, a dentist she has long admired for his skillful dentistry and commitment to his community. A graduate of Roseman University College of Dental Medicine, Dr. Jensen also holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Wisconsin.
In dental school, Dr. Jensen found she had a knack for bringing her classmates together. In addition to working on several student publications, her university service includes being an SDF Research Committee member, as well as both first-year and second-year Class President.
“It was a privilege to be around people with similar interests and serve them by being Student Council President and leading so many activities. As a dentist, I’ve found that this aspect of sharing information has transferred to my patients. I will go above and beyond to make them feel comfortable because it’s about building bridges and finding common ground.”
“A patient may have to lose a tooth, but I will ensure they never lose their smile! I want to save as many teeth as possible and love seeing patients who feel the same way.
“People don’t always think about the consequences of missing teeth and many are surprisingly willing to have teeth extracted, which can lead to bone loss, a change in bite, or other teeth moving position. I’m here to help my patients hang onto the teeth they have and, hopefully, stop them from taking out their teeth for no reason.”
From buffering her anesthetic to help take the sting out of an injection to warming it up so that it’s closer to body temperature, Dr. Jensen goes out of her way to think about the small details that make the overall patient experience more comfortable.
“I think of every patient’s experience as being a priority. By doing everything I can to prevent them from experiencing any barriers to care, they can go on to have a great dental experience for the rest of their lives.”
With over 500 CE credits under her belt, Dr. Jensen demonstrates a deep commitment to lifelong learning. She loves the process and feels that every course provides its own unique lesson in dentistry, which leads to a well-rounded educational background.
She points to Dr. David Hornbrook, with whom she has taken several courses at the Utah Valley Dental Lab, as the dentist who has taught her the most about smile design and full mouth rehabilitation.
“Dr. Hornbrook taught me to carefully think and plan for every step of smile design and full-mouth rehabilitation. Of any dentist, he has impacted my work the most.”
Dr. Jensen works at Sacred Circle Healthcare, a health division of the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation (CTGR). With a 360-degree approach to care, Sacred Circle provides medical care, including dentistry, without discrimination to tribe members, Medicaid populations, and those of Indian blood.
Aligned perfectly with Dr. Jensen’s desire to serve often overlooked communities, her work at Sacred Circle allows her to provide the best possible outcomes for her patients through a combination of building trust, straightforward treatment plans, and education on oral hygiene.
Connect with me through social media or email today so we can get started on creating your healthy lifestyle together.
