Meet Crystel Montes! Crystel is a recent graduate (May 2025!) of the CNCC Dental Hygiene program. She is originally from Craig, CO and is a proud daughter to incredibly hard-working parents from Chihuahua, Mexico.
Crystel has spent four years at CNCC — two years for her associates degree and then two years for her dental hygiene degree. She is also planning to continue her education with CNCC to obtain her Bachelor of Applied Science degree that CNCC recently started. She said that she has “…always felt passionate about leading by example not just for my peers, but especially for my little brother. I want him to see that with hard work, sacrifice, and faith in yourself, you can accomplish anything you put your heart into.” Her future goals include being a practicing dental hygienist in her hometown so she can give back to the community that shaped her and have a direct impact on the community she lives in. Crystel also plans to continue growing in her profession, “expanding my knowledge, and gaining experience in different areas of dental hygiene,” she indicated.
Crystel Montes, R.D.H. (photo courtesy of Crystel Montes)
Crystel credits her parents as her inspiration and giving back to others. “It’s because of their love and sacrifice that I’m where I am today. That’s the kind of impact they’ve had on my life, and it’s the same kind of impact I hope to have on others” she explained. Crystel’s experience at CNCC also demonstrated her commitment to giving back and supporting her campus community. Through her time at CNCC, she was deeply involved on campus serving as a Student Ambassador, Resident Assistant, Phi Theta Kappa member, and President of the Student Government Association (SGA). Her contributions did not go unnoticed either! She was awarded as this years Rising Star Student at CNCC which is awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding leadership contributions both on their campus and in the wider community. For all her involvement and academic success, Crystel was asked to be the student speaker at CNCC’s 62nd Commencement ceremony — and she did great!
She chose dental hygiene because she feels it allows her to make a difference in people’s lives. Seeing patients come in, receive the dental care needed, and watching them walk out with a transformed smile was “…such a powerful moment… That’s when I realized how life-changing this field could be,” Crystel explained. She continued saying that since middle school, she had always wanted to a career to serve others and thought of different career paths, but quickly realized those options didn’t align with the kind of impact she wanted to make. When she started exploring various healthcare fields, she quickly identified that this would be a great fit, and linking her positive experiences with her childhood dental visits, she fell in love with the dental hygiene field. “Being bilingual in Spanish and English also inspired me to pursue a career where I could help more people in my community feel heard and cared for. Dental hygiene gives me the opportunity to do all of that while teaching, listening, and building trust with patients every day. I know how powerful it is to feel seen and supported, and I want to be that person for others,” Crystel explained.
Crystel (left) with fellow dental hygiene student practicing their impressions. (photo courtesy of Crystel Montes)
During her time in the Dental Hygiene program, Crystel said that periodontology (perio) was by far her favorite class. She explained how this class opened her eyes to the deep connection between oral health and overall well-being of a person and that this extends far beyond just ‘clean teeth.’ For instance, the connections to periodontal inflammation and regulation of blood pressure, or how pregnant women can develop growths due to the hormonal changes they experience. Crystel also enjoyed dental anatomy/embryology as it’s amazing to see the development and formation of a single tooth and how each one has a specific function relating to the way we chew, speak, and smile.
Advice Crystel would give to someone looking to attend CNCC or the dental hygiene program is to not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Whether it’s answering or asking questions in class, trying a new technique or taking a leadership role — she encourages others to push themselves beyond what is familiar as that is where real growth happens, and you’ll never discover what you are capable of unless you get comfortable with being uncomfortable. She said that some of her favorite memories from CNCC are from the various leadership roles she was involved in. Seeing students with different backgrounds and ideas pull together to get things done, support each other and truly make a difference are inspiring memories she will cherish.
Congrats, Crystel! All of your hard work paid off!
Crystel is “passionate about teaching people how to take care of their smiles and improve their overall health, just as [she] was inspired by my hygienist. [She] hope[s] to reach even more people, especially in underserved areas, and help them understand the connection between oral health and overall wellness.” She also said that one of her instructors would remind everyone: always remember things happen for us, not to us. This simple phrase really helped to center Crystel and fellow classmates and helped them navigate tough moments while growing stronger with each one.
All of us at CNCC are so PROUD of Crystel and what she represents as a person, alumnus of CNCC and a hygienist in the field. She proves that with dedication, resilience, and a positive mindset, anything is possible. Congratulations Crystel on all of your accomplishments, we can’t wait to see what you do next.
