Payson Roundup | Payson, AZ

Janae Bramble knows lots about teeth, and her solution to oral hygiene is simple, "Only floss the teeth you want to keep."

Bramble grew up in Payson. Her family moved her here when she was still in elementary school. She graduated from Payson High School, then went to Idaho for school.

"It was too cold there," she said. So, she came back to Arizona and went to work for the Anderson Dental Group.

"I worked the front desk at first, then became an assistant," Bramble said. "I loved it, working with the people and working with my hands. I love the people so much and getting to help them."

Yvette Butler trained her to be an assistant, then encouraged her to pursue a degree as a dental hygienist.

"As soon as I decided to do it, I knew it was exactly what I wanted to do," she said.

Because she was so driven toward the goal of becoming a hygienist, she said she was able to get her prerequisite classes out of the way quickly, and was accepted into the training program in Flagstaff the first time she applied.

"That is pretty unusual," she said. "A couple of the women I was in class with did not get in until the third time they applied, so I felt pretty blessed."

Bramble said she does not see herself becoming a dentist in the future.

"I'm a professional, but I don't have the headaches of running a practice," she said.

She has been in the field for six years and said the biggest change she has seen is all the treatments that are being developed for periodontal disease. "And they're still learning about it."

The most challenging aspect of her work is getting people to change their habits.

"One of the things I love is helping people improve their health, but then I come up against people who don't want to make the effort."

Profile

Name: Janae Bramble

Occupation: Dental hygienist

Employer: Anderson Dental Group

Age: 26

Birthplace: Mesa, Ariz.

Family: Husband, Daniel; daughter, McKenna, 2; baby on the way

Personal motto: Always be the best you can be

Inspiration: My mother, Jeana Tracy

Greatest feat: Definitely, getting through school with a baby

Favorite hobby or leisure activity: Backpacking with the family, camping, etc.

Three words that describe me best are ... Compassionate, motivated, dedicated

I don't want to brag but ... I love skydiving

The person in history I'd most like to meet is: Jesus Christ

Luxury defined: A massage

Dream vacation spot: Any place tropical

Why Payson? I love this place. It's a small town, you know people, you're not just a number and it's beautiful here.