Our Hygienists

Derek Brown

Meet Derek, our skilled dental hygienist at Sunshine Coast Dental Group. Derek earned his Diploma in Dental Hygiene from Vancouver Community College in 2018. With a deep-seated passion for promoting both oral and overall health, Derek is committed to guiding his patients toward optimal well-being.

Residing in Sechelt with his partner, Sonia, and their beloved Golden Retrievers, Parker, and Ellie, Derek embraces a fulfilling personal life alongside his professional pursuits. An advocate for an active lifestyle, Derek finds joy in cycling, hiking, kayaking, and mountain biking during his free time.

Derek’s compassionate approach and dedication to preventive dental care make him an invaluable member of our team. Whether you’re due for a routine cleaning or seeking advice on oral hygiene, Derek is here to ensure your smile stays healthy and bright.

Join Derek at Sunshine Coast Dental Group and experience exceptional care that prioritizes your dental health and overall wellness.

Andrea Fulkerson

Andrea Fulkerson has been studying health and wellness for the past 30 years. Graduating from a dental hygiene program in 1995, she has had over 25 years practicing in private dental practice. Over the years, she has volunteered for a Sunshine Coast Dental Study club, with a local mentor in public health, and given workshops on oral health to dental personnel and members of the community.

Education and learning have been a life passion, and in 2016 Andrea finished an undergraduate degree in Health Sciences, with a focus on human biological systems, public health, and psychology. This education gained her the title of Dental Hygiene Practitioner (DHP).

Her passion has always been health, what it means, and how to move in its direction. She has been an advocate for oral health and its relationship to general health, and dental hygiene excellence. This led her to a position working with the regulatory College, now called BCCOHP, in the quality assurance department; creating quality assurance content, and standard setting for the regulatory tool used to guide dental hygienists in their continuing learning. She is also the chair of the Canadian Dental Hygienist Association National Healthy Workplace Advisory Committee, which meets to discuss workplace issues and how to best meet the needs of health in a dental workplace setting.

As well as practicing as a dental hygienist, Andrea has studied psychotherapy and trained for eight years to receive a certificate as a teacher in Iyengar Yoga in 2019 and continues to train with her mentors in Canada, the USA, Italy, and India.

Her interest in spiritual wellbeing has led her to the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, where she has studied spiritual yoga texts. She continues to study Eastern philosophy with her teachers at the Centre and meets for a class once a week to study psychotherapy.

If you see Andrea in our clinic, you will no doubt gain a deeper understanding of the relationship of oral health to overall health, the current research, and the role that dental hygienists play in improving the health of Canadians.

Roxana Ayala

Roxana is a dedicated dental hygienist passionate about educating her patients on the relationship between oral health and overall health. After graduating with a Diploma in Dental Hygiene in 2009 and becoming a Registered Dental Hygienist, she continued her education at the University of British Columbia, where she earned a Dental Science degree (for Dental Hygienists) in 2015. This allowed her to become accredited as a Dental Hygienist Practitioner (DHP).

Roxana is known for her commitment to empowering her patients to make informed decisions about their oral health and for educating them on how oral health can impact their overall well-being. In addition to her private practice work, she provides dental hygiene care for residents at a local long-term care facility. Furthermore, Roxana is actively involved in advocating for seniors’ oral health as a member of the B.C. Dental Hygiene Association Long-Term Care Committee. She stays current on the latest techniques and treatments in dental hygiene to ensure her patients receive the best possible care.

In addition to her professional skills, Roxana is fluent in Spanish, allowing her to effectively communicate with a diverse range of patients. When she’s not at work, Roxana enjoys spending time with her family, walking her two Golden Retrievers, and cheering on her favorite local hockey teams, the Sunshine Coast Blues and Coastal Tsunami. Her commitment to patient education and ongoing professional development makes her a valued member of the dental community.