Keep SMYLE Essentials Open While Fighting Cancer

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” - Coretta Scott King

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Stephanie Gordillo and Cynthia Dillon dreamed of opening their own dental hygiene practice that would provide quality dental hygiene care at an affordable price and accessible to all. In 2022, these moms took a leap of faith and opened SMYLE essentials in Hayward. Since opening their doors, they have provided affordable, high-quality dental care for all who need it, regardless of their insurance status.

At the heart of their business in the work they do each day, Stephanie and Cynthia believe that everyone deserves high-quality dental hygiene services. With experience in serving seniors who are homebound, the uninsured, or people with special needs, they have a combined 26 years of service that have inspired them to give back to some of the most disadvantaged populations in the Bay Area. Since opening, SMYLE essentials has helped close the gap and pave the way for affordable oral health care.

In March 2023, Stephanie was rocked with the news no person, let alone a mother of three wants to hear: she was diagnosed with three tumors stage 2B invasive ductal carcinoma. Immediately, Stephanie and her husband worked with her oncology team on a care plan. Since the diagnosis, she has undergone a bilateral mastectomy in May, followed by six rounds of chemo following. She will continue immunotherapy until July 2024 and will then receive weeks of radiation, followed by reconstructive surgery. Due to being immunocompromised, Stephanie is unable to see patients. As a result, SMYLE essentials has only been able to bring in half the expected income during its first year of business. While Cynthia continues to serve the community, without Stephanie to see her clients, the business has struggled to make ends meet. Now more than ever these moms who have worked hard to care for those in our community, need our help.

While cancer has knocked Stephanie down, she refuses to let it take her dream of SMYLE essentials. To support these mom entrepreneurs over the next year, Stephanie and Cynthia along with their families could use your help. The main goal is to keep their business open and close the gap between what Cynthia is able to make while solely operating the business until Stephanie can return to work.

As a community, we can continue to support Stephanie as she fights cancer and ensure Stephanie and Cynthia’s dream is not lost.

About Stephanie and Cynthia

Stephanie Gordillo has been a resident of Alameda County her entire life with 10 years of experience practicing dental hygiene. Stephanie strives to provide advanced dental hygiene care in a comfortable spa-like setting. She is known around the Silicon and Tri-Valley for her thorough and gentle touch as well as her chair-side manner. Before opening SMYLE essentials, Stephanie worked as a mobile hygienist traveling from assisted living facilities, hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities. She is a proud mom of 3 kids under the age of 10 and has been married to her husband for 13 years.

Education

North State University, RDHAP, 2020

Diablo Valley College, Associate Degree of Dental Hygiene, 2010

Cynthia Dillon was born and raised in the Bay Area. As a mom of 2, she is diligent in her pursuit to stay current in providing the profession's leading dental hygiene care while utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and providing the best care for her patients.

Education

North State University, RDHAP, 2020

Chabot College, Associate Degree of Science in Dental Hygiene, 2010