Token of Love
Me as part of the Craniofacial Orthodontic Team of Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery at NYU Langone
By Carla Sillau, CDA
When I decided to go back to school when I was married with two kids, I was also preparing myself to move from Lima, Peru to New York in the United States. My mother had just submitted the application for permanent residency for us and reunited with the rest of my family, parents and siblings. I had a friend who was attending school to become a doctor and encouraged me to become a dental assistant because it was a year-long program, perfect for me. I chose to go to the Dental Assistance program at the Peruvian University Cayetano Heredia.
While I was in school I realized that I loved to help others. Perhaps I had it in my genes because my great grandfather and grandfather from my paternal side were volunteer firemen in Peru. Also, my grandmother from my maternal side used to help young orphans, giving them jobs and a place to live in her home.
I graduated in 2000 as a dental assistant. In 2001, I got my first job as dental assistant with a prosthodontist. One day while talking with one of our patients who was a member of the Red Cross, I was so impressed with the job that he was doing that I decided to apply for it in 2002. I took all the classes that were required to be part of the Red Cross. I also attended the meeting with all the candidates who applied, to see what our training was going to be like. I was very excited about that, but on the same month, I also got the appointment for an interview in the United States embassy for our Green Card. A few months later, in March 2003, we all moved to America.
“In 2019, Carla Sillau, CDA started working in NYU’s College of Dentistry’s Oral Surgery and Maxillofacial Department. Her favorite days were Thursdays, because that was when she would see a lot of kids with Craniofacial disorders.”
I was very fortunate to continue working as a dental assistant after I moved to this country. I was still always looking to get involved in helping others. This didn't happen until I started working at NYU Langone Health, in an Orthodontic Residency Program, where I met an excellent professional who had extensive experience in working on cleft lip and palate patients—Dr. Bonita Lippman, DDS, MS Orthodontist, who is a recipient of many honors and awards. She was Attending Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics, Director Orthodontic Research, and she became my mentor. Dr. Lipman gave me the opportunity to go with her to Nepal in 2018 as a volunteer, and work with the Cleft Lip Palate Team there. Also, my director, Dr. Laurance Jerrold, DDS, JD helped us with donations of materials that were useful for the Cleft team. Friends and family members also helped me with other kinds of donations such as toys and clothes. It was the most beautiful experience of my life. I learned so much, but the most important lesson of life was that I learned to be grateful.
When we were in Butwal and Biratnagar, the cleft team worked around a lot of limitations. They didn’t have enough instruments and materials. But although they worked under difficult conditions, they did their job with love, patience and empathy. A lot of the patients traveled for more than 10 hours but they were always on time and they waited patiently to be seen without any complaints.
During my time in Nepal, I was able to travel and visit different cities as Kathmandu, Butwal, Biratnagar and Pokhara. While I was in Kathmandu, I went to the Cleft and Burn Hospital where I attended conferences with doctors such as Dr. Shankar Man Rai, M.D., a reconstructive plastic surgeon and recipient of the Nathan Davis Award for Humanitarian Service from the American Medical Association. While there, I also had the opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience with his team.
In Pokhara, I was able to visit the Gandaki Medical and Dental College where I met Dr. Umesh Parajuli BDS, MDS, Orthodontist, Professor, Program Coordinator, Head of Department of Orthodontics. I also met the rest of the staff, all incredible professionals. Here, Dr. Bonita Lippman introduced me to a sweet girl that Dr. Parajuli had been treating—a 17-year-old female who had a midline bony defect since she was 12. Rabina, a shy sweet young girl who stole my heart, was ready for facial reconstructive procedure. She was very happy because this was going to make her face look better.
Dr. Parajuli invited me as a visitor instructor to share my experience throughout the years I was working as a dental assistant. During this time, I was deeply moved and honored to receive the Token of Love award for volunteerism from Gandaki Medical and Dental College. This unexpected recognition for my service was an emotional and profoundly meaningful experience, reinforcing my commitment to work with patients with disabilities.
Me receiving the Token of Love Award at Gandaki Medical & Dental college Pokhora, Nepal
When I came back to New York after that experience, the first thing I said to Dr. Jerrold, my director, was that we should send all our residents to do voluntary jobs in Nepal “so they would complain less.” Of course, that was said in jest. But the truth is that I was now looking at the world with different eyes, and I wanted to do more for these kids and people with all kinds of disabilities and needs.
In 2019, I started working in NYU’s College of Dentistry (the Oral Surgery and Maxillofacial Department) as a Dental Assistant where I assisted in the Sedations procedure. Here, residents were trained to do extraction with surgical procedure, and biopsies. My favorite days were Thursdays, because that was when we would see a lot of kids with Craniofacial disorders. Dr. Vasiliki Karlis , MD, DMD (Associate Professor and the Director of the Advanced Education Program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at New York University Medical Center) was the faculty in charge of Thursdays. It was a great opportunity for me to use my skills dealing with patients with special needs. I knew that the children’s parents were going through very difficult times. Knowing their kids were going to be sedated made them feel scared. However, I learned that if you explained very clearly what the procedure was going to be, they would feel more comfortable.
New York University’s College of Dentistry used to have a program every other Saturday with Dr. Kay Oen, DDS Assistant Clinical Attending, along with his team of faculty and volunteers of students who were in charge of the Veterans Program. Patients in wheelchairs, and those who were partially blind or deaf, were treated by them. They were my favorite patients because my brother is a veteran, and I regarded them as my extended family. Working alongside international residents from diverse backgrounds in the Oral Surgery department enriched my understanding and appreciation of various cultures, enhancing my cultural sensitivity and awareness. Being multicultural myself, I have always been deeply attuned to the nuances of different cultures, and this experience deepened my sensitivity towards others.
All those experiences set me up to be excited when I joined the Craniofacial Orthodontic Team of Plastic Surgery Department at NYU Langone Health in April of 2022. Being part of a team that makes a big difference in people's lives makes me feel blessed. My enthusiasm for patient services inspired me to get my Certification form The American Dental Association. I also completed a Symposium at the NYU College of Dentistry— Unit Zero: Dental Educators Summit on Caring for People with Disabilities in September 2022. Recently, I attended a Conference at NYU Langone Health, Craniofacial Distraction: Indications, Alternatives, Long-Term Outcomes. All those have helped me to provide excellent patient care.
Me at "Kick-starting the WHO Global Oral Health Action Plan": Side Event on Oral Health and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) on the occasion of the 2nd United Nations High-level Meeting on UHC (September 2023)
The WHO Action Plan UN side event held at NYU in September 2023 marked another significant turning point in my professional life. At this event, I was introduced to representatives from multiple nations, each contributing to global health changes. The event focused on integrating dental health into general health coverage, making it more accessible to the public. This initiative resonated deeply with me, as patients in craniofacial care often lack insurance coverage for many treatments, leaving their needs unmet and limiting the optimal care healthcare providers can offer. Additionally, my experiences in Nepal and with underserved communities further propelled my commitment to oral health advocacy on a global platform. This event opened new doors of opportunity, inspiring me to strive towards becoming a global health leader dedicated to advocating for comprehensive and accessible dental care worldwide.
With over two decades of experience in dental assisting and fluency in Spanish and English, I have built meaningful relationships with my patients as well as talented professionals. These connections are the heart of my work, making my job deeply special and fulfilling.
This journey, marked by compassion and dedication, has shaped me into a professional who values empathy and service above all. As I look to the future, I remain committed to making a difference in the lives of those I serve, one patient at a time.
About the Author
Carla Sillau hails from the city of Lima, Peru. Her journey in the field of dental assistance began in February 2000 when she graduated from the Dental Assistant Program at the Peruvian University Cayetano Heredia. Her passion for dentistry and patient care led her to boost her credentials by earning a Certificate of Dental Assistance from the Dental Assistant National Board in August 2022.
In 2003, she made the life-changing decision to move to New York City. Over the years, she has worked in a variety of dental specialties, including General Dentistry, Prosthodontics, Periodontics, Endodontics, Oral Surgery, and Orthodontics. One of the most rewarding experiences of her career was in 2018, when she volunteered as an Orthodontic Dental Assistant in Nepal with the Remote Outreach team. She worked in Butwal, Biratnagar, Kohalpur, and Kathmandu, supporting the Cleft & Lip Palate Team. She served as a Visiting Educator at the Gandaki Medical & Dental College in Pokhara, where she was awarded the Token of Love for Volunteerism.
In April 2022, Carla joined the Craniofacial Orthodontic Team at the Plastic Surgery Department of NYU Langone Health. In May 2024, she attended the Craniofacial Distraction: Indications, Alternatives, and Long-Term Outcomes Conference at NYU Langone Health."
