Melissa Damatta began her career as a dental assistant at a young age. Her love of dentistry motivated her to return to school and pursue dental hygiene. Upon graduation, she immediately returned to school to pursue her second love -- education. She began her education career at Rutgers School of Health Professions as an adjunct in the department of Allied Dental Education, where she taught both clinical and didactic courses. During that time she sought out her CDA. After the program closed, she went on to teach in the dental hygiene program for Burlington County College in New Jersey. Currently, Ms. Damatta is an associate professor for the dental hygiene program at Community College of Philadelphia, where she serves as clinic coordinator for second-year students and teaches radiology and a preclinical course to first-year students.

She has practiced dental hygiene for 18 years, with experiences in periodontal, pediatric and general dentistry. A former president of CNJDHA, she holds memberships in the ADHA and the ADEA. She continues to practice as a clinical dental hygienist for a private practice in New Jersey. Ms. Damatta completed her associate degree in applied in science in dental hygiene from Middlesex County College in New Jersey, her BSHS - education track from UMDNJ (now part of Rutgers University) and her MSDH with an education concentration from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut.