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by Dr. Catrise Austin | May 8, 2025

When a headline like this pops up in People Magazine and the LA Times—

"California ‘MAGA Dentist’ under fire for viral joke about hurting liberal patients"

—it’s more than just political gossip. It’s a wake-up call about trust in healthcare.

Dr. Harleen Grewal, a Santa Clarita dentist who once branded herself as the "MAGA Dentist," is under fire after a 2021 Republican gala video went viral on TikTok. In it, she joked about withholding laughing gas from liberal patients:

"I have a secret hat I use sometimes, it says, ‘Make your smile great again.’ So I wear that when I work with my patients, when they look horrified or complain, I quietly cut back on the laughing gas."

She also mocked liberals for "staying home during COVID with their masks on" and claimed patients "jump up like their butt is on fire" when they see the photo wall of Republican leaders in her office.

The audience at the gala laughed. But when the video resurfaced online, the internet wasn’t laughing.

And now, her reputation—and by extension, the reputation of dentists everywhere—is under scrutiny.

As I said in response to the story:

"WORDS MATTER WHEN YOU TAKE AN OATH TO DO NO HARM. You had the crowd in the palm of your hands with laughter... still funny?"

Here’s the truth: as healthcare providers, we don’t get to "joke" about denying care. Period.

Dentists take an oath to serve patients with compassion and fairness. Suggesting—even in jest—that care could be conditional based on political beliefs isn’t just "bad PR." It undermines the very foundation of trust patients place in us.

Of course, some will argue this is about free speech. And yes, she had the right to say it.

But free speech doesn’t protect you from professional consequences.

When you hold power over a patient’s health, your words carry weight. A careless "joke" can spark outrage, trigger board complaints, and—most importantly—make patients afraid to seek care.

You may think, "It’s just one dentist. Why should I care?"

Here’s why:

Or as one Yelp reviewer put it:

"Dental care by a dentist who acknowledges that she doesn’t control your pain based on your political party? How does she have a license to practice?"

This isn’t about politics. This is about professionalism.

Dentistry—and healthcare at large—must be a safe space for all. Patients deserve to know their care is based on science and compassion, not politics or personal bias.

As dentists, we don’t get to joke about giving worse care. Period. Because in the end, a smile is nonpartisan. And protecting that truth is why I speak up on stories like this.

If you care about keeping dentistry rooted in trust, science, and compassion, subscribe and join me on the Let’s Talk Smiles Podcast, where we unpack the headlines, debunk the myths, and keep your smile safe—no matter who you vote for.

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