Meet Dr. Tigon Nguyen-Abalos

When she emigrated from Vietnam to the US as a teenager, Dr. Tigon knew that she wanted to explore the world, so she joined the Army. Joining the Army was not only a way for her to fulfill her traveling dreams, but it also helped her find her calling. When she was in Kabul, Afghanistan, she saw a desperate need for medical professionals, especially dentists. Seeing this helped her realize her true passion for helping underserved geographic areas and underrepresented minority populations.

Dr.Tigon has achieved several esteemed accomplishments, featured in the Fresno Bee on Veterans Day in 2016, selected as a 2015 Tillman Scholar, highlighted in an Emmy Award-winning PSA celebrating female veterans, and recognized as a Got Your 6 Storyteller.

Providing quality oral care to local communities is more than just a job—it’s her personal American dream.

She believes that it is essential for dental professionals to provide the best possible care to their patients using modern techniques and materials to improve accuracy, efficiency, patient comfort, and smoother chairside delivery. She’s committed to mastering every aspect in dental procedures so that she can meet every patient’s needs.

Dr. Tigon considers her job her own personal American dream—she’s thrilled to be able to provide quality oral care to local communities. The most rewarding parts for her are getting rid of her patients’ pain, reducing their dental anxiety, and seeing them with brand new smiles they feel confident in.

Education & Certifications

Dr. Tigon was in the US Army from 2000–2008, where she was an Army Counterintelligence Agent. She then studied Chemistry at California State University, Fresno, graduating in 2012. She received her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry in 2016.

After graduating, she worked in a community health clinic in Fresno and State Prison, and other private practices.

Dr. Tigon recently re-join the military service with the CA Army National Guard as a Captain in the Medical Detachment based in Sacramento, CA. This decision reflects her commitment to serve her country while leveraging her expertise as a medical professional.

She completed her Pre-Fellowship at the Academy of General Dentistry. She is an active member of theFresno-Madera Dental Society, the California Dental Association, and the American Dental Association.

Dr. Tigon also loves volunteering, actively participating in programs such as Give Kids a Smile, the Central Valley Veteran Stand Down, and TeamSmile. She has provided dental care to underserved communities—including rural villages in Cambodia and Vietnam—through various non-profit organizations.

Outside of Work

In her free time, Dr. Tigon is very active. She loves to play tennis or pickle-ball with her friends, family, or just anyone who’s willing to “sweat it out” with her. She is also a huge fan of hiking and snowboarding, and regards herself as having a green thumb for her own garden.