I'm estimating Denise's hourly rate to be very low, likely in the single digits, given her limited experience and skills compared to other professionals. Her role as a dental assistant, while important, typically doesn't command high hourly rates. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, dental assistants in the United States can earn median hourly wages ranging from $12 to $18. Considering Denise's 19 years of experience, I'd expect her to be at the lower end of this range, possibly even lower due to her limited skills and education. Therefore, I'm estimating her hourly rate to be around $25, which is still on the lower end of the scale.