A Tale of Two Hygienists Podcast

Latest Episodes:

TIPisode with Michelle and Andrew February 2020 Feb 28, 2020

Show notes

In this week's TIPisode, Andrew and Michelle discuss ideas to help you navigate the dental conference world. Whether you are an industry professional or an attendee, here are a few helpful hints to make your experience just a little bit better!

216 The Dental Hygiene Bridge to Medical Care with Mary Signorino and Jamie Freitag-Dooley Feb 26, 2020

Show notes

Continuing A Tale of Two Hygienists' series on the integration of oral health care into other fields, this week's guests are two hygienists who act as bridges between the dental world and the medical world.

Mary Signorino is both a registered dental hygienist and a registered nurse who knows firsthand how the two professions can effectively overlap. Jamie Freitag-Dooley is a dental hygienist, coach, professional speaker and executive director of the National Network of Healthcare Hygienists, which aims to integrate oral health promotion into more areas of the medical industry.

In this episode, Mary discusses how she combines her skills as a dental hygienist with her work as a nurse, while Jamie lays out why dental hygienists should step into the limelight and bring their skills to other medical fields.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

Interview starts: 14:48

- The important lessons Mary learned while working at a private practice under a retired naval officer.

- Mary discusses her period working in Switzerland and explains what prompted her to take up nursing.

- What is FAST and what does it have to do with treating strokes?

- What both dental hygienists and nurses can do to more effectively work together.

- Breaking down what Jamie wants to accomplish through the National Network of Healthcare Hygienists.

- Why Jamie doesn't expect private medicine to push back against NNHH.

- The reason dental hygienists need to step forward and put themselves and their skills out there.

QUOTES:

"After 15 years of working in dental hygiene, I wanted to expand how I take care of a person."

"I studied the head and the neck, and now I'm gonna go work on the neck on down."

"You can't tell someone to care unless they care themselves."

"We always care, there's always a passion, there's a mission somewhere deep inside us."

"When I found out all of the barriers that were present, I knew we needed to do something big to change it."

"People keep saying 'break down the silos' [but] that's not working; we've got to be the bridge."

"Listen to what your heart calls you to."

"This is gonna continue to evolve and we always have a voice in where this goes."

LINKS:

Mary's email: dalmatianbabies@yahoo.com

Jamie's website - https://jamiedooley.com/

Jamie on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jamieismycoach/

National Network of Healthcare Hygienists - https://healthcarehygienists.org/

Hygienists in Healthcare Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/hygienistsinhealthcare/

Thank you to Paradise Dental Technologies aka PDT for providing sponsorship for this episode!

Be sure to thank the sponsor for this episode by heading over to www.PDTDental.com and picking up a new instrument or telling them thank you in person at one of the conferences!

THIS EPISODE COUNTS FOR CE! - but read the disclaimer below as it might not count for your state.

Go here to take the test and get your CE Credit!

Hygiene Edge Video on Helioseal F Plus - https://www.youtube.com/embed/8bhA6peh28A

A Tale of Two Hygienists homepage - https://ataleoftwohygienists.com/

AToTH on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aTaleOfTwoHygienists/

AToTH on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ataleoftwohygienists

AToTH on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/atoth/?originalSubdomain=ca

TIPisode with Dr. Tom Viola Feb 21, 2020

Show notes

Antibiotics use is often a debated topic in our profession and between our profession and specialties like orthopedics. What do the guidelines say? How do we advocate for our patients so we don't create these superbugs because of antibiotic overuse? Dr. Tom Viola is back for another TIPisode on this topic.

Don't forget to share this episode. We would love your feedback. Don't hesitate to rate and review our podcast on your favorite listening app!

With over 30 years' experience as a pharmacist, educator, speaker and author, Tom Viola, R.Ph., C.C.P. has earned his reputation as the go-to specialist for delivering quality continuing education content through his informative engaging presentations. Tom's sellout programs provide an overview of the most prevalent oral and systemic diseases and the most frequently prescribed drugs used in their treatment. Special emphasis is given to dental considerations and strategies for effective patient care planning.

Tom's homepage - http://www.tomviola.com/

Pharmacology Declassified - http://www.tomviola.com/welcome-to-the-pharmacology-declassified-blog/

215 When Dental Hygiene Meets Healthcare with Laurie Clark and Michelle Gross Panico Feb 19, 2020

Show notes

A Tale of Two Hygienists continues its series on how professionals have integrated oral health care with other medical practices in new and innovative ways by speaking with employees of a vital public health organization.

Both of this episode's guests are hygienists based in Phoenix, Arizona and who work for Dignity Health, which is made up of over 60,000 caregivers across the United States and delivers a wide range of health care to a variety of communities. Laurie Clark is part of Dignity Health's First Teeth First early childhood oral health initiative and Michelle Gross Panico is the manager of a community oral health department.

In this episode, Laurie and Michelle discuss why they came to work in public health, explain the unique and important role of promatoras, and hint at how Dignity Health will continue to expand in the future.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

Interview starts: 14:39

- Laurie and Michelle explain how they developed their love for working in community health and started collaborating.

- What can public health offer you that private practice is unable to provide?

- Looking at just a few of the ways medical and dental services have been integrating throughout the country.

- How tobacco taxes are being funneled into childhood health services.

- Who are promatoras and how have they been helping services like Dignity Health?

- Laurie explains why she's so impressed with the pediatricians she's worked with.

- How does Dignity Health operate in the field?

- What are some of the larger challenges Laurie and Michelle face with Dignity Health?

- Michelle details how Dignity Health will continue with other healthcare offices in the future.

QUOTES:

"I had to really step back and think about what I really liked about what I was doing."

"When you can get the family together and get the parents involved, I think it makes a significant difference."

"I can help you hit the mark that you need for the percentage that you're working on with your health plan."

"Finally, we're seeing the day where preventative care is being incentivized!"

"The medical providers are happy that we have the time to spend with them to get them plugged into a dental home."

"Partnership-building is so important, and it takes a lot of time!"

LINKS:

Laurie's email: laurie.clark@dignityhealth.org

Michelle's email: michelle.gross-panico@dignityhealth.org

Dignity Health - https://www.dignityhealth.org/

OSAP - https://www.osap.org/

Thank you to Paradise Dental Technologies aka PDT for providing sponsorship for this episode!

Be sure to thank the sponsor for this episode by heading over to www.PDTDental.com and picking up a new instrument or telling them thank you in person at one of the conferences!

THIS EPISODE COUNTS FOR CE! - but read the disclaimer below as it might not count for your state.

Go here to take the test and get your CE Credit!

Hygiene Edge Video on Helioseal F Plus - https://www.youtube.com/embed/8bhA6peh28A

A Tale of Two Hygienists homepage - https://ataleoftwohygienists.com/

AToTH on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aTaleOfTwoHygienists/

AToTH on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ataleoftwohygienists

AToTH on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/atoth/?originalSubdomain=ca

TIPisode with Eden Ivie Feb 14, 2020

Show notes

Teledentistry. You have heard it used, but what does it mean? Telehealth is helping people all over the world, but dentistry has been a bit slower in adopting this type of technology. Eden Ivie, RDH, gives us some definitions and ways that teledentistry could be used. You may be surprised when and where we could use teledentistry in our profession and how simple it really is!

Thank you to MouthWatch for sponsoring this episode. You can find quality intra-oral cameras and the software you need to implement teledentistry! After listening to this episode, you can enter to win one of those excellent intra-oral cameras from MouthWatch. You can learn more at MouthWatch.com

Click here to enter to win!

214 Sonya Dunbar, "The Geriatric Toothfairy" Feb 12, 2020

Show notes

A Tale of Two Hygienists is launching a series on how professionals and patients integrate dental treatment with other forms of medical care. For this week, Andrew and Michelle have invited a guest who specializes in oral health care for the senior population.

Sonya Dunbar has been a dental hygienist for over 30 years. Known as "the Geriatric Toothfairy," she is the founder and CEO of Mobile Dental Xpress, which brings oral health care to elderly patients housed in long-term care facilities. Sonya is a national speaker on the importance of oral care for elderly patients, trains nursing home staff, and also provides seniors with "S.O.S. packs" that contain 3-6 months of oral health care products.

In this episode, Sonya discusses the reasons why younger hygienists are hesitant to work with seniors, explains why they should move past these apprehensions, and makes a case for why you should sponsor one of her S.O.S. Packs.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

Interview starts: 10:16

- Sonya explains why working with seniors has been a lifelong passion for her.

- Why so many younger hygienists and dental professionals are averse to treating the elderly.

- What services does Mobile Dental Xpress provide its patients and how do they charge for them?

- How Sonya trains her team, holds them accountable, and meets any challenges that come their way.

- Some of the more frequent ailments amongst the senior population.

- Why professionals in private practices should make a point of scheduling geriatric patients for either the first or last session of the day.

- The reason Sonya and her team typically don't treat patients in short-term care.

- What can be found in Sonya's S.O.S. packages and how you can sponsor one.

- How to tell if an elderly patient at your private practice is no longer able to take care of their oral health as well as they used to.

QUOTES:

"If you put me between a rock and a hard place, the hard place is gonna lose because I'm coming out fighting!"

"I'm on your team and we're here to save these residents, and this is what we're gonna do."

"We need to bring awareness to our seniors and long-term care facilities because it's like they're a forgotten population and it's making my heart break."

"The mouth is the window of your health."

"It's not easy; it has to be something you want to do."

LINKS:

The Geriatric Toothfairy - https://www.geriatrictoothfairy.org/

S.O.S. Packs - https://www.geriatrictoothfairy.org/sos-packs/

S.O.S. Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1384024545112325/

Geriatric Toothfairy on Twitter - https://twitter.com/gtoothfairy?lang=en

Thank you to Paradise Dental Technologies aka PDT for providing sponsorship for this episode!

Be sure to thank the sponsor for this episode by heading over to www.PDTDental.com and picking up a new instrument or telling them thank you in person at one of the conferences!

THIS EPISODE COUNTS FOR CE! - but read the disclaimer below as it might not count for your state.

Go here to take the test and get your CE Credit!

Hygiene Edge Video on Helioseal F Plus - https://www.youtube.com/embed/8bhA6peh28A

A Tale of Two Hygienists homepage - https://ataleoftwohygienists.com/

AToTH on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aTaleOfTwoHygienists/

AToTH on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ataleoftwohygienists

AToTH on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/atoth/?originalSubdomain=ca

TIPIsode with Cindy Purdy Feb 07, 2020

Show notes

Saddle stools are not "one size fits all" and how you sit in them is different than a traditional stool. Cindy Purdy breaks down how to sit in a saddle stool, how to decide which one is best for you (and no! the ones on Amazon are not for you -- that is Michelle's opinion and not the official Crown Seating statement LOL), and what to expect when you sit in one for a long period of time.

Thank you to Crown Seating for sponsoring this episode and giving one lucky winner the chance to have their own saddle stool! Click this link to join the giveaway!

You can find out more at CrownSeating.com

213 Student Focused Presents - Sealant Literature Review Feb 05, 2020

Show notes

It's A Tale of Two Hygienists' monthly student roundtable episode, which means Andrew and Michelle have invited a trio of guests to educate student listeners on a chosen topic. This episode's subject is all about sealants: what are the most effective sealing materials? What can they prevent? And when can they prove to be a hazard?

Jason Luchtefeld (previously heard on episodes 64 and 145 of A Tale of Two Hygienists) is a dentist based in Robinson, Illinois who has been practicing for 20 years. Julie Frantsve-Hawley (previously on A Tale of Two Hygienists #68) works with the nonprofit group DentaQuest's Partnership for Oral Health Advancement. Spring Hatfield currently works in a small Alabama practice, having previously been a receptionist and assistant before becoming a dental hygienist.

In this episode, our guests summarize and analyze the readings on sealants they brought to this roundtable, debate the finer points of what counts as permanent or non-permanent restorations, and discuss the dreaded "restorative death spiral."

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

Interview starts: 3:03

- Jason summarizes the 2017 literature review "The Use of Pit and Fissure Sealants," which discusses the wide variety of materials utilized in sealants since the procedure began in the 1920s.

- Julie reviews "Barriers to Sealant Guideline Implementation within a Multi-Site Managed Dental Care Practice"—which she actually co-authored—and discusses how pit and fissure sealants can play a key role in "secondary prevention" when applied to non-cavitated carious lesions.

- Spring reviews a randomized clinical trial from last year that tested whether resin-based sealants could prevent non-cavitated carious lesions from progressing.

- What a study on color taught Julie about the power of terminology and puns.

- Why Jason doesn't think there's a significant difference between a permanent restoration and preventative, non-permanent restoration.

- Spring explains what the "restorative death spiral" is.

- Take care to ensure that your patients can see to their basic dental needs at home, even if it means just giving them free toothbrushes.

QUOTES:

"Isolation is critical for the success of sealants."

"If you have dentists that are claiming sub-optimal skills for placing a sealant, then they shouldn't be placing fillings or crowns."

"If we don't have these terms and have general consensus on what they mean, that instance in itself is having a barrier!"

"Always be inquisitive and be open to change your mind when faced with evidence."

"Just because you learned it in school doesn't mean you do it your whole career!"

LINKS:

Jason's email: jluchte@hotmail.com

Julie's email: frantsvehawley@gmail.com

Spring's email: springhatfieldrdh@gmail.com

Ivoclar Vivadent Helioseal F Plus Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bhA6peh28A&t=12s

Thank you to Paradise Dental Technologies aka PDT for providing sponsorship for this episode!

Be sure to thank the sponsor for this episode by heading over to www.PDTDental.com and picking up a new instrument or telling them thank you in person at one of the conferences!

THIS EPISODE COUNTS FOR CE! - but read the disclaimer below as it might not count for your state.

Go here to take the test and get your CE Credit!

A Tale of Two Hygienists homepage - https://ataleoftwohygienists.com/

AToTH on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aTaleOfTwoHygienists/

AToTH on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ataleoftwohygienists

AToTH on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/atoth/?originalSubdomain=ca

TIPisode with Tom Viola Jan 31, 2020

Show notes

Polypharmacy.... is that a new term for you? This TIPisode discusses what this means. This TIPisode can benefit YOU, your loved ones, and your patients. Medication interactions are a big deal and we need to know about them when reading through medical histories.

Tom's homepage - http://www.tomviola.com/

Pharmacology Declassified - http://www.tomviola.com/welcome-to-the-pharmacology-declassified-blog/

212 Myofunctional Therapy Series part 4 with Sarah Hornsby Jan 29, 2020

Show notes

For the final installment in A Tale of Two Hygienists' series on myofunctional therapy, guest and myofunctional expert Sarah Hornsby discusses how to integrate this kind of therapy into a clinic's practices, develop a business around it, or even bring it online.

Sarah K. Hornsby, RDH, is a myofunctional therapist, speaker and mentor. Her interest in myofunctional disorders arose from her own myofunctional problems, inspiring her to ask bigger questions about why these issues are prevalent in today's society. This ultimately led to her launching her own myofunctional therapy practice, Faceology, a decade ago.

In this episode, Sarah explains the "awkward stance" some states have toward myofunctional therapy, breaks down the benefits of online therapy for patient and therapist alike, and discusses the industry-wide changes that could affect her practice in the years to come.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

Interview starts: 13:00

- Sarah explains how she began her journey as a myofunctional therapist.

- The reason why Sarah worked out of multiple orthodontic offices instead of just one.

- What helped Sarah overcome her resistance to doing myofunctional therapy online?

- How Sarah and other myofunctional therapists go about selecting their patients.

- The balancing act of pricing your services so that they benefit both you and your patients.

- On bringing myofunctional therapy to underserved and underprivileged populations.

- The importance of continuing education in the myofunctional world.

QUOTES:

"I think my story helps hygienists understand that this field is pretty open to whatever works."

"I feel like I'm filling a void that needed to be filled. I'm doing the absolute best job for my patients."

"You get the patients with the doctors you network with."

"If you actually want to be a myofunctional therapist you're gonna have to apply what you learn."

"It takes just a lot of actual real life experience, and that's what makes you get better."

LINKS:

Faceology - https://myfaceology.com/

MyoMentor - http://www.myomentor.com/

Sarah's homepage - https://www.sarahkhornsby.com/

Sarah on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/sarahkh12

Sarah on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SarahKHornsby/

Sarah on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SarahHornsbyRDH

Sarah on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sarah_k_hornsby/

Thank you to Paradise Dental Technologies aka PDT for providing sponsorship for this episode!

Be sure to thank the sponsor for this episode by heading over to www.PDTDental.com and picking up a new instrument or telling them thank you in person at one of the conferences!

THIS EPISODE COUNTS FOR CE! - but read the disclaimer below as it might not count for your state.

Go here to take the test and get your CE credit!

A Tale of Two Hygienists homepage - https://ataleoftwohygienists.com/

AToTH on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aTaleOfTwoHygienists/

AToTH on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ataleoftwohygienists

AToTH on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/atoth/?originalSubdomain=ca