Tooth or Dare Podcast Irene Iancu @Toothlife.Irene

Welcome to the 148th episode of the Tooth or Dare Podcast with Irene Iancu (@toothlife.irene) and this week's guest Melissa Turner (@thetoothgirl).
In Part 1 of this interview, we learn about Melissa’s upbringing in rural Pennsylvania and how she started her career as a dental assistant. At her mentor’s suggestion, she decided to become a dental hygienist, which led her down the path to where she is today. Along the way, Melissa got married, moved around frequently, and started a family, but felt she was losing control of her life. Tune in to hear about how she dug herself out - using her experience as a hygienist and passion for the future of dentistry - to retake control of her career. Plus, Melissa reveals a secret that not many people know about!
Melissa Turner:
A 20-year veteran dental hygienist and founder, Melissa K. Turner is a sought-after executive, consultant, dynamic speaker and top millennial content creator. Behind some of the most innovative brands in the industry, she partners with companies of all sizes – from pre-seed startups to billion-dollar international brands – on brand strategy and product growth. Turner’s combined experience behind the scenes in the boardroom, on the frontlines as clinician, and as a public-facing influencer allows her unique insight into future industry trends. She is the founder and founding board member of multiple companies and is referred to as a “fresh force of change”– representing a new generation in dentistry with a focus on transforming the future through innovative technology, inclusion and practitioner wellbeing.
Senior Executive Consultant and Chief Hygiene Officer at Cellerant Consulting Group, Turner leads the Cellerant Best of Class Hygiene Awards. She is a founding board member for the American Mobile & Teledentistry Alliance and cofounder of The Denobi Awards and the National Mobile & Teledentistry Conference. Affectionately known by her influencer handle @thetoothgirl, she is creator of the I Heart Dentistry Network.
Turner’s newest launches include Smile Proud, an advocacy organization built to support current and future LGBTQIA+ dental professionals, as well as I,Woman, a podcast for women founders, executives and entrepreneurs focusing on what it takes to unleash their inner roar in the boardroom, the bedroom and beyond.
For more information and to connect with Melissa, check out her social media profiles:
Instagram: @thetoothgirl
Melissa’s Website: www.MelissaKTurner.com 
If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment. Until next time, Peace out peeps! ✌️
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Welcome to the 147th episode of the Tooth or Dare Podcast with Irene Iancu (@toothlife.irene) and this week's guest Dr. David Rice (@ignitedds).
Call this episode a book report. Irene’s an avid reader and the new book.“Is Everyone Smiling But You?” David’s new book title can hit a little too close to home. If you’ve ever felt the struggle of balancing your work, health, and relationships with loved ones, you’re not alone. David shares lessons he learned going through the challenges life threw at him. 
How do you lead confidently if you lack organizational skills?
What’s the right thing to do when an employee needs extended bereavement leave?
What if your marriage doesn’t feel right from day one? 
Using your instincts to know if people are the right ones for you. 
Follow your gut instinct.  
Through exercises and self-reflection, David coaches those who are willing to put in the time and effort to make a change.
Irene read the book while on a outdoor trip, cover to cover while in the woods and brought forward some personal questions that linked to David’s story, this episode is really a perspective shift for those of us who perhaps are also in limbo between achieving “success” and being happy. David discusses how we should be creating 3 buckets of things in our lives in order to full those buckets up evenly, listen to this episode if you’re ready to think about a perspective shift in order to clean things up.  
Irene shares a recent tragedy in her practice losing an employee and David provides support with how to continue to be a leader during a real tragedy. 
 
Dr. David Rice:
As seen on the Doctors, founder of the nation’s largest new dentist and student community, Dr. David R. Rice travels the world speaking, writing, and connecting today’s top young dentists with tomorrow’s most successful dental practices. In addition to igniteDDS, David is the Chief Editor of DentistryIQ and leads a team-centered, restorative, and implant practice in East Amherst, NY. With 28 years of practice in the books, he’s trained at The Pankey Institute, The Dawson Academy, Spear, and most prolifically at the school of hard knocks.
 
For more information and to connect with Dr. David, check out his social media profiles:
 
Instagram: @ignitedds
Ignite DDS Website: https://ignitedds.com/
David’s Book, “Is Everyone Smiling But You?”: https://a.co/d/5w0Abrq 
 
If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment. Until next time, Peace out peeps! ✌️
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 📦 Amazon Store with my FAV things:
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Follow on Social Media: 
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🛒Online Store and Instagram @Toothlife https://www.instagram.com/toothlife
🥼Office Instagram @ToothlifeStudio https://www.instagram.com/ToothlifeStudio
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🎤Podcast @ToothorDare.Podcast https://www.instagram.com/ToothorDare.Podcast
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Ep 146 - Pediatric Feeding Specialist Teaches Parents Baby-Led Mealtime | Tooth Or Dare Podcast with Toothlife.Irene
Welcome to the 146th episode of the Tooth or Dare Podcast with Irene Iancu (@toothlife.irene) and this week's guest Dawn Winkelmann (@msdawnslp).
Do you remember learning how to eat? Were you a picky eater growing up? What does this have to do with dentistry? Surprisingly, a lot - keep listening to find out! 
Infancy is a critical stage of development, a time when babies learn survival skills and good (or bad) habits. Dawn emphasizes the importance of baby-led mealtime, in which babies learn to feed themselves instead of being literally spoon-fed by parents. Eating is a sensory experience with so much going on, and it’s crucial for parents to make sure their child is swallowing correctly, getting enough nutrition, and exposed to a variety of foods to prevent potential issues down the road. Having the right knowledge is not enough however, so Dawn also shows us how her specially designed baby-led utensils help teach tiny humans the safe way to enjoy liquid and solid foods.
Guest Bio:
Dawn Winkelmann is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Pediatric Feeding Therapist specializing in infant swallowing. She has over 25 years of experience teaching parents, therapists, and caregivers how to feed children of all abilities. Through her private practice, Ms. Dawn provides in-home feeding therapy and online coaching, helping parents start solids safely with the baby-led weaning (BLW) approach. She also teaches techniques to help with picky eating, tube feeding, children with special needs (Autism, Down syndrome, etc.), as well as medically compromised kiddos who struggle to eat a variety of foods + liquids. 
Ms. Dawn is the inventor of several feeding products, including the award-winning ezpz Tiny Cup & Tiny Spoon (for infants) as well as the Mini Cup & Straw-Training System, Mini Utensils, and Mini Feeding Set (for toddlers), available for purchase at Nordstrom’s, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, and Amazon. She is the co-author of the book Making Mealtime ezpz, which has been highlighted on The View and Shark Tank. Her blogging and product design skills are widely sought-after by pediatric brands seeking expert medical advice. 
For more information and to connect with Dawn, check out her social media profiles:
Instagram: @msdawnslpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/msdawnslp/Website: https://msdawnslp.com/
If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment. Until next time, Peace out peeps! ✌️_______________________________________ 📦 Amazon Store with my FAV things:https://www.amazon.ca/shop/toothlife.irene?listId=YLX0271390I3Follow on Social Media: _______________________________________💁🏼‍♀️Personal Instagram @Toothlife.Irene https://www.instagram.com/toothlife.irene🙋🏼‍♀️Facebook Irene Iancu https://www.facebook.com/irene.iancu💃🏼TikTok @Toothlife.Irene https://www.tiktok.com/@toothlife.irene🛒Online Store and Instagram @Toothlife https://www.instagram.com/toothlife🥼Office Instagram @ToothlifeStudio https://www.instagram.com/ToothlifeStudio_______________________________________🎤Podcast @ToothorDare.Podcast https://www.instagram.com/ToothorDare.Podcast_______________________________________🔗🌲Cool links in my Linktree https://linktr.ee/TOOTHLIFE.IRENE
 
 

Welcome to the 145th episode of the Tooth or Dare Podcast with Irene Iancu (@toothlife.irene) and this week's guest Kate Reinert at Zirc (@zircdentalproducts).
If you love organization and color-coding, this one’s for you! We discuss all things Zirc, a company specializing in innovative dental products that help teams work more efficiently. Their use of bright colors are key in keeping materials organized and ready to go no matter what procedure is up next. Who doesn’t want a rainbow in their office - especially one that helps save you time and money? 
Kate teaches us how Zirc works with dental practices from beginning to end, building a customized system for each office and ensuring that it is being used optimally. Once you’ve used it, you won’t want to go back - you may even end up working at Zirc just like Kate! Her inspiring story is a lesson of how patience, perseverance, and preparation can lead you exactly where you want to go.
Guest Bio:
Kate Reinert is a Clinical Efficiency Consultant at Zirc Dental Products Inc, leveraging 17 yearsof hands-on experience as a dental assistant. Over the course of her career, Kate has gainedvaluable insights into the intricacies of patient care and the dental practice environment. Herpassion for elevating patient care and achieving clinical excellence is her driving force andinfectious enthusiasm.
For more information about Zirc and to connect with Kate, check out their social media profiles:
Instagram: @zircdentalproductsLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kate-reinert-0b3246a8 Zirc Website: https://www.zirc.com/
If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment. Until next time, Peace out peeps! ✌️_______________________________________ 📦 Amazon Store with my FAV things:https://www.amazon.ca/shop/toothlife.irene?listId=YLX0271390I3Follow on Social Media: _______________________________________💁🏼‍♀️Personal Instagram @Toothlife.Irene https://www.instagram.com/toothlife.irene🙋🏼‍♀️Facebook Irene Iancu https://www.facebook.com/irene.iancu💃🏼TikTok @Toothlife.Irene https://www.tiktok.com/@toothlife.irene🛒Online Store and Instagram @Toothlife https://www.instagram.com/toothlife🥼Office Instagram @ToothlifeStudio https://www.instagram.com/ToothlifeStudio_______________________________________🎤Podcast @ToothorDare.Podcast https://www.instagram.com/ToothorDare.Podcast_______________________________________🔗🌲Cool links in my Linktree https://linktr.ee/TOOTHLIFE.IRENE
 

Welcome to the 144th episode of the Tooth or Dare Podcast with Irene Iancu (@toothlife.irene) and this week's guest Katie Poulsen (@katiecpoulsen).
Katie is a product marketing manager for Videa Health, a company specializing in artificial intelligence tools for healthcare, including dentistry. VideaAI is one such tool that can greatly improve diagnosis with dental X-rays when used by a trained professional - and this is where there are currently varying opinions on its use. On one hand, Katie is a huge advocate for AI and believes it will be an essential part of providing quality healthcare. On the other hand, there are dentists who seem to find AI’s very existence offensive, as well as anyone who uses it. Find out the good, the bad, and the ugly about incorporating dental AI tools in your practice, and how Irene dealt with some hate online from her AI-denouncing peers – despite having positive patient outcomes.
Guest Bio:
Katie C. Poulsen’s 22-year dental journey embodies clinical expertise, leadership, communication advocacy, tech marketing, writing, and podcasting. 
Raised in a dental family, Katie's 14-year dental hygienist role is complemented by a Master's in Professional Communication.Transitioning to tech, Katie continues to excel in Dental Tech as a customer and product marketer for companies like Dental Intelligence and VideaHealth.
Prolific in writing, Katie's articles & ebooks spotlight practice management, analytics, and AI in dentistry. Her 2021 podcast "The Growth in Dentistry" has become a premier resource, discussing progressive ideas, trends, and strategies.
Katie resides in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her spouse and two beautiful daughters.
For more information and to connect with Katie, check out her social media profiles:
Instagram: @katiecpoulsen, @videahealth_aiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-poulsen-564294168/ Videa Health website: https://www.videa.ai/ 
If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment. Until next time, Peace out peeps! ✌️_______________________________________📦 Amazon Store with my FAV things:https://www.amazon.ca/shop/toothlife.irene?listId=YLX0271390I3 
Follow on Social Media: _______________________________________💁🏼‍♀️Personal Instagram @Toothlife.Irene https://www.instagram.com/toothlife.irene 🙋🏼‍♀️Facebook Irene Iancu https://www.facebook.com/irene.iancu 💃🏼TikTok @Toothlife.Irene https://www.tiktok.com/@toothlife.irene 🛒Online Store and Instagram @Toothlife https://www.instagram.com/toothlife 🥼Office Instagram @ToothlifeStudio https://www.instagram.com/ToothlifeStudio _______________________________________🎤Podcast @ToothorDare.Podcast https://www.instagram.com/ToothorDare.Podcast_______________________________________🔗🌲Cool links in my Linktreehttps://linktr.ee/TOOTHLIFE.IRENE

143 - COVID Dental School Graduate and real talk creator Dr. Britany Baker| Tooth Or Dare Podcast with Toothlife.Irene
Welcome to the 143rd episode of the Tooth or Dare Podcast with Irene Iancu (@toothlife.irene) and this week's guest Dr. Britany Baker (@peaceful.toothdoc).
It’s hard to find someone who’s more fun to be around than Dr. Britany - her smile is as infectious as her passion for dentistry. Join us for a delightful conversation about how Dr. Britany was inspired to become a dentist, what it’s like to graduate dental school and job hunt during the COVID pandemic, and how you can’t please everyone on social media. We also talk about the importance of staying up to date on technology and best practices and the challenge of hiring dental hygienists in Charlotte versus Toronto. 
 
Bonus fun fact - Dr. Britany is not to be confused with fellow dentist Dr. Britt Baker, DMD, a professional wrestler, although they are both forces of nature in their own right!
 
Guest Bio:
Dr. Britany Baker has been in dentistry since 2016 and joined the Catawba Valley Dental Care team in 2020. She has dreamed of being a dentist since she was a little girl growing up in the dentist's office where her mother worked as a dental hygienist. Dr. Britany is passionate about forming personal relationships with her patients and working together to create a treatment plan to meet each patient's unique goals for both an aesthetically pleasing and healthy smile. She completed her undergraduate education at Eastern Kentucky University and received her DMD from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry.
Dr. Britany is originally from Hazard, Kentucky located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Coming from an impoverished area has made Dr. Britany passionate about educating people on the importance of establishing healthy oral habits starting from a young age. She has spent time volunteering in low-income clinics treating adults and children who would not otherwise be able to afford care.
Dr. Britany lives in Charlotte with her beagle, Ryder, and Jazz the cat. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, rock climbing, reading, cooking, and yoga. She is a soccer fan and cheers on Tottenham Hotspurs.
For more information and to connect with Dr. Britany, check out her social media profile:
Instagram: @peaceful.toothdoc
If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment. Until next time, Peace out peeps! ✌️
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 📦 Amazon Store with my FAV things:
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Follow on Social Media: 
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🙋🏼‍♀️Facebook Irene Iancu https://www.facebook.com/irene.iancu
💃🏼TikTok @Toothlife.Irene https://www.tiktok.com/@toothlife.irene
🛒Online Store and Instagram @Toothlife https://www.instagram.com/toothlife
🥼Office Instagram @ToothlifeStudio https://www.instagram.com/ToothlifeStudio
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🎤Podcast @ToothorDare.Podcast https://www.instagram.com/ToothorDare.Podcast
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🔗🌲Cool links in my Linktree https://linktr.ee/TOOTHLIFE.IRENE