A Tale of Two Hygienists Podcast

Jessica Atkinson, RDH and David Torres CRDH
  • 4.7 (213)
  • Life Sciences
  • Updated Weekly

We created A Tale of Two Hygienists in 2015 because we are passionate about helping our fellow clinicians be the best version of themselves, both professionally and personally. We Interview experts in their fields to provide better care for our patients while promoting the joys of being a dental hygienist.

  1. 1d ago

    559 Standards of Care: Why Dental Hygiene Must Own Its Professional Framework

    JoAnn Gurenlian joins Jessica and Dave for a practical conversation about the purpose, evolution, and everyday importance of the Standards for Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice.   From understanding the difference between standards of care and scope of practice to applying professional standards in real-world clinical situations, this episode explores how standards can help dental hygienists strengthen clinical judgment, documentation, ethical decision-making, and patient outcomes.   What We Talked About The purpose and evolution of the Standards for Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice   Why standards of care matter for every dental hygienist, regardless of practice setting   Common misconceptions about standards and scope of practice   How standards support clinical judgment, documentation, and patient outcomes   The relationship between standards, ethics, and professional accountability   How educators can help students move beyond memorization to implementation   Practical ways clinicians can incorporate the standards into everyday patient care   The future of standards and what dental hygienists need to understand moving forward   Call to Action Take a fresh look at the Standards for Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice and consider how they apply to your own clinical decision-making, documentation, patient care, and professional responsibilities. Whether you are a student, educator, or practicing dental hygienist, use the standards as a framework for putting evidence, ethics, and professional judgment into action.   Resources and Links JoAnn Gurenlian on LinkedIn ADHA Standards for Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice — Process of Care AAP Staging and Grading Periodontitis Chairside Guide — Periodontal evaluation Dental Hygiene: Theory and Practice by Darby & Walsh ADA CDT Codes Guest Contact: Joanng@adha.net Co-host Contacts: jatkinson@endeavorb2b.com | dtorres@endeavorb2b.com

  2. Sep 30

    558 Bone Health, Hormones, and the Clinician Behind the Care

    Every patient who sits in our chair brings more than just a mouth with them. Hormones, bone health, medications, and life stage can all influence what we see clinically.   In this episode, Jessica and Dave explore the connection between hormonal changes, bone health, and oral health—and why dental hygienists play an important role in recognizing the clues, starting conversations, and helping patients get the care they need.   What We Talked About: How hormones and bone health influence oral health throughout a patient's lifetime   What clinicians may notice during puberty, pregnancy, perimenopause, menopause, and beyond   Oral signs that may point to broader systemic or bone-health concerns   Why early screening can impact long-term health outcomes   Red flags and risk factors for premature bone loss and poor bone quality   How to discuss osteoporosis, bone density, and medications with patients   How to approach sensitive conversations with compassion and confidence   Three practical things every hygienist can start doing tomorrow   The Big Takeaway The mouth can provide important clues about what is happening throughout the body. Understanding the connections between hormones, bone health, and oral health can help clinicians recognize risks earlier and provide more informed, whole-patient care.   Contact the guest:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-evans-bs-mcl-rdh-thephrdh   Website: https://kristinevansrdh.wixsite.com/my-site-2

  3. Sep 26

    Net32 Podcast Chat- Periodontal Communication and Seed Planting- guiding a path to health

    Jessica and Dave welcome Dr. Pamela Ray to discuss how hygienists can improve periodontal communication, help patients take ownership of their disease, and guide them toward informed decisions about their health. This episode was brought to you by our friends at Net32.   What We Talked About: Overcoming barriers to periodontal treatment acceptance.   Using the oral-systemic connection to motivate patients.   Effective language and communication strategies.   Strengthening communication with periodontists, physicians, and referral sources.   Handling patients who delay or decline treatment.   Practical tips for creating meaningful conversations that lead to action.   Call to Action: Find your passion while practicing patient care.   Guest: Dr. Pamela Ray — drpamelaray@gmail.com   Hosts: Jessica and Dave — jatkinson@endeavorb2b.com | Dtorres@endeavorb2b.com

    Net32 Podcast Chat- Periodontal Communication and Seed Planting- guiding a path to health

  4. Sep 23

    557 Changing the Paradigm for Treating TMD

    Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) affect millions of patients, yet they remain widely misunderstood.   In this episode, Jessica and Dave explore a new way of thinking about TMD with Dr. Anthony Urbanek. After 36 years of performing TMJ surgery, Dr. Urbanek stopped and began researching the disease to better understand its causes and develop a nonsurgical approach.   What We Talked About:   Why the traditional TMD treatment paradigm needs to change   Common myths and misconceptions about TMD   The connection between occlusion, muscles, joints, inflammation, and symptoms   Why hygienists can be the first line of defense in TMD screening   Early recognition and practical screening strategies   Conservative, evidence-based approaches to TMD management   Helping patients understand their condition and treatment options   Where TMD research and treatment are headed   The big takeaway: The old paradigm treats symptoms. The new paradigm starts by understanding the disease.   Resources: www.urbanektmj.com https://www.dentalproductsreport.com/view/urbanek-tmj-device-is-designed-to-relieve-the-inflammation-that-causes-temporomandibular-disorder https://www.dentaleconomics.com/science-tech/article/14299097/taking-the-bite-out-of-tmd https://hub.dentalentrepreneur.com/podcasts/the-future-of-dentistry/episodes/2148166983       Contact Guest: tony@tmjservices.net   https://www.facebook.com/TMJServicesofBrentwood   https://www.instagram.com/TMJServicesofBrentwood/   Contact the Hosts:   Jessica Atkinson: jatkinson@endeavorb2b.com   Dave Torres: dtorres@endeavorb2b.com

  5. Sep 19

    Solventum Podcast Chat- Give your orthodontic patients a clear advantage with Solventum™ Clinpro™ Clear

    Orthodontic treatment can make oral hygiene more challenging, with brackets and aligner attachments creating areas where biofilm can accumulate and contribute to demineralization and white spot lesions.   This episode was brought to you by our friends at Solventum.   In this episode, Jessica Atkinson and Dave Torres discuss the role of fluoride in orthodontic prevention and how Solventum™ Clinpro™ Clear can help protect enamel while fitting seamlessly into clinical workflows.   What We Talked About   Why brackets and aligner attachments make oral hygiene more difficult.   The impact of biofilm and demineralization during orthodontic treatment.   The role of fluoride in orthodontic prevention.   How Clinpro™ Clear can migrate around brackets and attachments to reach high-risk areas.   Its fast-acting, 15-minute eat-and-drink time.   Its self-contained design for simple chairside application.   How Clinpro™ Clear can support both patient experience and practice workflow.   Resources: https://www.solventum.com/en-us/home/f/b5005503000/   https://s7d9.scene7.com/is/content/mmmspinco/clinpro-clear-brochure-ds-rps-enpdf   Contact the Hosts Jessica Atkinson jatkinson@endeavorb2b.com   Dave Torres dtorres@endeavorb2b.com

    Solventum Podcast Chat- Give your orthodontic patients a clear advantage with Solventum™ Clinpro™ Clear

  6. Sep 19

    Treat the Biology, Not Just the Symptoms: Personalized Home Care for Dental Hygiene Patients Sponsored by Perio Protect

    In this tipisode, Amanda Hill - RDH explores the importance of biology-driven home care recommendations and why a one-size-fits-all approach may not meet every patient's needs. From chronic inflammation and acute healing to xerostomia and remineralization, Amanda discusses how hygienists can match home care products to each patient's unique biology. She highlights the important role of saliva in oral health and shares strategies for supporting patients during the many months between dental hygiene visits. The takeaway: Assess first, choose products second, and build a home care protocol around what the patient's biology actually needs. Download the free Perio Protect and Periosciences treatment protocol for guidance on what to use, when to use it, and how to layer therapies.

    Treat the Biology, Not Just the Symptoms: Personalized Home Care for Dental Hygiene Patients Sponsored by Perio Protect

  7. Sep 16

    556 The Endoscope: Seeing What We've Been Missing in Dental Hygiene

    Jessica and Dave welcome Judy Carroll, RDH, Founder and Clinical Director of PerioPeak Innovations, to discuss how periodontal endoscopy is changing the way hygienists assess and treat periodontal disease.   With 36 years of clinical experience, Judy shares her expertise on:   How periodontal endoscopy works and its evolution in hygiene.   How visualization can improve clinical decision-making and calculus detection.   The connection between endoscopy, biofilm management, and periodontal outcomes.   Common misconceptions, barriers, and training considerations.   The future of visualization technology in periodontal care.   More affordable, hygiene-focused approaches for treating teeth traditionally considered hopeless.   Learn more about Judy's work and periodontal endoscopy at www.periopeak.com and connect with @periopeak on social media.   Resources www.periopeak.com www.facebook.com/periopeak/ linkedin.com/in/periopeak/ @periopeak Guest: Judy Carroll, RDH | vision@periopeak.com Hosts: Jessica and Dave | jatkinson@endeavorb2b.com | dtorres@endeavorb2b.com

  8. Sep 9

    555 From Wear Facets to Wellness: The Hygienist's Role in Airway Health

    On this episode of A Tale of Two Hygienists, Jessica and Dave sit down with a dental professional who has spent more than 20 years in hygiene and noticed a recurring problem: patients whose bruxism and wear patterns pointed to possible airway issues were being referred for sleep evaluations, but too often never completed the process.   That frustration led to the creation of Orasom Health, a platform designed to help dental teams support patients from the first airway red flags in the dental chair through screening, diagnosis, and treatment.   What We Talked About How hygienists are uniquely positioned to recognize oral signs that may point to airway dysfunction.   Why patients so often fall through the cracks after being referred for a sleep evaluation.   How dental teams can better support patients throughout the journey from screening to diagnosis and treatment.   The important role hygienists can play in identifying potential airway concerns early.   The personal, unexpected journey that sparked this mission — beginning not through dentistry, but with an unfortunate near-death experience that changed the guest's life and set this work in motion.   The Big Takeaway Airway health doesn't have to stop at a referral. Dental hygienists are often on the frontline of identifying potential warning signs, giving them a unique opportunity to help patients take the next step toward answers and treatment.   Resources:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aylee706/   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puz8YoY2_To     Contact the Hosts: Jessica: jatkinson@endeavorb2b.com Dave: dtorres@endeavorb2b.com

See All (1.2K)

4.7
out of 5
213 Ratings

About

We created A Tale of Two Hygienists in 2015 because we are passionate about helping our fellow clinicians be the best version of themselves, both professionally and personally. We Interview experts in their fields to provide better care for our patients while promoting the joys of being a dental hygienist.

Information

You Might Also Like