RDH Magazine Podcast

The latest DentalPost Industry Salary Report offers dental leaders a critical snapshot of workforce trends that could shape staffing, retention, and career sustainability heading into 2026.

Richard Robinson shares his personal story from dental hygiene graduate to founder of the "MyWhy" program. Listen to his story and how he responded to becoming an Award of Distinction recipient.   Resources:   Thatsmywhy.org   [email protected]

The hygienist-office manager relationship is one of the most impactful and most neglected dynamics in dentistry.  The practices that thrive have teams who are genuinely aligned.   https://www.rdhmag.com/career-profession/article/55362663/the-relationship-that-can-make-or-break-your-practice

RDH Under One Roof will be hosted July 16-18.  Here are a few insights that will make your experience more exciting.  See you soon!   Resources: [email protected]

Discussing nutrition with your patients isn't just about caries control.  From daily habits to new diets, your patients may be needing your knowledge.   Resources: @teachrdh on Instagram

Tiffany Weubben "The Hygienepreneur" invites you to Tennessee and the Hygiene Hoedown.  A team approach CE platform.   Resources: thehygienepreneur.com   Email: [email protected]

Katrina Klein is passionate about ergonomics and has lectured on the subject for many years.  She expanded by focusing on overall health and is now sharing her wealth of knowledge on clinical assessments. Health is about continual growth.   Resources: @ergofitlife on social media ergofitlife.com

Shelley Brown discusses the steps to starting your own mobile dentistry business. She explains the rewards and how to find legal assistance.   Resources: @shelleythehygienist on Instagram, Tik Tok, and Youtube www.shelley.dental

Abbey Rennau shares the enpowerment of collaboration between dentist and dental hygienists.   Resources: [email protected]

Dawn Buju discusses the necessity of autonomy and the connection to our education platform. Sharing her thoughts in a series to launch in RDH Magazine.

Heather DeJonge shares her journey from panic attacks and sleeping on the floor, to finding answers and her new passion, The Relaxed Hygienist.   Resources: @therelaxedhygienist on Instagram

What you didn't know about ultrasonics.  Noel Paschke provides professional insights to what is working and what is not.    Resources: [email protected]

Amy Lemons shares her personal journey and a trip to the doctor with her daughter. Within a short amount of time her daughter was diagnosed with Type I diabetes and hospitalized. What followed is eye opening for us all.

Tonya Jeffries talks about the impact of her book Dental Hacks and how the message supports our DH Student community. 

Joffree Bunleang shares her optimistic focus on the Oral Preventive Assistant (OPA). Are we looking at it the wrong way, and could there be a positive outcome?

Dental codes are changing in 2026.  Kathy Forbes shares her knowledge and prepares us for some positive improvements.

Barbara Tritz shares her passion for dental hygiene. We are prevention specialists, airway screeners, metabolic detectives, nutrition coaches, microbiome translators, and early detectors of chronic disease.

After meeting with 15 doctors, Dana Paladino discovered where her pain was coming from.  Through her health journey, she found her entrepreneurial calling with DHBasics.  Listen to learn.

When you know there is more to an appointment than just scaling, you are ready to step into integrative care.  Spend time with Lauren Kennedy as she sparks the desire to do more.

Everything I didn't know about nicotine pouches and the dangers within.  Sherri Warshaw shares her wealth of knowledge on the subject.

Rachel Norwood said "Yes" to a job at a hospital.  What she didn't know was that this role would lead her to a passion for working with the elderly and supporting their caregivers.

As dental hygienist, we often put ourselves in a box and limit our options for professional growth.  Jasmine Hayley shares her insights on focusing outside our normal parameters.

The ADA’s updated radiation guidelines recommend ditching lead aprons. But before you make any changes, learn what every dental hygienist needs to know about state laws and patient safety. Sue Scherer, MEd, RDH Read by Jackie Sanders  https://www.rdhmag.com/patient-care/article/55324475/what-dental-hygienists-should-know-before-ditching-the-lead-shield

Posture myths are holding hygienists back. Strength, movement, and postural variability—not static “perfect posture”—are the true keys to ergonomic longevity. Katrina Klein, RDH, CEAS, CPT Read by Jackie Sanders  https://www.rdhmag.com/ergonomics/article/55321001/rethinking-movement-posture-and-ergonomic-longevity-for-dental-hygienists

Despite being the leading preventable cause of death, cancer, and gum disease, smoking remains a stubborn habit. Understanding why people start—and why many can’t stop—is key to helping patients quit and reclaim their health. Curstyn Molloy, BSDH, RDH  Read by Jackie Sanders  https://www.rdhmag.com/patient-care/article/55322384/the-relationship-between-smoking-and-periodontal-disease-health-implications-and-improvements-with-quitting

Amber Auger shares her enthusiasm for providing platforms to support the growth of the dental hygiene clinician. From Thrive in the Op to RDH Evolution.

Share time with Bethany Montoya as she talks about the creation of the Oral Health Awareness Project and the Lone Star Society.  Positive momentum and change for the dental hygiene community.

Dental hygiene has its own version of Stockholm Syndrome—years of subordination have conditioned many hygienists to defend the very system that restricts them. Derik J. Sven, MBA, MPH, RDH, CDT, FADHA Read by Jackie Sanders https://www.rdhmag.com/career-profession/article/55324570/the-case-for-dental-hygienists-autonomy-charting-the-path-forward

When did you have your last oral cancer screening? The importance of intraoral and the new statistics confirming the significance of the extraoral.  Spend some quality time with Susan Cotten.

Sasha Bryan shares her optimism to her interview and reveals her SAUCE method to help prevent burnout. She also discusses her tips and tricks on coordinating her schedule to provide quality patient care.   This episode is sponsored by Aspen Dental. To learn more, visit aspendental.com.

This article explores how hygienists can identify hidden allergens, minimize risks for medically complex patients, and choose safer, evidence-based products that support individualized, patient-centered care. India Chance, RDH, CDIPC Read by Jackie Sanders https://www.rdhmag.com/print/content/55320082

If you've ever had trouble with your desiccants, look no further than the Turbo-CR. Annie Walters, MS, RDH, is here to explain why this new product is a game-changer. Annie Walters, MS, RDH Read by Jackie Sanders  https://www.rdhmag.com/patient-care/article/55312160/turbo-cr-the-desiccant-that-is-transforming-dental-hygiene-practice

Award of Distinction recipient Sarah Hoerler has a unique role at the Mayo Clinic.  Listen to her story and how she introduces students to the system that makes a difference with hospitalized patients.

The New Year is quickly approaching.  As you begin to consider your goals/resolutions and plan your professional development, how can RDH support you?  Listen as Jackie Sanders shares the 2026 RDH platform.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) affect up to 96% of dental hygienists, leading to pain, fatigue, and lost income. Learn how adaptive curette designs reduce pinch force, muscle strain, and discomfort—helping clinicians protect their health while maintaining efficiency. Petra Wilder-Smith, DDS, DMD, PhD Read by Jackie Sanders  https://www.rdhmag.com/ergonomics/instruments-handpieces/article/55310267/dental-ergonomics-and-instrument-design-how-adaptive-curettes-reduce-muscle-strain-and-improve-clinician-comfort

More than three million dental implants are placed annually. Hygienists can help protect implant longevity with biofilm control, advanced air polishing, and patient-centered care strategies. Amber Auger, MPH, RDH Read by Jackie Sanders https://www.rdhmag.com/patient-care/implant-maintenance/article/55311878/responsible-restorative-dentistry-creating-sustainable-protocols-for-implants

Shelley Brown is a 2025 Award of Distinction Recipient. She is a writer, speaker, adjunct faculty, mother and wife all while keeping the balance. How does she manage success and a full schedule? 

Spend time with Paul Foster as he shares how he transitioned from a military career to dental hygiene. The onboarding program at Aspen Dental provided numerous benefits to him as a new graduate, and working with vendors supported his confidence. This episode is sponsored by Aspen Dental. To learn more, visit aspendental.com.

When a hygienist’s clinical judgment is dismissed and her documentation removed, it sparks serious questions about ethics, legal responsibility, and patient neglect. Sarah Crow, RDH

Autistic children face unique oral health challenges. Dental professionals and occupational therapists can collaborate to improve care, comfort, and outcomes in dental settings. Samantha Stanley, OTD, OTR/L Read by Jackie Sanders  https://www.rdhmag.com/patient-care/article/55300461/ot-and-rdh-collaboration-can-break-down-oral-health-barriers-for-autistic-children

Dental hygienists are transforming dentistry by bridging clinical care and medical billing, boosting patient outcomes, reducing write-offs, and strengthening practice profitability through comprehensive assessments and codiscovery. Kandra Sellers, BA, RDH Read by Jackie Sanders https://www.rdhmag.com/career-profession/insurance/article/55311212/why-dental-hygienists-are-essential-for-codiscovery-and-medical-billing-in-dentistry

Kandice Swarthout has a passion to drive change and make us all aware of the dangers of human trafficking and watch for signs.  In addition, she lives a busy professional and personal life, but has found balance in a healthy diet and morning walks.

Organized dentistry’s history of undermining credentialed professions reveals systemic failures, hidden risks, and patient harm—raising urgent questions about oversight, accountability, and the future of dental hygiene. Derik J. Sven, MBA, MPH, RDH, CDT, FADHA Read by Jackie Sanders  https://www.rdhmag.com/career-profession/article/55312066/lessons-from-the-past-how-dentistrys-treatment-of-lab-techs-mirrors-todays-attacks-on-hygienists

Clinical attachment level versus clinical attachment loss—what’s the difference? Discover why this distinction is vital for accurate periodontal diagnosis, staging, and treatment planning, and how understanding it can improve patient outcomes. Marianne Dryer, MEd, RDH ,  Katrina M. Sanders-Stewart, MEd, BSDH, RDH, RF Read by Jackie Sanders https://www.rdhmag.com/patient-care/article/55310252/decoding-the-language-of-clinical-attachment-what-every-hygienist-needs-to-know

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, linked to alcohol abuse and malnutrition, presents neurological and oral health risks. Dental hygienists can play a role in recognition and intervention. Robyn Lynn Hack, RDH Read by Jackie Sanders  https://www.rdhmag.com/patient-care/article/55317603/what-is-wernicke-korsakoff-syndrome-and-its-oral-manifestations

25 Award of Distinction recipient Letita Hill shares her journey with students and new graduates. Providing positive momentum to go after happiness and fulfill your dreams.

Could that “reflux” patient have eosinophilic esophagitis? Why this overlooked disease matters in dentistry. Tracee S. Dahm, MS, RDH Read by Jackie Sanders https://www.rdhmag.com/pathology/article/55303787/eosinophilic-esophagitis-what-dental-professionals-need-to-know

Spend time with LaVal Lucas Perry as he shares how he found his passion in dental hygiene! Joining Aspen Dental and becoming a lead hygienist while his mentoring skills were put to use teaching hygienists about new technologies and the benefits. This episode is sponsored by Aspen Dental. To learn more visit www.aspendental.com

From a BURST Ambassador to a full time employee. How did Dominic Castro's knowledge of social media advance his role and landed him traveling to Ireland to promote a product launch.

Debora Carrier, 2025 Award of Distinction recipient, shares her experience after being recognized for her achievements and provides her insights into the process of nominating yourself or another.