PODCAST · business
The Dental Handoff
by Dr. Kelly Tanner
Let’s stop using the wrong end of the toothbrush! This show is about passing you the knowledge, the habits, the systems, and the strategies to lead your teams, lean on your tech, and listen to your gut, while you take care of teeth, and let’s get honest, the overall health, of our communities. By identifying the gaps, recognizing the plaque and extracting the truth with other experts in the field we will share their stories, empower you to own yours, and elevate your passion in the process. Show topics to include: Education, Tech, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Communication, Connection, and Confidence
Episodes
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Episode 226 | Clinical Grading, Competency Tracking and Accreditation Prep: How Sara Taft Built Upscale Assessment
Anyone who has coordinated a dental hygiene clinic knows how much time goes into clinical competency tracking, chasing down students and pulling records together for accreditation. Sara Taft, the dental hygiene program director at Waukesha County Technical College, spent three to four hours a…
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Episode 225 | The Self-Talk That Never Goes Away, Even 30 Years In | Emme Sanders, RDH
Emme Sanders, RDH has spent more than 30 years in dental hygiene as a clinician, speaker, executive coach, and writer. She is the author of “Welcome to Work: Inspiring Positive Change in the Workplace” and, with Lois Banta and Dana Watson, co-founder of COLLABricon, a two-day team-synergy summit...
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Episode 224 | Invited Into Dental School, She Said No: What a Hygienist Would Change Looking Back | Kathryn Gilliam, BA, RDH, MAAOSH, HIAOMT
After doing well on her national board exam, Kathryn Gilliam was invited into the next dental class. She decided not to go. Looking back, she says she would change that, and that she would have her own dental hygiene practice if she were starting over. She built a career in dental hygiene…
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Episode 223 | From a Job That Didn't Feel Right to Chairing the ADEA Corporate Council | Wendy Bebey, RDH, BS
Wendy Bebey's first job out of dental hygiene school didn't sit right with her, from how instruments were handled to whether the role was helping her grow, and she knew it. So she left, and started a path that would eventually take her from clinical hygiene into more than 20 years across...
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Episode 222 | Two Businesses, One Terrible Day: A Dental Hygienist's Story of Starting Over Twice | Debora Carrier
Debora Carrier, RDH, spent more than 30 years in the dental industry as a hygienist and CPR instructor. She got into hygiene school at 17, after a guidance counselor told her she never would, and left as the youngest person ever to sit the state boards in Illinois. She built a parallel runway...
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Episode 221 | $12 Billion in Dental Fraud: What Every Dental Practice Needs to Know from the Payer Side | Michael Cembrola
Michael Cembrola spent more than 20 years on the payer side of dental insurance, including six years running the national sales team for Delta Dental of California and all their affiliated states. He has been inside FBI investigations into dental fraud. He has sat in rooms where insurance…
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Episode 220 | Selling the Invisible: Fear, Trust, and the Business of Dentistry | Howard Farran, DDS, MBA, MAGD
Howard Farran, DDS, MBA, MAGD, built Dentaltown in 1999 because he believed no dentist should ever have to practice alone. Since then, he has grown it to 250,000 plus members in 43 countries, hosted 1,700 plus episodes of Dentistry Uncensored, lectured in 50 countries, and written Uncomplicate...
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Episode 219 | From $2 Million in Debt to a $30K AI Practice: Grit, Radical Self-Responsibility, and the Infinite Game | Dr. Shahin Safarian
Dr. Shahin Safarian, DMD, MBA, graduated from Tufts School of Dental Medicine in 2001 with $400,000 in debt. By 2008 he had three locations and $2 million in debt. He pressed restart. Today his practice is 800 square feet, one operatory, powered by AI, and running on $30,000 a month in overhead....
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Episode 218 | Management of the Face in Space: Robotics, Zygomatic Implants, and the Standard Behind World-Class Surgery | Dr. Jay Neugarten
Dr. Jay Neugarten, DDS, MD, FACS, is a world-renowned oral and maxillofacial surgeon who was class valedictorian at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, earned his medical degree from Stony Brook, and completed his OMFS residency at Long Island Jewish. He is the Managing Partner and...
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Episode 217 | Add First, Subtract Second: The Composite Philosophy Behind Minimally Invasive Dentistry | Dr. Michael Morgan, DDS
It is much easier to destroy tooth structure than to conserve it. In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Michael Morgan, DDS, shares the minimally invasive and direct composite philosophy that has shaped 25 years of his clinical work. Dr. Morgan explains his “add first, subtract second”...
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Episode 216 | The Avoidance Tax: Why Busy Dental Practices Stop Growing | Kelly Fox-Galvagni, RDA
What separates a thriving dental practice from one that's simply staying busy? According to Kelly Fox-Galvagni, CEO of Smile Potential, the answer often isn't clinical skill, it’s leadership, accountability, and the willingness to address difficult conversations before they become expensive...
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Episode 215 | AI, Biofilm, and the Business of Dental Hygiene | Dr. Joy Void-Holmes, DHSc, RDH
Dr. Joy Void-Holmes, DHSc, RDH, got her start in dentistry at 16, answering phones at her dentist's office through the Marion Barry DC summer youth employment program. She watched how the practice ran, learned the front desk, and eventually went to Howard University for dental hygiene after a...
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Episode 214 | The 4-Product Restorative System Every Dentist Needs | Joshua Austin, DDS, MAGD
Joshua Austin, DDS, MAGD, is a national lecturer, Editorial Director at Dental Economics, and a full-time restorative dentist in San Antonio, Texas. He is also the son of a dentist who passed away in 1990 when Josh was 10, and who he thinks about every single day he walks into his operatory. In...
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Episode 213 | AI, Speed to Lead, and the Dental Marketing Gap Most Practices Don't Know They Have | Dr. Syeda Andaleeb Zaidi
Dr. Syeda Andaleeb Zaidi is a prosthodontist who built a dental marketing agency from a single Facebook post in 2017 and then added an AI layer to it after getting an automated reminder call mid-procedure while her hand was in a patient's mouth. She is the founder of Techie Dentist, a dental...
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Episode 212 | Functional Medicine, Gut Health, and the Hygienist Who Treats the Root Cause | Tammy Reavis, RDH, MPH
Tammy Reavis, RDH, MPH, has spent her career stuck in what she calls a piston feeling. Chairside in periodontics, she can get gum disease under control, but she cannot touch the diabetes, the high blood pressure, or the chronic inflammation sitting underneath it. So, she went and built the second...
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Episode 211 | From Clinical Burnout to Dental School Faculty: A Hygienist Career Transition Story | Tiffany Bairos, RDH, MPH
Most hygienist career transitions start with burnout and end with uncertainty. Tiffany Bairos, RDH, MPH, took a different path. After 18 years in clinical hygiene, a combination of physical wear, a research certificate, a temp job, a full-time leap, and a master's in public health brought her to…
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Episode 210 | Practicing Dental Hygiene in Germany for 38 Years in a Country That Never Recognized the Profession | Carmen Lanoway, RDH, BScDH
Global dental hygiene is a growing profession recognized in over 30 countries. Germany is not one of them. Anyone can use the title. Anyone can claim it. And a six-hour course can technically qualify an assistant to scale subgingivally. Carmen Lanoway, RDH, BScDH, has practiced inside that system...
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Episode 209 | Hormones, Women's Oral Health, and the Future of Dental Hygiene | Barbara Tritz
Barbara Tritz returns to The Dental Handoff to discuss the powerful connection between hormones and oral health. Women with excellent oral hygiene are developing sensitivity, dry mouth, bleeding gums, tooth decay, and bone loss. Barbara explains why the answer is often not brushing harder but...
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Episode 208 | Public Health, RDHAP, and a Career Built Beyond the Operatory | Jessica L. Woods, MPH, RDH
There is a version of dental hygiene most hygienists never encounter. No production targets. No same-day schedule pressure. Care measured by how many lives you reach, not how many patients fit in the hour. Jessica L. Woods, MPH, RDH has been living that version for over a decade. A clinician who...
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Episode 207 | Scope, Autonomy, and the Case for RDH-JDs - Dr. Derik J. Sven, DHSc
In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Dr. Derik J. Sven, DHSc, RDH, CDT. He is a doctoral researcher, 2025 to 2026 VDHA President, ADHA Fellow, and one of the most clear-eyed voices on hygiene workforce policy in the profession today. Dr. Sven's perspective is...
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Episode 206 | OSHA Compliance, Immune Amnesia, and the Documentation System Every Dental Practice Needs | Mary Govoni, CDA, RDA, RDH OSHA Outreach Trainer, Speaker, Author
In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Mary Govoni, CDA, RDA, RDH OSHA Outreach Trainer, Speaker, Author, a compliance consultant who has spent decades helping dental practices close the gap between what they think they are doing and what their documentation…
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Episode 205 | Who Trains the People Who Run Dental Practices? - Savanah Carlson, MAADOM
Every clinical role in a dental practice comes with a license, a certification, or an advanced degree. The office manager who coordinates everything those clinicians do? She learns it on the job, alone, and owns the outcome regardless. In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits...
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Episode 204 | Saying Yes, Earning the CSP, and Owning the Stage - Lisa Copeland, RDH, CSP, CVP
Lisa Copeland holds the CSP, the Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association, one of the most respected credentials in professional speaking. Fewer than 17% of speakers in the world have earned it. She is one of only three registered dental hygienists to…
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Episode 203 | Brand, Trust, and the Three-Legged Marketing Table - Chris Snyder
In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Chris Snyder, founder of 360 Media + Marketing. Since 2016, Chris has built a reputation for helping dental professionals stand out through personal branding, public relations, and advertising with a focus on authentic...
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Episode 202 | Full Arch Implants, Case Acceptance and the Blue Ocean Practice - John Heimke
In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Dr. John Heimke, DMD, MPH, President of Facial Designers, Inc., aesthetic dentist, full-arch implant provider, and faculty at the FMR in New York. They cover what it actually takes to build a fulfilling, high-performing dental...
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Episode 201 | Why Perfection Is Ruining Dentistry and What to Do Instead - JoAnn Gurenlian
What if the biggest thing holding you back in dentistry is trying to be perfect? In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Dr. JoAnn Gurenlian to unpack a challenge many dental professionals face but rarely discuss: perfectionism. From early training to clinical...
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Episode 200 | Feeling Different in Dentistry? This Might Be Your Greatest Strength - Kristin Haynes
Have you ever had a moment in your practice where you did everything right, but something still felt off? In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Kristin Haynes to talk about the real, unspoken experiences happening inside dental practices every day. From subtle…
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Episode 199 | Dental Leadership: How to Pivot Without Fear - Aimee Vail
Dental leadership, career growth, and navigating change in dentistry—this episode of The Dental Handoff explores what it really takes to trust your next step in your dental career. If you’re a dental hygienist (RDH), dentist, assistant, or practice owner feeling stuck, burned out, or uncertain...
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Episode 198 | No One Prepares You for This as a Dental Assistant (And It Shows) - Julie Varney
Most dental assistants are not struggling because they are not capable. They are struggling because no one ever trained them properly. Dental assisting is one of the most hands-on roles in dentistry, but many assistants are expected to perform, communicate, and anticipate everything without...
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Episode 197 | Dental Infection Control: What OSHA Requires (And We Miss) - Monica Satake
Dental infection control and OSHA compliance aren’t optional, but many practices are still missing critical steps. If you’ve ever wondered whether your office is truly compliant, this conversation will give you clarity. In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Monica...
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Episode 196 | Just Cleanings? Look Deeper - Barbara Tritz
Dental hygiene is about far more than scaling and polishing. In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with hygienist and educator Barbara Tritz, RDH, to explore how dentistry can move beyond “just cleaning teeth” and begin addressing the deeper systemic factors that...
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Episode 195 | The Dip Is Normal - Dr. Anissa Broussard
Dental leadership isn’t linear — it’s built through growth, setbacks, and purpose. In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Anissa Broussard to explore what it really takes to evolve beyond the operatory. This conversation is for dental hygienists, dentists, practice...
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Episode 194 | Leadership Is Lonely. Dental Leadership: Fixing Culture Before It Breaks. - Stacey Sloan, RDH
Dental leadership can feel isolating. But broken culture is fixable. In this episode of The Dental Handoff Podcast, Dr. Kelly Tanner talks with Stacey Sloan, RDH, founder of ChairSide Collaborative, about the real challenges of dental leadership, practice culture, and scaling a growing dental...
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Episode 193 | This Is Preventable: Aging Shouldn't Mean Extractions - Sarah Luke
Dental hygiene leadership meets denturism and minimally invasive dentistry in this powerful episode of The Dental Handoff. Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Sarah Luetke, RDH, Denturist, to discuss independent hygiene, nursing home dentistry, and expanding access to care for aging populations. This...
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Episode 192 | Wear a Mask: Why Empathy Is the Missing Link in Dental Leadership - Kristin Haynes
Dental leadership isn’t failing because people don’t care; it’s failing because we forget we’re human. In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with practice management consultant Kristin Haynes to talk about empathy, burnout, and the unseen emotional load carried by…
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Episode 191 | Face Everything and Rise. Fear. Aging. Dentistry - Krystal Afzalzada, RDH
In this episode, Dr. Kelly sits down with Krystal Afzalzada, a Canadian RDH, educator, and CE speaker who works at the intersection of: 🧠 Aging & dementia 🦷 Oral health & prevention 🤍 Fear, empathy & advocacy They talk about: Why “if you can imagine the path, it might be yours” Turning fear…
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Episode 190 | It's Not Just About Straight Teeth - Lisa Moore
Many adults think orthodontics is just about straight teeth—or that it’s “too late” to start. In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with orthodontic hygienist and educator Liisa Moore to discuss why adult orthodontics is about far more than appearance. They dive into:...
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Episode 189 | Nobody Tells You This About CE Speaking - Dr. Ashley Clark
What really happens behind the scenes of a successful CE speaker? In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with oral pathology expert Dr. Ashley Clark to talk about the evolution of oral pathology, digitized slides and AI, and the unspoken realities of life on the lecture...
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Episode 188 | The Cost of a Broken Handoff and the Transformation of Getting It Right - Tia Meyer
In this powerful episode, Dr. Kelly Tanner and Tia Meyer break down one of the most overlooked yet transformative systems in dentistry: the handoff. From the moment your patient walks in the door to the final scheduling step, every touchpoint is an opportunity to build trust, create value, and...
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Episode 187 | Special Needs Dentistry, Autism Awareness & Inclusive Care in Dentistry- Dr. Jacob Dent
In this unforgettable episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Dr. Jacob Dent — a dentist, father, educator, and fierce advocate for inclusive dentistry. From a high-school comment about “steady hands”… to losing TWO dental offices to natural disasters… to raising a son...
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Episode 186 | When Your Career Calls For A New Beginning - Lynn Pencek
In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Lynn Pencek, RDH, MS—speaker, educator, implant maintenance expert, and former long-time clinical rep—for a deep dive into the evolution of a dental hygiene career that began at age six and led to national speaking, implant...
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Episode 185 | From Burnout to Breakthrough: Discover Your True Potential - Jodie Cantarelli
This episode features Jodie Cantarelli, A.A.S, RDH, DipAdEd, as she shares her journey from aspiring 15-year-old dental enthusiast to accomplished dental professional and leader. Learn how mindset, asking for help, and knowing your worth can transform your career in dentistry. Jodie Cantarelli is…
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Episode 184 | Dentistry. Chose Me: 3 Generations of Legacy, Leadership & Empathy - Dr. Brad Hughes
In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Brad Hughes, a third-generation dentist, entrepreneur, and mentor, to talk about what truly drives success in dentistry — leadership, empathy, and connection. They dive into: Why empathy and soft skills matter more than...
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Episode 183 | From Scubs to Stage: Canadian Hygiene Journey
Join Dr. Kelly Tanner as she talks with Lisa Moore, a passionate dental hygienist from Ontario, Canada, whose career journey went from hygiene school to orthodontics and now education. In this episode, Lisa opens up about: The reality of dental hygiene education in Canada Why orthodontics became...
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Episode 182 | Mentorship + Mindset = Strong Dental Teams - Dr. Gary Radz
In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Dr. Gary Ratz to explore how mentorship and mindset shape stronger, more connected dental teams. Discover how authentic leadership, clear communication, and a culture of trust can help your team thrive — plus actionable…
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Episode 181 | The Power of Connection and Growth in Dental Hygiene - Kelli Swanson Jaecks
In this inspiring episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Kelly Swanson-Jaecks — past ADHA President and global dental leader — to explore the power of connection, growth, and belonging in the dental hygiene profession. A professional speaker, published author, and breast...
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Episode 180 | From Hygienist to Visionary Empower. Educate. Evaluate. - Alicia Murria
Welcome back to The Dental Handoff, where we bridge stories of purpose, growth, and innovation in dentistry. In this episode, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Alicia Murria, an inspiring dental hygienist turned entrepreneur, author, and educator. From surviving a career-changing accident to…
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Episode 179 | 40 Years of Dental Artistry: A Journey of Purpose & Reinvention - Michael Morgan
In this week's episode, Dr. Kelly Tanner makes the "dental handoff" to fellow dental hygienist, Michael Morgan! Michael J. Morgan received his DDS and BSD degrees from The University of Illinois Dental School in Chicago in 1985 following undergraduate honors at Creighton University. Dr Morgan...
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Episode 178 | Patients, Passions & The Power of Connection - Ann-Marie C. DePalma
In this week's episode, Dr. Kelly Tanner makes the "dental handoff" to Ann-Marie C. DePalma! Ann-Marie C. DePalma is a graduate of Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists, Northeastern University and University of Massachusetts Boston. Her passion, dedication and expertise inspire dental…
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Episode 177 | The Secret Ingredient to Loving Your Career - Sherrie Busby
In this week's episode, Dr. Kelly Tanner makes the "dental handoff" to Sherrie Busby! Sherrie Busby has been a dental assistant for over 40 years and has always had a thirst for learning and teaching. Recently retired as Dental Assistant Training Developer for Heartland Dental where she held that...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Let’s stop using the wrong end of the toothbrush! This show is about passing you the knowledge, the habits, the systems, and the strategies to lead your teams, lean on your tech, and listen to your gut, while you take care of teeth, and let’s get honest, the overall health, of our communities. By identifying the gaps, recognizing the plaque and extracting the truth with other experts in the field we will share their stories, empower you to own yours, and elevate your passion in the process. Show topics to include: Education, Tech, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Communication, Connection, and Confidence
HOSTED BY
Dr. Kelly Tanner
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Dental Handoff have?
The Dental Handoff currently has 226 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Dental Handoff about?
Let’s stop using the wrong end of the toothbrush! This show is about passing you the knowledge, the habits, the systems, and the strategies to lead your teams, lean on your tech, and listen to your gut, while you take care of teeth, and let’s get honest, the overall health, of our communities. By...
How often does The Dental Handoff release new episodes?
The Dental Handoff publishes regularly with 226 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Dental Handoff?
You can listen to The Dental Handoff on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Dental Handoff?
The Dental Handoff is created and hosted by Dr. Kelly Tanner.
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