The Perio Hygienist Podcast

Are today's young adults really more burned out than previous generations—or are they simply more willing to talk about it? In this episode, Dr. Ben Young explores the growing epidemic of stress, anxiety, and burnout through the lens of modern life, from social media and constant connectivity to student debt and the erosion of healthy work-life boundaries. More importantly, he discusses the science behind why meaningful human connection, mentorship, support groups, and even reading can help restore emotional resilience. Whether you're a dental professional, student, or simply feeling overwhelmed by life's demands, this episode offers practical encouragement and a reminder that we were never meant to face life's challenges alone.

Dr. Ben Young explores hypochlorous acid as a potential alternative to traditional mouthwashes. He examines the science behind HOCl, compares it with chlorhexidine, discusses benefits and limitations for wound healing and biofilm control, and explains where it may reduce antibiotic use—without replacing essential dental care fundamentals for patients and clinicians.

In this episode of The Perio Hygienist Podcast, Dr. Ben Young reflects on his personal and professional journey in dentistry, beginning in the late 1970s and continuing through challenges like COVID-19. He shares insights on how the pandemic reshaped small practices, fueled the growth of corporate dentistry, and changed the culture of the profession. Along the way, he revisits the role of organized dentistry, professional standards, and what it means to look back on a career that feels—despite the decades—like just a blink.  

This is an interview about ZimVie, the newly formed dental implant company that has come out of the division of Zimmer Biotech. It moved the dental business into one entity and the orthopedic into another.  Craig who is with ZimVie and I discuss new methods of transfering the information to dental laboratories that then sets up for the fabrication of the restorative abutment and final prosthesis. It is cleaner and faster for the restorative dentist than having to switch parts to capture an impression.  For anyone who attempted to listen to this interview when I first released it, there was a technical glitch. My fault. It's fixed now. 

Many young dentists and dental hygienists worry about their clinical speed. I have a better way for them to think about this subject. Next I discuss this particular holiday season and why it is different from earlier ones. And I close with a reflection about how humility helps people heal.

We are all on journeys through life and we need one another to grow. In this podcast I offer an opportunity to strengthen our spiritual lives within our professional lives. After listening, if you wish to learn more, please call my office. (210) 615-1995 and ask for information about Faith Prescriptions.

Communicating during the day between healthcare providers is challenging.  A better way is to be able to schedule short video conferencing meetings when it is convenient to both.  This starts with one of the two setting down an available schedule and sending the link to this schedule to the other person who then can go onto the schedule and select a good time for them. All of this is easily handled through scheduler programs that then place the meetings on respective calendars. 

There are many things patients want, but which one is most important in your opinion? I give you my answer to this question. After this, I talk about how difficult it is to change our minds away from what we have been taught.

This is a third podcast in a series on communication in the dental office. 

This is part of a series on dental office communication. Here I talk about ways in which running a dental office is similar to producing a stage play. 

What's the hardest procedure I have to do on a daily basis in periodontics? Listen to find out. 

The title really says it all. Patients want to know how much things will cost. Sometimes they want to know this more than they want to know what the problem is and all the treatment options available. In addition, dental insurance complicates things a great deal. We will likely not eliminate their importance in the financial planning our patients will make to determine the dental care they will decide to accept, but we can help them understand why at times what dental insurance covers is not what we recommend.  My discussion is obviously focused on periodontal topics but broader principles are present under the surface. 

Some thoughts on wellness.

I discuss a book I'm reading that improves communication with patients specifically, and everyone else in general.  It is called Building A Story Brand by Donald Miller. 

My thoughts at this time.

I discuss the challenges of referring patients to a specialist for periodontal treatment, especially when they are new to your office. To improve the patient experience, I also make an offer to treat patients in your office, assuming you are within reasonable driving distance. 

Where do they come from and why do they think and act the way they do? How best can them communicate with one another?

Time sensitive ideas about the upcoming election. Be sure to vote. 

The San Antonio Christian Medical and Dental Associations Fall Banquet.  October 18, 2022  6:30 - 9:00 PM on the campus of University of the Incarnate Word. This podcast explains all about it. Hope you will join me there. 

We talk about training dental assistants and others in the dental office as well as managing morale, including that of dental hygienists and dentists.

The summer is rolling along. We in Texas are living in the heat, and most of the world is doing the same, regardless the temperature out anyone's door. People are feeling the heat of climbing prices, disruption of supply chains, and a whole lot more. Because things are unstable in so many ways right now, one of my biggest objectives when podcasting or writing is to speak encouragement, hope, even comfort when necessary...

"This is the big graduation time of year so I thought I would give dental school and dental hygiene school graduates a few thoughts on the subject of transitioning from school to the real world of private practice. Now for most of us, who are not graduating, please listen and write me any comments you think they should hear from you and I will read them out on the next podcast. Let me know if you think I am right or wrong. I really value your input." The Still Point Project  

One simple periodontal examination tip and some thoughts on the Saturday before Easter 2022. thestillpoint.substack.com  

https://thestillpoint.substack.com/publish/post/50711541  

This is a special podcast produced for the San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic and discusses coordination of care for some of their patients. 

Discussing the 2/22/2022 letter to the CDC by eight Industrial Hygienists.  The 27 page letter.

I'm glad to see things opening up and I am ready to get out and visit many of you. In this episode I talk about A Tooth Has Four Parts origins and other tidbits about my career. 

I've started a new project. https://thestillpoint.substack.com/about

Infection control has not been the issue for a long time now. It's time for healthcare professionals to lead in this area.

Dr. Young talks about ways to remain calm in the storm of insults and anger from others, especially in the work environment.  

Under all of your academic and clinical training there is something else, something deeper I am calling your philosophy. Are you in touch with it? How might this affect patient care?

The title says it pretty well.

What is the message behind wearing masks in public, especially if you are a healthcare worker?

This is the best technical explanation of how this virus works as well as how vaccinations work. I have produced this in order to enable people to listen to the explanation rather than attempt to read it if they are not familiar with the scientific jargon.  Important information. I hope you listen and pass it on, especially to those you know in healthcare.  https://www.zerohedge.com/covid-19/damn-you-hell-you-will-not-destroy-america-here-spartacus-covid-letter-thats-gone-viral

I just learned through an email notification by the American Dental Association that the U.S. Congress has advanced a budget resolution which includes a provision to expand the Medicare program to include dental benefits.  https://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Advocacy/Files/FAQ_medicare_dentalbenefit.pdf https://www.ada.org/en/advocacy/getinvolved/legislative-action-center      

There are two types of leaders just as there are two types of healthcare systems.  Does wearing face masks stop or reduce the spread of viral infections -- and what does this have to do with leadership?

My eight tips cover the following topics. 1. How to remove hard calculus. 2. How sharp do hand instruments need to be. 3. How many hand instruments do you need to perform scaling and root planing. 4. Lip and cheek retraction. 5. Local anesthesia. 6. Suturing. 7. Marketing. 8. Conflict management and recovery.

There is a lot of bad news out there. We are swimming in it. And if you just step back a little and study it, I think you will agree with me that some of it is gaslighting. Three famous psychology studies: https://www.verywellmind.com/the-asch-conformity-experiments-2794996 https://www.verywellmind.com/the-milgram-obedience-experiment-2795243 https://www.verywellmind.com/the-stanford-prison-experiment-2794995 One interesting current video you might want to check out: https://rumble.com/vk894g-dr-michael-yeadon-a-final-warning-to-humanity.html  

In the July edition of the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) there is an article of the same title.  My interest in discussing this article has to do with whether or not we should be doing rapid COVID-19 testing in our dental offices. If so, what should we expect will be the benefit to our patients?  Here are the links to two articles discussed. Both are written by the same three authors with one placed in the Journal of Clinical Medicine https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/6/1158 and the other in JADA https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(21)00276-2/fulltext    

So now, for the next few minutes, permit me to give you my take on what interdisciplinary treatment planning is – and why it is critical for dentists, especially the newly graduated. It is my biggest tool to tackling complexity in dentistry and reducing risk.

Recently, a patient came to me referred by an excellent comprehensive dentist friend to evaluate a problem with a loose crown/abutment over a dental implant. The implant was placed 7-10 years ago by another dentist entirely. According to the patient, about two years ago or so, the crown became loose... Let's talk about three general ways dental implants can fail. 

Thoughts and opinions of one periodontist. Soft tooth brush recommendation. Current concerns about the military culture discussed and a reading of Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address. 

If I can help you provide the supportive periodontal care within the patient's home dental office, then many of them can stop the alternating process between the two offices – which enables me to do more of what I have been trained to do – active therapy procedures. This enables me to be to the referring office like an endodontist – who performs specific procedures and then sends the patient back.

Everyone in dentistry should be well acquainted with how fear operates because we see it in the eyes and actions of patient's everyday. We should also understand fear at a more personal level. People who say they are not ever afraid are simply in denial. So, what can we do to help us manage fear – both in ourselves and then in others? I'm glad you asked.

Thoughts of one periodontist.

An important commentary has just been published in the Journal of Periodontology by authors Cobb and Sottosanti that discussed how scaling and root planing effects root structure, calculus and periodontal disease. If you perform this procedure this is a very good article to read -- and here, I read it to you -- with a few comments along the way. 

Thoughts of one periodontist. Take what you like and leave the rest.

The thoughts of one periodontist. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/sociopathy

💻 Website: https://dryoungperiodontics.com/ 👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benjaminyoungdds/ ❤️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benyoungdds/ 🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/benyoungdds 🎥 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BenjaminYoungDDS 👨‍⚕️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/benjamin-w-young-dds-ms-periodontist

Just checking in and sharing a few thoughts about things important to us all at the moment.