Hygiene Rising

The "Hygienist Inspired" chairside recruitment program launched this week – a partnership between ADHA and the Foundations of Delta Dental. Three incredible dedicated Advisory Committee members share their dental hygiene journeys with host, Matt Crespin, and explain how this initiative builds diversity in dental hygiene and addresses workforce shortages while improving access to care in underserve...

Hospital-based dental hygiene care is literally saving lives by preventing infections. ADHA member Katharine Martinez joins Matt during National Children's Dental Health Month to share her unique work as a prevention educator at Phoenix Children's Hospital using a successful innovative care model that other states could easily adopt. She shares her passion for reaching pediatric patients and ensur...

Fluoride misinformation spreads faster than the facts. Spring Hatfield joins host Matt Crespin for an important conversation about fluoride information, identifying credible scientific sources and how to spot misinformation online. Their conversation examines how dental professionals can effectively evaluate and address fluoride misconceptions and problematic claims that are appearing in publicati...

End-of-Year Episode! Matt catches up with ADHA officers on crucial dental hygiene issues, recent concerning proposals that impact the profession, patient care and scope of practice, and how the organization is opposing and addressing these. They look back at 2024 successes and look forward at the work ahead in 2025 work on professional autonomy, recruitment, education, policy, leadership developme...

The ADHA's Institute for Oral Health Foundation is in the spotlight for this episode of the pod. Matt chats with IOH Foundation Chair Becky Smith, CRDH, EdD, FADHA and Emily Ludwig, RDH, BSDH, MS, PhD(c), recipient of an IOH Foundation Research Grant. Becky shares the mission and focus of the Foundation and Emily discusses how her award has allowed her to advance her research on bias in the field...

In this episode, recorded live at ADHA's recent Milwaukee CE event, host Matt Crespin welcomes an interdisciplinary panel of healthcare experts to discuss comprehensive diabetes care. Guests include Hannah Lochner, RD, LD, CDCE, Amy Stinson, MS, RDN, CD, CDCES, Gary Rothenberg, DPM and Dr. JoAnn Gurenlian, RDH, MS, PhD, AAFAAOM, FADHA. The distinguished panel shares insights on diabetic foot care,...

Bonus Episode! Matt welcomes Erin Haley-Hitz for an eye-opening conversation about ADA's recent resolutions on approaches to solving the dental hygiene workforce shortage, a clarification of what resolutions are, and what this could actually mean in terms of policy. Plus, a frank conversation about professional autonomy for dental hygienists as a preview for a free January webinar on the topic. A...

Oral care implications of sleep disorders are multifaceted. Dental professionals are increasingly vital in identifying and supporting treatment for sleep disorders. Dr. Radfar shares with host Matt Crespin, the keys to the successful integration of sleep medicine into his dental practice. He bridges the gap with insights, treatment implications for oral health, and practical tools to help you supp...

Dr. Jonathan Norris joins Matt on this episode of the podcast to discuss his philosophy of minimally invasive dentistry.  Dr. Norris has grown multiple pediatric practices across the New England area that has increased access for Medicaid patients.  Dr Norris has a unique approach to providing care that doesn't involve using a drill (in most cases) to treat dental decay and is doing so with tremen...

In celebration of National Dental Hygiene Month, your host Matt Crespin welcomes Amanda Hill, BSDH, RDH, CDIPC and Phyllis Martina, RDH, MBA, FADHA to explore this year's NDHM theme "RDH Investigates". They emphasize the importance of dental hygienists keeping their detective hats on when treating patients, to ensure they are thoroughly investigating and identifying issues to prevent, advise and r...

Think you have what it takes to swim with sharks? Hear from entrepreneur Samantha Coxe, CEO and Founder of Flaus, who shares her lightbulb moment as a dental patient that led to her invention of Flaus – an electric flosser – and the journey that helped her pitch and reel in support on ABC's Shark Tank. Sam shares the complexities behind the product development and what kept her drive alive as she...

Peek behind the corporate curtain as ADHA member Jen Post, RDH, MDH, a clinical applications specialist with Solventum, takes you from product concept to nationwide launch. Jen shares her inspiring journey with Matt and discusses her unique role with the company. Uncover Solventum's surprising identity and why it might be more familiar than you think! Matt also catches you up on the latest happeni...

Recruitment of our future workforce is critical and ADHA is excited to partner with Delta Dental Foundation to announce a new ground-breaking project. Matt is joined by ADHA President Elect Lancette VanGuilder and Delta Dental Foundation Executive Director Holli Seabury to share a sneak peek at this new partnership aimed at growing the dental hygiene workforce in numbers and representation. Learn...

The future starts now. ADHA President Erin Haley-Hitz, RDH, BSDH, MS, FADHA, MAADH, joins Matt for a sitdown at ADHA's recent conference for a candid conversation about her personal dental hygiene journey and her vision for the profession and the upcoming year. It's a future she made clear in the ADHA24 Closing General Session, from groundbreaking partnerships and programs that ADHA members will s...

Missing ADHA24 in NOLA! Here's a bonus Podversations episode filled with dental hygiene goodness straight from the exhibit floor.  Matt Crespin chats with Matt Shafer from the Council of State Governments for the latest on the Dental and Dental Hygienist Compact. Our friends from the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA), Ondina Love, CEO, and Francine Trudeau, President, fill us in on pro...

New ADHA24 Podversations from the exhibit floor! Matt sits down with Cindy Sensabaugh, CRDH, MSDH, from Philips; Dr. Bill Pavetelez, DMD, with VOCO; Courtney Waterbury, RDH, first-time ADHA attendee and VIP winner; Carol Jahn, RDH, MS, from Waterpik; and Phyllis Martina, RDH, BS, MBA, FADHA, from Colgate.  Listen in to hear about the latest innovations from our partners and their ADHA24 NOLA exper...

Enjoy a new ADHA24 Podversations episode with quick 10-minute audio snapshots from the exhibit hall with guests Nicole Stout, RDH, Crest + Oral-B Hygienist Proud student award winner; Andrea Johnson, RDH, MS, from Crest + Oral-B; Whitney Howerton, MDH, RDH, CDIPC, from PDT; and Dr. Anu Bharadwaj, DMD, from Kenvue. Hear about the latest and greatest on the exhibit floor, and what attendees are enjo...

Step onto the ADHA24 exhibit floor for short "podversations" with Ellen Guritzky, MSJ, RDH, FADHA, AHFI, CHC, from Haleon, Dr. Joy Void-Holmes, RDH, BSDH, DHSc, FADHA, from Love Hygiene and Hayley Buckner, RDH, FADHA, from Elevate Oral Care who chat with ADHA Podcast Host Matt Crespin, RDH, MPH, FADHA, about their experiences at ADHA24, in NOLA, and the latest and greatest from their organizations...

Next up! ADHA24 in the Big Easy! Before you pack your bags, get this insider's guide to the dental hygiene event of the year as Matt is joined by Leah Johnson, CMP, DES, ADHA's Director of Meetings, Corporate Development and IOH. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a veteran meeting-goer, get all the best tips to make the most of your visit. From transportation and ticketing to education and f...

In this episode, Matt interviews Amber Lombardi, RDH, CEO of Mainely Teeth, and Findhelp.org filmmaker Jim Tuttle about their documentary "Filling the Gaps." The film explores dental care inequity and how Amber's non-profit, is working to address dental care accessibility throughout rural Maine. They highlight access challenges and potential solutions, including Mainely Teeth's innovative mobile e...

On this episode of the ADHA Podcast host Matt Crespin sits down with Lisa Heaton, PhD, author of a recently published report from the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health on the tremendous amount of lost productivity as a result of dental issues. Dr. Heaton shares some of the eye-opening findings from this study as well as mitigation opportunities for reducing the devastating economic burden of neg...

On the newest episode of the ADHA podcast, your host Matt Crespin welcomes Christina Reinhardt, LDH/RDH, an investigator for the FBI who specializes in dental fraud cases. Hear about Christina's unusual career journey that took her from dental hygiene into the world of criminal investigations at the federal level. As the FBI's subject matter expert on dental fraud, she provides a fascinating look...

On this episode, Matt is joined by Lisa Balint, MPH, BSDH, EPDH, and Linda Mann, EPDH to discuss the remarkable community-centric approach adopted by Capitol Dental Care in Oregon. They share their organization's unique and innovative strategies for serving their community. From mobile care units that bring services directly to underserved populations to seamless medical-dental integration, this o...

Wellness is a critical component of our personal and professional success. With Mental Health Awareness Month in full swing, Matt is joined by guests Dr. Sarah Jockin, DDS, and Adriana (Adri) Forino, CRDH, to share their authentic journeys from dental burnout to wellness and reigniting their professional passion in this episode sponsored by Heartland Dental. They share strategies for battling burn...

Artificial Intelligence is here whether we're ready to embrace it or not. Listen in as Matt previews newly released research on this topic with Dr. JoAnn Gurenlian from ADHA and Kathy Copas, RDH of Heartland Dental. Learn how AI is being innovatively applied in dentistry and how it might help you, as an oral care provider, improve your patient outcomes and boost your marketability. Matt offers a s...