Straight Up With Steph

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph , I sit down with Sofie, a dental hygienist who transitioned from clinical care to the world of dental technology and AI. Now working at Overjet, Sofie shares her journey from the operatory to dental sales, what it’s like being the only clinician on her team, and how AI is transforming patient communication, diagnosis, and insurance efficiency in dentistry...

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph — part two of my two-part series with Melia Lewis, MEd, RDH, co-founder of Hygiene Edge — we dive into what life looks like after dental hygiene school. From first-day nerves to finding the right office fit, we cover everything new grads wish someone had told them before starting. Whether you’re just entering private practice or a few years in and still fi...

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph , I’m joined by Melia Lewis, MEd, RDH , co-founder of Hygiene Edge , to talk all things dental hygiene students . From dealing with perfectionism to navigating stress and keeping perspective, Melia shares her top five tips to help students not just survive, but thrive in hygiene school. We discuss: How to handle self-doubt and negativity while in school Th...

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph , I sit down with Misty Mattingly, RDH—Chief Dental Hygiene Officer, innovator, and host of Hygiene Happy Hour —to talk about innovation in dentistry and her latest project, SmileSip, the fluoride-free drink that’s reshaping preventive oral care. We discuss: How innovation and technology are helping dentistry “catch up” with the science The science behind...

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph , Stephanie sits down with a former military dental hygienist (who has chosen to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of her previous employment) to share an inside look at how dental care works within the military system. This open and informative conversation explores how the military dental model operates — from patient classifications and readi...

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Dr. Joe Damiani, PT, DPT, who has worked with over 1,000 patients struggling with persistent TMJ disorder, dizziness, headaches, and neck pain. We dive deep into how posture, ergonomics, and the nervous system all play a role in chronic pain—and why traditional treatments often aren’t enough. You’ll learn: Why TMJ, neck pain, dizziness, an...

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph , I sit down with Dr. Priya Mistry, also known as The TMJ Doc , to dive deep into TMJ and TMD. Dr. Mistry shares her journey from general dentistry to running a TMD-only practice and breaks down what every clinician (and patient) needs to know about this complex disorder. We discuss: What TMJ/TMD really is and how it’s diagnosed The difference between a ni...

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph , I sit down with Crystal Spring, dental hygienist, public health advocate, and founder of Smiles Across Montana . Crystal shares her journey of bringing minimally invasive dentistry to underserved communities and what it really takes to integrate medical and dental care. We talk about: How SDF, glass ionomers, nanofluoride, and Curadont are changing denti...

Bullying in dentistry isn't always obvious—but it's real, it's damaging, and it's more common than many realize. In this powerful episode of Straight Up With Steph, Dr. Alan Stern joins me to talk about professional bullying in the dental field—from subtle jabs to outright disrespect—and how we can respond with assertiveness, kindness, and emotional intelligence. We discuss: Wh...

Is social media shaping our brains more than we realize? In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Kent Howard—educator, researcher, and wellness speaker—to explore the science behind social media use, doom scrolling, attention spans, sleep disruption, and the impact on kids and adults alike.  We talk about dopamine, FOMO, and how algorithms are literally rewiring how we think, fo...

Today’s episode is something a little different—and really special. I’m sharing a crossover episode from when I was a guest on Sober Life Rocks . It was one of the most honest conversations I’ve had publicly about my sobriety journey and why it matters—especially as a healthcare professional. If you’ve ever felt the pressure to be “high-functioning” or felt like stress, burnout, and alcohol were j...

Do you really know how to avoid dental insurance fraud—or are you just hoping you’re not on the radar? In this eye-opening episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Dr. Paul Bornstein, a dentist, insurance consultant, and fraud expert, to discuss how even well-meaning dental professionals end up committing fraud without realizing it. We dive into: The most red-flagged CDT codes (including...

In this episode of Straight Up with Steph , I sit down with Annie to talk about desiccation therapy—a new approach in dentistry that can make calculus removal easier while targeting harmful biofilm. Annie shares how desiccants can streamline hygiene appointments, improve patient outcomes, and even benefit restorative procedures. If you’ve ever dreaded scaling those “sheet of calculus” patients, th...

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Lisa, a passionate dental hygienist and volunteer with the Oral Health Awareness Project (OHAP) , a new grassroots initiative working to educate the public on the vital role of dental hygienists. With a growing hygiene shortage and non-hygienists being trained to perform hygiene duties, the OHAP is launching a nationwide PR campaign to rai...

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph , I’m joined by Dr. Dave, founder, CEO, and chief scientific officer of multiple biotech companies, including one dedicated to advancing salivary testing. Together, we dive straight into the latest breakthroughs in salivary diagnostics and what they could mean for the future of both dentistry and general medicine. Dr. Dave unpacks how salivary testing has...

Ever wonder how your tongue and facial muscles impact your breathing, sleep, and even posture?  In this episode of Straight Up With Steph , I sat down with Kimmie, a Denver-based dental hygienist and myofunctional therapist, to talk about how myofunctional therapy helps both kids and adults improve tongue posture, nasal breathing, and overall health. We dive into signs of dysfunction, from mouth b...

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph , I sit down with biological dental hygienist Barbara Tritz about the mindset behind holistic dental care.  We dive into fluoride toxicity, root causes of dental disease, and how oral health connects to the whole body. Barbara also shares tools like nano hydroxyapatite, ozone therapy, and phase contrast microscopes—plus her passion for empowering burned-ou...

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph , I’m joined by An Chih to dive into the world of pediatric hygiene.  Together, we take a candid look at the joys, challenges, and special skills needed to successfully care for kids. An Chih also shares her unique journey into pediatric dentistry, describes what a typical day looks like in a pediatric office, and clears up misconceptions about what workin...

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph , I’m joined by returning guest and online dental educator Whitney, also known as Teeth Talk Girl , to discuss the spread of dental health misinformation on social media.  Together, Whitney and I dive into all the “natural” dental trends and how we can separate dental fact from fiction. We play a rapid-fire round debunking common dental myths, discuss the...

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph , I sat down with Erin and Lancette, the President and President-Elect of American Dental Hygienists' Association’s (ADHA), as we talk about their ongoing initiatives, including their drive for license portability and their efforts to update standards of practice to include new technologies and airway assessments. We delve into the controversial Nevad...

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph , I’m joined by Kim McGuire to discuss case acceptance, a topic that every dental professional faces. We explore the challenges and solutions surrounding why patients say “no” to needed treatment, how to move past the objections, and truly connect with your patients. Kim shares actionable insights into treating patients as individuals, communicating value,...

I get so many questions about Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT), and truthfully, I don’t know as much about it as I would like to. That’s why, in this episode of Straight Up With Steph , I'm joined by Kevin Ohashi Lopez to uncover what GBT is, how it differs from traditional dental hygiene, and why it might make more sense for both patients and clinicians. Kevin walks us through the GBT protocol s...

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph , Dr. Brett Kessler, president of the American Dental Association, returns to the podcast to dive headfirst into a conversation about the complex and contentious state of our industry. Our goal today was to clear up common misconceptions, answer pressing questions, and open up an honest, balanced dialogue about the future of our profession.  Dr. Kessler sh...

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph , I sit down with Dr. Tony Stefanou for a wide-ranging and candid conversation about the future of dentistry. Our industry is rapidly evolving, and dentistry as we know it is changing by the day. Dr. Tony brings a unique perspective, combining years of clinical experience with deep involvement on the business side of dentistry, which makes him the perfect...

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph , I am joined by Kevin Henry, a longtime advocate, speaker, and journalist for dental assistants, as we break down the new role being introduced in dentistry, the OPA (Oral Preventive Assistant). Together, we have a real and honest conversation about what this new position means for dental assistants, why it was created, and the real impact it could have o...