The Dental Handoff

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 ever receive it. That credential came after thirty years of saying yes. Perio in Scranton. Implantology in...

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 storytelling and strategic visibility.   Chris breaks down why most dental marketing misses the mark, why emai...

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 practice.   Dr. Heimke unpacks the Blue Ocean Strategy that reshaped his practice over 15 years ago, e...

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 practice, dentistry often reinforces the pressure to get everything right. But that constant pursuit of perf...

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 bias to moments that are hard to explain, this conversation explores how those experiences shape the way w...

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 about your next move, this conversation will resonate deeply. Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Aimee Vail...

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 structured training or mentorship. In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Ju...

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 Satake to unpack the real gaps in infection-control training and why so many dental teams are unintent...

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 influence oral health. This conversation is for dental hygienists, dentists, practice owners, and dental edu...

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 owners, and healthcare leaders who feel the pull toward “what’s next” — but may also feel the fear tha...

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 organization. If you are a dental hygienist stepping into leadership, a dentist managing rapid growth, or...

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 episode is for: • Dental hygienists (RDHs) • Dentists and practice owners • Public health advocates •...

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 dental teams and doctors alike. This conversation is for dental hygienists, dentists, practice owners, and...

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 into “Face Everything And Rise” How to slow down in a 30–45 min appointment and actually list...

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: Why “straight” teeth can still cause damage How crowding leads to recession, wear, and trauma The role...

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 circuit—from shoes and slide advancers to ethics, sponsorships, and being scouted without knowing it....

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 strengthen case acceptance. Tia S. Meyer, RDH, is a clinical hygienist and the Clinical Director for a 11...

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 diagnosed with autism at age two… Dr. Dent’s story reshaped not only his life, but the future of special ne...

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 education, ergonomics advocacy, and business leadership. Lynn shares her inspiring journey from early fas...

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 a results-driven clinical operations leader with strong expertise in the DSO space. She brings proven...

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 technology How to lead your dental team with intention and culture Overcoming burnout, ego, and comparison Bu...

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 her calling Balancing work, family, and personal growth How investing in yourself changes everything He...

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 insights you can apply in your own practice today. 🎙️ Topics Covered: Building trust and connection within de...

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 cancer survivor, Kelli travels all over the world captivating audiences and speaking with healthcare and...

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 creating Hygienists for Humanity and publishing her powerful book “They Don’t Make Awards for This,” Alicia s...