Tooth or Dare Podcast

Breaking Down The Truth Behind the 1999 vs. 2022 Radiation Guidelines In this episode of the Tooth or Dare Podcast, Irene and Victoria tackle one of the most misunderstood topics in dentistry today: radiation protection guidelines and the confusion surrounding lead aprons. You've probably heard the statement: "Lead aprons are no longer required." But what does that actually mean? With the transiti...

A follower left a comment asking if their 30 years of experience mean something. Sure, it means a lot...but it doesn't automatically mean you're current. I've been an RDH for 20 years. I know what it looks like when experience is the real thing, and I know what it looks like when someone has done the same thing on repeat for two decades and called it tenure. Both exist. Dentistry is full of both....

I might get "speaker" cancelled for this, but I believe it would be a worthy cause and perhaps the right hill to die on for our profession. Trying to register for a continuing education course shouldn't feel like repeatedly hitting a brick wall. But for many hygienists, it does. Many have given up on fighting for it, sadly.    In this episode, Irene and Victoria talk about why quality restorative...

Dental peeps, this one is super personal… what happens when oral care is overlooked in cancer patients? We see these patients in our ops, but what happens when that patient is your Dad? My dad... My patient In this episode of the Tooth or Dare Podcast, I share the story of my father’s battle with cancer and the parts of care that too often get missed. It began with the kind of phone call no one is...

Dentistry in NYC is changing, and in Tribeca, there's a little hidden gem. I sat down with Cody Levine, and honestly, this conversation felt like stepping into what dentistry could be when it’s done differently. We talked about the kind of journey that doesn’t look linear. From doing dentistry under a cellphone light on mission trips to building one of the most intentional, beautifully designed pr...

RDH's...Are you taking BP at every visit?  In this episode of the Tooth or Dare Podcast, Irene and Victoria break down one of the most common questions in dental hygiene: “Is taking blood pressure at every visit mandatory?”   Patients often say: “I’ve never had this done before.”   So what do the guidelines actually say?   We discuss: Is blood pressure screening mandatory in Canada or the U.S.? Wh...

f you're a dental professional curious about using technology to SEE sub-G this is the episode for you! In this episode, Irene sits down with Kristen Ranaldo, a perio-focused hygienist who has spent her career using dental endoscopy to treat advanced perio and failing implants. Kristen shares how seeing below the gumline transforms diagnosis, treatment, and patient communication and why blind SRP...

Dear Dental Hygienists, If your patients keep coming back with the same amount of calculus, this is the episode for you. In this Op Talk edition of Tooth or Dare, Irene and Victoria take one of the most misunderstood tools in modern periodontal care and pull it apart clinically, practically, and honestly. Desiccation therapy is often described as “drying,” “etch-like,” or “just another add-on.” In...

Is there statistical proof of a decline in dental hygienists in Canada? The answer isn’t as simple as social media headlines suggest. In this episode of Tooth or Dare, Joe Siegfried and I unpack the current climate of dental hygiene in Canada and challenge the idea that fewer hygienists are entering the profession. Graduation numbers and class sizes haven’t declined. What has changed is retention...

What happens when you choose authenticity, even when it feels risky? In this episode of Tooth or Dare, Joe Siegfried opens up about his life beyond the dental chair. From growing up in rural Ontario and pursuing acting, to becoming a father, coming out during dental hygiene school, and building a supportive blended family, Joe shares the personal experiences that shaped who he is today. This conve...

This episode is dedicated to all dental professionals who have ever discovered expired materials hiding at the back of a drawer, couldn’t find what they needed mid-procedure, or found themselves buying supplies from the dollar store with no real system, strategy, or purpose. My office had just celebrated its 4th birthday when I discovered a bag of materials that were already two years expired. Tha...

In this episode, Caitlin Parsons talks about her journey through dental hygiene, the pain she experienced early in her career, and how stepping away from the operatory led her to study yoga therapy. She shares what it was like to return to clinical practice after three years, the parts of hygiene she missed, and the challenges she didn’t. We also discuss how yoga therapy works using breath, moveme...

We all know Bethany Montoya as HumanRDH on social media. Advocate for all that is right and fair in the world of dental hygiene. She holds no prisoners when it comes to her quick responses and realtalk vibes. Today, I get to sit down with her IRL and learn more about the journey that inspired her to advocate so loudly. She talks about how she found her way into dental hygiene, the challenges she f...

Should we be using probiotics with all patients? Perhaps they are the new secret weapon for improving clinical outcomes and preventing disease.  Let’s face it, many patients consider cost above all else when presented with perio treatment options. This is especially challenging when dental insurance does not cover what are considered adjunctive therapies, even though studies show that a combinatio...

If you’ve ever seen a $99 dental cleaning deal and wondered if it’s worth it, you’ll want to hear this story, including: ▪️ How $99 dental promotions can mislead and limit patient access ▪️ Why these deals may not be as good as they sound ▪️ How patient trust is affected by unclear pricing ▪️ Stories from people who felt let down by the experience ▪️ The bigger impact discount dentistry has on the...

How do you determine if someone truly has bacterial-induced bone loss? When a patient presents with bone loss, periodontal disease is one of the most common causes, but not always. What else could it be? In this episode, we discuss various factors contributing to bone loss and recession, with malocclusion being a significant one.   We discuss:  How a slight vertical defect can lead to deterioratio...

Your girl Irene sits down with Britt Glauz, better known online as @brushwithbritt , to talk all things content creation, dental hygiene advocacy, and what it’s really like to step into (and stay in) the spotlight. Britt shares her journey from clinical practice to becoming an influential voice in the dental community, how she balances patient care with online work, and the lessons she’s learned f...

Bachelor of Dental Hygiene Recap with Irene & Vic as Madam Vic has new credentials, but what will Irene do now that their plan to graduate together was crushed?  Vic graduated from the Honours Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Degree Completion program from George Brown College (yes, the same one Irene was denied admission to, despite a lengthy appeal process.)    We chat all about her jou...

WAIT... AM I GOING BLIND? "Irene, If things continue, you'll have vision loss." "I thought I was here to get a cleaning... I mean, new glasses!"    After a routine eye exam, I left with more than just a new prescription; I walked out with a moment of clarity and panic. While I was distracted wondering how much my insurance would cover for new sunglasses, the optometrist said something that stopped...

Dear Dental Hygienists, Respectfully, if you're scaling alone during your SRP, you likely could be doing it better... In this episode, Irene and Vic go 5-7mm deep into the Perio Rabbit Hole, sharing the why behind a standardized SRP protocol and how shifting your mindset can improve both clinical consistency and patient care. Have you ever found yourself hesitating during a treatment recommendatio...

Xylitol does it all—at least when it comes to fighting cavity-causing bacteria! In Part 2 of Irene’s chat with Epic Dental’s Donald and Monica Bailey, they dive into the science of how xylitol targets Streptococcus mutans while sparing good bacteria. The Baileys also discuss their commitment to education, product transparency, and making it easier for dental pros to help patients maintain oral hea...

Can gum and mints really help with cavities? Science says yes, if they contain xylitol like the ones from Epic Dental! Joining Irene this week on the podcast are Donald and Monica Bailey, the husband and wife team behind the business. In Part 1 of this interview, hear the story of how Donald started the company, how he met Monica when she was using a competing product, and the amazing synergy that...

In this episode of Op Talk, Irene and Vic discuss Scaling and Root Planning (SRPs) and how to effectively monitor periodontal disease progression in patients. This complex condition can be challenging to manage, but having a clear clinical protocol helps simplify treatment planning and patient education. We explore key questions, such as: When is periodontitis considered stable or in remission? Wh...

Well, I didn't see this one coming... In this deeply personal episode, I share the whole story behind my recent academic appeal to George Brown College after being declined admission to the S305 Honours Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Degree Completion program in October 2024. The original reasoning was that 21-year-old Irene went to the "wrong" school 17 years ago. One that didn't prepare 3...

"I have TMJ" - Yes, patient... you have two actually. If you are a practising dental clinician, chances are you’ve encountered patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction - TMD. In Part 2 of this interview, Irene discusses this tricky disorder with Dr. Tony Urbanek, who specializes in its treatment using wearable custom-made devices. Why is it more prevalent in women than men? What makes it...