Dental Assistant Nation

What if the reason you feel drained at work is not the workload, but the lack of feeling valued? In this episode, Kevin Henry explores a question that sparked powerful conversations among dental assistants across multiple states. When was the last time you truly felt valued in your practice? The answers reveal how appreciation often shows up in small but meaningful ways, from a simple thank you to...

Most dental assistants don’t realize they could be the reason a patient’s cancer gets caught early enough to save their life. In this episode, Kathryn Gilliam and Kevin Henry dive into the often overlooked role dental assistants play in patient care, especially when it comes to oral and head and neck cancer detection. Kathryn shares why assistants should be trained to perform both intraoral and ex...

Dental assistants must know these hidden drug risks in patients Dental assistants are often the first line of defense in patient safety, especially when patients use opioids, kratom, or other substances that may not appear on standard drug tests. Many patients do not disclose what they take, which increases the risk of dangerous drug interactions, oversedation, and medical emergencies during treat...

Most dental assistants don’t realize how valuable they truly are until they learn this. Success in dentistry is no longer just about clinical skills but about mindset, leadership awareness, and continuous growth. Dental assistants play a critical role in keeping practices productive, organized, and patient focused, yet many struggle with unclear expectations and limited career direction. Understan...

In this episode, Tom Viola, RPh, breaks down why dental teams need to start asking the right questions about cannabis use and why it matters more than ever. From increased blood pressure and pulse to complications with anesthesia and healing, cannabis can change how a patient responds in the chair. The conversation also explores how modern cannabis use is more discreet and varied than most people...

Working in a dental practice should be built on trust, but what happens when something in the office does not feel right? In this episode of the Dental Assistant Nation Podcast, Kevin Henry sits down with dental consultant and author Susan Gunn to have an honest conversation about ethics inside dental practices. Many dental assistants have quietly struggled with situations where decisions in the o...

What if the stress you carry home from work is not about the job at all but about the energy you are giving away without even realizing it? In this powerful conversation on the Dental Assistant Nation podcast, Kevin Henry sits down with author and entrepreneur Anne Karber to unpack the truth about boundaries, self awareness, and what it really means to take control of your life. Anne shares how ma...

Expanded Function Dental Assistants are helping dental practices work smarter, improve efficiency, and deliver better patient care. Taking on expanded functions allows assistants to perform more advanced clinical duties, which increases production and strengthens the partnership between doctor and assistant. Success depends on understanding the legal scope of practice, proper scheduling, and havin...

Education access, financial barriers, and limited career awareness continue to slow the pipeline of new dental assistants entering the workforce. At the same time, patient demand keeps growing, putting more pressure on clinical teams. Organizations like PDS Health are actively working to close this gap through scholarships, mentorship, externship opportunities, and structured career development pr...

What dental assistants really want from their careers might surprise most practices. Imagine walking into a room with hundreds of dental assistants and asking them what matters most at work. The answers reveal a powerful pattern about growth, recognition, and having a real voice in the practice. Dental assistants shared that they love helping patients and keeping everything running smoothly, but t...

What if the future of dentistry is already sitting inside your practice and your assistant is the one who unlocks it? Digital dentistry brings speed, confidence, and opportunity into the practice by allowing assistants to create appliances in house, reduce wait times, and deliver same day solutions patients can trust. Scanning and 3D printing streamline workflows, improve patient communication, an...

Most dental bite problems are not caused by difficult patients or complex cases. They happen because the bite is rarely measured. In this episode of the Dental Assistant Nation podcast, we explore how accurate bite measurement can completely change patient outcomes and day to day efficiency in the dental practice. Kevin Henry sits down with prosthodontist Dr. Robert Kerstein to explain why traditi...

Dental assistants work under constant pressure, expected to stay focused, calm, and precise while caring for patients and supporting the dental team. Over time, this demanding pace often leads to stress, physical pain, mental exhaustion, and burnout, especially when dental assistants put everyone else first and ignore their own health. This conversation explores why burnout is so common in dental...

Can a dental assistant really achieve financial freedom without a high salary or burning out? In this episode of the Dental Assistant Nation podcast, Kevin Henry sits down with Angela Tipton, founder of Fire Your Career, to talk about what financial freedom actually looks like for dental assistants. They explore the idea that freedom isn’t about getting rich fast, but about living on your terms th...

Most dental assistants know they deserve more pay, but very few know how to get it without risking their job. If you feel underpaid, overlooked, or unsure how to talk about money at work, this episode shows you a smarter way forward. In this episode, Kevin Henry breaks down what every dental assistant needs to understand about career growth, pay increases, and job security in today’s dental indust...

What if building a better career and life as a dental assistant is less about doing more and more about becoming more? In this episode, Kevin Henry sits down with Toni Will to explore reinvention, resilience, and the mindset shifts that can change everything at any stage of life. Kevin Henry welcomes Toni Will for a powerful conversation about reinvention, resilience, and personal growth. Toni sha...

As we close out 2025 and look ahead to an even bigger 2026, this New Year special episode of Dental Assistant Nation is all about you. In this episode, Kevin Henry counts down the Top 5 most-listened Dental Assistant Nation podcasts of 2025. These episodes were not chosen by a panel or a ranking system. They were chosen by what dental assistants listened to, shared, and cared about the most this y...

Taking dental X-rays can be one of the most challenging parts of a dental assistant’s day, especially when patients are anxious, uncomfortable, or difficult to image. Small technique mistakes, rushed positioning, or missed opportunities to build trust can turn a routine task into a frustrating experience for both the assistant and the patient. In this episode of the Dental Assistant Nation podcast...

Confidence isn’t something you’re born with. It’s built through everyday choices, skills, and brave moments. In this episode, we explore how dental assistants grow into confident professionals who protect patients, their practices, and themselves while helping reduce errors along the way. Kevin Henry talks with Tosha Gurley, a dental assistant turned safety consultant and educator, about her journ...

Thinking about becoming a dental assistant but not sure what really happens behind the scenes? This episode breaks open the truth in a way most people never talk about. In this podcast, we dive into the real challenges dental assistants face every day and why some assistants say they would warn others before joining the field. We talk honestly about pay, respect, and the physical pain that can bui...

Dental therapists are opening new doors in dentistry and the earning potential might surprise you. In this episode, we break down what a dental therapist is, how the role fits into the oral health care team, and why more states are considering dental therapy to expand access to care. You’ll learn what dental therapists are trained to do, how their scope compares to dental assistants and hygienists...

Join host Kevin Henry as he welcomes Hanna Aronovich and Atia Black from DANB, along with dental assistant Nicole Mora from Dr. Bari Posner’s office, for a powerful recap of the AI in Dentistry Summit. In this episode, they break down how artificial intelligence is reshaping the world of dental assisting, the emerging skills DAs will need to thrive, and how DANB is preparing the profession for thi...

Stress doesn’t just live in your mind it shows up in your gut. If you’ve ever felt bloated, gassy, or uncomfortable during busy seasons of life, there’s a real physiological reason your digestive system reacts the way it does. When stress hormones surge for long periods, they disrupt digestion, slow metabolism, and increase inflammation making bloating, constipation, cravings, and low energy far m...

The shocking discovery of blood-stained surgical tools at a Colorado hospital is a wake-up call for every dental practice. When sterilization falls behind, even briefly, safety can break down fast and dentistry faces the same risks, especially with short staffing, rushed schedules, and inconsistent infection control habits. In this episode, Kevin Henry and infection control expert Mary Govoni, CDA...

Dental assistants play a bigger role in a practice’s success than most people realize. The difference between staying stuck and standing out often comes down to small, everyday actions that boost efficiency, protect equipment, and support the office’s bottom line. From managing supplies to improving documentation and communication, the best dental assistants know how to make themselves indispensab...