Dental Assistant Nation

Dental Assistant Nation

Kevin Henry is a champion for dental assistants and host of the Dental Assistant Nation podcast. He is also the editor in chief for DrBicuspid.com. Speaker, consultant and author focused on empowering, enlightening and educating dental assistants.

Episodes

January 11, 2026 20 mins
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 industry. With staffing shortages conti...
Mark as Played
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 shares how belief, willingness, and h...
Mark as Played
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 year. You will hear highlights fro...
Mark as Played
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, Kevin Henry sits down with denta...
Mark as Played
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 journey and the real-life incident that...
Mark as Played
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 build up over time. You’ll hear why th...
Mark as Played
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, and why so many underserved comm...
Mark as Played
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 this rapidly evolving landscape. Meet...
Mark as Played
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 more likely. Chronic stress throws ...
Mark as Played
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, RDH, discuss how incidents like ...
Mark as Played
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 indispensable. Discover what sets top earners...
Mark as Played
Behind every confident smile sits a team that makes it possible … but what happens when the stress behind the dental chair becomes too much? In this episode, we dive into the unspoken side of dental assisting, including the office politics, burnout, and emotional strain that can quietly erode morale in a practice. This episode takes a candid look at what it’s really like to be on the dental assistant side of dentistry. From the mom...
Mark as Played
What if I told you the secret to a truly seamless dental team isn’t about skill, it’s about connection? When the front and back office move together as one, everything changes. Genuine communication and trust turn daily routines into a smooth, consistent flow that patients can feel the moment they walk in. Every handoff, every small exchange, shapes how comfortable and confident a patient feels in your care. It’s not about titles...
Mark as Played
From the operatory to the tech world.How one dental assistant turned her skills into success. In this episode, Kevin Henry sits down with Treneice Negron, a former dental assistant who transformed her clinical experience into a thriving career in dental technology. Treneice shares how her adaptability, organization, and deep understanding of patient care helped her transition from chairside work to a key role at SOTA Cloud, a mode...
Mark as Played
Dental assistants bring incredible value to every practice, but too often they feel stuck with limited pay and few growth opportunities. In this episode of Dental Assistant Nation, a wonderful guest and respected voice in dentistry, Teresa Duncan, shares her story of moving beyond the operatory and building a career filled with new opportunities, higher income, and long-term stability. The conversation dives into how dental assist...
Mark as Played
Nicotine use is rapidly evolving beyond traditional cigarettes, with new products like pouches, vapes, and heat-not-burn devices changing the way patients consume and the way oral health professionals need to respond. In this episode, Kevin Henry speaks with Sherri Warshaw, RDH, CTTS and founder of Smokefree Steps, LLC, about the critical role dental assistants play in identifying nicotine use, educating patients, and supporting ce...
Mark as Played
If you’ve ever felt the weight of stress in the dental office, this episode is one you don’t want to miss. Kevin Henry sits down with Dr. Eric Johnson to talk about the pressures dentists face and more importantly, what every dental assistant should know to make the day run smoother and less overwhelming. Dr. Johnson shares a powerful story from his own practice and introduces a simple but game-changing approach that can help assis...
Mark as Played
September 14, 2025 16 mins
The Dark Side of Ozempic From the Archives: Episode 313 Time-travel with us to a past episode where we dive into the rise of Ozempic for weight loss and what it means for both patients and dental professionals. Originally designed to manage type 2 diabetes, Ozempic’s surge in popularity as a weight loss aid has sparked shortages and concerns for those who truly need it. We also explore side effects like digestive issues and halito...
Mark as Played
Stepping into a new chapter with a different doctor can feel uncertain for many dental assistants. The routines you’ve relied on may suddenly change, the expectations may shift, and the comfortable rhythm of the practice can feel disrupted. Questions like why did this happen or where do I fit in now often surface, creating stress and doubt. But in every challenge lies opportunity. While some dental assistants struggle by holding o...
Mark as Played
Proven Dental Marketing Tips That Bring New Patients Bringing in new patients today requires more than polished ads. It’s about authenticity, visibility, and connection. A Dental Assistant plays a crucial role in dental marketing, not only inside the practice but also in shaping how the team is seen online. From genuine patient testimonials to engaging posts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, reels, and YouTube Shorts, the way a prac...
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.

    NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal

    Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.