July 29, 2024 • 24 mins
What does it mean to truly prioritize personal happiness and autonomy in your career? Join us as we uncover the inspiring stories of individuals who have embraced entrepreneurial paths, starting with our special guest, Sade. As a registered dental hygienist in alternative practice (RDH AP) from California and a proud member of Brown Girl RDH, Sade shares her unique journey of starting her own dental hygiene practice and company, All Things Toothy. Learn how she collaborates on popular products like the black and gold tooth bags, and why representation and inclusivity in the dental hygiene community matter so much.
Ever felt undervalued at your corporate job? You'll resonate with our discussion on making life-changing decisions to reclaim your personal freedom. Hear the pivotal moment that led to a transformative journey of leaving corporate dentistry for a life rich in travel and family time. We candidly talk about the struggles and rewards of balancing work, family, and personal happiness, touching on essential topics like workplace inequality and microaggressions. This chapter is all about empowering yourself to make disciplined choices for a more self-determined and fulfilling life.
Finally, we turn our focus to perseverance and individuality in the face of discouragement. Sade's story of transitioning from a dental assistant to a successful hygienist, despite initial setbacks, is a testament to the power of staying authentic. We explore the importance of mentorship, individuality, and the joy of supporting others in their professional journeys. Plus, discover how connecting with like-minded individuals on social media can foster growth and positivity. Sade's passion for the field and her willingness to help others anchor this engaging episode. Don't miss her insights on why a universal licensing system for hygienists could revolutionize dental care access.
Ever felt undervalued at your corporate job? You'll resonate with our discussion on making life-changing decisions to reclaim your personal freedom. Hear the pivotal moment that led to a transformative journey of leaving corporate dentistry for a life rich in travel and family time. We candidly talk about the struggles and rewards of balancing work, family, and personal happiness, touching on essential topics like workplace inequality and microaggressions. This chapter is all about empowering yourself to make disciplined choices for a more self-determined and fulfilling life.
Finally, we turn our focus to perseverance and individuality in the face of discouragement. Sade's story of transitioning from a dental assistant to a successful hygienist, despite initial setbacks, is a testament to the power of staying authentic. We explore the importance of mentorship, individuality, and the joy of supporting others in their professional journeys. Plus, discover how connecting with like-minded individuals on social media can foster growth and positivity. Sade's passion for the field and her willingness to help others anchor this engaging episode. Don't miss her insights on why a universal licensing system for hygienists could revolutionize dental care access.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Okay, everybody, welcome back to Dental-ish.
Okay, we have a special guesttoday here.
Her name is Sade.
She's an RDH AP.
She's out in California andshe's a Brown Girl RDH, and she
was.
You know she's a Brown Girl RDHbecause her name is Sade.
She was named after a singer.
So you are, you know, those arethose telltale signs, but she
(00:23):
is a good friend of mine andshe's here to join us, to tell
us about you know, working as anentrepreneur.
She has a company All ThingsToothy.
As well.
As you know, she has her owndental hygiene practice, so
welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Sade Hi, thank you so much for having me and I think
it's just awesome that you knowyou got something like this so
we could reach more hygienists,especially brown girls, and, you
know, let them know about theopportunities that they can have
as hygienists.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Funny thing is, when I met you, you were social media
before I met you in person andyou were like, yeah, I love what
you do.
You know, I want to, you knowsupport, and we were having some
ideas about what we can do asfar as like the products and the
Brown Girl RDH logo, and I waslike I want to do something
special.
It was around the time of thefifth year anniversary and we
came up with the black toothbags, the all things toothy with
(01:11):
your company and we launchedthose bags, which people went
crazy for them, and I remember Iwas like I just want to do
something special for thisanniversary gift.
And then we were like we hadthe white ones, you had the
white ones, and you were like,what about the black and gold?
And I was like, oh, my gosh,that's it.
And then you were telling memore about your background and
your, I think.
You said your granddad wasblack and I'm looking at Sade
and Sade she does not look blackand I'm like, girl, you're not
(01:34):
black.
Stop lying, it's hard.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah, you know, that's the thing too.
I think that you know, if youlook at me, I am, I'm mixed
ethnicity, right.
But the thing is is that whenyou do have a parent my dad is
black also, my grandfather'sjust an even darker black man
you feel that wherever you goand the places that I've gone,
(01:59):
where I, even though I'm alittle bit lighter skinned, they
know, they know right off thebat, they can see my hair, they
can see my facial features andthat's okay.
Like I've actually had toreally come to grips with that's
okay.
Like it, that's okay, it's agood thing, it's a beautiful
thing and I'm I'm actually justso proud to be a part of a
community that accepts me.
(02:21):
You know, no matter how lightor dark I am, they understand,
they see my face and they knowthat I'm part of the community.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Right, absolutely.
And one thing about you know,brown Guard, ih and a lot, a lot
, a lot of minority platformsit's like we are the most
inclusive but the most excludedand that's why I really, really,
really, you know, you know,wanted to provide a platform and
I always want to do, dosomething, you know, as far as
the conferences, the podcast,something to highlight.
(02:50):
Hey, we're here, we'reproviding the platform, we're
going to support regardless, andthen we just have to keep
showing up and keep supporting,and I and I love every time
there's something going on, it'slike how can we support you,
how can you support us?
And it's always a collaborativething.
You know what I mean.
Even if we're not talking everyday or in somebody's inbox
every day, it's like I got youand I know you got me, so let's
(03:11):
keep it 100 percent, 100 percent.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
You see them, you feel that there's just actually
like a spiritual bond betweenpeople of color that we all know
that we're, we look at eachother's eyes and we know that
we're all going throughsomething on a deeper level, and
so you can feel that withanother person of color.
You see that, you feel that andso you definitely just want to
(03:35):
stay connected because youdefinitely want to see them
shine and grow, and youunderstand that there's just
been a long period of time wherewe didn't have those
opportunities and our ancestorsdidn't, and so we're trying to,
we're trying to do the oppositenow, right?
So I mean, anytime I can get apart of something, I love it.
And when I first found outabout you, I was like I have to,
(03:56):
I have to be a part of this.
Whatever this is, whatever Icould do, there's there's
actually there's so much youcould say about being an ethnic
person in the medical, dentalfield in general.
I just think that you know a lotof other girls that I've talked
to who are, you know, of mixedcolor.
Maybe they don't even know thatthey can sign up for something
(04:16):
like this.
Maybe they didn't even think itwas for them Like, oh, that's
not for me, because they didn'tsee someone that looks like them
doing it Right, and so it's soimportant that we're out there
and we're just showing ouryounger generation that it is
for you.
So yes, I agree.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
So you're out practicing in California.
Can you explain what the cause?
You're RDH, rdhap, like whatdoes that mean?
What does that mean forhygienists?
Like, what do you do?
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Yes.
So a registered dentalhygienist and alternative
practice means that we havereceived an advanced license, an
expanded license.
So after you're done becoming ahygienist and you're working
for five years and you have yourbachelor's and you have so many
hours in a dental office, youhave the opportunity to work a
(05:06):
non-traditional setting andbasically here in the state of
California we're able to go tosenior centers, senior centers,
group homes, schools and someonelike me if you are working in a
designated area, which meansthat they are kind of like low
income, they don't have accessthere's not a lot of access to
(05:27):
dentists or dentists are taking,you know, medi-cal Then you can
actually open your own brickand mortar and you can treat
anybody in those areas.
So that is what I've been doingfor the last six years now.
I have my own dental hygienepractice and what that consists
of.
I see everybody and anybody, butI do see a lot of like
(05:50):
immigrants.
In my area in particular,there's a lot of Spanish
speaking immigrants that don'thave insurance and are just, you
know, going to dental officesand not just getting the care or
they're not reallyunderstanding the treatment plan
that's presented to them, andso I almost I'm acting like an
advocate to help guide them atwhat they should do in the
(06:11):
dental world.
So yeah, I'm doing everythingpreventative, I'm doing fluoride
cleanings and I work hand inhand with a general dentist and
I'm sending them over for theirrestorative care and any other
treatments that they need.
That's outside of my scope ofpractice.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Right.
So for the RDHAP, do you haveto practice with the?
Do you have to have licenseddentists on it, or can you?
Is it like Colorado, to whereyou can just be an individual?
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Right.
So it's not like Colorado.
So the two other states thatit's very similar to is
Washington and Oregon, and soCalifornia is you do, and you
can have a few, but you have arelationship with a general
dentist where you are referringthem for restorative care.
(07:01):
So you're doing your part,which is great and I love it.
I'm focusing on hygiene,preventative, which that's my
specialty, and anything that'sout of my scope.
If I'm seeing anything thatlooks, you know, like hey, there
might be a cavity, or they comewith a broken tooth, I'm
sending them to my referringdentist for further diagnosing
and treatment.
(07:21):
Six years is a long time.
This year will be the sixthyear.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Yes, oh good, congratulations, Congratulations
.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Thank you.
It's not easy, but it's, it'srewarding.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
It's not.
And you do this all while beinga mommy.
You have all things toothybusiness on the side.
You're still your full-timeclinical hygienist, Then you
have your entrepreneurs, youhave your business and then you
are a mommy.
How many children do you have?
Speaker 2 (07:45):
I have two, and I have a 14-year-old and I have a
five-year-old, so there's a biggap there.
And really that 14-year-oldthank God, because she really
does help with the five-year-old, really Because I mean it takes
quite a few more hands for thatone.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
And then you travel.
I think when we spoke, thefirst time we spoke, you were
telling me about how you showpeople how to travel with kids,
how to travel internationally,and I saw you were recently in
Tokyo.
I was like okay.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
I was yes, okay, so that's another thing that's been
limited to people with color.
Right, they don't know thatthey can go and see the world
and do things and go places andactually I've done some research
about, you know, places thathave been about different
struggles that people around theworld where they might have
disadvantages.
But I started traveling becauseI found it to be very important
(08:48):
for my girls to know that theycan go anywhere, they can do
anything, and I want them toknow that there's a larger place
out there, from outside of ourstate, where you know they just
think that this is the way lifeis.
The more you travel and you seethe way different people live,
it just expands your horizons,right?
So I wanted them to be able todo that, right.
(09:09):
So I started traveling sevenyears ago.
Actually, what really triggeredit was my manager at the time,
because I did corporatedentistry for 10 years.
Like, I just was a loyal worker.
I just worked, worked, workedand I was getting married, me
and my high school sweetheart.
We waited years but we weregetting married and I had booked
(09:29):
my trip and she like declinedmy, my hours, my vacation hours.
She's like, oh, you put in thewrong dates.
So she was really trying to jamup my vacation and that's when
I was like wait, hold up, likeno, you don't tell me, no, I'm
gonna go, I'm gone like I'm I'mgoing and just from that point
on, I just was like no one'sgonna stop me, I'm gonna go, I'm
(09:50):
gone like I'm, I'm gonna go,wherever it is, I'm going.
And from that trip I realized Iwent to Puerto Rico that I could
go anywhere and I could doanything and I can see anything.
And and who said I have to worklike so hard?
Because, at the end of the day,I at that point I had been
there for eight years and shewas willing to, like, decline my
(10:10):
hours, my vacation hours, right.
So it really opened upsomething in me that I said, wow
, like I'm just a number to you,as loyal as I am, as hard as I
work at weekends, staying late,seeing patients through lunch,
it didn't matter.
So I knew at that moment Ineeded to change my lifestyle,
because we only live once and Iand I didn't want to continue to
(10:35):
live like that.
So, yeah, that's why I travel,I get out and I see the world,
and, and with kids.
Kids deserve to go see thingstoo, right?
So you always see peopletraveling without their kids,
but they need to see things toopeople traveling without their
kids, but they need to seethings too, right?
Speaker 1 (10:54):
so I know I got, I got four kids and I'll be like
this is not a vacation with thisis not a vacation with the kids
, yeah, so sometimes they needto stay home.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Sometimes they do.
They do need to stay home withgrandma or something they do.
So me and my husband we do.
We do like an us trip and athem trip, an us trip and then
them trip and us trip and thenthem trip.
So that's nice so okay.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
So when you you are, see, I always say entrepreneurs
are not.
I don't say entrepreneurbecause that word's thrown
around everybody.
Anybody can be an entrepreneur,but bosses are not just
something that you wake up anddecide you're going to be a boss
and take control of your lifeand how you do things.
So your time off request was arequest for them, but it wasn't.
It wasn't a request for you.
(11:31):
You're like I'm taking this,whether you approve it or not,
but absolutely 100% as abusiness owner, you know,
knowing what that corporateoffice had to do, she was
willing to decline your requestbecause she had to fulfill
whatever it was on our business.
But as a business owner,sometimes and I know this all
too well you have to decide hey,my employee needs time off and
(11:56):
I don't have coverage.
Do I shut down?
And, you know, stop operations.
Now, if that's a corporateoffice, I don't know how they
were, but at the end of the daythey had to make a business
decision, right, and you werelike this doesn't work for me
and if I want to have to be incontrol of my own life and what
I do and how I do it, then Ineed to do something different.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
So yeah, and the thing is is I was extremely
accommodating, like I would workany hours that were needed to
make up, like before the trip orafter the trip.
The thing was it was likelegalities and honestly I could
go on to tell you some actualethnic things that happened in
that office, like there actuallywas a white girl I worked with
and she was making six dollarsmore than me, just different,
(12:34):
like real, I don't know if youwant to call it shady, but real
microaggression things that weregoing on.
But the thing is, the hoursthat I had already, I already
accrued the PTO, so it was forme to take.
But she just wanted to show herauthority to say say like well,
you didn't put it in exactlyhow I wanted you to put it in,
or however it was.
(12:54):
It wasn't that I'd already hadan, accrued them or made
accommodations for her.
As far as like moving patientsand seeing them like right
before I go and right before Icome back so that they don't
lose money, because I do, as abusiness owner, understand money
and understand that they couldlose money, right, so I
understood that and was alwaysaccommodating.
(13:15):
As far as like, well, you know,even like case by case, I knew
that the SRPs were worth moreand I didn't want them to miss
out on that.
So I'd be like, well, I'll forsure see this one before I go,
you know, with her.
Unfortunately, it was more justlike a control power thing,
like you know, because becauseI'm the manager and I said, you
know, go, do your, go read, putthem in, you know.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
So right, it's, it's so.
It's always like that and a lotof people it's either like you
sink, or so you're going to getwith the program or you're going
to take control of it and andthat's why I say you know, just
being your own, having controlof you, know who you are, what
you do and how it's done to you,and being in control of your
life, and that's on so manydifferent levels, even
(13:55):
spiritually, like you can sitand decide, like I'm going to
eat McDonald's every day.
Or you can say you know what?
Like I want to go to thegrocery store and buy food and
actually cook.
Like it's a, it's discipline,it's a decision.
And when it comes to thingslike that I worked in a practice
it's a decision.
And when it comes to thingslike that, I worked in a
practice for seven years andthat thing I was so, it was so
toxic and I stayed there becauseI was like oh, I'm a hard
(14:16):
worker and you know I saw thesepatients and you know I'm all
the high producer and everything.
But guess what?
In 2020, when COVID happened,the hard working didn't mean
nothing.
They had to do what was better.
So I'm glad that happened.
I always tell people a no isnot a no, sometimes it's a
redirection or you know not, yetit's just not with them around.
(14:37):
Like it's just.
Like.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
It's just one of those things where you cannot
elevate and get to that nextlevel unless you pass your
lesson first so I feel like Iagree 100% like everything
you're saying is literallyeverything I went through during
the pandemic and, and I feellike 100% like everything you're
saying is literally everythingI went through during the
pandemic and and I made likevital, fundamental choices at
that moment that have paved mewhere I am now.
(15:00):
Yes, so you can really look atthat two ways.
You could have looked at theCOVID like a negative way, or
you could have sat around andjust waited for somebody to hand
you something or for somethingto get better.
Or you just take the reins andlike I'm going to take advantage
of this time.
I'm going to do this, this andthis and line myself up and you
know, and that's just the trainof thought, that's that's what
(15:21):
separates, I guess, anentrepreneur from someone who's
kind of just, you know, just oncruise control, and that's okay
too.
Not everybody's meant for thislifestyle, but I hope that you
know you, hearing us inspiresyou and encourages you.
If you were on the fence ofever thinking like, well, I
should do this or that and youweren't sure and you could do it
, you know, but it does take.
It's gonna take some sacrifices, some disciplines and some hurt
(15:46):
.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
I read a post where it said entrepreneurship is like
jumping off a building andbuilding a plane on your way
down, like we don't know what'sgoing on, but we just here, but
we just here to get it done, andif we hit the ground before we
get it done, then hey, we haveto do that and get back up and
do it again, but it's like ajourney and there are sacrifices
and it's hard and it's not foreveryone, and I hate the 2024,
(16:09):
like, oh yeah, be your own bossand create this.
you know, create this ebook anddo this and do that and get
Airbnbs.
And like, every time I get onsocial media, I turn my volume
all the way down.
I feel like there's like sometype of seance happening or some
type of mind manipulation.
Like I don't listen to any ofthat stuff.
So y'all, the people that aredoing their TikToks and the
people that are, you know, goingwith the sounds and making
(16:30):
little funny videos I don't evenknow what those sounds are,
because I don't want that to bebrainwashed into my mind.
So anytime.
I'm on social media I don't havethe sound on or anything and
I'm literally on there less than30 minutes a week because I
just feel like it will distractyou and it will deter you and it
might put you off your goal andevery day every day I get up
(16:51):
and I ask you know, we all have,you know, guides or guardian
angels or whatever you want tocall them, but we all have a
higher power that's guiding usand you know, I have to tap in
and be like listen, I need help.
What's for me?
Give me clarity.
I walk around with crystalsclear crystals Like I need
clarity on what to do, do, andas soon as I start asking, I
start receiving, I start.
(17:12):
You know, things start happening, people start falling around,
stuff keep coming out, peoplejust stop.
You know, whatever comingaround, whatever it is, but it
is that clarity that I'm askingfor and I feel like if you're
listening to crazy, crazy, crazystuff on social media and then
it's in your mind, then those,those thoughts become you and
then all of a sudden, you'relike why?
Why isn't everything going good?
Lots of confusion, yeah, but asyou're working and you're
(17:37):
growing and you just keep doingthings and you, you know, you
you're not worried aboutanything else, you got those
blinders on.
There are people who are likeHmm, let me pick this from her
or let me pick that from her,and you probably know it as well
.
With your all things toothybusiness, someone can come out
and be like oh, I'm gonna createthis and have no passion about
it at all, but they just want todo it because you're doing it
and they think you know what.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
And I can't be afraid of that because like at the end
of the day, like kind of likein hygiene too.
So, real quick, I had this guy.
He was a really cool dentist Iwas working for and this was
before I was a hygienist.
So he was a really cool dentistI was working for and this was
before I was a hygienist.
So before I was a hygienist,and I'll make it quick but
before I was a hygienist I wasan assistant.
I was an assistant actually forsix years before I became a
(18:19):
hygienist and and I was workingwith him and everything.
And actually his wife was ahygienist and you know, it was
like the next step for a lot ofus assistants, right, that
wanted more, were craving more.
I actually so funny I wanted tobe an orthodontist right out of
school but because offinancials and my parents and
not really having that for me, Ihad to move out and get my own
(18:42):
place and and I became anassistant.
But anyway, I found that I foundout about hygiene that that
could be like the next level orsomething that I could keep
going in the dental world.
And I was just talking to himabout it because he seemed like
a young guy and pretty cool andhe was like no, you know what,
you should just stay inassistant because they're just
already like the hygiene worldsaturated.
(19:03):
You're not going to really finda job.
It's going to be hard becausethere's only one hygienist per
office and this and this.
And for a minute I almost wasreally taking his advice and
right, I'm like, oh, he'sprobably right, yeah, there's
like a lot more of us than themand I need job security.
And then I say you know what?
There's only one me.
The way I do it, the way I comein, the way I talk, the way I
(19:27):
look, the way I'm going tohandle the situation, it's me.
So it don't matter if there's100 hygienists applying, like
I'm going to bring me, and thatcomes to anything that you do
and you bring to the table likesomeone's going to do the same
thing, and that's okay.
You are just going to be you.
You're the original you.
There's nothing like you.
There's this, that's it right.
So people are gonna, you know,make their own styles and
(19:48):
designs and that's good, likethat is good, because that's
them.
And I mean I can only be me.
So at the end of the day, thatpeople.
I can only support them and belike you know what?
Good, try, do it, because youmight have a different look than
I do.
You might have a completelydifferent style and maybe people
need that, maybe you don't.
(20:09):
There's somebody for somebody,right?
So anybody that you know hasseen what I'm doing and likes
what I'm doing and I hopefullyI've encouraged them.
I'm for them, right, and youknow so, right, yeah, people are
.
And if you don't have a realpassion, you're just out there
like, well, I'm gonna do thatbecause I see someone doing that
(20:30):
, then it might fizzle out andthen you won't get that
satisfaction.
So, definitely listening topodcasts like this and turning
to mentors that could help guideyou into like, really what,
what is good for you, and seewhat you really like, that will
keep your drive.
You know, cause you seesomething online you're like,
well, I want to do that too.
You should try.
(20:50):
You should try and and Iencourage you to do it and and
you might like it, and then youmight not like it and see all
the hard work.
It goes, that goes into it.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Right, but right because you do it, because
you're passionate about it.
And then your mentors like geta mentor.
You see someone that's doingsomething and you know, see if
that person will mentor you.
I would say mentor.
Mentorship is something thatyou should outgrow your mentor
and your mentor should be happyto see it happen.
We live in a society where yourmentors are not cheering for you
(21:23):
after you reach a certain point, and it's just the society and
it has nothing to do with any, Ithink, person.
But it's like you know theyalways say the people that
bought the tickets you know arethe same people booing.
Like you have to realize thatsupport is not it is.
It is going to be what it is.
You just have to keep going.
Let's just say that yeahexactly Keep trying.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
And you know what?
I'm always an open door, I'm anopen book.
If anybody ever is like, hey,well, what do you think about
this or that, I'm, I'm gonna.
I wear my heart on my sleeve,I'm gonna, I'm gonna tell you.
I'm gonna tell you what I thinkI'm gonna, I'm gonna be honest
and I'm gonna be helpful, likebecause I want to see you shine
and and really, for othercreators, I I think like that's
great, because you know you canget caught up in in stuff like
(22:11):
that, like, oh well, what ifsomeone's gonna do something
similar to me?
That's good, because I'm me andI'm always gonna have my own
style and that's it.
Like that's all I could do isjust focus on me and what I'm
doing and you know making surethat I'm staying original and
you know that's that's what justall separates us.
Right is just I'm just shot aright um, just this mixed girl
(22:31):
living in California and youknow getting tans and you know,
and cleaning teeth and makingbags.
So that's me.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
So so that's more.
That's more than enough.
Well, thank you so much for youknow being on this episode of
the podcast.
I know it was it's really short, but it was definitely much
needed.
Where can people find you ifthey wanted to reach out and get
more information?
Speaker 2 (22:53):
yes, so I, you can find me online, and that's the
thing too being careful withsocial media but at the same
time, like, if you want toconnect with positive people,
look, look for the people thathave your similar interests and
and connect with them, becausethat's really what the
platform's for right, withconnecting with those that want
to see you grow.
So you can find me at smiles bysay those that want to see you
(23:14):
grow.
So you can find me at smiles bysay or my name's Sade, but I
make it, it's easy.
It's S-A-D-E, underscoreR-D-H-A-P, and I'm just here for
you.
I'm here to you know, be yourfriend.
If you just want to talk dental,if you want to know you know,
hey, well, what do you think itwould take for you know, for
hygienists to get expanded in mystate?
I'll give you some ideas,because I am a board member here
in California.
(23:35):
I'm very serious about hygieneand hygienist independence.
So my ultimate goal is to seehygienist independent in each
state and seeing a license thatis more universal throughout the
country for those who reallywant that, who want to go that
extra mile and have that kind ofindependence, because, at the
end of the day, you know whobenefits the community benefits,
(23:57):
right.
You know they deserve to get agood quality cleaning and they
don't need to be, you know.
You know waiting around if theydon't have to.
So I'm here, I'm just an openear.
I'm here for ideas and anythingreally.
You know you can reach out tome anytime.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
All right, guys, that's another episode, thank
you, bye, bye.
Okay, everybody, welcome back to Dental-ish.
Okay, we have a special guesttoday here.
Her name is Sade.
She's an RDH AP.
She's out in California andshe's a Brown Girl RDH, and she
was.
You know she's a Brown Girl RDHbecause her name is Sade.
She was named after a singer.
So you are, you know, those arethose telltale signs, but she
(00:23):
is a good friend of mine andshe's here to join us, to tell
us about you know, working as anentrepreneur.
She has a company All ThingsToothy.
As well.
As you know, she has her owndental hygiene practice, so
welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Sade Hi, thank you so much for having me and I think
it's just awesome that you knowyou got something like this so
we could reach more hygienists,especially brown girls, and, you
know, let them know about theopportunities that they can have
as hygienists.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Funny thing is, when I met you, you were social media
before I met you in person andyou were like, yeah, I love what
you do.
You know, I want to, you knowsupport, and we were having some
ideas about what we can do asfar as like the products and the
Brown Girl RDH logo, and I waslike I want to do something
special.
It was around the time of thefifth year anniversary and we
came up with the black toothbags, the all things toothy with
(01:11):
your company and we launchedthose bags, which people went
crazy for them, and I remember Iwas like I just want to do
something special for thisanniversary gift.
And then we were like we hadthe white ones, you had the
white ones, and you were like,what about the black and gold?
And I was like, oh, my gosh,that's it.
And then you were telling memore about your background and
your, I think.
You said your granddad wasblack and I'm looking at Sade
and Sade she does not look blackand I'm like, girl, you're not
(01:34):
black.
Stop lying, it's hard.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah, you know, that's the thing too.
I think that you know, if youlook at me, I am, I'm mixed
ethnicity, right.
But the thing is is that whenyou do have a parent my dad is
black also, my grandfather'sjust an even darker black man
you feel that wherever you goand the places that I've gone,
(01:59):
where I, even though I'm alittle bit lighter skinned, they
know, they know right off thebat, they can see my hair, they
can see my facial features andthat's okay.
Like I've actually had toreally come to grips with that's
okay.
Like it, that's okay, it's agood thing, it's a beautiful
thing and I'm I'm actually justso proud to be a part of a
community that accepts me.
(02:21):
You know, no matter how lightor dark I am, they understand,
they see my face and they knowthat I'm part of the community.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Right, absolutely.
And one thing about you know,brown Guard, ih and a lot, a lot
, a lot of minority platformsit's like we are the most
inclusive but the most excludedand that's why I really, really,
really, you know, you know,wanted to provide a platform and
I always want to do, dosomething, you know, as far as
the conferences, the podcast,something to highlight.
(02:50):
Hey, we're here, we'reproviding the platform, we're
going to support regardless, andthen we just have to keep
showing up and keep supporting,and I and I love every time
there's something going on, it'slike how can we support you,
how can you support us?
And it's always a collaborativething.
You know what I mean.
Even if we're not talking everyday or in somebody's inbox
every day, it's like I got youand I know you got me, so let's
(03:11):
keep it 100 percent, 100 percent.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
You see them, you feel that there's just actually
like a spiritual bond betweenpeople of color that we all know
that we're, we look at eachother's eyes and we know that
we're all going throughsomething on a deeper level, and
so you can feel that withanother person of color.
You see that, you feel that andso you definitely just want to
(03:35):
stay connected because youdefinitely want to see them
shine and grow, and youunderstand that there's just
been a long period of time wherewe didn't have those
opportunities and our ancestorsdidn't, and so we're trying to,
we're trying to do the oppositenow, right?
So I mean, anytime I can get apart of something, I love it.
And when I first found outabout you, I was like I have to,
(03:56):
I have to be a part of this.
Whatever this is, whatever Icould do, there's there's
actually there's so much youcould say about being an ethnic
person in the medical, dentalfield in general.
I just think that you know a lotof other girls that I've talked
to who are, you know, of mixedcolor.
Maybe they don't even know thatthey can sign up for something
(04:16):
like this.
Maybe they didn't even think itwas for them Like, oh, that's
not for me, because they didn'tsee someone that looks like them
doing it Right, and so it's soimportant that we're out there
and we're just showing ouryounger generation that it is
for you.
So yes, I agree.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
So you're out practicing in California.
Can you explain what the cause?
You're RDH, rdhap, like whatdoes that mean?
What does that mean forhygienists?
Like, what do you do?
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Yes.
So a registered dentalhygienist and alternative
practice means that we havereceived an advanced license, an
expanded license.
So after you're done becoming ahygienist and you're working
for five years and you have yourbachelor's and you have so many
hours in a dental office, youhave the opportunity to work a
(05:06):
non-traditional setting andbasically here in the state of
California we're able to go tosenior centers, senior centers,
group homes, schools and someonelike me if you are working in a
designated area, which meansthat they are kind of like low
income, they don't have accessthere's not a lot of access to
(05:27):
dentists or dentists are taking,you know, medi-cal Then you can
actually open your own brickand mortar and you can treat
anybody in those areas.
So that is what I've been doingfor the last six years now.
I have my own dental hygienepractice and what that consists
of.
I see everybody and anybody, butI do see a lot of like
(05:50):
immigrants.
In my area in particular,there's a lot of Spanish
speaking immigrants that don'thave insurance and are just, you
know, going to dental officesand not just getting the care or
they're not reallyunderstanding the treatment plan
that's presented to them, andso I almost I'm acting like an
advocate to help guide them atwhat they should do in the
(06:11):
dental world.
So yeah, I'm doing everythingpreventative, I'm doing fluoride
cleanings and I work hand inhand with a general dentist and
I'm sending them over for theirrestorative care and any other
treatments that they need.
That's outside of my scope ofpractice.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Right.
So for the RDHAP, do you haveto practice with the?
Do you have to have licenseddentists on it, or can you?
Is it like Colorado, to whereyou can just be an individual?
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Right.
So it's not like Colorado.
So the two other states thatit's very similar to is
Washington and Oregon, and soCalifornia is you do, and you
can have a few, but you have arelationship with a general
dentist where you are referringthem for restorative care.
(07:01):
So you're doing your part,which is great and I love it.
I'm focusing on hygiene,preventative, which that's my
specialty, and anything that'sout of my scope.
If I'm seeing anything thatlooks, you know, like hey, there
might be a cavity, or they comewith a broken tooth, I'm
sending them to my referringdentist for further diagnosing
and treatment.
(07:21):
Six years is a long time.
This year will be the sixthyear.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Yes, oh good, congratulations, Congratulations
.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Thank you.
It's not easy, but it's, it'srewarding.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
It's not.
And you do this all while beinga mommy.
You have all things toothybusiness on the side.
You're still your full-timeclinical hygienist, Then you
have your entrepreneurs, youhave your business and then you
are a mommy.
How many children do you have?
Speaker 2 (07:45):
I have two, and I have a 14-year-old and I have a
five-year-old, so there's a biggap there.
And really that 14-year-oldthank God, because she really
does help with the five-year-old, really Because I mean it takes
quite a few more hands for thatone.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
And then you travel.
I think when we spoke, thefirst time we spoke, you were
telling me about how you showpeople how to travel with kids,
how to travel internationally,and I saw you were recently in
Tokyo.
I was like okay.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
I was yes, okay, so that's another thing that's been
limited to people with color.
Right, they don't know thatthey can go and see the world
and do things and go places andactually I've done some research
about, you know, places thathave been about different
struggles that people around theworld where they might have
disadvantages.
But I started traveling becauseI found it to be very important
(08:48):
for my girls to know that theycan go anywhere, they can do
anything, and I want them toknow that there's a larger place
out there, from outside of ourstate, where you know they just
think that this is the way lifeis.
The more you travel and you seethe way different people live,
it just expands your horizons,right?
So I wanted them to be able todo that, right.
(09:09):
So I started traveling sevenyears ago.
Actually, what really triggeredit was my manager at the time,
because I did corporatedentistry for 10 years.
Like, I just was a loyal worker.
I just worked, worked, workedand I was getting married, me
and my high school sweetheart.
We waited years but we weregetting married and I had booked
(09:29):
my trip and she like declinedmy, my hours, my vacation hours.
She's like, oh, you put in thewrong dates.
So she was really trying to jamup my vacation and that's when
I was like wait, hold up, likeno, you don't tell me, no, I'm
gonna go, I'm gone like I'm I'mgoing and just from that point
on, I just was like no one'sgonna stop me, I'm gonna go, I'm
(09:50):
gone like I'm, I'm gonna go,wherever it is, I'm going.
And from that trip I realized Iwent to Puerto Rico that I could
go anywhere and I could doanything and I can see anything.
And and who said I have to worklike so hard?
Because, at the end of the day,I at that point I had been
there for eight years and shewas willing to, like, decline my
(10:10):
hours, my vacation hours, right.
So it really opened upsomething in me that I said, wow
, like I'm just a number to you,as loyal as I am, as hard as I
work at weekends, staying late,seeing patients through lunch,
it didn't matter.
So I knew at that moment Ineeded to change my lifestyle,
because we only live once and Iand I didn't want to continue to
(10:35):
live like that.
So, yeah, that's why I travel,I get out and I see the world,
and, and with kids.
Kids deserve to go see thingstoo, right?
So you always see peopletraveling without their kids,
but they need to see things toopeople traveling without their
kids, but they need to seethings too, right?
Speaker 1 (10:54):
so I know I got, I got four kids and I'll be like
this is not a vacation with thisis not a vacation with the kids
, yeah, so sometimes they needto stay home.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Sometimes they do.
They do need to stay home withgrandma or something they do.
So me and my husband we do.
We do like an us trip and athem trip, an us trip and then
them trip and us trip and thenthem trip.
So that's nice so okay.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
So when you you are, see, I always say entrepreneurs
are not.
I don't say entrepreneurbecause that word's thrown
around everybody.
Anybody can be an entrepreneur,but bosses are not just
something that you wake up anddecide you're going to be a boss
and take control of your lifeand how you do things.
So your time off request was arequest for them, but it wasn't.
It wasn't a request for you.
(11:31):
You're like I'm taking this,whether you approve it or not,
but absolutely 100% as abusiness owner, you know,
knowing what that corporateoffice had to do, she was
willing to decline your requestbecause she had to fulfill
whatever it was on our business.
But as a business owner,sometimes and I know this all
too well you have to decide hey,my employee needs time off and
(11:56):
I don't have coverage.
Do I shut down?
And, you know, stop operations.
Now, if that's a corporateoffice, I don't know how they
were, but at the end of the daythey had to make a business
decision, right, and you werelike this doesn't work for me
and if I want to have to be incontrol of my own life and what
I do and how I do it, then Ineed to do something different.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
So yeah, and the thing is is I was extremely
accommodating, like I would workany hours that were needed to
make up, like before the trip orafter the trip.
The thing was it was likelegalities and honestly I could
go on to tell you some actualethnic things that happened in
that office, like there actuallywas a white girl I worked with
and she was making six dollarsmore than me, just different,
(12:34):
like real, I don't know if youwant to call it shady, but real
microaggression things that weregoing on.
But the thing is, the hoursthat I had already, I already
accrued the PTO, so it was forme to take.
But she just wanted to show herauthority to say say like well,
you didn't put it in exactlyhow I wanted you to put it in,
or however it was.
(12:54):
It wasn't that I'd already hadan, accrued them or made
accommodations for her.
As far as like moving patientsand seeing them like right
before I go and right before Icome back so that they don't
lose money, because I do, as abusiness owner, understand money
and understand that they couldlose money, right, so I
understood that and was alwaysaccommodating.
(13:15):
As far as like, well, you know,even like case by case, I knew
that the SRPs were worth moreand I didn't want them to miss
out on that.
So I'd be like, well, I'll forsure see this one before I go,
you know, with her.
Unfortunately, it was more justlike a control power thing,
like you know, because becauseI'm the manager and I said, you
know, go, do your, go read, putthem in, you know.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
So right, it's, it's so.
It's always like that and a lotof people it's either like you
sink, or so you're going to getwith the program or you're going
to take control of it and andthat's why I say you know, just
being your own, having controlof you, know who you are, what
you do and how it's done to you,and being in control of your
life, and that's on so manydifferent levels, even
(13:55):
spiritually, like you can sitand decide, like I'm going to
eat McDonald's every day.
Or you can say you know what?
Like I want to go to thegrocery store and buy food and
actually cook.
Like it's a, it's discipline,it's a decision.
And when it comes to thingslike that I worked in a practice
it's a decision.
And when it comes to thingslike that, I worked in a
practice for seven years andthat thing I was so, it was so
toxic and I stayed there becauseI was like oh, I'm a hard
(14:16):
worker and you know I saw thesepatients and you know I'm all
the high producer and everything.
But guess what?
In 2020, when COVID happened,the hard working didn't mean
nothing.
They had to do what was better.
So I'm glad that happened.
I always tell people a no isnot a no, sometimes it's a
redirection or you know not, yetit's just not with them around.
(14:37):
Like it's just.
Like.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
It's just one of those things where you cannot
elevate and get to that nextlevel unless you pass your
lesson first so I feel like Iagree 100% like everything
you're saying is literallyeverything I went through during
the pandemic and, and I feellike 100% like everything you're
saying is literally everythingI went through during the
pandemic and and I made likevital, fundamental choices at
that moment that have paved mewhere I am now.
(15:00):
Yes, so you can really look atthat two ways.
You could have looked at theCOVID like a negative way, or
you could have sat around andjust waited for somebody to hand
you something or for somethingto get better.
Or you just take the reins andlike I'm going to take advantage
of this time.
I'm going to do this, this andthis and line myself up and you
know, and that's just the trainof thought, that's that's what
(15:21):
separates, I guess, anentrepreneur from someone who's
kind of just, you know, just oncruise control, and that's okay
too.
Not everybody's meant for thislifestyle, but I hope that you
know you, hearing us inspiresyou and encourages you.
If you were on the fence ofever thinking like, well, I
should do this or that and youweren't sure and you could do it
, you know, but it does take.
It's gonna take some sacrifices, some disciplines and some hurt
(15:46):
.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
I read a post where it said entrepreneurship is like
jumping off a building andbuilding a plane on your way
down, like we don't know what'sgoing on, but we just here, but
we just here to get it done, andif we hit the ground before we
get it done, then hey, we haveto do that and get back up and
do it again, but it's like ajourney and there are sacrifices
and it's hard and it's not foreveryone, and I hate the 2024,
(16:09):
like, oh yeah, be your own bossand create this.
you know, create this ebook anddo this and do that and get
Airbnbs.
And like, every time I get onsocial media, I turn my volume
all the way down.
I feel like there's like sometype of seance happening or some
type of mind manipulation.
Like I don't listen to any ofthat stuff.
So y'all, the people that aredoing their TikToks and the
people that are, you know, goingwith the sounds and making
(16:30):
little funny videos I don't evenknow what those sounds are,
because I don't want that to bebrainwashed into my mind.
So anytime.
I'm on social media I don't havethe sound on or anything and
I'm literally on there less than30 minutes a week because I
just feel like it will distractyou and it will deter you and it
might put you off your goal andevery day every day I get up
(16:51):
and I ask you know, we all have,you know, guides or guardian
angels or whatever you want tocall them, but we all have a
higher power that's guiding usand you know, I have to tap in
and be like listen, I need help.
What's for me?
Give me clarity.
I walk around with crystalsclear crystals Like I need
clarity on what to do, do, andas soon as I start asking, I
start receiving, I start.
(17:12):
You know, things start happening, people start falling around,
stuff keep coming out, peoplejust stop.
You know, whatever comingaround, whatever it is, but it
is that clarity that I'm askingfor and I feel like if you're
listening to crazy, crazy, crazystuff on social media and then
it's in your mind, then those,those thoughts become you and
then all of a sudden, you'relike why?
Why isn't everything going good?
Lots of confusion, yeah, but asyou're working and you're
(17:37):
growing and you just keep doingthings and you, you know, you
you're not worried aboutanything else, you got those
blinders on.
There are people who are likeHmm, let me pick this from her
or let me pick that from her,and you probably know it as well
.
With your all things toothybusiness, someone can come out
and be like oh, I'm gonna createthis and have no passion about
it at all, but they just want todo it because you're doing it
and they think you know what.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
And I can't be afraid of that because like at the end
of the day, like kind of likein hygiene too.
So, real quick, I had this guy.
He was a really cool dentist Iwas working for and this was
before I was a hygienist.
So he was a really cool dentistI was working for and this was
before I was a hygienist.
So before I was a hygienist,and I'll make it quick but
before I was a hygienist I wasan assistant.
I was an assistant actually forsix years before I became a
(18:19):
hygienist and and I was workingwith him and everything.
And actually his wife was ahygienist and you know, it was
like the next step for a lot ofus assistants, right, that
wanted more, were craving more.
I actually so funny I wanted tobe an orthodontist right out of
school but because offinancials and my parents and
not really having that for me, Ihad to move out and get my own
(18:42):
place and and I became anassistant.
But anyway, I found that I foundout about hygiene that that
could be like the next level orsomething that I could keep
going in the dental world.
And I was just talking to himabout it because he seemed like
a young guy and pretty cool andhe was like no, you know what,
you should just stay inassistant because they're just
already like the hygiene worldsaturated.
(19:03):
You're not going to really finda job.
It's going to be hard becausethere's only one hygienist per
office and this and this.
And for a minute I almost wasreally taking his advice and
right, I'm like, oh, he'sprobably right, yeah, there's
like a lot more of us than themand I need job security.
And then I say you know what?
There's only one me.
The way I do it, the way I comein, the way I talk, the way I
(19:27):
look, the way I'm going tohandle the situation, it's me.
So it don't matter if there's100 hygienists applying, like
I'm going to bring me, and thatcomes to anything that you do
and you bring to the table likesomeone's going to do the same
thing, and that's okay.
You are just going to be you.
You're the original you.
There's nothing like you.
There's this, that's it right.
So people are gonna, you know,make their own styles and
(19:48):
designs and that's good, likethat is good, because that's
them.
And I mean I can only be me.
So at the end of the day, thatpeople.
I can only support them and belike you know what?
Good, try, do it, because youmight have a different look than
I do.
You might have a completelydifferent style and maybe people
need that, maybe you don't.
(20:09):
There's somebody for somebody,right?
So anybody that you know hasseen what I'm doing and likes
what I'm doing and I hopefullyI've encouraged them.
I'm for them, right, and youknow so, right, yeah, people are
.
And if you don't have a realpassion, you're just out there
like, well, I'm gonna do thatbecause I see someone doing that
(20:30):
, then it might fizzle out andthen you won't get that
satisfaction.
So, definitely listening topodcasts like this and turning
to mentors that could help guideyou into like, really what,
what is good for you, and seewhat you really like, that will
keep your drive.
You know, cause you seesomething online you're like,
well, I want to do that too.
You should try.
(20:50):
You should try and and Iencourage you to do it and and
you might like it, and then youmight not like it and see all
the hard work.
It goes, that goes into it.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Right, but right because you do it, because
you're passionate about it.
And then your mentors like geta mentor.
You see someone that's doingsomething and you know, see if
that person will mentor you.
I would say mentor.
Mentorship is something thatyou should outgrow your mentor
and your mentor should be happyto see it happen.
We live in a society where yourmentors are not cheering for you
(21:23):
after you reach a certain point, and it's just the society and
it has nothing to do with any, Ithink, person.
But it's like you know theyalways say the people that
bought the tickets you know arethe same people booing.
Like you have to realize thatsupport is not it is.
It is going to be what it is.
You just have to keep going.
Let's just say that yeahexactly Keep trying.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
And you know what?
I'm always an open door, I'm anopen book.
If anybody ever is like, hey,well, what do you think about
this or that, I'm, I'm gonna.
I wear my heart on my sleeve,I'm gonna, I'm gonna tell you.
I'm gonna tell you what I thinkI'm gonna, I'm gonna be honest
and I'm gonna be helpful, likebecause I want to see you shine
and and really, for othercreators, I I think like that's
great, because you know you canget caught up in in stuff like
(22:11):
that, like, oh well, what ifsomeone's gonna do something
similar to me?
That's good, because I'm me andI'm always gonna have my own
style and that's it.
Like that's all I could do isjust focus on me and what I'm
doing and you know making surethat I'm staying original and
you know that's that's what justall separates us.
Right is just I'm just shot aright um, just this mixed girl
(22:31):
living in California and youknow getting tans and you know,
and cleaning teeth and makingbags.
So that's me.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
So so that's more.
That's more than enough.
Well, thank you so much for youknow being on this episode of
the podcast.
I know it was it's really short, but it was definitely much
needed.
Where can people find you ifthey wanted to reach out and get
more information?
Speaker 2 (22:53):
yes, so I, you can find me online, and that's the
thing too being careful withsocial media but at the same
time, like, if you want toconnect with positive people,
look, look for the people thathave your similar interests and
and connect with them, becausethat's really what the
platform's for right, withconnecting with those that want
to see you grow.
So you can find me at smiles bysay those that want to see you
(23:14):
grow.
So you can find me at smiles bysay or my name's Sade, but I
make it, it's easy.
It's S-A-D-E, underscoreR-D-H-A-P, and I'm just here for
you.
I'm here to you know, be yourfriend.
If you just want to talk dental,if you want to know you know,
hey, well, what do you think itwould take for you know, for
hygienists to get expanded in mystate?
I'll give you some ideas,because I am a board member here
in California.
(23:35):
I'm very serious about hygieneand hygienist independence.
So my ultimate goal is to seehygienist independent in each
state and seeing a license thatis more universal throughout the
country for those who reallywant that, who want to go that
extra mile and have that kind ofindependence, because, at the
end of the day, you know whobenefits the community benefits,
(23:57):
right.
You know they deserve to get agood quality cleaning and they
don't need to be, you know.
You know waiting around if theydon't have to.
So I'm here, I'm just an openear.
I'm here for ideas and anythingreally.
You know you can reach out tome anytime.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
All right, guys, that's another episode, thank
you, bye, bye.
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