Your Official ADHA Podcast

Malia Taylor, RDH shares her incredible journey of obtaining licenses in nine states since graduating in 2019. What started as a necessity for her during the COVID-19 pandemic became a unique career showcasing the challenges and opportunities of multi-state practice. Malia shares her insider perspective with Host Matt Crespin, including navigating complex licensing requirements, managing multiple renewals and tracking varied contin...

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Emily Boge brings her passionate advocacy to the forefront as she shares her journey from pharmacy student to influential voice in dental hygiene. Host Matt Crespin engages Dr. Boge in a candid discussion about how the profession’s code of ethics and clinical standards serve as the bedrock of public trust. They tackle head-on the alarming industry trends threatening to dilute educational requi...

Michelle Strange brings 20 years of dental hygiene expertise to this compelling episode, sharing her journey from practicing across multiple states to establishing her own independent hygiene practice in Colorado. She candidly discusses overcoming resistance to her independent model, navigating complex state licensure requirements and her unwavering focus on evidence-based care and infection control. Michelle highlights how profess...

Work culture can make or break dental practice success. Host Matt Crespin welcomes Kara Kelley, CEO of Clinical HR LLC, for a conversation about creating positive workplace environments in today's dental landscape. Kara shares valuable insights on effective communication, and helping dental hygienists understand practice owners' perspectives while advocating for their own needs. Discover how workplace culture varies across practice...

ADHA's pivotal Standards for Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice have been updated for the first time since 2016. Host Matt Crespin welcomes ADHA President Erin Haley-Hitz and Crest + Oral-B representatives Beth Jordan and Andrea Johnson to discuss this momentous release. Beth, who also served as a Content Expert on the Standards Committee, shares insights on key changes including the shift to person-centered care, the importance of d...

The "Hygienist Inspired" chairside recruitment program launched this week – a partnership between ADHA and the Foundations of Delta Dental. Three incredible dedicated Advisory Committee members share their dental hygiene journeys with host, Matt Crespin, and explain how this initiative builds diversity in dental hygiene and addresses workforce shortages while improving access to care in underserved communities. Learn about becoming...

Hospital-based dental hygiene care is literally saving lives by preventing infections. ADHA member Katharine Martinez joins Matt during National Children’s Dental Health Month to share her unique work as a prevention educator at Phoenix Children's Hospital using a successful innovative care model that other states could easily adopt. She shares her passion for reaching pediatric patients and ensuring they remain free of preventable...

Fluoride misinformation spreads faster than the facts. Spring Hatfield joins host Matt Crespin for an important conversation about fluoride information, identifying credible scientific sources and how to spot misinformation online. Their conversation examines how dental professionals can effectively evaluate and address fluoride misconceptions and problematic claims that are appearing in publications, online and in social media cha...

End-of-Year Episode! Matt catches up with ADHA officers on crucial dental hygiene issues, recent concerning proposals that impact the profession, patient care and scope of practice, and how the organization is opposing and addressing these. They look back at 2024 successes and look forward at the work ahead in 2025 work on professional autonomy, recruitment, education, policy, leadership development and more. The key is involvement...

The ADHA's Institute for Oral Health Foundation is in the spotlight for this episode of the pod. Matt chats with IOH Foundation Chair Becky Smith, CRDH, EdD, FADHA and Emily Ludwig, RDH, BSDH, MS, PhD(c), recipient of an IOH Foundation Research Grant. Becky shares the mission and focus of the Foundation and Emily discusses how her award has allowed her to advance her research on bias in the field of dental hygiene. Consider making ...

In this episode, recorded live at ADHA's recent Milwaukee CE event, host Matt Crespin welcomes an interdisciplinary panel of healthcare experts to discuss comprehensive diabetes care. Guests include Hannah Lochner, RD, LD, CDCE, Amy Stinson, MS, RDN, CD, CDCES, Gary Rothenberg, DPM and Dr. JoAnn Gurenlian, RDH, MS, PhD, AAFAAOM, FADHA. The distinguished panel shares insights on diabetic foot care, vision health, nutrition and oral-...

Bonus Episode! Matt welcomes Erin Haley-Hitz for an eye-opening conversation about ADA’s recent resolutions on approaches to solving the dental hygiene workforce shortage, a clarification of what resolutions are, and what this could actually mean in terms of policy. Plus, a frank conversation about professional autonomy for dental hygienists as a preview for a free January webinar on the topic. A “can’t miss” 30-minute episode thes...

Oral care implications of sleep disorders are multifaceted. Dental professionals are increasingly vital in identifying and supporting treatment for sleep disorders. Dr. Radfar shares with host Matt Crespin, the keys to the successful integration of sleep medicine into his dental practice. He bridges the gap with insights, treatment implications for oral health, and practical tools to help you support and advocate for those in your ...

Dr. Jonathan Norris joins Matt on this episode of the podcast to discuss his philosophy of minimally invasive dentistry.  Dr. Norris has grown multiple pediatric practices across the New England area that has increased access for Medicaid patients.  Dr Norris has a unique approach to providing care that doesn't involve using a drill (in most cases) to treat dental decay and is doing so with tremendous success and patient acceptance...

In celebration of National Dental Hygiene Month, your host Matt Crespin welcomes Amanda Hill, BSDH, RDH, CDIPC and Phyllis Martina, RDH, MBA, FADHA to explore this year's NDHM theme "RDH Investigates". They emphasize the importance of dental hygienists keeping their detective hats on when treating patients, to ensure they are thoroughly investigating and identifying issues to prevent, advise and recommend treatment and products to ...

Think you have what it takes to swim with sharks? Hear from entrepreneur Samantha Coxe, CEO and Founder of Flaus, who shares her lightbulb moment as a dental patient that led to her invention of Flaus – an electric flosser – and the journey that helped her pitch and reel in support on ABC’s Shark Tank. Sam shares the complexities behind the product development and what kept her drive alive as she tackled the challenging startup pro...

Peek behind the corporate curtain as ADHA member Jen Post, RDH, MDH, a clinical applications specialist with Solventum, takes you from product concept to nationwide launch. Jen shares her inspiring journey with Matt and discusses her unique role with the company. Uncover Solventum's surprising identity and why it might be more familiar than you think! Matt also catches you up on the latest happenings at ADHA and Hispanic Heritage M...

Recruitment of our future workforce is critical and ADHA is excited to partner with Delta Dental Foundation to announce a new ground-breaking project. Matt is joined by ADHA President Elect Lancette VanGuilder and Delta Dental Foundation Executive Director Holli Seabury to share a sneak peek at this new partnership aimed at growing the dental hygiene workforce in numbers and representation. Learn how ADHA, Delta Dental Foundation a...

The future starts now. ADHA President Erin Haley-Hitz, RDH, BSDH, MS, FADHA, MAADH, joins Matt for a sitdown at ADHA's recent conference for a candid conversation about her personal dental hygiene journey and her vision for the profession and the upcoming year. It's a future she made clear in the ADHA24 Closing General Session, from groundbreaking partnerships and programs that ADHA members will see in the near future to policy and...