Fixing the Dental Hygiene Backlog: Staffing, Scheduling & Systems That Work

Is your hygiene department helping—or hurting—your practice?

In this episode, Linda Kane sits down with Rachel Wall, RDH—CEO and Founder of Inspired Hygiene—to tackle one of the most urgent challenges facing private dental practices: the hygiene backlog.

With decades of experience as a hygienist, coach, and industry leader, Rachel shares why hygiene delays are now a public health issue, how to retain great hygienists without burnout, and the powerful results of expanding hygiene services (without overwhelming your team).

You’ll also learn why a written standard of care is the secret to aligning your hygiene team, improving diagnosis, and boosting long-term profitability.

Perfect for dentists, office managers, and hygienists ready to reclaim control and elevate care.

Covered in this episode:

• Why hygiene backlogs create more than just scheduling headaches
• How staffing, perio diagnosis, and scheduling work together
• What to do when your hygienists resist new systems or products
• The power of co-diagnosis and team calibration
• How a clear hygiene protocol can reduce liability and burnout
• The triple win approach: healthier patients, empowered hygienists, profitable practices

Resources

💬 Want support growing and protecting your practice?
 Linda Kane helps dentists reduce burnout and take back operational control.

📖 Claim your free copy of Dental Office Rescue → rescuemydentaloffice.com
🌐 Explore services at Zeroed-In Dental Solutions → zeroedindentalsolutions.com

Connect with Rachel and Get Free Resources

Check Out Inspired Hygiene's Resource Guide → inspiredhygiene.com

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🎧 This podcast is produced by @parkerkane.co | Want help creating your own expert podcast? Reach out ➝ [e-mail]