In this episode, David Torres and Jessica Atkinson dive into the real concerns and experiences of graduating dental hygienists as they transition from school into the professional world. This candid conversation highlights the emotional and professional challenges new hygienists face, along with practical insights to help them navigate this pivotal stage of their careers.

What We Talked About:

First job anxiety and the pressure of entering the workforce

Why hygienists must stay actively involved in their careers beyond graduation

Adjusting to life after school and building confidence in clinical practice

How life-changing events and personal growth shape career paths

Key Takeaways:

Graduating hygienists are not alone in their worries. Staying connected to the profession, seeking mentorship, and continuing education are critical to long-term success and fulfillment. Embracing change and remaining adaptable can make all the difference in building a rewarding career.

Call to Action:

If you're a new or soon-to-be dental hygienist, stay engaged with your professional community. Continue learning, ask questions, and seek out support systems that help you grow. Don't let early career fears hold you back from pursuing opportunities.

Resources:

Emails:

Kalea Woodyatt: kalea.woodyatt@utahtech.edu

Claire Zufelt:

Claire.zufelt@utahtech.edu

Abigail Vogel:

Abby.vogel@utahtech.edu

Haydn Bush:

Haydn.mcmillan@utahtech.edu

In this episode of A Tale of Two Hygienists, co-hosts David Torres and Jessica Atkinson sit down with Melia Lewis, MEd, to discuss the critical role dental hygienists play in supporting patients undergoing cancer treatment.

Drawing from her personal experience with her father's cancer diagnosis, Melia brings a deeply meaningful perspective to the conversation. She highlights the emotional and clinical impact of cancer care, and how dental hygienists can become essential advocates and providers within a patient's healthcare journey.

Key topics discussed include:

* Melia's personal journey navigating her father's cancer diagnosis and how it shaped her professional perspective.

*Whether dental hygiene should be more formally integrated into oncology care.

*The importance of resilience and understanding why the work hygienists do truly matters.

*Common oral side effects experienced by cancer patients and how to recognize them.

*How hygienists can tailor appointments to better support patients undergoing cancer treatment.

Rather than viewing care as routine, this episode challenges listeners to approach each patient—especially those facing serious health conditions—with intention, empathy, and clinical adaptability. Melia offers insight into how hygienists can elevate their role and make a meaningful difference during some of their patients' most vulnerable moments.

This episode is a must-listen for hygienists who want to expand their understanding of patient-centered care and play a more active role in supporting individuals through complex health challenges.

Call to Action:

Take time to deepen your understanding of how systemic health conditions, like cancer, impact oral health. Look for opportunities to adapt your care approach and advocate for patients who may need more personalized support.

Connect with Melia Lewis:

Email: melia@hygieneedge.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melia-lewis/

In this episode, Alyssa Aberle shares her powerful personal journey through a patient diagnosis, surgery, and tongue reconstruction, offering a perspective that deeply resonates with dental professionals. The conversation emphasizes the critical role hygienists play in early detection of oral cancer and why cutting corners is never an option when it comes to patient care.

Alyssa, along with David and Jessica, dives into practical strategies for oral cancer screenings, including how to communicate findings with confidence and compassion. They also discuss when and how to refer patients to specialists, ensuring the best possible outcomes. A key highlight is the discussion around effective screening scripts and the importance of the 10–14 day rule in monitoring suspicious lesions.

What We Talked About:

Alyssa's personal experience with her patients diagnosis, surgery, and tongue reconstruction

The responsibility of dental professionals to thoroughly screen for oral cancer

Why you should never cut corners during exams

How to confidently refer patients and choose the right specialist

Verbiage and scripts that build trust during oral cancer screenings

Understanding and applying the 10–14 day rule

Call to Action:

This episode is designed to empower dental hygienists to take ownership of their role in patient care. By listening, you'll gain the confidence, language, and clinical mindset needed to perform thorough screenings and advocate for your patients' health.

Resources and Links:

Connect with Alyssa: linktr.ee/alyssardh

alyssa.aberle@gmail.com

In this episode of A Tale of Two Hygienists, co-hosts David Torres and Jessica Atkinson welcome renowned speaker and dental educator Jo-Anne Jones for an impactful conversation titled "Oral Cancer Screening: Stepping Fully Into Your Role."

Jo-Anne shares deeply personal and professional insights that challenge clinicians to recognize the true life-saving potential of routine dental visits. Through powerful storytelling and clinical expertise, she highlights the urgency of early detection—especially in the face of rising HPV-related cancers—and encourages hygienists to fully embrace their role in comprehensive screenings.

From explaining the intraoral "triangle of death" to demonstrating proper neck palpation techniques, Jo-Anne provides practical, actionable strategies clinicians can implement immediately. She also reflects on how a personal crisis shaped her mission in dentistry and reinforces why every screening appointment should be treated as an opportunity to save a life.

This episode is both inspiring and educational, equipping dental professionals with the knowledge and confidence to elevate their oral cancer screening protocols and patient care.

"What We Talked About (From Jo-Anne's Perspective)"

Why Jo-Anne is passionate about saving lives—HPV, rising cancers, and one family's loss

How Jo-Anne approaches the intraoral "triangle of death" exam

How a personal crisis launched Jo-Anne's mission in dentistry

Why Jo-Anne believes this is a life-saving appointment

How Jo-Anne performs proper neck palpation

Simple screening steps Jo-Anne recommends hygienists start today

Why Jo-Anne uses screening tools in clinical practice

Call to Action

If you found this episode valuable, be sure to subscribe to A Tale of Two Hygienists, leave a review, and share it with colleagues who are committed to improving patient care and early detection.

Resources:

HPV Talking Points Resource: www.rdhu.ca/hpvtalkingpointsresource

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jjlifeandtimes/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-anne-jones-88a2266/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jo.anne.jones.626106/

Fluoride conversations don't have to feel uncomfortable. In this Bonus episode, we're joined by Jen Post, RDH, MDH, FADHA, to discuss practical strategies for improving patient communication and increasing fluoride acceptance.

Jen shares how hygienists can confidently address common patient concerns, simplify their messaging, and create more effective chairside conversations.

We also explore how Clinpro™ Clear fluoride varnish supports both clinicians and patients with its clear appearance, smooth application, and comfortable feel—helping reduce objections and improve overall acceptance.

Listeners will walk away with actionable tips to strengthen preventive care conversations and enhance the patient experience.

About Our Guest

Jen Post, RDH, MDH, FADHA is an Advanced Clinical Applications Specialist at Solventum with extensive experience in clinical practice, education, and research. She is a Fellow of the American Dental Hygienists' Association and brings a passion for practical, patient-centered care.

What We Talked About

How to approach fluoride conversations with confidence

Common patient concerns and how to address them

What makes Clinpro™ Clear different

Strategies to increase case acceptance

Call to Action

Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a colleague and start improving your fluoride conversations today.

This episode is sponsored by Solventum Dental Solutions.

Resources:

https://www.solventum.com/en-us/home/f/b5005503000/

https://s7d9.scene7.com/is/content/mmmspinco/clinpro-clear-brochure-ds-rps-enpdf

Jen Post: jpost2@solventum.com

About the Company

Solventum Dental Solutions builds on over 70 years of innovation to support dental professionals with trusted products and solutions that enhance patient care and clinical outcomes.

In this episode of A Tale of Two Hygienists, Jessica and David sit down with dental hygienist Angeli Walton to share her powerful story of recognizing early signs of a thyroid condition—within herself. What began as clinical awareness quickly turned into a deeply personal journey, as Angeli navigated the unexpected shift from provider to patient.

Angeli reflects on how her training helped her notice subtle changes that might have otherwise gone overlooked, and how trusting those instincts ultimately led to early detection. The conversation explores the emotional and professional impact of experiencing healthcare from the other side of the chair, offering a unique perspective that many clinicians don't anticipate, but can learn from.

Together, they discuss the broader role dental professionals play in identifying systemic health concerns, and why paying attention to small details can make a life-changing difference. Angeli also shares insights on self-advocacy and why it's critical for clinicians to speak up—both for their patients and themselves.

This episode offers a meaningful reminder that the skills used every day in practice extend far beyond oral health, and can be just as important in protecting your own well-being.

What We Talked About:

Recognizing early signs of systemic conditions

How clinical instincts can support early detection

The experience of transitioning from provider to patient

Why subtle symptoms shouldn't be ignored

The importance of self-advocacy in healthcare

If you found this episode valuable, be sure to subscribe to A Tale of Two Hygienists, leave a review, and share it with colleagues who are passionate about whole-body health and early detection.

Resources:

Email: Angeli.damron@gmail.com

Instagram: @angeliwalton

Dry mouth isn't just uncomfortable—it can impact sleep, swallowing, oral health, and overall quality of life. In this TIPisode, we learn about Moisyn, a unique solution designed to provide lasting moisture and relief for patients dealing with xerostomia.

Unlike traditional products that offer only temporary relief, Moisyn uses a mucoadhesive, moisture-retentive technology to help keep the oral environment hydrated longer.

We also break down how clinicians can improve patient compliance, why dispensing products in-office matters, and how dry mouth solutions can impact long-term oral health outcomes.

If you're seeing more patients struggling with dry mouth, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

Learn More about Moisyn https://periosciences.com/products/moisyn-mist

In this episode of A Tale of Two Hygienists, co-hosts David Torres and Jessica Atkinson sit down with oral pathologist Dr. Bryan Trump to discuss the important role dental professionals play in identifying abnormalities and knowing when to refer patients to a specialist. Dr. Trump shares valuable insight into what clinicians might be missing during routine exams and how to strengthen their confidence when suspicious findings arise.

The conversation dives into practical strategies for performing thorough oral cancer screenings, recognizing key red flags, and navigating patient conversations when something concerning is discovered. Dr. Trump also offers guidance on how clinicians can communicate pathology findings in a clear and compassionate way—helping patients understand the situation without causing unnecessary fear.

This episode provides practical tips for dental hygienists and dentists who want to improve their screening protocols, referral confidence, and patient communication when dealing with potentially serious diagnoses.

What We Talked About:

How to confidently refer patients to specialists

Essential tips for performing effective oral cancer screenings

Recognizing concerning findings and clinical red flags

Navigating difficult conversations about the possibility of cancer

How to communicate pathology findings without unnecessarily scaring patients

If you found this episode helpful, be sure to subscribe to A Tale of Two Hygienists, leave a review, and share the episode with colleagues who are passionate about improving patient care and early detection.

Resources:

Contact Dr. Bryan Trump: bryan.trump@hsc.utah.edu