51 Hot Dogs and a Dental Hygiene Degree: Miki Sudo’s Journey (Ep 172)
Hygiene Rising
When competitive eating champion meets dental hygiene student, you get a episode unlike any other. Matt Crespin welcomes Miki Sudo – an 11-time Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest champion who holds the world record of 51 hot dogs in 10 minutes and is preparing to graduate from the dental hygiene program at Hillsborough Community College in spring 2025. Miki shares her unexpected journey from professional competitive eater to future dental hygienist as she seeks long-term stability as a wife and mother. She opens up about entering the program with no dental experience, battling self-doubt and...
info_outline
Critical Conversations: Recognizing Signs of Domestic Violence in Your Chair (Ep 171)
Hygiene Rising
Matt sits down with Australian dental hygienist and entrepreneur Tabitha Acret for a conversation that moves from career inspiration to life-saving advocacy. Tabitha shares how she discovered dental hygiene while working as a dental assistant during law school, then built a dynamic career across clinical practice, academia, her own periodontal education company, and co-hosting Disrupting Dentistry Podcast. The conversation shifts as Tabitha opens up about why Domestic Violence Awareness Month carries profound meaning for her. She reveals the powerful position dental hygienists hold spending up...
info_outline
Crisis Prevention in Dental Settings: Essential De-escalation Techniques for Hygienists (Ep 170)
Hygiene Rising
Workplace violence in healthcare is reaching crisis levels – and dental hygienists aren't immune. Host Matt Crespin sits down with Jeff Schill, Vice President of Training at the Crisis Prevention Institute, to tackle a challenge many face but few discuss. With 81% of healthcare workers experiencing workplace violence in the past year, the need for de-escalation skills has never been more urgent. Jeff explains why poor communication fuels most crises and shares practical techniques like the power of breathing and allowing silence. This conversation delivers actionable strategies every dental...
info_outline
ADHA Podversations Bonus Episode (Ep 169)
Hygiene Rising
Discover your power to drive change in dental hygiene. Derik Sven reveals model legislation for dental hygiene autonomy—a blueprint hygienists can champion in their states. Federal lobbyist Quardricos Driskell shares how to amplify your voice through federal advocacy and Congressional relationships. Abby Rennau demonstrates the impact of taking action—applying for the Esther Wilkins Scholarship transformed her career, enabling bachelor's and master's degrees while teaching future hygienists. Dr. Sonika Masih shows how individual initiative creates impact through her ADHA Foundation grant...
info_outline
ADHA25 Podversations Sunday (Ep 168)
Hygiene Rising
Final day from the ADHA25 exhibit floor brings conversations on collaboration, global leadership, and innovation. Amber Mendoza of Heartland Dental discusses building career ecosystems for 6,000 hygienists through mentorship infrastructure. IFDH President Jill Rethman shares the federation's global white paper series and previews the 2026 International Symposium in Milan. ADHA President Lancette VanGuilder joins Gary Pickard from PDS Health to announce a groundbreaking dental care benefit program for ADHA members and their families through PDS Health's 1,200+ practices. Katrina Sanders reveals...
info_outline
ADHA25 Podversations Saturday (Ep 167)
Hygiene Rising
ADHA25 Podversations Saturday (Ep 167) Day two from the ADHA25 exhibit floor features conversations on prevention and professional longevity. Haley Buckner of Elevate Oral Care highlights their All Day Dry Mouth line and reveals how combining povidone iodine with fluoride varnish prevents 31% more decay than varnish alone. Ergonomics specialist Katrina Klein introduces Philips' new Sonicare 7400 electric toothbrush with thinner brush head design and advanced pressure distribution. Jen Post from Solventum unveils ClinPro Clear—a water-based fluoride varnish designed for better patient...
info_outline
ADHA25 Podversations Friday (Ep 166)
Hygiene Rising
Straight from the Long Beach Convention Center, Matt takes you to the exhibit floor of the ADHA25 Annual Conference. Joining him is Jennifer Hill, ADHA CEO in her first appearance on the program discussing ADHA's recent governance transformation to a competency-based board, the newly completed three-year strategic plan focusing on autonomy for the profession, and she shares exciting news about a rebrand of this podcast program: look forward to "Hygiene RisingTM" launching in October during National Dental Hygiene Month. Industry leader Linda Miller, CEO of PDT Dental. discusses her 41-year...
info_outline
Protecting Patient Safety: How ADS is Filling the Gap in Infection Prevention (Ep 165)
Hygiene Rising
Matt Crespin welcomes Michelle Strange as co-host for a timely conversation with Michelle Lee from the Association for Dental Safety (ADS) during Dental Infection Control Awareness Month (DICAM). When the CDC eliminated its Division of Oral Health back in April, ADS stepped up to fill the gap. They launched the ADS Institute for Dental Safety and Science to oversee the dental infection prevention guidelines that thousands of practitioners rely on daily. Michelle Lee talks through the ADS’s innovative "Ask ADS" AI chat tool — your go-to for vetted infection control answers. She also shares...
info_outline
ADHA25 in Long Beach, California: Know Before You Go! (Ep 164)
Hygiene Rising
Get ready for ADHA's Annual Conference returning to California for the first time in 25 years! ADHA Director of Meetings, Leah Johnson, joins host Matt Crespin with everything you need to know before heading to Long Beach, Oct. 4-6. Discover exciting new events including Colgate’s Science Hub demo, fireside chats, free professional headshots, rapid-fire education sessions, beach cleanup, and celebrations. Plus AI transforms you into a dental hygienist Barbie at the Malibu-themed reception and much more! Get Leah's insider details for first-time attendees, hands-on learning, community service...
info_outline
Making Waves: ADHA President Lancette VanGuilder (Ep 163)
Hygiene Rising
ADHA President Lancette Van Guilder join host Matt Crespin for the conversation every dental hygienist needs to hear right now. ADHA's modernized governance structure is finally enabling rapid response to today’s real legislative threats that challenge your livelihood, while ADHA pushes toward self-regulation – hear why this matters for your career. Their candid conversation addresses barriers to change – fear, mindset, and resistance – making a compelling case for why now is the best opportunity in decades for dental hygienists to claim their role in healthcare as disease prevention...
info_outlineIn celebration of National Children's Dental Health Month, we are shining a light on the remarkable work of two hygienists improving the oral health of children in their communities. Dr. Yvette Reibel, RDH, EdD, MSDH and Dr. Stacey Onofrietti, RDH, MS, PhD, CHP, FADHA share the impact that the Mars Wrigley Foundation’s Healthier Smiles Grant from the ADHA Institute for Oral Health has had on their initiatives. They share their passion for serving the community, especially children, and recount their professional oral health journeys. February is also Black History Month and Matt shares the origins of this celebration and this year's theme. Matt also brings you up to speed on important ADHA updates including anticipation for ADHA 2024 in New Orleans for which registration has opened.
https://www.mars.com/our-brands/mars-snacking/mars-wrigley-foundation
https://naacp.org/find-resources/history-explained/civil-rights-leaders/carter-g-woodson