Are you or your hygiene team stuck in “routine mode”? In this episode of the Inspired Hygiene Podcast, I break down why mindset is the key driver behind better patient care, stronger case acceptance, and long-term practice growth.

We can implement all the protocols, systems, and scripts in the world—but if we don’t change how we think, nothing truly changes. In this episode, I walk you through how to shift from simply “getting through the schedule” to operating as a true healthcare practitioner who delivers meaningful, life-changing care.

You’ll learn how to develop critical thinking skills in real time, overcome common mindset blocks, and create more impactful patient conversations that lead to better outcomes—for your patients and your practice.

In this episode, I cover:

If you're ready to elevate your hygiene department, improve patient outcomes, and practice at a higher level—this episode is for you.

👍 If you enjoyed this video, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share it with your team or a colleague who could benefit!

#DentalHygiene #Dentistry #DentalPractice #HygieneTeam #PatientCare #DentalPodcast

Clinical vs Business Leadership in Dentistry: Why They Both Matter.. A Lot

What’s the difference between business leadership and clinical leadership?

In this episode of the Inspired Hygiene Podcast, I sit down with dental industry expert Perrin DesPortes to break down one of the most overlooked (and misunderstood) topics in practice growth: the difference between business leadership and clinical leadership—and why you need both to succeed.

If you're a practice owner trying to grow your practice, build a strong team, or improve consistency in patient care, this conversation will challenge your thinking and give you actionable insights you can apply immediately.

We dive into:

Whether you’re leading one location or scaling a group practice, this episode will help you build a stronger, more aligned, and more profitable business.

00:00 – Introduction

📥 Download: Top 20 Mistakes in Building a Group Practice

If you found value in this episode, make sure to like, subscribe, and share with someone in the dental field who needs to hear this. Your support helps us continue bringing you conversations that elevate your practice and your leadership.

What does it really take to lead a successful dental practice without feeling overwhelmed or burned out?

In this episode of the Inspired Hygiene Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Lindsay Langston of Perio Atlanta along with Geri Gottlieb and Kim Bates from GG Practice Coaching and Development. Together, we unpack the real challenges of dental leadership—and how to move from chaos to clarity through vision, systems, and team empowerment.

Dr. Langston shares her powerful journey from stepping into unexpected ownership to building a thriving, aligned team. We dive into the importance of core values, leadership mindset, and why having the right support system can completely transform your practice.

If you're a dentist, practice owner, or team leader looking to improve culture, reduce stress, and grow your practice the right way—this conversation is for you.

What You’ll Learn in This Video:

Resources & Links:

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who could benefit from stronger leadership in their practice.

What’s really holding your dental team back—systems, or leadership? In this episode of the Inspired Hygiene Podcast, I sit down with lead coach Emme Sanders to unpack the real reason many dental practices struggle to create lasting change. We’re kicking off Season 5 by diving into leadership—the foundation of every successful, aligned, and thriving team. We talk about what happens when positive leadership is missing, why teams drift from expectations, and how to lead in a way that actually sticks (without frustration or burnout). Emme shares practical strategies you can start using immediately, including her powerful “Agree Shift, Agree Pact, Agree Drift” framework to help you create clarity, accountability, and momentum in your practice. If you’re a dentist, practice owner, office manager, or hygienist ready to elevate your leadership and get your team aligned—this episode is for you. 🔑 What You’ll Learn:

🔗 Resources Mentioned: Emme’s book: Welcome to Work CollabriCon (Team Training Experience) Free Assessment: 17 Mistakes That Destroy Collaboration (Links in description) If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to 👍 like, 💬 comment, and 🔔 subscribe for more insights on building a thriving, high-performing dental practice. And if this resonated with you—share it with a colleague who needs to hear it.

Invest Now in the Future of Dental Hygiene in Your Community | Season 4 Episode 10 Finale

Access the resources mentioned in this episode here!

In this Season 4 finale of the Inspired Hygiene Podcast, Rachel wraps up the conversation on rebuilding the dentist-hygienist relationship with a hopeful and practical look at how dental practices can invest in the future of the hygiene profession.

After a season filled with powerful conversations about leadership, legislation, culture, expanded duties, and collaboration, this episode shifts the focus toward solutions. Rachel shares what she recently learned from visiting her own alma mater, Guilford Technical Community College, and explains why dental teams have more influence than they may realize in shaping the future of dental hygiene in their communities.

From supporting local hygiene programs to mentoring students and creating better pathways into practice, this episode is packed with actionable ideas for dentists and dental teams who want to make a real impact.

Rachel also shares insights from her research into new and expanding hygiene programs across the U.S., and explains why this is good news for the future of dentistry.

This episode is a reminder that every dental professional has the power to influence the profession in a positive way, whether through leadership, mentoring, education, or simply one meaningful conversation.

If you care about the future of dental hygiene, team dentistry, and access to high-quality patient care, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

#InspiredHygienePodcast #DentalHygiene #Dentistry #DentalLeadership #TeamDentistry #DentalEducation #DentalHygienist #PracticeCulture #WorkforceDevelopment #FutureOfDentistry

Solving Dental Workforce Challenges Without Lowering Standards  Dr. Kyle Bogan

In this episode of the Inspired Hygiene Podcast, Rachel sits down with Dr. Kyle Bogan to talk about leadership, solving workforce challenges, elevated patient care, and what it means to create a practice culture where hygienists are empowered to think critically, practice fully, and feel valued.

Dr. Bogan shares his journey from associate dentist to startup owner, the principles that shaped his practice, and how stepping into the role of President of the Ohio Dental Association has given him a broader perspective on dentistry, workforce development, and access to care.

This is an important conversation for dentists, hygienists, and dental leaders who want to move beyond tension and build a healthier, more collaborative future for the profession.

Dr. Bogan also shares insight from his book, Lead from the Bottom, and explains why he believes the best leadership model in dentistry is not top-down, but built on support, alignment, and collaboration.

If you care about the future of dentistry, the hygiene workforce, and creating a practice where patients and teams both thrive, this episode is for you.

#InspiredHygienePodcast #DentalLeadership #DentalHygiene #DentistHygienistRelationship #PracticeCulture #PatientCare #DentalWorkforce #LeadershipInDentistry #DentalPracticeGrowth #DrKyleBogan

Welcome back to the Inspired Hygiene Podcast! In this episode, Rachel is joined by Dr. Bill Keith—Kansas City dentist, longtime Dental Success Network / Dental Success Institute contributor, and a leader who’s built a high-performing, multi-doctor, multi-op practice with a strong focus on culture, systems, and sustainable growth.

Rachel and Dr. Keith first connected through DSN, then Dr. Keith hired Inspired Hygiene to help calibrate his large hygiene team around shared standards, aligned protocols, and consistent patient care—and the results were real.

Dr. Keith also shares what he’s learned building PowerVox, an AI receptionist designed for after-hours + overflow phone calls—helping practices improve answer rates, reduce friction for patients, and capture opportunities that would otherwise be missed.

“We’re not replacing the front desk—we’re catching the calls that would go unanswered.”

This episode ends with a direct challenge: reduce the social media noise, increase the collaboration, and get back to what matters—patient care, aligned teams, and sustainable dentistry.

✅ Subscribe for more episodes on practice systems, leadership, hygiene growth, and the dentist–hygienist partnership

#InspiredHygiene #DentalHygiene #Dentistry #DentalSuccessNetwork #DSN #DentalHygiene #ProfitableDentalHygiene #DentalLeadership #PracticeManagement #AssistedHygiene #DentalDSO #AIinDentistry #PowerVox #DentalPodcast #HygieneTeam #PracticeCulture #PatientExperience

From Chairside to C-Suite: Leading 260+ Hygienists + Building a Culture of Support w/ Misty Mattingly, RDH | Inspired Hygiene Podcast

Welcome back to the Inspired Hygiene Podcast! This season is focused on rebuilding the dentist–hygienist relationship—because when providers collaborate with trust and respect, it creates a win for patients, the team, and the practice.

In today’s episode, Rachel is joined by Misty Mattingly, RDH—Chief Dental Hygiene Officer at Sage Dental, where she supports and leads 260+ full-time hygienists. Misty shares her remarkable journey—from entering dentistry at 14, putting herself through hygiene school, and working across nearly every role in a dental practice… to stepping into executive leadership inside a growing DSO.

This is a candid, practical conversation about what it really takes to retain hygienists, build alignment between providers, and lead change with clarity—without losing the human side of dentistry.

🎧 Hygiene Happy Hour — real conversations (with cocktails or mocktails) about dentistry and life outside the op.

If you’re a hygienist, dentist, practice owner, or DSO leader trying to build a culture where people feel valued, heard, and aligned—this episode is for you.

✅ Subscribe for more episodes on rebuilding the hygiene–dentist partnership

#InspiredHygiene #DentalHygiene #Dentistry #DSO #DentalLeadership #Hygienist #PracticeCulture #DentalTeam #Retention #LeadershipDevelopment #DentalPodcast #SageDental #HygieneHappyHour #PatientCare #Communication #ChangeManagement

🎧  Hygiene Happy Hour Podcast

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Welcome back to the Inspired Hygiene Podcast! This season is all about rebuilding the hygienist–dentist relationship—because when the clinical team is aligned, everyone wins: patients, providers, the team, and the practice.

In this episode, Rachel is joined by Dr. Brad Hughes, dentist, speaker, and CEO/Founder of Vision Dental Partners (10+ practices across Indiana, South Carolina, and Florida). Rachel discovered Dr. Hughes on social media and one message stopped her in her tracks:

“Accountability equals love.”

So what does healthy accountability look like inside a dental practice—and how does it strengthen trust, improve case acceptance, elevate clinical standards, and create a culture people actually want to be part of?

You’ll hear real-world examples from the operatory (handoffs, co-diagnosis, intraoral photos, clinical standards), plus Dr. Hughes’ candid perspective on staffing, retention, culture, and the growing commoditization of dentistry.

📌 Oral Cancer Screening Guide (FREE) – visit Inspired Hygiene’s website and look for the Free Resources / Resource Guides section. It includes a head/neck screening walkthrough + a clear follow-up protocol to keep your team aligned.

➡️ Find him on LinkedIn and Instagram (search: Dr. Brad Hughes / Vision Dental Partners)

If you’re a dentist, hygienist, or leader trying to build a practice culture where standards are clear, communication is direct, and trust is protected—this episode will give you a blueprint.

✅ Subscribe for more conversations on rebuilding the hygiene–dentist partnership

#InspiredHygiene #DentalPodcast #DentalHygiene #Dentistry #PracticeCulture #Leadership #Accountability #CaseAcceptance #PatientExperience #HygieneDepartment #DentalTeam #DSO #DentalPracticeManagement #OralCancerScreening #DentalLeadership

Healing the Dentist–Hygienist Relationship: Compensation, Mindset, and Sustainable Partnership | w/ Trish Mooradian (RDH Trish) | Inspired Hygiene Podcast

Welcome back to the Inspired Hygiene Podcast. This season is dedicated to the Powerful Partnership—how dentists and hygienists can mend, heal, and strengthen their working relationship in a way that’s sustainable for the patient, the provider, and the practice.

In this episode, Rachel Wall is joined by Trish Mooradian (aka RDH Trish), a practicing dental hygienist with a candid, real-world perspective on one of the most tension-filled topics in dentistry today: hygiene compensation—and the mindset shifts that can transform burnout into fulfillment.

Trish shares her full career story: starting out in difficult environments, experiencing emotional and mental burnout, and ultimately finding a new path forward through education, business awareness, and clinical confidence. Her journey is a reminder that what many hygienists interpret as “selling dentistry” can become something entirely different when paired with patient-centered communication, clear diagnosis, and a true understanding of the business side of care.

Trish also shares how expanding her skills—through oral-systemic education and myofunctional therapy—opened up new opportunities beyond traditional clinical hygiene while keeping her connected to the mission of prevention and patient health.

Find her on Instagram: @rdh.trish

If you’ve ever struggled with the compensation conversation—or felt stuck between burnout and wanting more from your career—this episode will give you both practical direction and a fresh perspective on what’s possible.

Subscribe for more episodes in this season of the Inspired Hygiene Podcast where we focus on Powerful Partnerships, rebuilding trust, strengthening team culture, and creating sustainable partnership in modern dentistry.

#InspiredHygiene #DentalHygiene #Dentistry #HygieneCompensation #DentalLeadership #PracticeManagement #Perio #PeriodontalTherapy #OralSystemicHealth #DentalTeams #DentalPodcast #RDH #MyofunctionalTherapy #GuidedGrowth #TeamCulture