Dental Assistant Nation

What do dental assistants need to know about what is coming in 2024? Dental industry expert (and insurance guru) Teresa Duncan joins the show to talk all things dental assisting as we look into the future, touching on everything from AI to cross-training and more. If you're ready to take your career to the next level in 2024, this is a must-listen.

In this episode recorded during SmileCon in Orlando, Fla., Katie Poulsen, RDH, stops by the show to talk about the growing trend of artificial intelligence and how it will impact dental practices even more in the very near future. What do dental assistants need to know about it for their everyday responsibilities? How will it impact patients? We talk about that and much more about the technology here.

In this episode recorded at SmileCon in Orlando, Fla., Sameer Bhasin of CareCredit stop by to discuss how the dental assistant is not only a key advocate for the patient, but also how he or she plays a key role in treatment acceptance and the "money talk" that has to happen with patients as well. Let's tackle this hot topic together!

In this episode, Dayna Johnson of Novonee.com drops by to share what she is seeing in dental practices around the country when it relates to dental assistants and their job as the "choreographer" of the back. A dental consultant and software and workflow expert, Johnson shares the two things she wishes every dental assistant would have on their goal list before the New Year hits. Learn more about her at www.novonee.com and be sure to become a part of the free resources at www.DrBicuspid.com.

Sherri Warshaw, RDH, CTTS, returns to the show with an important message about how dental professionals can help their patients work toward nicotine cessation. Dental assistants are so often the bridge between the patient and the practice, giving these key team members the opportunity to help their patients with nicotine habits. Warshaw gives advice and tips on how to get started on this quest in the dental practice.

In this episode, infection control expert Mary Govoni, CDA, RDH, drops by the show to discuss how dental practices should prepare for the flu season, including how to handle COVID cases with patients and team members in a post-pandemic world. For every dental assistant and practice heading into the heart of the fall and winter, this is a must-listen.

Dr. Melanie Love stops by the program to discuss what dental assistants can expect if attending SmileCon in Orlando, Fla. She also dishes on why education is so important for dental assistants and how trade shows are changing to meet the needs of the next generation of attendees. If you're coming to SmileCon, stop by the podcast pavilion on Thursday for live tapings of the Dental Assistant Nation podcast!

With Dental Assistant Nation founder Kevin Henry in Greece and tracing the footsteps of Socrates, it's a great time to celebrate a podcast milestone and remind us all of one of the greatest lessons every taught by the renowned philosopher. Remember to like and review the podcast to help us grow!

In this episode, Colleen Huff, FAADOM, joins the show to discuss the importance for dental assistants to have a strong knowledge of revenue cycle management, coding and more in the practice. While clinical skills are important, Huff argues that business skills and knowing how to impact the bottom line of the practice is just as important. This is an information-filled episode. For more information on Colleen, visit https://colleenhuff.com

In this episode, Sherri Warshaw, RDH, CTTS, joins the program to discuss her definition for the acronym of RDH (Road to Dental Hygiene) and shares advice from her years in the industry and own journey on transitioning from a dental assistant to dental hygienist. She shares the tips she shares with assistants throughout the nation on this show, making it a must-listen for any assistant interested in making a switch.

In this episode, we welcome Sarah Suttles, EFDA, to the program to talk about her journey as a cross-trained dental assistant and the advice she would give to other assistants. Sarah can be reached at SarahSuttles@psalmddc.com with further questions.

In this episode, Dr. Teresa Yang stops by the show to share what she believes are important tips for the dental assistant on why education is important and how it can lead to better communication with the patient and doctor. Could coming from outside the dental industry be an advantage for new assistants? We talk about that and more in this episode.

In this episode, Dental Assistant Nation founder Kevin Henry shares what he is hearing about "ghosting" when it comes to open dental positions and why dental assistants may be harder to find over the next five years than ever before.

Tija Hunter, CDA, EFDA, joins the show to discuss some of the latest buzz she is hearing from dental assistants. As someone who travels throughout the country speaking to assistants, Hunter always has a fresh perspective on what's going on. You can learn more about her at https://rockstardentalassistant.com and contact her at tijaefda@gmail.com. Note: Slight glitches with audio recording, so please accept apologies for any instances in this podcast.

In this episode, host Kevin Henry is joined by Kelly Schroeder, health scientist and dental hygienist at CareQuest Institute, to discuss some of the latest social media trends going on with dentistry, including how to do braces and whitening at home. How can dental assistants play a role in debunking some of these fads for their patients? We talk about this and more in this episode.

In this episode, Dental Assistant Nation founder and host Kevin Henry recounts a visit to the hospital and the reminders he encountered on that trip of the value of dental assistants in the eyes of their patients every day.

There's a new social media platform out there that is all the buzz, but what does Threads really mean for dental assistants on a personal and professional level? How can dental practices benefit from Threads? We asked social media expert Rita Zamora for her thoughts. Learn more about Rita and what she does in the dental industry at https://connect90.com.

In this episode, experienced dental assistant Naomi Velez drops by for a discussion about working in a periodontal practice and what other assistants should know about it. Also, serving as the coordinator for a local Seattle Study Club chapter, she details how she got into that role and how other assistants can expand their resumes by doing the same.

In this episode, Dr. Avi Patel stops by to discuss how he learned of a shocking truth regarding dental assistants when his Instagram reel went viral. He talks about the lessons learned from it, as well as a tip for assistants when it comes to working with clear aligners.

In this episode, Dr. George Schmidt drops by to discuss his experience with dental implants and how dental assistants play a key role in success with their clinical skills as well as their communication. If you're interested in dental implants or already have them as a part of your treatment mix, this is a must-listen.