Still taking this one in. 💙 Holding my ADHA Standout Seven Clinician Award is such a meaningful moment for me. This recognition represents so much more than an award. It represents years of caring for patients, advocating for those who need a different approach to dentistry, continuing to lea

Think the saliva stays in the mouth? Look again. 👀 Every green speck in this photo shows where saliva, bacteria, biofilm, and splatter can travel during dental treatment. Onto our gloves. Our gowns. Our masks. Our loupes. Our skin. And the surfaces around us. Most of the time, we can’t act

Home care isn’t one-size-fits-all. When I recommend an interdental brush, I don’t just hand one to a patient and send them home. I show them how to use it and help determine which size works best for the spaces they need to clean. And sometimes, that means using more than one size. The rig

Pink has never been so helpful. 💗 Disclosing solution makes hidden biofilm visible, giving us a roadmap for more precise removal and showing patients where their home-care routine may need a little extra attention. No guessing. No shaming. Just personalized care and a very satisfying clean.

Boots on and headed to Fort Worth! 🤠 I’m looking forward to ADHA26, connecting with friends and colleagues, learning together, and celebrating the people and purpose at the heart of dental hygiene. Who else is going? I’d love to see you there! 💙 #ADHA26 #DentalHygiene #FortWorth

If traditional floss isn’t working for you, thank you for being honest. That helps me find something that will. Curaprox interdental brushes can be a simple, effective option, but they aren’t one-size-fits-all. I measure the spaces between the teeth so each patient gets the correct sizes for the

Sometimes success means completing treatment in one visit. Sometimes it means building trust, introducing equipment slowly, allowing breaks, or using multiple desensitization visits. The goal is not to force every patient through the same process. The goal is to create a path that gives each pati

Not every patient needs the same path to reach the same goal. In dentistry, we often think success means completing the appointment exactly as planned. But for some patients, especially those with sensory needs, developmental disabilities, dementia, anxiety, or other special healthcare needs, succ

The stage is the easy part. What people see is the presentation. What they usually do not see is the research, writing, revisions, emails, travel planning, tech checks, sample organization, course updates, and all the little details that happen before I ever step in front of an audience. By the

Behavior is communication. When a patient is struggling during a dental visit, what we see on the surface may be telling us something important. Fear. Sensory overload. Pain. Difficulty understanding what is happening. A need for more time, predictability, or control. Instead of asking, “How do w

Welcome to 1986

This work is personal to me. For years, I’ve worked with patients with intellectual & developmental disabilities, sensory needs, dementia, & other special healthcare needs. I’ve seen how much of a difference the right training, communication, & environment can make in the dental experi

When a patient struggles during dental treatment, the first instinct can be to focus on stopping the behavior. But behavior can be information. Pain, fear, confusion, sensory overload, or simply reaching a limit can all show up through behavior. Before asking, “How do I stop this?” Try asking:

If American Girl made my adult life into a doll… she’d need a LOT of accessories. 😂 One for the operatory. One for the stage. Honestly, I’d buy both. 💕 #DentalHygienist #DentalSpeaker #DentalLife #AmericanGirlTrend