Elevating Dental Assistants Elevates the Entire Practice
We were thrilled to have one of our Inspired Hygiene Lead Coaches, Kathryn Gilliam, featured on the Dental Assistant Nation podcast. She shared a message we believe deeply, when we […]
Accountability = Love in a Profitable Hygiene Department
Accountability = Love in a Profitable Hygiene Department In this episode of the Inspired Hygiene Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Brad Hughes to talk about a phrase that stopped […]
Dental Hygiene Compensation: Ownership First, Numbers Second
In most practices, dental hygiene compensation isn’t just a “money conversation.” It’s a clarity conversation—about expectations, sustainability, and what it takes to build a model that protects patients and keeps […]
Utilizing Adjunct Services Without Feeling “Salesy”
If you’ve ever hesitated to bring up adjuncts in hygiene because you don’t want it to feel like an upsell, you’re not alone. I recorded a short video (embedded below) […]
New-ish Products You Should Know About
Last month, I attended the Oral Health Prevention Summit in Boston (right before Yankee Dental Congress), and it renewed my passion for prevention. As a result, I came home with […]
Are you being too nice?
Are you being too nice? When I read the article ‘Is Your Leadership Style Too Nice?’, I knew I had to share it. The article makes a powerful point: being […]
What’s your vision for hygiene?
What’s your vision for hygiene? It’s the start of a new year and you’re probably thinking about what you want to accomplish in 2026 or, at the very least, what […]
Finding Purpose in the Changing Dental Hygiene Profession
Finding Purpose in the Changing Dental Hygiene Profession Recently, Kathryn Gilliam, Lead Clinical Coach here at Inspired Hygiene, published an article in RDH Magazine and I couldn’t wait to share […]
Open Time Doesn’t Have To Be a Waste of Time
Open Time Doesn’t Have To Be a Waste of Time Open time in hygiene is a tricky thing. It happens in every practice for a variety of reasons and it’s […]
Is AI working for you or against you?
I recently came across a very interesting article by Harvard Business Review. It speaks to the impact of relying too heavily on AI in the workplace. While many HBR articles aren’t […]
Hold on to your hygienist and more
Last month The Profitable Dentist Magazine featured Inspired Hygiene and we had the opportunity to contribute 5 articles that I think you’re going to find valuable. They are written specifically for the […]
Change isn’t easy…
Change isn’t easy. Even when it’s eagerly anticipated change like a marriage, graduation or birth of a child, there are some hard moments and it takes us out of our […]
Dentists Innovate to Tackle the Hygiene Staffing Crisis
Author: Rachel Wall, RDH, BS The shortage of dental hygienists has posed a significant challenge for dental practices across the US. This shortage not only affects the efficiency of the practice […]
Are you missing this critical piece?
Often when we ask dentists and hygienists if they regularly perform an oral cancer screening they say emphatically, ‘Well, of course I do!’ Then, when we ask if that includes an […]
Your Team’s Life May Depend on It
You know what April is…Oral Cancer Awareness Month. Oral cancer statistics are staggering: YOU are on the front lines of early detection and you never know…it might be a team […]
Are the Doctors the Bottle Neck?
If your doctors aren’t calibrated, how can you expect the team to support them in recommending treatment? Our Standard of Care worksheet is a great way to start the year off and […]
Hygiene Ad-Dos and Don’ts
I’m guessing if you’re not looking for a hygienist right now, you know someone who is. Are you having any luck? We’ve been reviewing hygiene job postings for our clients […]
How NOT to hire a hygienist
While many of our clients are, in fact, having success hiring hygienists, they are still in short supply. It’s always fun to share ideas with Kirk and, in this podcast, I […]
Podcast featuring Emme
The IH team has been busy this summer sharing insights on the hot topics in dentistry and dental hygiene right now. Emme Sanders was recently interviewed for the Dental Downtime podcast. […]
Is technology threatening our jobs?
Is there part of you that wonders if dental technology will replace us humans and threaten our jobs? You’re not alone. Technology has taken over so many tedious day to […]
Trying to Hire? Here’s a Tip
It seems every one of our clients is hiring. Recently, I was speaking with a practice manager about how they’re marketing their practice to recruit new team members. There was […]
Your hygienist plays a crucial role in patient retention
A loyal patient base adds value to your business and joy to your work. Your hygiene team plays a critical role in retaining patients with their communication, education and their […]
Do you believe it? Book Rec
If you’re not convinced that oral infection and inflammation are a serious risk factor for cardiovascular disease, you need this book. And if you DO believe it, you need this […]
April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month
April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is now the leading cause of all oropharyngeal cancers according to the Oral Cancer Foundation (https://oralcancerfoundation.org/understanding/hpv/hpv-oral-cancer-facts/). It has never been more […]
Are You Responsible for Your Patient’s Heart?
I know, that sounds ridiculous. So what IS your responsibility to your patients and their overall health? Since it’s Heart Health month, let’s start there. It is our responsibility as dental professionals to […]
Who Not How
I read a book recently that challenged the way I think about achieving the next level with my goals and my growth, both in my business and my personal life. […]
When do dentists call Inspired Hygiene?
How do you know when it’s time to call Inspired Hygiene? Here are 10 times when hygiene coaching might make sense for your team. Do any of these sound like […]
Is your hygiene department falling apart?
We’ve heard from a lot of you that things are still feeling very chaotic in your practice and especially when it comes to re-building hygiene teams and systems. Maybe you […]
What is your ultimate goal for tracking tasks?
Often dentists identify a behavior they’d like to see improve in their team and they want to track it. For example, increasing the number of intraoral photos. But is it really worth […]
Power brush chairside trial
Dr. Pamela Maragliano-Muniz and Rachel discuss the importance of making authentic connections with patients, which will lead to trust and increased case acceptance. Watch as Rachel introduces the new Chairside Trial […]
Can you spot heart disease with a glance?
I am always preaching that stepping into the role of healthcare provider is critical for dentistry to be seen as essential by our patients and colleagues in medicine. At Inspired […]
April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month
April is Oral Cancer Awareness month. Did you know that researchers have found that oropharyngeal cancer is on the rise again? It has never been more critical for dental providers […]
Want a roadmap to hygiene growth?
For 16 years, we’ve been showing practice owners where the opportunity is to grow their hygiene department…ethically, rapidly and with support of your team. Sometimes they do it on their […]
Hot off the Press: New Perio Disease Correlations
Have you heard the latest research on the correlation between periodontal disease and COVID-19 complications? Listen along with Lead Profitability Coach Emme Sanders and find the JCP article linked here. If […]
Current Hygiene Schedule Issues
We’ve heard from a lot of teams across the country that while they were very busy after re-opening, the hygiene schedules are starting to look like Swiss cheese again. In […]
What if it does?
It’s a new year! There are a lot of new things to consider! It’s common to say, “I’m going to do this new thing…” but what if it doesn’t work? I challenge you to think and […]
Kick off 2021 with an Action Packed E-book
Happy New Year! I recently teamed up with a group of dentistry leaders to create the Prepare, Protect and Prosper Handbook to help your practice prepare for 2021. This downloadable e-book is […]
Hygiene Scheduling-think about these 2 things
If you’re like most of the teams we work with, your hygiene schedule is packed. And it’s most likely packed with delayed prophy and perio maintenance visits. In this short […]
Nobody Told Me That
I hope if you’re practice has opened for full-service dental care, you’ve had a great week. If you’re still waiting to open, we wish you all the best as you […]
Ultrasonics-can you use it right now?
As we’ve all experienced, there’s a lot of conflicting info out there right now and it’s hard to know the ‘right thing’ to do. In this week’s video, I weigh […]
Let’s stop the division
I hope you, your family and team remain well. We are beginning to see dentistry begin to open up and this is creating all kinds of mixed emotions…relief and excitement, as […]
How much time will you need?
First, I pray you and your family and team are well. This is such an unusual time. Please know our hearts are with you. The truth is, none of us […]
Is Your Team Ready for Oral Cancer Awareness Month?
Oral Cancer Awareness month is just around the corner. If you haven’t made your plans, the time to start is now! Reach out to www.oralcancer.org for complimentary promotional material to get started. Take a […]
Another Way Hygiene Brings Value to Your Practice
I recently did a series of videos with my friends at Tusk Partners. Tusk is an advisory firm that helps single and multi-location group practices strategically grow and improve. They are […]
How Often Should I Classify a Perio Patient?
With more and more practices using the AAP’s Staging & Grading system, we occasionally get the question ‘Do I have to go through the Staging & Grading process every time the […]
Happy & Healthy Holidays
With the holidays upon us, it’s a good idea to remember these four easy steps to ‘Fireproof’ your arteries, complements of Dr. Amy Doneen and the Bale Doneen Method. Step 1: Practice […]
Calling All Doubters
Take a couple of minutes and listen to Dr. Amy Doneen, co-author of the bestselling book, Beat the Heart Attack Gene, discuss the importance of treating perio as it relates […]
Are You Screening Kids for Sleep Disorders?
By now, we know the impact of sleep apnea on the lives of our adult patients, but did you know sleep disorders can have a HUGE and long-lasting impact on children? […]
Is Your Equipment Working?
So often when we are on-site with clients, a team member shares their frustration that a critical piece of equipment isn’t working. It’s usually an intra-oral camera, by the way. […]
Has Your Hygiene Department Been Left Behind?
We see it all the time. The doctor(s) have invested lots of hours and money in high level CE to take their clinical skills to the next level. These are […]
When Hygiene Patients Ask “How Much?”
Should hygienists talk about money when presenting treatments? Teach your hygiene team the best strategies for answering patient questions about treatment costs.
Are You Properly Documenting Staging and Grading?
Clinical documentation is more important than ever. With the growing awareness of the AAP’s new Perio Classification system, we’ve received a lot of questions about how to document a patient’s […]
Say This, Not That to Patients
Stay calibrated: Evaluate the language your team is using within your practice. Be sure your hygiene team is using terms that give patients a better understanding of the procedures and […]
20/20/20 Hygiene Time Management
When you only have an hour long appointment with patients, it is crucial you are utilizing your time in the most effective way possible. Learn how to best do this […]
3 Keys to Hygiene Leadership Skills
Learn how to increase and improve your hygiene team’s ability to co-diagnose. Rachel Wall of Inspired Hygiene recommends these 3 tips to get your hygiene team educating your patients in […]
5 Qualities of a Rock Star Hygienist
Find out how to set yourself apart from other hygienists. Rachel Wall, of Inspired Hygiene, breaks down the 5 things you can be doing to be a rock star hygienist. […]
When a New Patient Caller Wants Hygiene on Their First Visit
What’s the best way to answer new dental patients who ask, “Will I get my teeth cleaned on the first visit?” Rachel Wall, RDH and founder of Inspired Hygiene, shares […]
Why X-Rays Are Important
Patients often want to know why a dentist needs X-rays–and if they’re safe. Here’s how to explain this key part of the dental diagnostic process in a reassuring way.
What is a Dental Cleaning?
Tap into your dental practice’s full potential for patient service and profitability. Here’s how Rachel Wall, RDH and founder of Inspired Hygiene, advises explaining this to patients who need this […]
Having a Hard Time Getting Your Doctor on Board?
This video was inspired by a question we often hear… ‘How do I get my doctor on board?’ We hear this a lot when speaking to large groups of hygienists. […]
Once Perio Maintenance, Always Perio Maintenance
We get this question all the time… “Once a patient has Periodontal Therapy, should they always remain in Perio Maintenance”? I hope this short video helps answer that question for […]
Oral Cancer Facts
Oral cancer is changing! Watch this short video to hear some alarming facts about oral cancer and ways that you and your team can start saving more lives. If […]
Is Saving Lives Your #1 Priority?
Can you believe it’s April already? As you know, April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. Saving lives is our #1 priority at Inspired Hygiene. Is it yours? Please watch this short video […]
Are you holding your hygienist back?
Today’s video is a strong message for Dentists. Are you enabling your hygienists to get stuck in a rut of burnout and boredom? Or are you empowering them to really […]
Welcome to Heart Health Month
Taking the patient’s blood pressure during recall and perio maintenance visits is an incredible value added service. Most patients see you more frequently than they do their Primary Care Physician […]
Who’s eating your breakfast?
There are some problems in a business that you can ignore for a bit and it won’t make much difference. Then there are problems that if you do ignore them, […]
I didn’t look at my cards..
Last year, I taught a goal setting exercise that I’ll share with you again here (see link below). The truth is that 2018 got a bit rough at times and […]
What comes next?
Just yesterday I spoke with a dentist about the guidance she’s looking for to get her hygiene team calibrated to reduce the chaos they’re feeling in this super busy practice. […]
