Hygiene Rising

Where Medicine Meets the Mouth: A Case for Integrated Care (Ep 175)

What does truly integrated care look like – and what role should dental hygienists play in it? As National Children's Dental Health Month comes to a close, host Matt Crespin sits down with two speakers from ADHA's first-ever Integrated Care Summit to explore how medical-dental integration is reshaping patient care. Nevada hygienist Jessica Woods shares real-world cases – from cardiologist referrals to coordinating airway care for her own daughter – that prove integration isn't just for public health settings. Pediatrician Dr. Connie Gundacker offers a medical perspective, revealing why most physicians receive little to no oral health training and how hygienists can bridge that gap. Together, they make a compelling case: dental hygienists are uniquely positioned to lead integration efforts, if the profession seizes the opportunity. Matt also covers ADHA award nominations, OPA legislative updates and upcoming events. Join these speakers and more at the Integrated Care Summit, May 15–17 in Broomfield, Colorado.Guests: Constance Gundacker, MD, MPH, FAAP, Section Chief of General and Community Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin and Jessica L. Woods, MPH, RDH, FADHA, Chief Executive Officer, Executive RDHHost: Matt Crespin, MPH, RDH, FADHA

Who Should Regulate Dental Hygienists (Ep 174)

Nursing achieved self-regulation a century ago – so why not dental hygiene? Your host Matt Crespin explores this with Cindy Gadbury-Amyot and Sylvie Martel, lead authors of the ADHA’s newly released white paper on self-regulation. With 97% of Canadian dental hygienists self-regulated, Sylvie shares lessons from a 30-year journey of patience, resilience and coalition-building. Meanwhile, Cindy sounds the alarm on threats like Missouri's Oral Preventive Assistant pilot project – and explains why similar legislation is being introduced across the U.S. This episode tackles the big questions: Who should determine scope of practice? How does regulation by dental boards limit access to care? And what will it take to move the profession forward? Whether you're new to the self-regulation conversation or have been advocating for decades, this is essential listening.Guests: Cynthia C. Gadbury-Amyot, RDH, MS, EdD, FADHA; Sylvie Martel, RDH, DipHE (Andragogy)Host: Matt Crespin, MPH, RDH, FADHAadha.org/WhitePapersadha.org/WorkingForYouhttps://www.adha.org/TakeActionhttps://www.adha.org/advocacy/opa/

A Century of Science: The Road to the Journal's 100th Anniversary (Ep 173)

The Journal of Dental Hygiene turns 100 in 2026 – and Editor in Chief Cathy Draper joins Matt Crespin to preview the year-long celebration: congratulatory letters from association and industry partners, social media scavenger hunts through the archives, "then and now" features comparing dental hygiene in 1926 versus today, vintage cover showcases, and festivities at ADHA26 in Fort Worth. Believe it or not, some topics from that first 1926 issue are still conversations we're having a century later. In Cathy's recent editorial "The Power of Us," she challenges dental hygienists to recognize the influence they hold in every patient interaction – and makes the case for why peer-reviewed research remains essential for advancing scope of practice. Guest: Cathy Draper, RDH, MS, FADHA, Editor in Chief, Journal of Dental Hygiene Host: Matt Crespin, MPH, RDH, FADHA    

51 Hot Dogs and a Dental Hygiene Degree: Miki Sudo's Journey (Ep 172)

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 discovering genuine passion for the profession. From training with her husband (also a competitive eater) to being recognized by patients, Miki's story reveals determination behind balancing two demanding careers. Her advice: take things one step at a time and believe in your capabilities. Whether it's one hot dog or one chapter at a time – people are capable of amazing things.    Guest: Miki Sudo, Dental Hygiene Student, 11-time Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Champion  Host: Matt Crespin, MPH, RDH, FADHA   https://majorleagueeating.com/eaters/222 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yePLRwc607Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1lvjSRNpwM

Critical Conversations: Recognizing Signs of Domestic Violence in Your Chair (Ep 171)

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 to an hour with patients—creating opportunities to recognize warning signs and offer critical support. Tabitha shares practical secondary prevention strategies, from identifying signs and asking sensitive questions to protecting your own mental health when patients disclose trauma.   Guest: Tabitha Acret, RDH, OM, BOH, Grad Cert Public Health, MSc Dental Hygiene Host: Matt Crespin, MPH, RDH, FADHA   Disrupting Dentistry Podcast (Apple Podcasts): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/disrupting-dentistry-podcast/id1534781785 National Coalition Against Domestic Violence: https://ncadv.org/ Domestic Violence Awareness Project (DVAP): https://www.dvawareness.org/ National Domestic Violence Hotline: https://www.thehotline.org/ (1-800-799-7233) Latest on Domestic Violence laws in Australia: https://tinyurl.com/mtm8es8d