The Power of Visibility
She drove from Chattanooga for her first dental visit. Not her first visit to our practice. Her first dental visit, ever. She told us she had been followi
Dr. Tiffanie Garrison Jeter · Issue 7 · 2026-05-02
The Moment I Realized Dental Care Was Broken
Three weeks is a long time to be in pain. Long enough that it stops being sharp and urgent and becomes something else. Constant. Distracting. Always there.
Tobi Bosede · Issue 7 · 2026-05-02
2,500 Miles Away from Comfort Led Me Closer to My Core
I was sitting in a dental conference when the question first came to mind. The speakers were engaging the room with groundbreaking ideas on nutrition, salivary
Dr. Athena Zhong · Issue 7 · 2026-05-02
Book Review: Realistic Goals by Dr. Naved Fatmi
What do you get when a dentist writes Atomic HabitsYou get Realistic Goals by Dr Naved Fatmi. A grounded, experience driven guide to ambition, resilience, and r
Carl Demadema · Issue 5 · 2026-03-03
The Work Before the Work: Stillness, Leadership, and the Inner Architecture of Modern Dentistry
By Dr. Dila KayaThe Inner Work of LeadershipWhat happens off the clock shapes everything that happens during the workday.For women in dentistry, especially thos
Dr. Dila Kaya · Issue 5 · 2026-03-02
Off the Clock, On the Front Lines: The Untapped Power of Dental Hygienists
National Children’s Dental Health Month highlights prevention, education, and access to care for children. It also creates space to reflect on how licensed dent
Marvelyn Navarro, RDH · Issue 5 · 2026-03-01
The Rise of the Hygienist Founder
Hygienists have always had the skill — what is changing is their willingness to claim ownership of identity, revenue, and intellectual property beyond the opera
Abby Baker · Issue 6 · 2026-03-01
The Dentist's Operating System: Body & Bandwidth
Dental training masters clinical technique but neglects the operating system behind the dentist — physical resilience, nervous system regulation, and emotional
Dr. Roxana Imanian · Issue 6 · 2026-03-01
Choosing the Right Partner in a Time of Unlimited Opportunity
Education and trusted partnerships are redefining how dentists grow. As access to learning expands, confidence comes from guidance, mentorship, and long term su
Vincent D'Alise · Issue 4 · 2026-02-16
Built to Last: How Wellness Sustains Excellence in Dentistry
Dentistry is meaningful, but it can also be exhausting. In Built to Last, Dr. Akeadra Bell shares how prioritizing wellness transformed her career, improved foc
Dr. Akeadra Bell · Issue 4 · 2026-02-01
Micro Moments. Macro Impact. How Everyday Leadership Shapes Dental Culture
Dentistry is built in moments, not grand gestures. In Micro Moments. Macro Impact., Rachel Sanner explores how everyday leadership, presence, and small interact
Rachel Sanner, RDA, SOA · Issue 4 · 2026-02-01
The Quiet Power of Relationships in Dentistry
Technology may advance dentistry, but relationships sustain it. Strong partnerships built on presence, honesty, and service shape better outcomes for practices,
Jig Patel, A2Z Imaging · Issue 4 · 2026-02-01
You’re Not Bad at Job Hunting: You’ve Just Been Taught the Wrong Rules
The new year brings clarity. For many dental associates, that honesty leads back to job hunting. It is not about being behind. It is about shifting from urgency
Dr. Ellie Halabian · Issue 4 · 2026-02-01
Why New Year’s Resolutions Set Us Up for Failure and How Dentists Can Redefine Success
By Dr. Ellie HalabianBy February, most of us have already abandoned our New Year’s resolutions. These goals, often lofty and rigid, can quickly feel overwhelmin
Dr. Ellie Halabian · 2026-01-05
The Power of Personal Branding in the Dental Industry
In the ever evolving world of dentistry, personal branding is no longer optional. Whether you are a practice owner, dental supplier, or DSO executive, building
Sarah Ruberg · 2025-12-23
Mastering Productivity as a Dental Professional Lessons on Building Better Habits from Atomic Habits by James Clear
In today’s fast paced world, mastering productivity and maintaining control over daily responsibilities can feel overwhelming. For dental professionals, the sol
Dr. Ellie Halabian · 2025-12-23
The Dental FI-gienist: Why Dental Hygienists Should Strive for Financial Independence (FI)
The FIRE movement, which stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early, has been a growing trend over the last 22 years. Followers of this movement actively s
Dana Paladino, BS, BSDH, MS · 2025-12-18
Breaking Point: The Silent Epidemic of Burnout Among America's Dentists
What does it mean to be a dentist? One may say it means being a community leader, an educator, a healer. These are all beautiful descriptions of our profession,
Dr. Ellie Halabian · 2025-12-16
Reclaiming the Body in Dentistry: Healing Pain and Preventing Burnout
I used to think that pain was part of the job in dentistry.An aching back, a dull throb in my left shoulder, and tingling in my hand by the end of each day were
Caitlin Parsons, RDH, C-AIYT, CEAS · Issue 3 · 2025-11-27
Navigating Burnout: A Comprehensive Guide for Hygienists to Recognize Signs and Find Solutions
By Danielle Avila & Laura BettencourtBurnout is a phenomenon with many faces, touching lives in uniquely personal ways. Danielle’s own struggles with burnou
Danielle Avila & Laura Bettencourt · 2025-08-31
You’re Worth It: Overcoming the Negotiation Gap
Women have grown to occupy more space in the professional world, and dentistry is no exception. Today, 37.7% of working dentists in the U.S. are female (Health
Dr. Ellie Halabian · 2025-08-21
“Help Is on the Way, Dear!” – How a Dental Study Club Was Born in Tennessee
(Mrs. Doubtfire voice, naturally.)Let’s talk about dental office managers—you know, the ones juggling scheduling chaos, calming down Karen after her crown crack
Jean Carter · Issue 2 · 2025-07-31
The Root of It All: Connection, Culture, and Whole-Person Dentistry
By Rachel Sanner, RDA, SOAA Quiet Shift Inside the PracticeDental clinics today move fast. With digital imaging, intraoral scanning, AI-supported diagnostics, a
Rachel Sanner, RDA, SOA · Issue 2 · 2025-07-31
Burnout in Dental Hygiene: A Silent Epidemic Behind Scalers
Picture this: the lights buzz softly overhead as a dental hygienist finishes polishing their last patient of the day. Shoulders ache, her wrist throbs, and exha
Melia Lewis, RDH · 2025-07-23
Creating Space for the Next Generation of RDHs
Fiona Mattrasingh on her journey from childhood certainty about dentistry to mentoring new hygienists through Dear RDH New Grad.
Fiona Mattrasingh, RDH · Issue 5 · 2025-06-01
Behind the Smile: A Day in the Life of a Customer Relations Manager
Oceanna Sanchez on the invisible work that keeps a multi-location dental practice running — and why every patient interaction is a chance to build trust.
Oceanna Sanchez · Issue 3 · 2024-09-01
The Burning Question: Is Prison Dentistry for You?
Jean Carter left private practice for a state penitentiary — and found a career that stripped dentistry down to its essence.
Jean Carter · Issue 3 · 2024-09-01
Roaming for Health: Dental Care and Safari Adventures in Kenya
A dental mission trip to a remote Kenyan village — treating patients who had never seen a dentist, while experiencing the country's wildlife and culture.
Hayley Zulkowsky, RDH, BSDH, CDHC · Issue 2 · 2024-03-01
The Voice in the Operatory
A profile of Dr. Ellie Halabian — dentist, podcast host of TeethMatter, and one of the most candid voices in modern dental conversation.
Dr. Ellie Halabian · Issue 2 · 2024-03-01
Book Review: Irene Newman — The World's First Dental Hygienist
A review of Linda Rhoades' biography of Irene Newman — the trailblazer who helped establish dental hygiene as a vital health profession.
Linda Rhoades, RDH, BS, FADHA · Issue 1 · 2023-10-01
Dr. Uche Odiatu: The Most Interesting Man in Dentistry
A profile of Dr. Uche Odiatu — dentist, certified personal trainer, yoga instructor, and one of the most compelling voices in wellness-based dentistry.
Carl Demadema · Issue 1 · 2023-10-01