A Tale of Two Hygienists Podcast

In this episode, Alyssa Aberle shares her powerful personal journey through a patient diagnosis, surgery, and tongue reconstruction, offering a perspective that deeply resonates with dental professionals. The conversation emphasizes the critical role hygienists play in early detection of oral cancer and why cutting corners is never an option when it comes to patient care.
 
Alyssa, along with David and Jessica, dives into practical strategies for oral cancer screenings, including how to communicate findings with confidence and compassion. They also discuss when and how to refer patients to specialists, ensuring the best possible outcomes. A key highlight is the discussion around effective screening scripts and the importance of the 10–14 day rule in monitoring suspicious lesions.
 
What We Talked About:
 
Alyssa's personal experience with her patients diagnosis, surgery, and tongue reconstruction
 
The responsibility of dental professionals to thoroughly screen for oral cancer
 
Why you should never cut corners during exams
 
How to confidently refer patients and choose the right specialist
 
Verbiage and scripts that build trust during oral cancer screenings
 
Understanding and applying the 10–14 day rule
 
Call to Action:
This episode is designed to empower dental hygienists to take ownership of their role in patient care. By listening, you'll gain the confidence, language, and clinical mindset needed to perform thorough screenings and advocate for your patients' health.
 
Resources and Links:
Connect with Alyssa: linktr.ee/alyssardh
[email protected]

In this episode of A Tale of Two Hygienists, co-hosts David Torres and Jessica Atkinson welcome renowned speaker and dental educator Jo-Anne Jones for an impactful conversation titled "Oral Cancer Screening: Stepping Fully Into Your Role."
 
Jo-Anne shares deeply personal and professional insights that challenge clinicians to recognize the true life-saving potential of routine dental visits. Through powerful storytelling and clinical expertise, she highlights the urgency of early detection—especially in the face of rising HPV-related cancers—and encourages hygienists to fully embrace their role in comprehensive screenings.
 
From explaining the intraoral "triangle of death" to demonstrating proper neck palpation techniques, Jo-Anne provides practical, actionable strategies clinicians can implement immediately. She also reflects on how a personal crisis shaped her mission in dentistry and reinforces why every screening appointment should be treated as an opportunity to save a life.
 
This episode is both inspiring and educational, equipping dental professionals with the knowledge and confidence to elevate their oral cancer screening protocols and patient care.
 
"What We Talked About (From Jo-Anne's Perspective)"
Why Jo-Anne is passionate about saving lives—HPV, rising cancers, and one family's loss
How Jo-Anne approaches the intraoral "triangle of death" exam
How a personal crisis launched Jo-Anne's mission in dentistry
Why Jo-Anne believes this is a life-saving appointment
How Jo-Anne performs proper neck palpation
Simple screening steps Jo-Anne recommends hygienists start today
Why Jo-Anne uses screening tools in clinical practice
Call to Action
 
If you found this episode valuable, be sure to subscribe to A Tale of Two Hygienists, leave a review, and share it with colleagues who are committed to improving patient care and early detection.
 
Resources:
 
HPV Talking Points Resource: www.rdhu.ca/hpvtalkingpointsresource
 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jjlifeandtimes/
 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-anne-jones-88a2266/
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jo.anne.jones.626106/

Fluoride conversations don't have to feel uncomfortable. In this Bonus episode, we're joined by Jen Post, RDH, MDH, FADHA, to discuss practical strategies for improving patient communication and increasing fluoride acceptance.
 
Jen shares how hygienists can confidently address common patient concerns, simplify their messaging, and create more effective chairside conversations.
 
We also explore how Clinpro™ Clear fluoride varnish supports both clinicians and patients with its clear appearance, smooth application, and comfortable feel—helping reduce objections and improve overall acceptance.
 
Listeners will walk away with actionable tips to strengthen preventive care conversations and enhance the patient experience.
 
About Our Guest
 
Jen Post, RDH, MDH, FADHA is an Advanced Clinical Applications Specialist at Solventum with extensive experience in clinical practice, education, and research. She is a Fellow of the American Dental Hygienists' Association and brings a passion for practical, patient-centered care.
 
What We Talked About
 
How to approach fluoride conversations with confidence
 
Common patient concerns and how to address them
 
What makes Clinpro™ Clear different
 
Strategies to increase case acceptance
 
Call to Action
 
Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a colleague and start improving your fluoride conversations today.
 
This episode is sponsored by Solventum Dental Solutions.
 
Resources:
https://www.solventum.com/en-us/home/f/b5005503000/
 
https://s7d9.scene7.com/is/content/mmmspinco/clinpro-clear-brochure-ds-rps-enpdf
 
Jen Post: [email protected]
 
About the Company
Solventum Dental Solutions builds on over 70 years of innovation to support dental professionals with trusted products and solutions that enhance patient care and clinical outcomes.

In this episode of A Tale of Two Hygienists, Jessica and David sit down with dental hygienist Angeli Walton to share her powerful story of recognizing early signs of a thyroid condition—within herself. What began as clinical awareness quickly turned into a deeply personal journey, as Angeli navigated the unexpected shift from provider to patient.
 
Angeli reflects on how her training helped her notice subtle changes that might have otherwise gone overlooked, and how trusting those instincts ultimately led to early detection. The conversation explores the emotional and professional impact of experiencing healthcare from the other side of the chair, offering a unique perspective that many clinicians don't anticipate, but can learn from.
 
Together, they discuss the broader role dental professionals play in identifying systemic health concerns, and why paying attention to small details can make a life-changing difference. Angeli also shares insights on self-advocacy and why it's critical for clinicians to speak up—both for their patients and themselves.
 
This episode offers a meaningful reminder that the skills used every day in practice extend far beyond oral health, and can be just as important in protecting your own well-being.
 
What We Talked About:
 
Recognizing early signs of systemic conditions
How clinical instincts can support early detection
The experience of transitioning from provider to patient
Why subtle symptoms shouldn't be ignored
The importance of self-advocacy in healthcare
 
If you found this episode valuable, be sure to subscribe to A Tale of Two Hygienists, leave a review, and share it with colleagues who are passionate about whole-body health and early detection.
 
Resources:
 
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @angeliwalton

Dry mouth isn't just uncomfortable—it can impact sleep, swallowing, oral health, and overall quality of life. In this TIPisode, we learn about Moisyn, a unique solution designed to provide lasting moisture and relief for patients dealing with xerostomia.
Unlike traditional products that offer only temporary relief, Moisyn uses a mucoadhesive, moisture-retentive technology to help keep the oral environment hydrated longer. 
We also break down how clinicians can improve patient compliance, why dispensing products in-office matters, and how dry mouth solutions can impact long-term oral health outcomes.
If you're seeing more patients struggling with dry mouth, this is an episode you don't want to miss.
Learn More about Moisyn https://periosciences.com/products/moisyn-mist