RDH Magazine Podcast

In this episode, Jackie Sanders and Andrew Johnston sit down with dental hygienist Andrew Lee to discuss the growing role dental hygienists can play in identifying potential airway and sleep concerns. Andrew shares how his more than 20 years in clinical practice led him to look beyond the traditional hygiene appointment and explore how dental professionals can better recognize signs such as bruxism, tooth wear, tongue scalloping, and other indicators that may warrant further airway assessment.
The conversation also examines one of the biggest challenges in airway care: what happens after a potential problem is identified. Andrew discusses the gaps that can occur when patients are referred outside the dental practice for sleep testing and how more integrated workflows could better connect dentistry and medicine. He also explains why hygienists are well positioned to champion airway screening in their practices and encourages them to view comprehensive assessment as an extension of the preventive care they already provide.
Connect with Andrew Lee
Email: andrew@orasom.health

In this episode, Jackie Sanders and Andrew Johnston sit down with Catrice Opichka during RDH Under One Roof to discuss the ethical decisions dental professionals make every day, often without realizing they are ethical decisions at all. The conversation moves beyond obvious examples such as fraud or intentional  misconduct and examines the smaller choices involving documentation, diagnosis, treatment recommendations, blood pressure readings, and communication with patients and colleagues.
Catrice explains how good clinicians can gradually find themselves in difficult situations by taking shortcuts, avoiding uncomfortable conversations, or following office habits that conflict with professional standards. She also discusses the role of dental boards, why their primary responsibility is public protection, and how remediation can help clinicians rebuild competency and continue practicing safely.
Connect with Catrice Opichka
Email: catrice@crdts.org

In this episode, Jackie Sanders and Andrew Johnston sit down with Kerry Lepicek during RDH Under One Roof to discuss her unexpected glaucoma diagnosis, the rapid vision loss that followed, and how the experience changed both her personal life and her approach to patient care.
Kerry shares the importance of trusting your instincts when something does not feel right, advocating for yourself when symptoms continue to progress, and understanding what patients may experience when living with glaucoma. The conversation also explores practical considerations for dental professionals, including lighting, patient positioning, medication-related dry mouth, and the importance of reviewing a patient’s health history beyond the oral cavity.
The episode also serves as a reminder that clinicians need to prioritize their own preventive care, including routine eye exams, blood pressure checks, and other health screenings.
 
Connect with Kerry Lepicek
Instagram: @klepicek
LinkedIn: Kerry Lepicek

In this episode, Jackie Sanders and Andrew Johnston sit down with Tracee Dahm, BSDH, MS, during RDH Under One Roof to discuss her team’s research examining oral health care in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. The conversation explores why caregivers often recognize the importance of oral health but struggle to consistently provide it, the growing needs of an aging population, and the systemic barriers that continue to limit access to care.
Tracy also shares how her multi-year scoping review came together, the importance of mentorship and collaboration in research, and why advocacy remains essential to expanding oral health services for some of our most vulnerable patients.
In this episode, we discuss:
The current state of oral health care in nursing homes
Why positive attitudes toward oral health don’t always translate into patient care
The impact of staffing shortages, time constraints, and limited resources
How research teams collaborate across institutions and time zones
The role of mentorship in developing new researchers
Why advocacy is critical to improving access to care for older adults
Practical opportunities for dental hygienists to make a difference in long-term care
Connect with Tracee Dahm:
Email: tsdahm@nic.edu
Social media: @tsdahm

In this episode, Jackie Sanders and Andrew Johnston sit down with Kristen Evans, RDH, to preview her presentation that she delivered at RDH Under One Roof this month where she explored the connection between airway health, hormone health, and skeletal integrity. Kristen shares the personal journey that led her to become an advocate for systemic bone health screening, discusses why dental professionals are uniquely positioned to identify patients at risk for osteoporosis and other chronic conditions, and offers an encouraging message for clinicians who aspire to write, speak, and contribute to the profession. The conversation also highlights the importance of perseverance, finding your unique voice, and trusting that the right opportunities often come with the right timing.
 
Learn more about Kristen Evans by connecting with her on LinkedIn (Kristen Evans, RDH – “The pH RDH”), where you can also find links to her website, Instagram, and her Bone & Balance for Life initiative focused on education, prevention, and advocacy for systemic bone health.
 
Resources:
@thephrdh on Linked In and Instagram

In this episode, Jackie Sanders and Andrew Johnston sit down with Dr. Uche Odiatu for a preview of his RDH Under One Roof session, Essential Nutrition for the Dental Professional. The conversation explores why nutrition remains an underutilized tool in patient care, the importance of learning beyond traditional dental education, how storytelling and credible references build trust with patients, and why focusing on foundational health habits like sleep often delivers greater results than chasing the latest wellness trends.

Where science meets the sulcus—bridging microbiology, diagnostics, and modern hygiene care for systemic healing. 
 
Resources:
 
@oralhealthactivist on Instagram
Camille Zenobia on Linked In

Tom Viola brings fun and humor to the subject of licit and illicit drugs.  What is being bought at the corner market that is more dangerous than we realized.
 
Resources:
 
Youtube: @chairsideconfidential
Email: tom@tomviola.com
Website: tomviola.com

Karen Gordon discusses her career path and how dental hygiene and chiropractic medicine fit together with cross referencing symptoms.
 
Resources:
@thechirohygienist on all socials

Are you on top of desiccation and everything it has to offer you in the operatory? Annie Walters shares the benefits of introducing desiccation products to your operatory.
 
Resources:
@anniewaltersrdh on Instagram
Annie Walter MSDH, RDH on Linked In
Anniewaltersrdh.com