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The Aligned Hygienist
The Aligned Hygienist is your essential guide to thriving in the dental profession with purpose, passion, and a powerful sense of alignment. Join Caitlin Parsons, Registered Dental Hygienist turned Certified Yoga Therapist, Ergonomic Consultant, and wellness advocate, as she shares her insights and brings together inspiring voices from across the dental field. In each episode, Caitlin and her guests dive into today's dental professionals' real-life challenges and opportunities, offering actionable strategies to overcome pain, manage stress, enhance ergonomics, and boost overall well-being.
From solo deep dives to engaging conversations with industry leaders, The Aligned Hygienist is designed to empower you with tools and knowledge that help elevate your career, enhance patient care, and support healthcare’s larger mission. Whether you’re here to fine-tune your ergonomic practices, learn from the experiences of other practitioners, or find alignment in your work and life, this podcast is your invitation to grow, transform, and thrive.
Subscribe to The Aligned Hygienist and join Caitlin on a journey to reshape what’s possible for you, your patients, and the future of dentistry.
Be sure to follow me on Instagram if we're not connected yet, @thealignedhygienist - I would love to hear what you think!
Episodes
56 episodes
74. Bridging the Gap: Supporting Student & Practitioner Well-Being in Dental Hygiene
Traditional learning in dental hygiene can often feel repetitive and uninspiring, but what if education could be engaging, interactive, and fun? In this episode of The Aligned Hygienist, I sit down with Maggie Moodie, a dental hygienis...
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73. Burnout to Balance: A Hygienist’s Guide to Thriving in Dentistry with Heather DeYoung
Burnout is a reality for many dental professionals, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your career. In this episode of The Aligned Hygienist, I sit down with Heather DeYoung, a practicing hygienist and burnout coach, to discuss the h...
72. Putting the Head Back on the Body: Holistic Dentistry with Heather Kenney
In this episode of The Aligned Hygienist, I sit down with Heather Kenney, a Registered Dental Hygienist with nearly 20 years of experience across general practice, DSOs, periodontology, and holistic dentistry. As an HIAOMT-certified pr...
71. Ergonomics and Innovation: A New Era in Dentistry with Deb Dencik
In this episode of The Aligned Hygienist, I sit down with Deb Dencik, a Registered Clinical Dental Hygienist, Certified Ergonomicist, and Yoga Teacher, to discuss the intersection of ergonomics, innovation, and well-being in dentistry....
70. The Heart of the Matter: CPR Training and Beyond with Debora Carrier
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Debora Carrier, a trailblazing dental hygienist, inventor, and entrepreneur. With over 40 years of clinical experience, Debora shares her journey from dental hygiene to founding Twice as Nice Uniforms,...
69. From Setbacks to Success: The Grit and Humor of Janiece Ervin
In this episode of The Aligned Hygienist podcast, Caitlin is joined by Janiece Ervin, the self-proclaimed “classy, sassy, and a little messy RDH.” With 20 years of experience in dental hygiene, Janiece has mastered more than just clini...
68. Oral Health and Dementia Prevention with Anne Rice
In this episode of The Aligned Hygienist podcast, Caitlin chats with Anne Rice, a seasoned dental hygienist with over 35 years of experience, who is making waves in the world of dementia prevention. Anne is a passionate speaker, writer...
67. Amplifying Oral Wellness to Whole-Body Wellness with Karese Laguerre
In this episode of The Aligned Hygienist podcast, Caitlin welcomes Karese Laguerre, a registered dental hygienist and myofunctional therapist, to discuss her mission to connect oral health with whole-body wellness. As the founder of Th...
66. Stop Herding, Start Connecting: Transforming Care and Career Fulfillment with Brandi Hooker Evans
In this episode of The Aligned Hygienist podcast, Caitlin sits down with Brandi Hooker Evans, a dental hygienist and trailblazer redefining patient care in dentistry. Brandi shares her unique philosophy of moving away from a “herding c...
64. Managing Chronic Pain: Wellness Strategies for Your Career
In this episode of The Aligned Hygienist, Caitlin Parsons shares her personal journey with chronic pain and the wellness strategies that have transformed her career and life. Chronic pain is a reality for so many d...
63. Mindfulness in Dentistry | Finding Calm Amidst the Chaos
In this episode of The Aligned Hygienist, Caitlin Parsons takes the mic solo to explore a topic that resonates deeply with dental professionals: mindfulness in dentistry. With her years of experience in clinical pr...
62. Empowering Whole-Body Dentistry with Kristen Evans
In this episode of The Aligned Hygienist, Caitlin Parsons welcomes Kristen Evans, also known as “The pH RDH,” a speaker, writer, and educator in the dental field. Kristen shares her unique approach to dental hygiene that goes beyond th...
61. Embracing Sustainability and Preventive Care: The Future of Dentistry with Brittany Cox
In this episode of The Aligned Hygienist, Caitlin Parsons welcomes Brittany Cox, a dental hygienist passionate about sustainability in the dental industry. Together, they dive into the intersection of preventive care and eco-conscious ...
60. Championing Wellness and the Future of Dental Hygiene with Erin Haley-Hitz
In this episode, I sit down with Erin Haley Hitz, President of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), to explore the critical challenges and opportunities facing dental hygienists today. Erin shares her journey from practicing clin...
59. From Diagnosis to Advocacy: Dental Sleep Health w/ Kristen Geist
In this episode of The Aligned Hygienist, I chat with Kristen Geist, a dental professional whose journey through airway health has transformed her approach to patient care. Diagnosed with upper airway resistance syndrome herself, Krist...
58. Building Strong Foundations Through Education and Onboarding w/ AnnMarie DePalma
In this episode of The Aligned Hygienist, I sit down with AnnMarie DePalma, a seasoned dental professional and educator known for her advocacy around dental hygiene onboarding and team-based continuing education. AnnMarie shares her jo...
57. Transforming Dental Practices with Compassion and Alignment w/ Lily Cortes-Pona
In this episode of The Aligned Hygienist, I sit down with Lily, a dental coach who started her journey in the industry as a dental assistant – and her story is anything but typical. What began with a spur-of-the-moment job offer during...
56. Transform Your Dental Practice with Ergonomic Consulting
In this episode of The Aligned Hygienist podcast, we’re diving into a topic that’s crucial for every dental practice: ergonomics. As dental professionals, we face unique physical challenges every day—static postures, repetitive movemen...
55. My Journey Overcoming Carpal Tunnel Syndrome w/ Yoga Therapy and Ergonomics
In this episode of The Aligned Hygienist podcast, I open up about my personal battle with carpal tunnel syndrome—a journey that began while I was working at the front desk of a dental office before becoming a licensed dental hygienist....
54. Ergonomic Innovations, Empowerment and Education w/ Linda Miller
In this episode of The Aligned Hygienist, I sit down with Linda Miller, the founder of PDT (Paradise Dental Technologies), at RDH Under One Roof 2024. Linda shares her inspiring journey to launching PDT, where she combines her passion for ergon...
53. Curiosity Unleashed: Fueling Passion + Professional Growth w/ Amanda Hill
Welcome back to another episode of The Aligned Hygienist! This week, I chatted with Amanda Hill, a keynote speaker and dental hygiene educator, at RDH Under One Roof 2024. In this episode, Amanda shares her journey to becoming a mega-session sp...
52. Mindset Shifts + Ergonomic Loupes w/ Crystal Kingsbury and Andau Medical
Welcome back to another episode of The Aligned Hygienist! This week, I talked with Crystal Kingsbury, a dental hygienist turned sales rep for Andau Medical, known for their innovative ergonomic loupes, while at RDH Under One Roof 2024. In this ...
51. Finding Ergonomic Excellence for Dental Pro's
In this solo episode of "The Aligned Hygienist Podcast," we explore ergonomic excellence in dentistry. Discover practical strategies to prevent work-related injuries and enhance your overall well-being as a dental hygienist. Learn about common ...
50. Chairside Stretches for Dental Pro's
In this solo episode of The Aligned Hygienist Podcast, Caitlin Parsons, a practicing dental hygienist of 15 years, chronic pain survivor, yoga therapist, ergonomics expert, and founder of The Aligned Hygienist, shares the importance of incorpor...
49. Saddle Up for Success: Choosing the Perfect Stool for Dental Pros
Are you interested in learning more about saddle stools, their benefits, and how to find the right one? If that's you, this episode is definitely for you! In this episode, I discuss saddle stools and what you need to know when selecting a saddl...