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Straight Up With Steph
Stephanie Botts
75 episodes
20 hours ago
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph — part two of my two-part series with Melia Lewis, MEd, RDH, co-founder of Hygiene Edge — we dive into what life looks like after dental hygiene school. From first-day nerves to finding the right office fit, we cover everything new grads wish someone had told them before starting. Whether you’re just entering private practice or a few years in and still finding your rhythm, this one’s packed with wisdom, ...
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Health & Fitness
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All content for Straight Up With Steph is the property of Stephanie Botts and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph — part two of my two-part series with Melia Lewis, MEd, RDH, co-founder of Hygiene Edge — we dive into what life looks like after dental hygiene school. From first-day nerves to finding the right office fit, we cover everything new grads wish someone had told them before starting. Whether you’re just entering private practice or a few years in and still finding your rhythm, this one’s packed with wisdom, ...
Show more...
Health & Fitness
Episodes (20/75)
Straight Up With Steph
Ep 74: Thriving in Your First Years as a Dental Hygienist
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph — part two of my two-part series with Melia Lewis, MEd, RDH, co-founder of Hygiene Edge — we dive into what life looks like after dental hygiene school. From first-day nerves to finding the right office fit, we cover everything new grads wish someone had told them before starting. Whether you’re just entering private practice or a few years in and still finding your rhythm, this one’s packed with wisdom, ...
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6 days ago
46 minutes

Straight Up With Steph
Ep 73: Top Tips on Thriving in Dental Hygiene School
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m joined by Melia Lewis, MEd, RDH, co-founder of Hygiene Edge, to talk all things dental hygiene students. From dealing with perfectionism to navigating stress and keeping perspective, Melia shares her top five tips to help students not just survive, but thrive in hygiene school. We discuss: How to handle self-doubt and negativity while in schoolThe importance of kindness and professionalism with instr...
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1 week ago
44 minutes

Straight Up With Steph
Ep 72: The Drink That Prevents Cavities: SmileSip
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Misty Mattingly, RDH—Chief Dental Hygiene Officer, innovator, and host of Hygiene Happy Hour—to talk about innovation in dentistry and her latest project, SmileSip, the fluoride-free drink that’s reshaping preventive oral care. We discuss: How innovation and technology are helping dentistry “catch up” with the scienceThe science behind SmileSip and how it supports oral and gut healthThe r...
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2 weeks ago
45 minutes

Straight Up With Steph
Ep 71: Understanding Military Dentistry: The Model Behind the OPA
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, Stephanie sits down with a former military dental hygienist (who has chosen to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of her previous employment) to share an inside look at how dental care works within the military system. This open and informative conversation explores how the military dental model operates — from patient classifications and readiness requirements to the structure of the Prophy Te...
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3 weeks ago
52 minutes

Straight Up With Steph
Ep 70: Understanding TMJ, Dizziness & Chronic Neck Pain
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Dr. Joe Damiani, PT, DPT, who has worked with over 1,000 patients struggling with persistent TMJ disorder, dizziness, headaches, and neck pain. We dive deep into how posture, ergonomics, and the nervous system all play a role in chronic pain—and why traditional treatments often aren’t enough. You’ll learn: Why TMJ, neck pain, dizziness, and even brain fog are more connected than you think...
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1 month ago
54 minutes

Straight Up With Steph
Ep 69: TMJ & TMD Demystified: Diagnosis, Treatment & Patient Care Tips
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Dr. Priya Mistry, also known as The TMJ Doc, to dive deep into TMJ and TMD. Dr. Mistry shares her journey from general dentistry to running a TMD-only practice and breaks down what every clinician (and patient) needs to know about this complex disorder. We discuss: What TMJ/TMD really is and how it’s diagnosedThe difference between a night guard and an orthoticDisclusion time reduction th...
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1 month ago
46 minutes

Straight Up With Steph
Ep 68: Healing Over Drilling: The Future Of Minimally Invasive Dentistry
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Crystal Spring, dental hygienist, public health advocate, and founder of Smiles Across Montana. Crystal shares her journey of bringing minimally invasive dentistry to underserved communities and what it really takes to integrate medical and dental care. We talk about: How SDF, glass ionomers, nanofluoride, and Curadont are changing dentistry The challenges and opportunities of working i...
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1 month ago
1 hour 1 minute

Straight Up With Steph
Ep 67: How to Handle Bullying in Dentistry
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Bullying in dentistry isn't always obvious—but it's real, it's damaging, and it's more common than many realize. In this powerful episode of Straight Up With Steph, Dr. Alan Stern joins me to talk about professional bullying in the dental field—from subtle jabs to outright disrespect—and how we can respond with assertiveness, kindness, and emotional intelligence. We discuss: What bullying can look like in clinical and corporate dental settingsGen...
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1 month ago
44 minutes

Straight Up With Steph
Ep 66: Social Media and the Brain: Doom Scrolling, Dopamine, and Digital Detox
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Is social media shaping our brains more than we realize? In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Kent Howard—educator, researcher, and wellness speaker—to explore the science behind social media use, doom scrolling, attention spans, sleep disruption, and the impact on kids and adults alike. We talk about dopamine, FOMO, and how algorithms are literally rewiring how we think, focus, and even socialize. Most importantly, Ke...
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2 months ago
1 hour 6 minutes

Straight Up With Steph
Ep 65: How I Got Sober While Working in Dentistry | Stress, Burnout & Recovery Journey
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Today’s episode is something a little different—and really special. I’m sharing a crossover episode from when I was a guest on Sober Life Rocks. It was one of the most honest conversations I’ve had publicly about my sobriety journey and why it matters—especially as a healthcare professional. If you’ve ever felt the pressure to be “high-functioning” or felt like stress, burnout, and alcohol were just part of the job—you’re not alone. I’ve been the...
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2 months ago
37 minutes

Straight Up With Steph
Episode 64: Dental Insurance Fraud: Red Flags Every Clinician Must Know
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Do you really know how to avoid dental insurance fraud—or are you just hoping you’re not on the radar? In this eye-opening episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Dr. Paul Bornstein, a dentist, insurance consultant, and fraud expert, to discuss how even well-meaning dental professionals end up committing fraud without realizing it. We dive into: The most red-flagged CDT codes (including 4341 and 2391) Real stories of audits, fines, an...
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2 months ago
52 minutes

Straight Up With Steph
Episode 63: Desiccation Therapy in Dentistry: What You Need To Know
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up with Steph, I sit down with Annie to talk about desiccation therapy—a new approach in dentistry that can make calculus removal easier while targeting harmful biofilm. Annie shares how desiccants can streamline hygiene appointments, improve patient outcomes, and even benefit restorative procedures. If you’ve ever dreaded scaling those “sheet of calculus” patients, this might just change the game for you. About Annie ...
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2 months ago
49 minutes

Straight Up With Steph
Ep 62: Why We Need a PR Campaign for Dental Hygienists: The Oral Health Awareness Project
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Lisa, a passionate dental hygienist and volunteer with the Oral Health Awareness Project (OHAP), a new grassroots initiative working to educate the public on the vital role of dental hygienists. With a growing hygiene shortage and non-hygienists being trained to perform hygiene duties, the OHAP is launching a nationwide PR campaign to raise awareness, elevate the profession, and advocate ...
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3 months ago
1 hour 1 minute

Straight Up With Steph
Ep 61: Salivary Testing in Dentistry: How Spit Samples Are Transforming Preventive Oral Health Care
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m joined by Dr. Dave, founder, CEO, and chief scientific officer of multiple biotech companies, including one dedicated to advancing salivary testing. Together, we dive straight into the latest breakthroughs in salivary diagnostics and what they could mean for the future of both dentistry and general medicine. Dr. Dave unpacks how salivary testing has evolved to be a powerful, non-invasive alternative ...
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3 months ago
1 hour 1 minute

Straight Up With Steph
Ep 60: Myofunctional Therapy Explained: Breathing, Oral Health, and Sleep from Childhood to Adulthood
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Ever wonder how your tongue and facial muscles impact your breathing, sleep, and even posture? In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sat down with Kimmie, a Denver-based dental hygienist and myofunctional therapist, to talk about how myofunctional therapy helps both kids and adults improve tongue posture, nasal breathing, and overall health. We dive into signs of dysfunction, from mouth breathing to sleep apnea and TMJ pain, plus simp...
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3 months ago
1 hour 5 minutes

Straight Up With Steph
Ep 59: Biological Hygiene Unpacked: Exploring Fluoride, Ozone Therapy, and Microscopes in Modern Dentistry
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with biological dental hygienist Barbara Tritz about the mindset behind holistic dental care. We dive into fluoride toxicity, root causes of dental disease, and how oral health connects to the whole body. Barbara also shares tools like nano hydroxyapatite, ozone therapy, and phase contrast microscopes—plus her passion for empowering burned-out hygienists to take a whole-body approach. A...
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3 months ago
56 minutes

Straight Up With Steph
Ep 58: Pediatric Hygiene: Tools, Tips, and Common Misconceptions
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m joined by An Chih to dive into the world of pediatric hygiene. Together, we take a candid look at the joys, challenges, and special skills needed to successfully care for kids. An Chih also shares her unique journey into pediatric dentistry, describes what a typical day looks like in a pediatric office, and clears up misconceptions about what working with kids truly involves. An Chih also offers...
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3 months ago
54 minutes

Straight Up With Steph
Ep 57: Debunking Popular Dental Myths and Handling Misinformation on Social Media
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m joined by returning guest and online dental educator Whitney, also known as Teeth Talk Girl, to discuss the spread of dental health misinformation on social media. Together, Whitney and I dive into all the “natural” dental trends and how we can separate dental fact from fiction. We play a rapid-fire round debunking common dental myths, discuss the science behind fluoride and dental x-rays, and t...
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4 months ago
53 minutes

Straight Up With Steph
Ep 56: ADHA Leaders Speak Out On Moves To Replace Hygienists
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sat down with Erin and Lancette, the President and President-Elect of American Dental Hygienists' Association’s (ADHA), as we talk about their ongoing initiatives, including their drive for license portability and their efforts to update standards of practice to include new technologies and airway assessments. We delve into the controversial Nevada bill, the importance of advocacy, and what “autonomy” t...
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4 months ago
1 hour 22 minutes

Straight Up With Steph
Ep 55: Mastering Case Acceptance: Real Strategies to Connect and Communicate Better with Dental Patients
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m joined by Kim McGuire to discuss case acceptance, a topic that every dental professional faces. We explore the challenges and solutions surrounding why patients say “no” to needed treatment, how to move past the objections, and truly connect with your patients. Kim shares actionable insights into treating patients as individuals, communicating value, and elevating trust through emotional intelligence,...
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4 months ago
54 minutes

Straight Up With Steph
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph — part two of my two-part series with Melia Lewis, MEd, RDH, co-founder of Hygiene Edge — we dive into what life looks like after dental hygiene school. From first-day nerves to finding the right office fit, we cover everything new grads wish someone had told them before starting. Whether you’re just entering private practice or a few years in and still finding your rhythm, this one’s packed with wisdom, ...