Tooth or Dare Podcast

I might get "speaker" cancelled for this, but I believe it would be a worthy cause and perhaps the right hill to die on for our profession. Trying to register for a continuing education course shouldn't feel like repeatedly hitting a brick wall. But for many hygienists, it does. Many have given up on fighting for it, sadly. In this episode, Irene and Victoria talk about why quality restorative education is so hard to access in Canada, what happened when they tried to sign up for a course and got nowhere, and what they decided to do about it. What we cover: ▫️ Why most high-quality restorative courses require you to travel far to attend ▫️ The registration process and the advocacy that came with it ▫️ How rigid CE systems end up discouraging the most motivated clinicians ▫️ What it looks like to stop waiting and build something yourself ▫️ How the Restorative Dental Hygiene Study Club came together, four meetings per year, virtual and in-person, with hands-on components. Now Pre-registering at RRDH.ca The bigger picture: The RRDH designation has existed in Ontario for 10 years, backed by George Brown College's post-graduate program, one of the only formal pathways to the designation in the country. It remains largely Ontario-specific. This episode is part of a larger conversation about what it would take for major Canadian conferences and regulatory bodies to open access, standardize registration, and formally recognize restorative dental hygiene as a designation across provinces. There are real gaps in continuing education for dental hygienists. Limited access slows professional growth. Community-driven learning can fill those gaps, but someone has to build the community first. Resources mentioned: Ontario Dental Association Annual Spring Meeting https://www.oda.ca/member-resources/events/event/annual-spring-meeting-2026/ Restorative Dental Hygiene Study Club https://rrdh.ca/ George Brown College Restorative Dental Hygiene Program https://www.georgebrown.ca/programs/restorative-dental-hygiene-program-postgraduate-s400 Southern Ontario Dental College Restorative Dental Hygiene Program https://sodentalcollege.com/academics/restorative-dental-hygiene/ Canadian Academy of Dental Health Restorative Dental Hygiene Program https://www.canadianacademyofdentalhygiene.ca/programs/restorative-dental-hygiene-diploma-program If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment. Until next time, Peace out peeps! ✌️ _______________________________________ 📦 Amazon Store with my FAV things: https://www.amazon.ca/shop/toothlife.irene?listId=YLX0271390I3 Restorative Dental Hygiene Study Club: https://rrdh.ca Follow on Social Media: _______________________________________ 💁🏼‍♀️Personal Instagram @Toothlife.Irene https://www.instagram.com/toothlife.irene 🙋🏼‍♀️Facebook Irene Iancu https://www.facebook.com/irene.iancu 💃🏼TikTok @Toothlife.Irene https://www.tiktok.com/@toothlife.irene 🛒Online Store and Instagram @Toothlife https://www.instagram.com/toothlife 🥼Office Instagram @ToothlifeStudio https://www.instagram.com/ToothlifeStudio _______________________________________ 🎤Podcast @ToothorDare.Podcast https://www.instagram.com/ToothorDare.Podcast _______________________________________ 🔗🌲Cool links in my Linktree https://linktr.ee/TOOTHLIFE.IRENE

If you’ve ever seen a $99 dental cleaning deal and wondered if it’s worth it, you’ll want to hear this story, including: ▪️ How $99 dental promotions can mislead and limit patient access▪️ Why these deals may not be as good as they sound▪️ How patient trust is affected by unclear pricing▪️ Stories from people who felt let down by the experience▪️ The bigger impact discount dentistry has on the profession What’s Really Happening Behind the “Too Good to Be True” Offers Some dental offices advertise low-fee cleanings to attract patients, especially those without insurance. But when you call to book, the information often changes. What sounds legal on paper can cross the line when the details aren’t disclosed up front. RCDSO Guidelines You Should Know The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) requires that all advertising and promotions be: Accurate and Verifiable: Fees, services, and any conditions must be truthful and backed by facts. Transparent on Limitations: Any restrictions—such as “new patients only,” extra fees for exams/X-rays, or limited-time offers—must be clearly stated in the ad itself, not revealed only after a patient calls. Non-Misleading for the Uninsured: Promotions targeting patients without insurance cannot imply that essential care will be fully covered if additional treatment is required. Why It Matters From what I've read, many patients have left negative reviews after feeling bait-and-switched, and there are repeated reports of high staff turnover in these offices, with employees leaving reviews under alias names. This is another warning sign that the culture behind the marketing may be just as shaky as the promotion itself. If you care about honesty in healthcare and want to know what really happens behind bargain-basement dental ads, this episode is worth your time. Perhaps motivation for those to stop subscribing to marketing like this, and I hope it finds the right ears better to regulate this shady form of marketing in dentistry once and for all—especially for those of us doing it cleanly. If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment.Until next time, peace out peeps! ✌️ 📦 Amazon Store – My FAV Thingshttps://www.amazon.ca/shop/toothlife.irene?listId=YLX0271390I3 Follow on Social Media 💁🏼‍♀️ Personal Instagram – @Toothlife.Irenehttps://www.instagram.com/toothlife.irene 🙋🏼‍♀️ Facebook – Irene Iancuhttps://www.facebook.com/irene.iancu 💃🏼 TikTok – @Toothlife.Irenehttps://www.tiktok.com/@toothlife.irene 🛒 Online Store & Instagram – @Toothlifehttps://www.instagram.com/toothlife 🥼 Office Instagram – @ToothlifeStudiohttps://www.instagram.com/ToothlifeStudio 🎤 Podcast – @ToothorDare.Podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/ToothorDare.Podcast 🔗🌲 All the Cool Linkshttps://linktr.ee/TOOTHLIFE.IRENE

Your girl Irene sits down with Britt Glauz, better known online as @brushwithbritt, to talk all things content creation, dental hygiene advocacy, and what it’s really like to step into (and stay in) the spotlight. Britt shares her journey from clinical practice to becoming an influential voice in the dental community, how she balances patient care with online work, and the lessons she’s learned from both praise and criticism. She also opens up about winning the World Hygienist Award and what that means for her mission to improve public prevention and reach underserved populations. We cover: ▪️ Balancing clinical work with online content creation ▪️ Navigating criticism and protecting your mental health ▪️ Key marketing differences in dental hygiene regulations between Canada & the U.S. ▪️ Creative strategies for reaching underserved communities ▪️ How winning the World Hygienist Award shaped her career and advocacy work. If you’re curious about building your brand, expanding your clinical career, or making an impact through dental hygiene advocacy, this conversation is for you. Connect with Britt: Instagram → @brushwithbritt TikTok → @brushwithbritt YouTube If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment. Until next time, Peace out peeps! ✌️ _______________________________________ 📦 Amazon Store with my FAV things: https://www.amazon.ca/shop/toothlife.irene?listId=YLX0271390I3 Follow on Social Media _______________________________________ 💁🏼‍♀️Personal Instagram @Toothlife.Irene https://www.instagram.com/toothlife.irene 🙋🏼‍♀️Facebook Irene Iancu https://www.facebook.com/irene.iancu 💃🏼TikTok @Toothlife.Irene https://www.tiktok.com/@toothlife.irene 🛒Online Store and Instagram @Toothlife https://www.instagram.com/toothlife 🥼Office Instagram @ToothlifeStudio https://www.instagram.com/ToothlifeStudio _______________________________________ 🎤Podcast @ToothorDare.Podcast https://www.instagram.com/ToothorDare.Podcast _______________________________________ 🔗🌲Cool links in my Linktree https://linktr.ee/TOOTHLIFE.IRENE

WAIT... AM I GOING BLIND? "Irene, If things continue, you'll have vision loss." "I thought I was here to get a cleaning... I mean, new glasses!" After a routine eye exam, I left with more than just a new prescription; I walked out with a moment of clarity and panic. While I was distracted wondering how much my insurance would cover for new sunglasses, the optometrist said something that stopped me cold: "Your eyes are 200% worse this year than they were last year." It wasn’t vague. It wasn’t sugar-coated. It was direct, backed by a scan, and paired with a clear treatment plan. If I didn’t follow through with the exercises, medical devices, and recommendations, I could face long-term vision loss. Simple. Clear. Urgent. And it hit me: this is exactly what patients need from us in the dental chair, clarity without judgment, and a transparent, actionable path forward. In this episode of Op Talk, Vic and I explore how that one appointment reshaped the way I approach communication and education in my operatory. We often expect compliance, but fail to deliver the kind of information that actually empowers patients to act. If they don’t understand the problem, they won’t prioritize the solution. 👂 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: How visual aids help patients truly understand their condition Why does using measurable data hit harder than subjective language The real reasons patients delay action or ignore recommendations Why do they wait for scheduled visits to bring up concerns The surprising power of printed or written take-home tools in a digital world 🔗 Resources: 📥 Download the free educational resource discussed in this episode: https://toothlife.ca 📲 Questions or Episode Topic Requests? @toothlife.irene — Check the top 3 pinned posts to access the download and leave your questions in the comments. We'll be answering them in upcoming episodes! If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment. Until next time, Peace out peeps! ✌️ _______________________________________ 📦 Amazon Store with my FAV things: https://www.amazon.ca/shop/toothlife.irene?listId=YLX0271390I3 Follow on Social Media: _______________________________________ 💁🏼‍♀️Personal Instagram @Toothlife.Irene https://www.instagram.com/toothlife.irene 🙋🏼‍♀️Facebook Irene Iancu https://www.facebook.com/irene.iancu 💃🏼TikTok @Toothlife.Irene https://www.tiktok.com/@toothlife.irene 🛒Online Store and Instagram @Toothlife https://www.instagram.com/toothlife 🥼Office Instagram @ToothlifeStudio https://www.instagram.com/ToothlifeStudio _______________________________________ 🎤Podcast @ToothorDare.Podcast https://www.instagram.com/ToothorDare.Podcast _______________________________________ 🔗🌲Cool links in my Linktree https://linktr.ee/TOOTHLIFE.IRENE

Xylitol does it all—at least when it comes to fighting cavity-causing bacteria! In Part 2 of Irene’s chat with Epic Dental’s Donald and Monica Bailey, they dive into the science of how xylitol targets Streptococcus mutans while sparing good bacteria. The Baileys also discuss their commitment to education, product transparency, and making it easier for dental pros to help patients maintain oral health. Learn more & explore the research:📱 Instagram: @epic.dental🌐 Website: https://epicdental.com Link to study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23786466/ If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment. Until next time, Peace out peeps! ✌️ _______________________________________ 📦 Amazon Store with my FAV things: https://www.amazon.ca/shop/toothlife.irene?listId=YLX0271390I3 Follow on Social Media: _______________________________________ 💁🏼‍♀️Personal Instagram @Toothlife.Irene https://www.instagram.com/toothlife.irene 🙋🏼‍♀️Facebook Irene Iancu https://www.facebook.com/irene.iancu 💃🏼TikTok @Toothlife.Irene https://www.tiktok.com/@toothlife.irene 🛒Online Store and Instagram @Toothlife https://www.instagram.com/toothlife 🥼Office Instagram @ToothlifeStudio https://www.instagram.com/ToothlifeStudio _______________________________________ 🎤Podcast @ToothorDare.Podcast https://www.instagram.com/ToothorDare.Podcast _______________________________________ 🔗🌲Cool links in my Linktree https://linktr.ee/TOOTHLIFE.IRENE

In this episode of Op Talk, Irene and Vic discuss Scaling and Root Planning (SRPs) and how to effectively monitor periodontal disease progression in patients. This complex condition can be challenging to manage, but having a clear clinical protocol helps simplify treatment planning and patient education. We explore key questions, such as: When is periodontitis considered stable or in remission? What clinical and behavioural factors should be evaluated before adjusting a patient’s treatment plan? How frequently should you reassess and potentially change a patient’s scaling interval from 3 months to 6 months or longer? How crucial is it to obtain a patient’s full periodontal probing history? Plus, stick around until the end of the episode to discover an often-overlooked resource for patients who may require more treatment than their insurance plan can support. To submit questions and access helpful tools, head over to @toothlife.irene on Instagram and check out the top three pinned posts. Resources are located at the center of each post, and you can ask questions directly in the comments. Also, don’t forget to visit toothlife.ca to explore an extensive library of resources tailored for dental professionals navigating periodontal care and maintenance protocols.If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment. Until next time, Peace out peeps! ✌️ _______________________________________ 📦 Amazon Store with my FAV things: https://www.amazon.ca/shop/toothlife.irene?listId=YLX0271390I3 Follow on Social Media: _______________________________________ 💁🏼‍♀️Personal Instagram @Toothlife.Irene https://www.instagram.com/toothlife.irene 🙋🏼‍♀️Facebook Irene Iancu https://www.facebook.com/irene.iancu 💃🏼TikTok @Toothlife.Irene https://www.tiktok.com/@toothlife.irene 🛒Online Store and Instagram @Toothlife https://www.instagram.com/toothlife 🥼Office Instagram @ToothlifeStudio https://www.instagram.com/ToothlifeStudio _______________________________________ 🎤Podcast @ToothorDare.Podcast https://www.instagram.com/ToothorDare.Podcast _______________________________________ 🔗🌲Cool links in my Linktree https://linktr.ee/TOOTHLIFE.IRENE

"I have TMJ" - Yes, patient... you have two actually. If you are a practising dental clinician, chances are you’ve encountered patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction - TMD. In Part 2 of this interview, Irene discusses this tricky disorder with Dr. Tony Urbanek, who specializes in its treatment using wearable custom-made devices. Why is it more prevalent in women than men? What makes it so controversial and difficult to treat? Is Botox an effective treatment, or is it all a scam? Tune in to find out what our surgical TMJ doc thinks about the Botox craze. Dr. Anthony P. Urbanek DDS, MS, MD Tony is a double-degree Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. He received his DDS and MS in Anatomy and Cell Biology from Indiana and his MD and internship/residency from Vanderbilt. While at Vanderbilt, he held a research fellowship with the National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research, focusing on laser-induced intrauterine surgery and creating animal models with facial growth anomalies. He has been in private practice in Nashville for the past 46 years, focusing on the most complex types of maxillofacial surgery. During his long career he founded charity medical clinics in both Haiti and Jamaica and is proud to have 54 years as a private pilot prompting many “hold my beer” moments. Based on 10 years of research, he discovered the common denominator for TMJ/TMD and is now the president and CEO of TMJ Services which has developed a network of doctors dedicated to the non-surgical solution for this devastating and very common disease. Tony’s greatest joy in life is spending time with his three grown children, six grandchildren, one great grandchild and his wife Ann. For more information and to connect with Dr. Urbanek, check out his social media profiles: Instagram: @tmjservicesofbrentwood Website: https://www.urbanektmj.com/ YouTube and TMD Demystified Podcast: @urbanektmjdevice If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment. Until next time, Peace out peeps! ✌️ _______________________________________ 📦 Amazon Store with my FAV things: https://www.amazon.ca/shop/toothlife.irene?listId=YLX0271390I3 Follow on Social Media: _______________________________________ 💁🏼‍♀️Personal Instagram @Toothlife.Irene https://www.instagram.com/toothlife.irene 🙋🏼‍♀️Facebook Irene Iancu https://www.facebook.com/irene.iancu 💃🏼TikTok @Toothlife.Irene https://www.tiktok.com/@toothlife.irene 🛒Online Store and Instagram @Toothlife https://www.instagram.com/toothlife 🥼Office Instagram @ToothlifeStudio https://www.instagram.com/ToothlifeStudio _______________________________________ 🎤Podcast @ToothorDare.Podcast https://www.instagram.com/ToothorDare.Podcast _______________________________________ 🔗🌲Cool links in my Linktree https://linktr.ee/TOOTHLIFE.IRENE

Periodontal Probing and Billing deep dive in this episode. Irene and Vic address probing - a non-invasive, deceptively simple yet fundamental tool for monitoring oral health. Does it matter whether it’s done by a dentist or hygienist? When is it time for a full-mouth probe, and how does it fit into a patient’s treatment plan? How appointments are billed in the United States compared to Canada and potential concerns. To submit questions and access helpful resources, head over to @toothlife.irene on Instagram and check out the top three pinned posts. Resources are conveniently located in the middle of these posts, and you can ask questions directly by leaving a comment. Additionally, visit toothlife.ca to explore a wide range of resources tailored to your needs. If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment. Until next time, Peace out peeps! ✌️ _______________________________________ 📦 Amazon Store with my FAV things: https://www.amazon.ca/shop/toothlife.irene?listId=YLX0271390I3 Follow on Social Media: _______________________________________ 💁🏼‍♀️Personal Instagram @Toothlife.Irene https://www.instagram.com/toothlife.irene 🙋🏼‍♀️Facebook Irene Iancu https://www.facebook.com/irene.iancu 💃🏼TikTok @Toothlife.Irene https://www.tiktok.com/@toothlife.irene 🛒Online Store and Instagram @Toothlife https://www.instagram.com/toothlife 🥼Office Instagram @ToothlifeStudio https://www.instagram.com/ToothlifeStudio _______________________________________ 🎤Podcast @ToothorDare.Podcast https://www.instagram.com/ToothorDare.Podcast _______________________________________ 🔗🌲Cool links in my Linktree https://linktr.ee/TOOTHLIFE.IRENE