
Straight Up With Steph
Your podcast for real tips on healthy posture, healthy habits, and a healthy life!
Episodes
55 episodes
Ep 54: What To Know About Guided Biofilm Therapy: Protocol, Patient Education, And Practice Growth
I get so many questions about Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT), and truthfully, I don’t know as much about it as I would like to. That’s why, in this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I'm joined by Kevin Ohashi Lopez to uncover what GBT i...
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Season 1
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Episode 54
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46:48

Ep 53: Workforce Shortages, Hygiene Autonomy, and ADA's Vision for the Future
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, Dr. Brett Kessler, president of the American Dental Association, returns to the podcast to dive headfirst into a conversation about the complex and contentious state of our industry. Our goal ...
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Season 1
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Episode 53
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57:32

Ep 52: Maximizing Your Dental Practice Value & Navigating Industry Shifts
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Dr. Tony Stefanou for a wide-ranging and candid conversation about the future of dentistry. Our industry is rapidly evolving, and dentistry as we know it is changing by the day...
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Season 1
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Episode 52
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1:04:26

Ep 51: The Oral Preventive Assistant Debate: What Dental Assistants Actually Want
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I am joined by Kevin Henry, a longtime advocate, speaker, and journalist for dental assistants, as we break down the new role being introduced in dentistry, the OPA (Oral Preventive Assistant)...
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Season 1
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Episode 51
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54:34

Ep 50: Dental Anesthesia: Managing Patients, Myths, and New Techniques
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I am joined by dental hygienist and anesthesia educator Tina Clarke to tackle questions and controversies sweeping the dental community over anesthesia. We cover everything from the new expans...
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Season 1
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Episode 50
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1:07:56

Ep 49: GLP-1 Warning Signs to Look for in Dental Patients
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I am joined by Tom Viola, a renowned pharmacologist and nationally recognized speaker, to dive into the world of GLP-1 medications– think Ozempic, Wegovy, and the rapidly growing black market ...
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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59:24

Ep 48: How to Identify and Regulate Stress and ADHD Symptoms for a Healthier Lifestyle
Have you ever found yourself endlessly scrolling on your phone, procrastinating on your to-do list, or feeling completely drained after work, and chalked it up as the usual side effects of adulthood and overwhelm? There might be something bigge...
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Season 1
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Episode 48
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59:22

Ep 47: The True Cost of Dental Insurance and Why It's Time for Reform
Did you know that dental reimbursement rates and deductibles have not increased since the 70s? It’s no wonder that dental insurance is such a loaded topic in our profession. In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I am joined by my ...
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Season 1
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Episode 47
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53:38

Ep 46: Transform Your Dental Experience Into A Lucrative Speaking Career
Have you ever considered breaking into the world of professional speaking, but weren’t sure if you were qualified or didn’t know where to start? In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I bring Jasmin Haley, a dental hygienist, educa...
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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58:32

Ep 45: Flossing Made Easy with the First Electric Flosser, Flaus
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I am joined by Samantha Coxe, the creator and founder of Flaus, the first-ever electric flosser. As a lawyer and not a dental clinician, Sam brings a unique advantage point to her invention wi...
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Season 1
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Episode 45
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50:27

Ep 44: Osteoporosis And Oral Health: What Dental Professionals Need To Know
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I am joined by dental hygienist and educator Kristin Evans to learn more about what is known as the silent killer: osteoporosis. That’s right! Osteoporosis is not just a condition reserved for...
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Season 1
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Episode 44
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56:21

Ep 43: How Tongue Mapping Opens the Door for Comprehensive Patient Care
Have you ever wondered what the tongue tells us about our overall health? In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I am joined by Lani McBeth, an expert in tongue mapping and holistic dental hygiene, to unpack a unique corner of the ...
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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50:50

Ep 42: Nano-Hydroxyapatite: A New Frontier in Preventive Dental Care
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, Dr. Mark Burhenne, famously known as “Ask the Dentist,” and I are diving deeper into the hot topic debate of fluoride vs. nano-hydroxyapatite. With the rising controversy over the ...
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Season 1
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Episode 42
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1:00:10

Bonus: Oral Cancer Awareness: Masterclass in Screenings and Early Detection
In honor of Oral Cancer Awareness Month, I wanted to bring you a special bonus episode of Straight Up With Steph, where Susan Cotten, a returning podcast guest, seasoned dental hygienist, and oral cancer specialist, presents a mastercl...
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52:41

Ep 41: The Crucial Role Hygienists Play In Dental Practice Success
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, Dr. Marc Liechtung and I are unpacking the critical role that hygienists play in dental practices and the dynamics within the hygiene department. The sad truth is that hygienists are often und...
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Season 1
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Episode 41
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55:12

Ep 40: Maximize Your Chair Time: Time Management Tips For Dental Hygienists
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, Kathryn Gilliam and I are tackling one of the most pressing challenges faced by dental hygienists today: time management. While the expectations of dental hygienists keep growing, the time we ...
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Season 1
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Episode 40
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49:39

Ep 39: Insights Into The Untapped Potential of Using Microscopes in Dentistry
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, certified biological hygienist Kristen King joins the podcast as we explore a fascinating yet underutilized tool: dental microscopes. She shares her expert insights on how to incorporate a mic...
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Season 1
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Episode 39
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44:36

Ep 38: The Future Of Remineralization: Nano-Hydroxyapatite's Potential In Dentistry
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I am joined by Dr. Jennifer Eisenhuth (aka Dr. Jen, Founder of Dr. Jen Natural) to unpack a hot topic in dentistry: nano-hydroxyapatite vs. fluoride. With controversy over fluoride arising, Dr...
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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40:45

Ep 37: Empowering Dental Hygienists to Branch Out on Their Own
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, Sade Morel, another dental hygienist who made the leap from traditional practice models, outlines her path to building an independent dental hygiene practice in California. Driven ...
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Season 1
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Episode 37
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49:19

Ep 36: The Truth About Starting an Independent Hygiene Practice
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, dental hygienist and entrepreneur Jazmine Chavez shares her insights into breaking off from the norm and opening up an independent practice. With changes to legislation and the future of our p...
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Season 1
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Episode 36
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54:29

Ep 35: How ADA’s Dental Access Model Act Will Impact Dentistry
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I am joined by returning guest Alyssa Aberle to take a closer look at the Dental Access Model Act, specifically looking at the Certification of Oral Preventive Assistants (OPA) section as intr...
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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1:04:10

Ep 34: Navigating PCOS, Perimenopause, and More: Nutritional Tips from a Hormone Dietitian
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, Melissa Groves Azzaro and I are unpacking the intricate relationship between nutrition, exercise, and hormonal balance! She dives into conditions such as PCOS and perimenopause, as well as she...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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1:00:41

Ep 33: Career Transitions Outside of the Operatory
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I am joined by Dr. Laura Brenner, a dental career coach, to unpack something I get asked about often: how to make the shift to a career outside of the operatory. While I did this myself, I had...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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44:50

Ep 32: Expert Tips for Enhancing Sleep Quality for Better Rest and Overall Health
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m joined by Teresa Power to explore how better sleep can transform overall health and well-being. Drawing on her experience with oral appliances and sleep education, Teresa shares actionable...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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43:34

Ep 31: Stress, Depression, and Loneliness: Brain Health Tips You Need Today
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, brain health expert and dental hygienist Anne Rice returns to dive deeper into brain health. This time, we tackle stress, depression, and loneliness—key factors often overlooked in cognitive h...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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46:44
