Dental hygienists are playing an increasingly visible role in prevention, patient education, and whole-body health.

From chairside conversations to digital platforms, hygienists are shaping how patients understand oral care, and how the profession itself is perceived.

Join hosts Dr. Rachel Chau and Dr. Martijn Verhulst as they welcome award-winning dental hygienist, educator, and creator Britt Glauz (@BrushwithBritt) to discuss the evolving role of hygienists in patient education, prevention, and whole-body health.

Recorded at Sunstar Americas in Chicago, this episode explores why dental hygienists are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between oral health and systemic wellness and what needs to change to make prevention truly accessible.

What you'll learn in this episode:

🟢 The expanding role of the dental hygienist as prevention, risk awareness, and whole-body health become central to care delivery.

🟢 Practical ways to explain prevention so it feels relevant to patients with different communication styles and limited chair time.

🟢 Strategies for motivating patients who struggle with daily routines by addressing misconceptions and focusing on realistic first steps.

🟢 What effective collaboration between dentistry and medicine looks like in practice, including initiating referrals and oral-systemic conversations for higher-risk patients.

🟢 The influence of social media on oral health education and the opportunities it creates for hygienists to build trust and shape patient behavior.