
Straight Up With Steph
Your podcast for real tips on healthy posture, healthy habits, and a healthy life!
Episodes
65 episodes
Episode 64: Dental Insurance Fraud: Red Flags Every Clinician Must Know
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 expe...
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Season 1
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Episode 64
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52:16

Episode 63: Desiccation Therapy in Dentistry: What You Need To Know
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 strea...
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Season 1
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Episode 63
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49:40

Ep 62: Why We Need a PR Campaign for Dental Hygienists: The Oral Health Awareness Project
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 de...
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Episode 62
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1:01:05

Ep 61: Salivary Testing in Dentistry: How Spit Samples Are Transforming Preventive Oral Health Care
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 lat...
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Season 1
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Episode 61
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1:00:46

Ep 60: Myofunctional Therapy Explained: Breathing, Oral Health, and Sleep from Childhood to Adulthood
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, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 60
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1:05:51

Ep 59: Biological Hygiene Unpacked: Exploring Fluoride, Ozone Therapy, and Microscopes in Modern Dentistry
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 59
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58:54

Ep 58: Pediatric Hygiene: Tools, Tips, and Common Misconceptions
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....
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Season 1
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Episode 58
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55:21
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Ep 57: Debunking Popular Dental Myths and Handling Misinformation on Social Media
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. Tog...
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Season 1
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Episode 57
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54:39

Ep 56: ADHA Leaders Speak Out On Moves To Replace Hygienists
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 ...
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Season 1
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Episode 56
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1:22:22
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Ep 55: Mastering Case Acceptance: Real Strategies to Connect and Communicate Better with Dental Patients
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 treatmen...
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Season 1
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Episode 55
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53:58

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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46:18

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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57:02

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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1:03:56

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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54:05

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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1:07:26

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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58:55

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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53:08

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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58:02

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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49:57

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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55:51

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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50:20

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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59:41

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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52:12

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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54:42
