Tooth or Dare Podcast

Breaking Down The Truth Behind the 1999 vs. 2022 Radiation Guidelines In this episode of the Tooth or Dare Podcast, Irene and Victoria tackle one of the most misunderstood topics in dentistry today: radiation protection guidelines and the confusion surrounding lead aprons. You've probably heard the statement: "Lead aprons are no longer required." But what does that actually mean? With the transition from the 1999 radiation protection guidelines to the updated 2022 recommendations, many dental professionals, especially in Ontario, Canada, have been left trying to determine what has changed, what hasn't, and how these recommendations should be applied in clinical practice. Because this conversation isn't about removing protection. It's about understanding protection. In This Episode We Discuss: The key differences between the 1999 and 2022 radiation protection guidelines Why the phrase "not required" is often misunderstood The anatomy of a lead apron: apron vs. thyroid collar When patient shielding may still be appropriate What defines an elective radiograph Why radiographs should only be prescribed when there is a clear indication or risk factor How digital imaging and handheld X-ray devices have changed the landscape The importance of critical thinking when applying updated guidelines Clinical & Real-World Insights How advances in digital radiography have influenced modern safety recommendations Increased specificity in the 2022 guidelines regarding equipment handling, storage, inspection, and damage protocols Real-world examples of responding to equipment alerts and quality concerns The growing emphasis on quality assurance and documentation Why "not required" does not mean "never use" How misinterpretation of guidelines can directly impact patient care Key Takeaway At the end of the day, using protection appropriately based on evidence, clinical judgment, and patient-specific factors. Guidelines evolve, but our clinical judgement and patient needs need to be considered. The standard of care remains. A simple framework to remember: Assess Risk → Justify Exposure → Optimize Protection Because radiographs are not routine and ought to be prescribed with purpose and reason Resources & References Canadian Resources CDA Position Statement for the Control of X-Radiation in Dentistryhttps://www.cda-adc.ca/en/about/position_statements/xray/ RCDSO X-Ray Safety Requirements for All Ontario Dentistshttps://www.rcdso.org/en-ca/standards-guidelines-resources/rcdso-news/articles/1393 Health Canada – Radiation Protection in Dentistry (Safety Code 30, 2022)https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/radiation/radiation-protection-dentistry-recommended-safety-procedures-use-dental-equipment-safety-code-30.html Healing Arts Radiation Protection Act (HARP) – Ontariohttps://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90h02 HARP Certification Course (George Brown College)https://coned.georgebrown.ca/courses-and-programs/dental-radiography-harp-approved-certification Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada – Scope of Practicehttps://www.fdhrc.ca/pages/dental-hygiene-in-canada/the-profession/ CDHO Update on Scope of Practice for Dental Hygienists in Ontariohttps://cdho.org/update-on-scope-of-practice/ International Resources ADA Releases Updated Recommendations to Enhance Radiography Safety in Dentistryhttps://www.ada.org/about/press-releases/ada-releases-updated-recommendations-to-enhance-radiography-safety-in-dentistry ADA & AAOMR Patient Selection for Dental Radiography and Cone-Beam Computed Tomographyhttps://jada.ada.org/action/showPdf?pii=S0002-8177%2825%2900631-2 AAPD Guidelines for Prescribing Dental Radiographs for Infants, Children, Adolescents, and Individuals with Special Health Care Needshttps://www.aapd.org/media/policies_guidelines/bp_radiographs.pdf Standards for Licensing Dental Hygienists and Dental Assistants in Dental Radi

A follower left a comment asking if their 30 years of experience mean something. Sure, it means a lot...but it doesn't automatically mean you're current. I've been an RDH for 20 years. I know what it looks like when experience is the real thing, and I know what it looks like when someone has done the same thing on repeat for two decades and called it tenure. Both exist. Dentistry is full of both. In this episode, we dig into a real question from an experienced hygienist starting over at a new office, and we don't let either side off the hook. Because there are two very different versions of this story. Version one: you've kept up, you've grown, and you're walking into an office that's behind where you are. Version two: you've been doing the same thing for 30 years and calling it experience. In this episode: ▪️ How to tell the difference between expertise and habit ▪️ Why the interview isn't the time to pitch improvements, regardless of how right you are ▪️ How intentional questions help you vet a workplace before you're committed to it ▪️ What a team's response to new ideas tells you about the culture ▪️ Why trust has to come before change, even when the change is obvious ▪️ The question worth asking every time: "Is there anything here that would prevent me from growing?" The framework: Problem. Understand the consequences. Offer a solution. Experience is only an asset if it's actually current. 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

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

Dental peeps, this one is super personal… what happens when oral care is overlooked in cancer patients? We see these patients in our ops, but what happens when that patient is your Dad? My dad... My patient In this episode of the Tooth or Dare Podcast, I share the story of my father’s battle with cancer and the parts of care that too often get missed. It began with the kind of phone call no one is ever ready for: “Your dad is coughing blood.” While I'm elbow deep in a 6mm pocket during an SRP. From that moment on, life changed quickly. Emergency visits. Hospital admissions. A diagnosis that had likely been developing quietly for some time. The truth is, many lung cancers are not found until they are already advanced. But this episode is about more than the diagnosis and the outcome being tragic. It is also about something rarely talked about enough: oral health during cancer treatment. What I learned, what we created and how I shared it with the folks at the Cancer Center. If you want the same download, you can grab it here: Oral Cancer Products Digital Download from Toothlife.ca We discuss: ⚪ How life can change in a single moment ⚪ Warning signs that were easy to dismiss: chronic headaches, rapid weight loss, persistent coughing ⚪ The emotional reality of watching a parent go through cancer ⚪ My memories of my dad: motorcycle rides, soccer, scuba diving, and the bond we shared. #1 dental dad. ⚪ How families can be close, yet still silent about health concerns ⚪ What hospitals commonly recommend for oral care during treatment ⚪ Why “rinse with baking soda four times a day” is not enough Clinical + real-world insight: ⚪ A firsthand look at how oral health can be overlooked in hospital settings ⚪ The absence of dental professionals on many cancer care teams ⚪ Four separate hospital admissions within 4 months and oral hygiene was never meaningfully addressed ⚪ The effects of radiation and cancer treatment can have on the mouth ⚪ Why preventive oral care should be part of treatment planning from day one At its core, this is not a story about my loss. It is a call to do better, and perhaps for us dental people who have not seen this journey firsthand to trust me and talk about this with our patients and teams. Oral health is connected to overall health. Always has been, not new news to us, but to the folks at the hospital, I was speaking gibberish, apparently. And when that connection is ignored in critical care, patients feel the consequences even if they don't know it. Increased risks of infections, lower immune response... the list goes on, and we discuss that here. A simple takeaway: Awareness → Advocacy → Integration Because patients deserve complete care, and that includes the mouth, too. 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

Dentistry in NYC is changing, and in Tribeca, there's a little hidden gem. I sat down with Cody Levine, and honestly, this conversation felt like stepping into what dentistry could be when it’s done differently. We talked about the kind of journey that doesn’t look linear. From doing dentistry under a cellphone light on mission trips to building one of the most intentional, beautifully designed practices in Tribeca, NYC. The story shared is a vision that materialized and is making a change in how patients see dentistry. And I’ll be honest… if I didn’t live in Toronto, I’d be in New York. And if I were in New York, I’d probably be picking up a shift or two at Smile House. That’s how aligned this philosophy feels with how we also practice at Toothlife Studio. What Cody and his team are building is a complete shift in how we think about care, moving away from quick fixes and toward something comprehensive, collaborative, interdisciplinary and way rooted in the connection between oral and systemic health. This episode shows you what can happen when you stop treating teeth in isolation and start treating people as a whole. Sign it with me..."Head, shoulders, knees and toes." In this episode, we yap about: ▪️ The journey from mobile dental units to creating a modern, tech-driven dental practice in New York ▪️ Why dentistry is shifting toward a mouth-body connection instead of isolated treatments ▪️ The four pillars of care: esthetics, structure, function, and biology—and how they change patient assessment ▪️ How advanced diagnostics and collaboration between specialists improve patient outcomes ▪️ Real patient cases involving TMJ, airway issues, sleep improvement, and recovery from past dental experiences ▪️ How to educate patients who come in expecting “just a cleaning” and shift their understanding of oral health ▪️ The challenges of running a modern dental practice and continuously improving both clinically and as a leader. Connect with the Smile House Squad: https://www.smilehouse.co/ https://www.instagram.com/smilehousetribeca/ https://www.instagram.com/codymarclevine/ 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