Tooth or Dare Podcast

https://feed.podbean.com/toothordare/feed.xml

Hold on to your suction, it’s about to get viscous. Irene, aka @Toothlife.Irene, on social media is the first (and only) Canadian Restorative Dental Hygienist with a podcast. Sharing her story surrounding her career, practice ownership, social media and, of course, dental-related content. On Tooth or Dare, she gives mic-dropping solutions to your dental questions and problems as a dental professional. With guests like top hygienists, dentists, researchers, product developers and more, this show has something for everyone interested in oral health and personal and professional development. Peeps say the content is entertaining and educational, packaged with actionable items. a Molar of the story, this is the podcast for you if you want to feel like you’re part of a conversation from the comfort of your own... well, wherever the heck you’re listening. Peace out, peeps, catch you on the flip side.

Episodes

5 days ago

Dental Hygienist needs glasses: What Dentistry & Ophthalmology have in common | Tooth Or Dare Podcast with Toothlife.Irene

5 days ago

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!