A Tale of Two Hygienists Podcast

In this episode of A Tale of Two Hygienists, Jessica and Dave explore what happens after assessment and diagnosis: turning clinical findings into meaningful, individualized care. Karen Palleschi and Jennifer Pieren discuss how dental hygienists can use critical thinking, clinical judgment, and the ADHA Standards of Care to create person-centered plans that reflect each patient's needs, values, risks, and goals.
 
What We Talked About:
 
Translating assessment findings into meaningful dental hygiene diagnoses
 
Building individualized, person-centered care plans instead of "one-size-fits-all" treatment
 
The role of critical thinking and clinical judgment in implementation
 
How the ADHA Standards of Care support consistency, accountability, and professional autonomy.
 
Patient communication, shared decision-making, and behavior change
 
Challenges clinicians and students face when moving from diagnosis to implementation
 
Adapting care plans based on patient needs, values, risks, and outcomes
 
Call to Action:
Providers, take a closer look at how you move from diagnosis to action. Consider whether your care plans truly reflect each patient's individual needs, priorities, risks, and goals. Look for opportunities to involve patients more fully in decisions about their care.
 
Contact guest via:
Email: japieren@ysu.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-pieren-476804a1/
Instagram: @prof_jennifer_rdh
ADHA Standards
 
Contact the Hosts
Jessica Atkinson: jatkinson@endeavorb2b.com
Dave Torres: dtorres@endeavorb2b.com

Assessment and diagnosis are at the heart of patient-centered dental hygiene care. In this episode of A Tale of Two Hygienists, Jessica and Dave are joined by JoAnn Gurenlian, Ann Eshenaur Spolarich, and Darlene Swigart to explore how dental hygienists can move beyond simply collecting patient data to interpreting findings, developing accurate dental hygiene diagnoses, and making informed clinical decisions.
 
The conversation examines the critical-thinking skills needed to connect assessment findings to treatment planning, documentation, and improved patient outcomes while also considering the future of dental hygiene diagnosis and professional autonomy.
 
What We Talked About
 
The distinction between assessment and diagnosis
 
Why diagnosis is an essential component of the dental hygiene process of care
 
Common challenges clinicians face when interpreting assessment findings
 
The role of critical thinking in moving from collected data to clinical decisions
 
How assessment and diagnosis influence treatment planning and patient outcomes
 
Documentation considerations related to assessment and diagnosis
 
Strategies for teaching diagnostic reasoning to students
 
The future of dental hygiene diagnosis and professional autonomy
 
Call to Action
The next time you complete a patient assessment, pause before moving directly to treatment. Ask yourself what the findings mean, how they connect, and what they tell you about your patient's individual needs. Use that clinical reasoning to strengthen your dental hygiene diagnosis, treatment planning, documentation, and patient care.
 
Resources and Links
Darlene Swigart on LinkedIn
Ann Eshenaur Spolarich on LinkedIn
JoAnn Gurenlian on LinkedIn
Swigart, DJ, Gurenlian, J. Bringing Social Determinants of Health into the Dental Hygiene Diagnosis. Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. 2026;24(1):32-35.
Swigart, DJ, Gurenlian, J, McCracken, A. Integrating Social Determinants of Health Screening in Student Dental Hygiene Clinical Practice. J Dent Hyg. 2025;9(6):52-63.
Swigart, DJ, Gurenlian, JR, Rogo, EJ. Dental Hygiene Diagnosis: A Qualitative Descriptive Study of Dental Hygienists. Can J Dent Hyg. 2020;54(3):113-123.
Gurenlian, JR, Swigart, DJ. Dental Hygiene Diagnosis: The Link Between Assessment and Care. Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. 2018;16(12):36-39.
Gurenlian, JR, Sanderson, TR, Garland, K, Swigart, DJ. Exploring the Integration of the Dental Hygiene Diagnosis in Entry-Level Dental Hygiene Curricula. J Dent Hyg. 2018;92(4):18-26.
 
Contact the Hosts
Jessica Atkinson: jatkinson@endeavorb2b.com
Dave Torres: dtorres@endeavorb2b.com

JoAnn Gurenlian joins Jessica and Dave for a practical conversation about the purpose, evolution, and everyday importance of the Standards for Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice.
 
From understanding the difference between standards of care and scope of practice to applying professional standards in real-world clinical situations, this episode explores how standards can help dental hygienists strengthen clinical judgment, documentation, ethical decision-making, and patient outcomes.
 
What We Talked About
The purpose and evolution of the Standards for Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice
 
Why standards of care matter for every dental hygienist, regardless of practice setting
 
Common misconceptions about standards and scope of practice
 
How standards support clinical judgment, documentation, and patient outcomes
 
The relationship between standards, ethics, and professional accountability
 
How educators can help students move beyond memorization to implementation
 
Practical ways clinicians can incorporate the standards into everyday patient care
 
The future of standards and what dental hygienists need to understand moving forward
 
Call to Action
Take a fresh look at the Standards for Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice and consider how they apply to your own clinical decision-making, documentation, patient care, and professional responsibilities. Whether you are a student, educator, or practicing dental hygienist, use the standards as a framework for putting evidence, ethics, and professional judgment into action.
 
Resources and Links
JoAnn Gurenlian on LinkedIn
ADHA Standards for Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice — Process of Care
AAP Staging and Grading Periodontitis Chairside Guide — Periodontal evaluation
Dental Hygiene: Theory and Practice by Darby & Walsh
ADA CDT Codes
Guest Contact: Joanng@adha.net
Co-host Contacts: jatkinson@endeavorb2b.com | dtorres@endeavorb2b.com

Every patient who sits in our chair brings more than just a mouth with them. Hormones, bone health, medications, and life stage can all influence what we see clinically.
 
In this episode, Jessica and Dave explore the connection between hormonal changes, bone health, and oral health—and why dental hygienists play an important role in recognizing the clues, starting conversations, and helping patients get the care they need.
 
What We Talked About:
How hormones and bone health influence oral health throughout a patient's lifetime
 
What clinicians may notice during puberty, pregnancy, perimenopause, menopause, and beyond
 
Oral signs that may point to broader systemic or bone-health concerns
 
Why early screening can impact long-term health outcomes
 
Red flags and risk factors for premature bone loss and poor bone quality
 
How to discuss osteoporosis, bone density, and medications with patients
 
How to approach sensitive conversations with compassion and confidence
 
Three practical things every hygienist can start doing tomorrow
 
The Big Takeaway
The mouth can provide important clues about what is happening throughout the body. Understanding the connections between hormones, bone health, and oral health can help clinicians recognize risks earlier and provide more informed, whole-patient care.
 
Contact the guest:
 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-evans-bs-mcl-rdh-thephrdh
 
Website: https://kristinevansrdh.wixsite.com/my-site-2

Jessica and Dave welcome Dr. Pamela Ray to discuss how hygienists can improve periodontal communication, help patients take ownership of their disease, and guide them toward informed decisions about their health.
This episode was brought to you by our friends at Net32.
 
What We Talked About:
Overcoming barriers to periodontal treatment acceptance.
 
Using the oral-systemic connection to motivate patients.
 
Effective language and communication strategies.
 
Strengthening communication with periodontists, physicians, and referral sources.
 
Handling patients who delay or decline treatment.
 
Practical tips for creating meaningful conversations that lead to action.
 
Call to Action:
Find your passion while practicing patient care.
 
Guest: Dr. Pamela Ray — drpamelaray@gmail.com
 
Hosts: Jessica and Dave — jatkinson@endeavorb2b.com | Dtorres@endeavorb2b.com