The United States is the only high-income country without national paid family leave. And if you work in dental hygiene — a profession that is over 94% female — you feel that gap more than most.

In this episode, Kimberly breaks down why the maternity leave crisis in dental hygiene isn't just a personal struggle — it's a systemic failure. From FMLA loopholes that exclude nearly every dental office, to the reality of classifying childbirth as a "disability" just to get six weeks at 60% pay, to what Maine's new paid family leave program actually looks like when you do the math.

She compares two healthcare workers with the same education and licensure who get completely different safety nets — based on nothing but the size of the building they work in. This one is personal. And it needs to be said out loud.

If this episode hits home, please share it with someone who needs to hear it.

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February is Black History Month, and in this episode, host Kimberly Williamson explores something that doesn't get nearly enough attention in the dental profession: the history and lived experience of Black dental hygienists—and the racial disparities that persist in both the workforce and the patients they serve.

Kimberly is joined by her friend and colleague Rebekah, a registered dental hygienist she went to college with in Maine—one of the whitest states in the country. They were each other's local anesthesia partners, which means they spent a semester injecting each other in the mouth. If that doesn't build trust, what does?

In this conversation, Rebekah shares her experience navigating a profession that is overwhelmingly white, from choosing a dental hygiene program in a state where less than 2% of the population is Black, to the microaggressions and moments of isolation she's faced throughout her career. They also discuss the National Dental Hygienists' Association (NDHA), founded in 1932 by Black hygienists who weren't welcome in mainstream professional organizations—a history most hygienists were never taught.

The conversation also touches on the OPA clinical exam model and how it creates additional barriers for diverse candidates entering the profession.

This episode is honest, moving, and necessary.

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What if dental hygienists could expand on the foundation they already have? What if they could coach patients through the barriers that actually prevent better health—and get reimbursed for it?

This episode explores why hygienists are uniquely positioned to step into health coaching—and why this shift could reshape healthcare itself.

We unpack the oral-systemic connection: how periodontal disease links to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mental health, and why treating the mouth in isolation no longer makes sense. We also address the socioeconomic barriers patients face that traditional dental education never prepared us to navigate: food insecurity, transportation, lack of insurance, and mental health challenges.

Plus: the frustrating reality that hygienists—already licensed clinicians—often can’t bill insurance directly, while health coaches now have CPT codes and growing recognition. And why oral health is still missing from most health coaching curriculums.

This is a call to action: it’s time to recognize the role hygienists were always meant to play.

Resources:

∙National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching: nbhwc.org

∙Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN)

∙Duke Integrative Medicine Health Coach Training

∙Wellcoaches School of Coaching

∙Episode 7: When Getting Out of Bed is Hard – Mental Health and Oral Health

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January is Mental Wellness Month — and very few in dentistry are talking about the connection between mental health and oral health.

In this episode, Kimberly Williamson explores why depression makes brushing feel impossible, how psychiatric medications affect your mouth, the shame spiral that keeps people from seeking care, and what dental offices are getting wrong.

For patients, this episode validates what you may have been experiencing: canceled appointments, skipped brushing, and the fear of being judged for letting things go. There's real science behind why a two-minute task can feel like climbing a mountain — and why the medications helping your mental health might be harming your teeth.

For clinicians, this is a call to change how we approach patient care. We're trained to educate and instruct — but what if the patient in our chair isn't "non-compliant"? What if they're barely surviving?

Kimberly also shares why she believes dental hygienists should be trained as health coaches, and offers gentle, judgment-free guidance for anyone struggling to care for themselves right now.

If getting out of bed is hard — this episode is for you.

You are not lazy. Your struggle is valid. And you deserve compassion.

Resources:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text)
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
• SAMHSA: 1-800-662-4357
• psychologytoday.com (therapist finder)

Disclaimer: Kimberly Williamson is a registered dental hygienist and health coach, not a mental health professional. This episode is NOT a substitute for professional medical or psychological care. If you're in crisis, please reach out to a licensed provider or call 988.

Music and episodes written and produced by Kimberly Williamson.

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You've probably heard that dentists have the highest suicide rate of any profession. That's a myth. But here's what isn't: dental professionals experience alarmingly high rates of depression, anxiety, burnout, and suicidal thoughts.

In Australia, 1 in 6 dental practitioners reported thoughts of suicide in the past year. In the UK, 17.6% of dentists admitted to seriously considering it. And 43% of dental hygiene students report moderate to severe depression before they even enter the workforce.

But here's the problem no one is talking about: we're only tracking dentists. The ADA collects mental health data on dentists—but dental hygienists? Dental assistants? The workforce that is 95% female? No systematic tracking exists. If you're not counted, you don't count.

In this episode, I break down the myth vs. reality of suicide in dentistry, the data gap making the female-dominated workforce invisible, the education gap leaving students unprepared for a high-stress profession, and what needs to change—for the industry, for practice owners, and for clinicians.

This episode is personal. I lost a mentor to suicide early in my career. She seemed fine. She showed up. She smiled. And she was struggling silently. That experience changed how I see this industry.

We can't fix what we don't acknowledge.

It's time to start counting everyone.

If you or someone you know is struggling, here are resources:

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: call or text 988.

Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741.

For dental-specific support, the Dental Mental Health Network and your state's ADA well-being program are available.

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What if dental hygienists in every state could open their own practices, set their own hours, and bill patients directly - without a dentist signing off on every decision?

That’s not a fantasy. It’s Canada. And they’ve been doing it for decades.

In this episode of Rooting Within Health, Kimberly Williamson dives into how Canadian hygienists achieved self-regulation - and why the American system is designed to keep clinicians limited. She covers:

• The 30+ year timeline of Canadian self-regulation
• How the ADA removed “dental hygiene diagnosis” from our standards — with no evidence
• The GDC research showing direct access is safe
• Why dental boards dominated by dentists create a conflict of interest
• The real reason behind the hygienist shortage — and why OPAs aren’t the answer
• What we can actually do to demand change

This episode is for every dental professional who’s ever felt silenced, overlooked, or stuck in a system that wasn’t built for them.

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It's legal in Arizona. Missouri is running a pilot program. And more states are considering it: the Oral Preventive Assistant (OPA) model allows dental assistants with just 120 hours of training to perform "dental cleanings."

In this episode, I break down what OPAs can and cannot do, why this model is being pushed as a solution to the dental hygiene shortage, and why it's actually a symptom of much bigger problems in dentistry.

We'll talk about:

• The training gap between OPAs (120 hours) and dental hygienists (2-4 years, 2,000-3,000 clinical hours)
• What "supragingival scaling only" really means for your oral health
• Why patient satisfaction surveys don't measure clinical outcomes
• The gender dynamics of creating cheaper substitutes for female-dominated professions
• What happens when an industry regulates itself with zero independent oversight
• Real solutions that would actually address workforce shortages

This isn't about gatekeeping. It's about patient safety, professional standards, and the systemic devaluation of healthcare workers - especially women.

If you've ever wondered why your dental office feels like a production line, or why there's no independent body watching out for patients in dentistry, this episode connects the dots.

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In honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month, this episode goes beyond the typical "brush and floss more" advice to explore the real, lived experience of managing diabetes, whether type 1, type 2, or gestational, and the systemic barriers that impact both patients and healthcare providers.

Host Kimberly Williamson shares her personal journey of being diagnosed with gestational diabetes during her first pregnancy while working as a dental hygienist. From the emotional toll of constant glucose monitoring, to the impossible logistics of managing a chronic condition in a workplace with zero accommodations, to the socioeconomic barriers like food insecurity and medication access that affect diabetic patients across all types—this episode exposes the brutal reality of navigating chronic illness in a profit-driven system.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The bidirectional relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease—and why dental hygienists should be integral members of the diabetes care team
• Why socioeconomic factors like food insecurity, medication access, and SNAP benefit cuts directly impact oral health outcomes for all diabetic patients
• The mental health toll of diabetes management that nobody warns you about—across type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes
• How the RDH + health coach combination creates the whole-person care diabetic patients actually need
• Why dental offices posting about employees skipping lunch and bathroom breaks isn't dedication—it's exploitation
• The case for third-party oversight from labor organizations, not dental boards

This isn't just a diabetes education episode. It's a call for systemic change in how we support both patients with chronic illness and the healthcare workers trying to manage their own conditions within impossible workplace structures.

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