Traditional learning in dental hygiene can often feel repetitive and uninspiring, but what if education could be engaging, interactive, and fun? In this episode of The Aligned Hygienist, I sit down with Maggie Moodie, a dental hygienist, educator, and founder of Play with a Purpose, a game-based learning consultancy specializing in dental hygiene education.

With a background in public health, chiropractic care, and instructional design, Maggie brings a unique and innovative approach to education—one that supports both students and educators in making learning more effective and enjoyable.

🚀 In This Episode, We Cover:

✅ How game-based learning enhances engagement and retention in dental education

✅ The connection between ergonomics, education, and student success

✅ Why incorporating movement, play, and creativity into training is so important

✅ The challenges students and educators face in dental hygiene programs

✅ How Maggie is transforming traditional learning methods to create sustainable, accessible, and effective education

💡 If you’re a student, educator, or lifelong learner in dentistry, this episode will inspire you to rethink how we teach and absorb information in the profession!

About Maggie: Maggie Moodie is a dental hygienist and the founder of "Play with a Purpose," a game-based learning consultancy specializing in dental hygiene. As a former rural public health hygienist with a chiropractic assistant background, she understands the challenges of physical and mental well-being in this demanding profession.

Maggie has a unique blend of expertise which includes: Dental Hygiene, Higher Education, Instructional Design and Game Design. Her passion is to support both students and educators by creating learning materials that are engaging, effective, and fun.

Connect with Maggie Moodie:

🔗 Maggie Moodie’s Website

🔗 Follow Maggie on LinkedIn

Want to thrive in your role as a dental professional? Whether you’re struggling with ergonomics, managing pain, or just looking for guidance to elevate your practice, I’m here to help! As a dental hygienist, coach, and consultant, I’m passionate about empowering you to work more comfortably and effectively.

🎉 Get Your Free Chairside Guide – a quick, practical resource designed to support you in providing top-notch patient care while taking care of yourself with chairside yoga exercises, ergonomic tips, and more!

Learn more about The Aligned Hygienist here.

Let’s connect:

• Instagram: @thealignedhygienist

• LinkedIn: Connect with me here

• Email: Hello@TheAlignedHygienist.com

Looking forward to helping you align your passion with your well-being!

Be well,
Caitlin

Burnout is a reality for many dental professionals, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your career. In this episode of The Aligned Hygienist, I sit down with Heather DeYoung, a practicing hygienist and burnout coach, to discuss the hidden dangers of chronic stress in dentistry and how to build a sustainable, fulfilling career.

We get real about what burnout looks like, why so many hygienists experience it, and—most importantly—how to recognize the warning signs before it takes over your life. Heather shares her personal journey of overcoming burnout, the emotional and physical toll it took, and how she transformed her struggles into a passion for helping others.

🚀 In This Episode, We Cover:

✅ The biggest misconceptions about burnout and why it happens in dentistry

✅ How mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion can show up in unexpected ways

✅ The importance of nervous system regulation in managing workplace stress

✅ Why movement, mindfulness, and mindset shifts are key to long-term career success

✅ Practical burnout recovery strategies you can start using today

✅ How to advocate for yourself in the workplace and create boundaries that support your well-being

💡 If you’ve ever felt exhausted, unmotivated, or unsure about your future in dentistry, this conversation will give you hope, tools, and next steps to take back control of your career and well-being.

About Heather: Heather DeYoung is a practicing hygienist of over 15 years in Denver, Colorado. After recovering from her own burnout, Heather decided to start sharing her burnout story and become a stress & burnout coach for hygienists with the hopes of preventing others from experiencing burnout's dark pitfalls. When she's not in the op or coaching, she enjoys snowboarding with her husband and dog, running, and practicing yoga.

Connect with Heather on Instagram!

Want to thrive in your role as a dental professional? Whether you’re struggling with ergonomics, managing pain, or just looking for guidance to elevate your practice, I’m here to help! As a dental hygienist, coach, and consultant, I’m passionate about empowering you to work more comfortably and effectively.

🎉 Get Your Free Chairside Guide – a quick, practical resource designed to support you in providing top-notch patient care while taking care of yourself with chairside yoga exercises, ergonomic tips, and more!

Learn more about The Aligned Hygienist here.

Let’s connect:

• Instagram: @thealignedhygienist

• LinkedIn: Connect with me here

• Email: Hello@TheAlignedHygienist.com

Looking forward to helping you align your passion with your well-being!

Be well,
Caitlin

In this episode of The Aligned Hygienist, I sit down with Heather Kenney, a Registered Dental Hygienist with nearly 20 years of experience across general practice, DSOs, periodontology, and holistic dentistry. As an HIAOMT-certified practitioner and oral health coach with Bristol Health, Heather is passionate about bridging traditional dental care with integrative health approaches.

Her work focuses on the oral microbiome, salivary diagnostics, and the oral-systemic connection, helping patients and dental teams take a comprehensive, root-cause approach to care.

🚀 In This Episode, We Cover:

✅ Heather’s journey from traditional hygiene to holistic and integrative dentistry

✅ Why salivary diagnostics are key to understanding oral and systemic health

✅ How the oral microbiome impacts overall wellness and disease prevention

✅ The connection between airway health, myofunctional therapy, and dentistry

✅ Tips for dental professionals to prioritize whole-body wellness in patient care

💡 If you’re interested in the future of dentistry, functional health, and how to integrate a more holistic approach into your practice, this episode is for you!

About Heather: Heather Kenney is a Registered Dental Hygienist with nearly 20 years of experience in general practice, DSOs, periodontology, and holistic dentistry. As an HIAOMT-certified practitioner and Oral Health Coach with Bristle Health, she bridges traditional care with integrative approaches, focusing on the oral microbiome, salivary diagnostics, and the oral-systemic connection. Heather empowers patients and dental teams to prioritize prevention, address root causes, and deliver comprehensive care. Her mission to “put the head back on the body” drives her passion for redefining health through collaboration and education.

Connect with Heather & Bristle Health:

🔗 Bristol Health Website

🔗 Follow Heather on Instagram

Want to thrive in your role as a dental professional? Whether you’re struggling with ergonomics, managing pain, or just looking for guidance to elevate your practice, I’m here to help! As a dental hygienist, coach, and consultant, I’m passionate about empowering you to work more comfortably and effectively.

🎉 Get Your Free Chairside Guide – a quick, practical resource designed to support you in providing top-notch patient care while taking care of yourself with chairside yoga exercises, ergonomic tips, and more!

Learn more about The Aligned Hygienist here.

Let’s connect:

• Instagram: @thealignedhygienist

• LinkedIn: Connect with me here

• Email: Hello@TheAlignedHygienist.com

Looking forward to helping you align your passion with your well-being!

Be well,
Caitlin