In this episode of A Tale of Two Hygienists, co-hosts David Torres and Jessica Atkinson welcome renowned speaker and dental educator Jo-Anne Jones for an impactful conversation titled "Oral Cancer Screening: Stepping Fully Into Your Role."

Jo-Anne shares deeply personal and professional insights that challenge clinicians to recognize the true life-saving potential of routine dental visits. Through powerful storytelling and clinical expertise, she highlights the urgency of early detection—especially in the face of rising HPV-related cancers—and encourages hygienists to fully embrace their role in comprehensive screenings.

From explaining the intraoral "triangle of death" to demonstrating proper neck palpation techniques, Jo-Anne provides practical, actionable strategies clinicians can implement immediately. She also reflects on how a personal crisis shaped her mission in dentistry and reinforces why every screening appointment should be treated as an opportunity to save a life.

This episode is both inspiring and educational, equipping dental professionals with the knowledge and confidence to elevate their oral cancer screening protocols and patient care.

"What We Talked About (From Jo-Anne's Perspective)"

Why Jo-Anne is passionate about saving lives—HPV, rising cancers, and one family's loss

How Jo-Anne approaches the intraoral "triangle of death" exam

How a personal crisis launched Jo-Anne's mission in dentistry

Why Jo-Anne believes this is a life-saving appointment

How Jo-Anne performs proper neck palpation

Simple screening steps Jo-Anne recommends hygienists start today

Why Jo-Anne uses screening tools in clinical practice

Call to Action

If you found this episode valuable, be sure to subscribe to A Tale of Two Hygienists, leave a review, and share it with colleagues who are committed to improving patient care and early detection.

Resources:

HPV Talking Points Resource: www.rdhu.ca/hpvtalkingpointsresource

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jjlifeandtimes/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-anne-jones-88a2266/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jo.anne.jones.626106/

Fluoride conversations don't have to feel uncomfortable. In this Bonus episode, we're joined by Jen Post, RDH, MDH, FADHA, to discuss practical strategies for improving patient communication and increasing fluoride acceptance.

Jen shares how hygienists can confidently address common patient concerns, simplify their messaging, and create more effective chairside conversations.

We also explore how Clinpro™ Clear fluoride varnish supports both clinicians and patients with its clear appearance, smooth application, and comfortable feel—helping reduce objections and improve overall acceptance.

Listeners will walk away with actionable tips to strengthen preventive care conversations and enhance the patient experience.

About Our Guest

Jen Post, RDH, MDH, FADHA is an Advanced Clinical Applications Specialist at Solventum with extensive experience in clinical practice, education, and research. She is a Fellow of the American Dental Hygienists' Association and brings a passion for practical, patient-centered care.

What We Talked About

How to approach fluoride conversations with confidence

Common patient concerns and how to address them

What makes Clinpro™ Clear different

Strategies to increase case acceptance

Call to Action

Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a colleague and start improving your fluoride conversations today.

This episode is sponsored by Solventum Dental Solutions.

Resources:

https://www.solventum.com/en-us/home/f/b5005503000/

https://s7d9.scene7.com/is/content/mmmspinco/clinpro-clear-brochure-ds-rps-enpdf

Jen Post: jpost2@solventum.com

About the Company

Solventum Dental Solutions builds on over 70 years of innovation to support dental professionals with trusted products and solutions that enhance patient care and clinical outcomes.

In this episode of A Tale of Two Hygienists, Jessica and David sit down with dental hygienist Angeli Walton to share her powerful story of recognizing early signs of a thyroid condition—within herself. What began as clinical awareness quickly turned into a deeply personal journey, as Angeli navigated the unexpected shift from provider to patient.

Angeli reflects on how her training helped her notice subtle changes that might have otherwise gone overlooked, and how trusting those instincts ultimately led to early detection. The conversation explores the emotional and professional impact of experiencing healthcare from the other side of the chair, offering a unique perspective that many clinicians don't anticipate, but can learn from.

Together, they discuss the broader role dental professionals play in identifying systemic health concerns, and why paying attention to small details can make a life-changing difference. Angeli also shares insights on self-advocacy and why it's critical for clinicians to speak up—both for their patients and themselves.

This episode offers a meaningful reminder that the skills used every day in practice extend far beyond oral health, and can be just as important in protecting your own well-being.

What We Talked About:

Recognizing early signs of systemic conditions

How clinical instincts can support early detection

The experience of transitioning from provider to patient

Why subtle symptoms shouldn't be ignored

The importance of self-advocacy in healthcare

If you found this episode valuable, be sure to subscribe to A Tale of Two Hygienists, leave a review, and share it with colleagues who are passionate about whole-body health and early detection.

Resources:

Email: Angeli.damron@gmail.com

Instagram: @angeliwalton