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Dental Assistant Nation

Dental Assistant Nation

By: Dental Assistant Nation
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Summary
 Kevin Henry is a champion for dental assistants and host of the Dental Assistant Nation podcast. He is also the editor in chief for DrBicuspid.com. Speaker, consultant and author focused on empowering, enlightening and educating dental assistants.All rights reserved Economics
Episodes
  • Episode 460: What Actually Makes Patients Say Yes To Treatment

    Episode 460: What Actually Makes Patients Say Yes To Treatment
    Nov 2 2026
    Dental patients do not say yes to treatment because the plan was written well. They say yes because of how the conversation around it was handled, and most dental teams were never trained for that part. Dr. Sasha Rutnam has been practicing dentistry for 30 years in Sydney, and she wrote Dental Patient Communication because the skill that decides whether a patient accepts care is not something dental school covers. Speaking with Kevin Henry, she breaks down what actually happens in the room. It starts with connection, getting to know the person and the fears and pain points that brought them in, instead of treating them like a number. From there it is clarity about how the treatment benefits the patient rather than a list of procedures, followed by showing that the treatment can be done comfortably. She explains why a new patient needs nothing less than an hour, why the first visit should diagnose and explain rather than pick up a drill, and how a dental assistant staying present and reassuring during numbing can be the difference between a nervous patient and a patient for life. Her standard for the whole team is simple, every patient who walks through the door should leave feeling comfortable, safe and heard. Connect with Dr. Sasha Website: https://drsasharutnam.com/ Book: Dental Patient Communication Made Simple: A Practical Guide to Explaining Treatment, Handling Objections and Improving Case Acceptance - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GNMHCL7Z ------------------- Starting a career in dental assisting can feel overwhelming, especially when you're trying to figure out what you actually need to know before stepping into your first practice. The right preparation can help you walk in with more confidence and a stronger foundation. Dental Ready is built for aspiring dental assistants who want to prepare for the profession before taking that first step. It focuses on building the knowledge and confidence needed to enter a dental practice, while also preparing you for the people and teamwork that are part of the job. If you're getting ready to start your dental assisting career, visit https://dentalready.ai/ and use code DANation-DR1 to get 10% off. ------------------- 🦷 Dental professionals, work when and where it works for you. Kwikly makes it easy to find and book flexible dental shifts right from your phone. See shift details and pay upfront, choose the opportunities that fit your schedule, and enjoy the security of W-2 employment, with payroll, taxes, and insurance handled for you. More flexibility. Less hassle. Work on your terms. 👉 Find dental shifts with Kwikly: www.joinkwikly.com ------------------- Dental assistants play a powerful role in whether patients move forward with treatment. You are a key part of the patient journey, and having the right financial options can make all the difference. CareCredit is a health and wellness credit card that offers flexible financing options, so patients can pay over time for the care they want or need, subject to credit approval. When money isn’t the obstacle, patients say yes. Want to make CareCredit part of your practice’s offerings and strengthen case acceptance? Email me at kevin@kevinspeaksdental.com and let’s make it happen for your team. ------------------- If you work chairside, you know that good isolation and retraction can make a big difference in how smoothly a procedure goes. Keeping the field dry, maintaining visibility, and giving the clinician the access they need can help everyone work more efficiently. ISORETRACT is designed to support that process by providing isolation and retraction during dental and orthodontic procedures. It can be especially useful in practices handling orthodontics, clear aligner cases, Invisalign treatment, and cosmetic procedures where maintaining a clear, controlled working field is important. Visit www.isoretract.com to learn more and see how ISORETRACT can help make isolation and retraction easier for your dental team.
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    20 mins
  • Episode 459: How Practices Keep Dental Assistants Longer in a Competitive Market

    Episode 459: How Practices Keep Dental Assistants Longer in a Competitive Market
    Oct 26 2026
    What if higher pay and stronger confidence rise together for dental assistants? Kevin Henry talks with leaders from the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) about the latest salary and satisfaction survey and the new finding that dental assistants who report higher confidence in skills and knowledge also report higher pay. The discussion centers on what that pay and confidence connection means for daily practice life, how growth and recognition help assistants feel valued, and what helps practices keep good team members longer in a competitive market. Connect with DANB https://danb.org/ ------------------- Starting a career in dental assisting can feel overwhelming, especially when you're trying to figure out what you actually need to know before stepping into your first practice. The right preparation can help you walk in with more confidence and a stronger foundation. Dental Ready is built for aspiring dental assistants who want to prepare for the profession before taking that first step. It focuses on building the knowledge and confidence needed to enter a dental practice, while also preparing you for the people and teamwork that are part of the job. If you're getting ready to start your dental assisting career, visit https://dentalready.ai/ and use code DANation-DR1 to get 10% off. Dental Ready can help you build the knowledge and confidence you need to take your first step into the profession. ------------------- 🦷 Dental professionals, work when and where it works for you. Kwikly makes it easy to find and book flexible dental shifts right from your phone. See shift details and pay upfront, choose the opportunities that fit your schedule, and enjoy the security of W-2 employment, with payroll, taxes, and insurance handled for you. More flexibility. Less hassle. Work on your terms. 👉 Find dental shifts with Kwikly: https://www.joinkwikly.com/ ------------------- Dental assistants play a powerful role in whether patients move forward with treatment. You are a key part of the patient journey, and having the right financial options can make all the difference. CareCredit is a health and wellness credit card that offers flexible financing options, so patients can pay over time for the care they want or need, subject to credit approval. When money isn’t the obstacle, patients say yes. Want to make CareCredit part of your practice’s offerings and strengthen case acceptance? Email me at kevin@kevinspeaksdental.com and let’s make it happen for your team. ------------------- If you work chairside, you know that good isolation and retraction can make a big difference in how smoothly a procedure goes. Keeping the field dry, maintaining visibility, and giving the clinician the access they need can help everyone work more efficiently. ISORETRACT is designed to support that process by providing isolation and retraction during dental and orthodontic procedures. It can be especially useful in practices handling orthodontics, clear aligner cases, Invisalign treatment, and cosmetic procedures where maintaining a clear, controlled working field is important. The goal is to make isolation easier for the clinical team while also helping create a better experience for the patient. Want to see what ISORETRACT could look like in your practice? Visit https://isoretract.com/ to learn more and see how ISORETRACT can help make isolation and retraction easier for your dental team.
    Show More Show Less
    17 mins
  • Episode 458: How Temping Can Help Dental Assistants Find Better Jobs

    Episode 458: How Temping Can Help Dental Assistants Find Better Jobs
    Oct 19 2026
    Dental assistant demand is at an all time high with offices competing to pay top dollar for skilled help. Temporary shifts offer a flexible path to higher pay, varied experience across different practices and a chance to find the right long term fit. Sarah McLaughlin from Kwikly shares that 69,000 dental assistant shifts were posted on the platform this year alone, showing how strongly practices are leaning on extra support. The conversation covers why temporary work often pays more in a competitive market, how trying different offices builds confidence and chairside skills, what dental teams value most in an assistant who takes initiative and asks how to improve productivity, and how a complete profile with certifications plus support from talent success managers helps unlock more opportunities while W-2 employment keeps taxes simple. 🦷 Dental professionals, work when and where it works for you. Kwikly makes it easy to find and book flexible dental shifts right from your phone. See shift details and pay upfront, choose the opportunities that fit your schedule, and enjoy the security of W-2 employment, with payroll, taxes, and insurance handled for you. More flexibility. Less hassle. Work on your terms. 👉 Find dental shifts with Kwikly: https://www.joinkwikly.co ------------------- Starting a career in dental assisting can feel overwhelming, especially when you're trying to figure out what you actually need to know before stepping into your first practice. The right preparation can help you walk in with more confidence and a stronger foundation. Dental Ready is built for aspiring dental assistants who want to prepare for the profession before taking that first step. It focuses on building the knowledge and confidence needed to enter a dental practice, while also preparing you for the people and teamwork that are part of the job. If you're getting ready to start your dental assisting career, visit https://dentalready.ai/ and use code DANation-DR1 to get 10% off. Dental Ready can help you build the knowledge and confidence you need to take your first step into the profession. ------------------- Dental assistants play a powerful role in whether patients move forward with treatment. You are a key part of the patient journey, and having the right financial options can make all the difference. CareCredit is a health and wellness credit card that offers flexible financing options, so patients can pay over time for the care they want or need, subject to credit approval. When money isn’t the obstacle, patients say yes. Want to make CareCredit part of your practice’s offerings and strengthen case acceptance? Email me at kevin@kevinspeaksdental.com and let’s make it happen for your team. ------------------- If you work chairside, you know that good isolation and retraction can make a big difference in how smoothly a procedure goes. Keeping the field dry, maintaining visibility, and giving the clinician the access they need can help everyone work more efficiently. ISORETRACT is designed to support that process by providing isolation and retraction during dental and orthodontic procedures. It can be especially useful in practices handling orthodontics, clear aligner cases, Invisalign treatment, and cosmetic procedures where maintaining a clear, controlled working field is important. The goal is to make isolation easier for the clinical team while also helping create a better experience for the patient. Want to see what ISORETRACT could look like in your practice? Visit https://isoretract.com/ to learn more and see how ISORETRACT can help make isolation and retraction easier for your dental team.
    Show More Show Less
    18 mins
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