What if dental hygienists could do more than clean teeth? What if they could coach patients through the barriers that actually prevent them from getting healthy—and get reimbursed for it?

In this episode, Kimberly Williamson explores why dental hygienists are uniquely positioned to become health coaches, and why this model could transform not just dentistry, but healthcare as a whole.

She breaks down the oral-systemic connection—how periodontal disease is linked to diabetes, heart disease, and mental health—and explains why treating the mouth in isolation makes no sense. She also addresses the socioeconomic barriers patients face that traditional dental education never taught us to explore: food insecurity, transportation, lack of insurance, mental health struggles, and more.

Kimberly shares her own journey to becoming a Certified Integrative Health Coach, why she's now pursuing board certification through the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching, and the frustrating irony that hygienists—already board certified clinicians—often can't bill insurance directly, while health coaches now have CPT codes and growing recognition.

She also reveals that oral health wasn't even included in her health coaching curriculum—and when she reached out to the Institute for Integrative Nutrition about it, they acknowledged it was a missed opportunity but said they couldn't change the curriculum at this time.

This episode is a call to action for clinicians, patients, and the industry: it's time to reclaim the role dental hygienists were always meant to play.

Resources mentioned:

• 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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