Welcome back to another insightful episode of A Tale of Two Hygienists! This week, Andrew Johnston is joined by none other than Dr. Alan Mead—podcaster, dentist, mentor, and community builder. Dr. Mead shares how the dental podcasting landscape has evolved over the years, what it takes to maintain endurance in dentistry, and how the profession continues to change.

Highlights from This Episode:

• Podcasting Roots & Mentorship:
  Andrew Johnston credits Dr. Alan Mead as the reason this very podcast exists, touching on early Facebook communities, learning tech, and the supportive culture of dental podcasters.

• CE, Learning, and Growth:
  Dr. Mead discusses his experience at recent Bioclear courses, the tendency to fall back into comfortable habits, and the challenges of integrating new techniques into everyday practice.

• The Changing Face of Dental Podcasting:
  The conversation covers the shift from traditional audio podcasts to video and social-focused content, the pros and cons of new tools, and how AI is changing audio editing and show notes.

• Dentistry Over the Years:
  Reflections on what's changed in the profession, from new grads facing massive debt, to decreasing engagement on platforms like Facebook, and the difference in career expectations from Dr. Mead's early days to now.

• Advice for New Podcasters:
  Dr. Mead offers sage advice for anyone starting a podcast: don't obsess over download numbers, focus on genuine engagement and conversation, make your show personal and relatable, and always prioritize the audience's needs.

• Looking Ahead – The Future of Dentistry:
  Thoughtful (and candid) takes on whether Dr. Mead would encourage a new grad to enter the profession, the importance of finding fulfillment outside of work, and how impermanence—among both dental staff and patients—might affect long-term patient relationships.

Voices of Dentistry Podcast and Event

Dr. Alan Mead also talks about the return of the Voices of Dentistry conference—a unique gathering for dental podcasters, listeners, and anyone interested in the dental podcasting community.

• Voices of Dentistry 2026

  
  

  Dates: January 16th and 17th, 2026

  
  

  Location: Implant Pathway, Arizona

  
  

  Details & Tickets: Voices of Dentistry website

  
  

  Note: Limited tickets due to fire codes! This is an intimate event with great speakers and loads of podcasters—not to be missed if you're a fan of dental podcasts.

You can also check out the Voices of Dentistry Podcast for discussions with some of the biggest names in dental podcasting.

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• Follow and engage on social media!

• Don't forget to subscribe and sign up for our newsletter via our website.

Thank You for Listening!
If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving a review and sharing with a friend. Have thoughts or want to connect? Reach out to the show or join the discussion on Facebook.

This episode is a production of Endeavor Business Media.

Episode Summary:
This tipisode from "A Tale of Two Hygienists" features Dr. Sadie, a periodontist from Maryland, sharing insights on the implementation of Perio Protect in her multi-specialty practice. Hosted by Tanya Dunlap, the conversation delves into the evolution of Perio Protect's role in patient care, how its usage has expanded across multiple locations, and the impact on patients' outcomes and retention.

**In Partnership with PerioProtect visit http://www.Perioprotect.com

Key Topics Discussed:

• Introduction to Perio Protect:
  How Dr. Sadie was introduced to Perio Protect and her initial experiences after a colleague recommended it in 2018.

• Implementing Perio Protect:
  Transition from selective case usage to a comprehensive protocol adopted across five practice locations.

• Benefits and Expanded Applications:
  Improvements in patient outcomes such as reduced bleeding, better pocket depths, and successful management of difficult cases (like unknown gum etiologies and patients on seizure medications).

• Patient Motivation and Maintenance:
  Discussion on how seeing improvements with Perio Protect motivates patients to maintain better oral hygiene, leading to long-term gum health and even saving teeth from extraction.

• Use with Implant Patients:
  Evolution from using Perio Protect only for cases of peri-implantitis to proactively recommending it for all implant maintenance.

• Case Presentation Tips:
  Dr. Sadie shares strategies to introduce Perio Protect to patients—including using testimonial videos and explaining the science behind hydrogen peroxide as an adjunctive tool.

Notable Quotes:

• "I thought it was just for scaling and root planings, maybe just hygiene patients. But as I started seeing positive results...I started implementing it for all my perio patients." —

  Dr. Sadie

• "It's motivating...for the patients to see that." —

  Dr. Sadie

• "The hardest part for clinicians who are just getting started with Perio Protect is case presentation."

Action Items for Listeners:

• Consider how adjunctive therapy like Perio Protect can enhance your workflow and patient outcomes.

• Use patient testimonials and clear explanations to boost case acceptance.

• Subscribe and visit the podcast website for more tips and updates!

Connect With Us:
Follow the Podcast and guests on social media, subscribe for updates, and sign up for the newsletter at the podcast website!

Production Credits:
A Tale of Two Hygienists, brought to you by Endeavor Business Media.

Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to subscribe and join us for the next tipisode.

In this episode, Andrew Johnston welcomes long-time friend and hygiene industry leader Sarah Thiel back to the show. As one of Andrew's final episodes, the two reflect on their years of friendship, the evolution of dental industry networking, and the incredible journey and impact of CE Zoom—Sarah's unique platform for tracking and managing continuing education (CE) requirements across all 50 states.

Listeners get an inside look at how Sarah Thiel and her team keep up with the constantly shifting requirements of CE, the challenges of regulatory compliance, and what it means to truly support clinicians in their licensing journeys. The episode also explores hot topics in dental CE—including oral pathology, vaping, local anesthesia, substance abuse, and perio trends—plus stories from the frontlines of regulatory changes and audits.

• The Evolution of CE Zoom:

  Sarah Thiel

  shares how CE Zoom went from a simple CE tracker to a comprehensive platform serving every dental license type and, now, other industries requiring CE.

• Navigating Audits & Regulations: Hear how CE requirements are more complex than most professionals realize, and why real-time tracking and board-specific courses matter.

• Networking & Relationship Building:

  Sarah Thiel

  talks about the authentic approach to networking—why helping others comes first, and how most of her professional connections (and successful matchmaking) happen in relaxed, informal settings.

• Hot Topics in CE: The episode spotlights recent and perennial favorite courses among dental professionals—oral pathology, vaping, local anesthesia updates, substance abuse, perio, and instrumentation.

• Behind the Scenes Managing Compliance: The intricate process of following every dental board's changes—thanks to Sarah's team, especially Melissa, who attends and reviews every board meeting to keep users ahead of the curve.

• Stories from the Field: Listen for a cautionary tale about regulatory changes and how CE Zoom went to bat for a clinician caught in a timing loophole—highlighting why trusting experts matters.

• "You don't know what you don't know... until you're audited and realize the rules have changed." –

  Sarah Thiel

• "Sarah's made that crossover from dental friend to real-life friend." –

  Andrew Johnston

• "I just love meeting people and figuring out ways to help them—business comes after." –

  Sarah Thiel

• "The dental boards don't care if you almost met the requirements—you have to get it exactly right." –

  Sarah Thiel

• CE Zoom: cezoom.com

• Contact Sarah & the Team: Email help@cezoom.com for questions or support.

• A Tale of Two Hygienists: Stay updated by following the show on social media and subscribing to the newsletter.

Thanks for tuning in! Subscribe for more insightful conversations and updates as the podcast transitions to its next era.