"I was a weird kid always walking around my house, brushing my teeth and experimenting on my teeth, brushing with mouthwashes and hydrogen peroxide and baking soda," laughs Kari Carter-Cherelus, describing her early fascination with dental health. This childhood curiosity evolved into a 24-year career that has taken her from clinical practice to entrepreneurship, public speaking, and authorship.

"I can't tell you very many things that I have learned from successes, but every failure is a learning opportunity." This insight from Dr. John Flucke, self-described "Technology Evangelist," encapsulates his approach to dentistry and innovation. In a recent conversation with Dr. Kelly Tanner on The Dental Handoff podcast at the Chicago Midwinter Dental Meeting, Dr. Flucke shared his remarkable journey from a three-year-old pulling his sister's tooth to becoming one of dentistry's most respected technology advisors.

In the world of dental hygiene education, where precision and standards reign supreme, finding moments of "chill" can be challenging. In a recent episode of The Dental Handoff podcast, host Dr. Kelly Tanner spoke with Jessica Atkinson, Senior Clinic Coordinator at Utah Tech University and co-founder of Hygiene Edge, about the evolving landscape of dental education, the joys of teaching, and the delicate balance between maintaining standards and creating a supportive learning environment.