Welcome to the 149th episode of the Tooth or Dare Podcast with Irene Iancu (@toothlife.irene) and this week's guest Melissa Turner (@thetoothgirl).

In Part 2 of this interview, we discuss what it’s like to be a dental hygienist working within the established dental practice system - it’s not all pretty. Melissa’s mission is to improve patients’ access to dental care, and she is a huge advocate of hygienists having their own practices, like Irene herself. Find out why it’s so challenging to make this happen, and what goes behind running a practice successfully.  Melissa also wants to make sure dental professionals are recognized for their achievements. She co-founded the Denobi Awards as a way to celebrate the unsung heroes of dentistry.Do you know someone who deserves an award? Listen to the end to learn how you can nominate someone, or even yourself!

Melissa Turner: A 20-year veteran dental hygienist and founder, Melissa K. Turner is a sought-after executive, consultant, dynamic speaker and top millennial content creator. Behind some of the most innovative brands in the industry, she partners with companies of all sizes – from pre-seed startups to billion-dollar international brands – on brand strategy and product growth. Turner’s combined experience behind the scenes in the boardroom, on the frontlines as clinician, and as a public-facing influencer allows her unique insight into future industry trends. She is the founder and founding board member of multiple companies and is referred to as a “fresh force of change”– representing a new generation in dentistry with a focus on transforming the future through innovative technology, inclusion and practitioner wellbeing. Senior Executive Consultant and Chief Hygiene Officer at Cellerant Consulting Group, Turner leads the Cellerant Best of Class Hygiene Awards. She is a founding board member for the American Mobile & Teledentistry Alliance and cofounder of The Denobi Awards and the National Mobile & Teledentistry Conference. Affectionately known by her influencer handle @thetoothgirl, she is creator of the I Heart Dentistry Network.

Turner’s newest launches include Smile Proud, an advocacy organization built to support current and future LGBTQIA+ dental professionals, as well as I,Woman, a podcast for women founders, executives and entrepreneurs focusing on what it takes to unleash their inner roar in the boardroom, the bedroom and beyond.

For more information and to connect with Melissa, check out her social media profiles: Instagram: @thetoothgirl Melissa’s Website: www.MelissaKTurner.com  The Denobi Awards Website: https://www.denobiawards.com/

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