From Burnout to Balance: Nervous System Tools Every Hygienist Needs

Stress is more than just part of the job—it’s living in our bodies, shaping our breath, and impacting our well-being far beyond the operatory. In this episode, I sit down with a fellow dental hygienist, Heather DeJonge who’s turned her personal stress journey into a passion for nervous system regulation.

We dive into what stress really looks like in clinical care, how to recognize the signs of dysregulation, and what tools you can start using—right now—to shift from survival mode to a state of calm, focus, and presence. From breathwork to somatic movement and cognitive reframes, this episode is packed with practical strategies that actually fit into your day.

If you’ve ever ended a hygiene day with tight shoulders, a clenched jaw, or a sense of emotional exhaustion… this conversation is for you.

https://www.instagram.com/the_relaxed_hygienist/

In this episode, I’m joined by the brilliant and bold Katrina Sanders, RDH, BSDH, M.Ed, RF, to talk about the power of airway awareness from the hygiene chair—even when you’re not a myofunctional therapist.

Katrina shares how hygienists can recognize early signs of airway dysfunction, confidently start the conversation with patients, and become a powerful part of the collaborative care team without stepping outside their scope.

We explore:

•What airway screening looks like in real-time clinical practice

•How to refer out when myo or sleep support is needed

•How to overcome pushback from providers or patients

•Why every hygienist should be the first line of defense in identifying airway dysfunction

If you’ve been feeling the pull toward airway health—but aren’t sure where you fit in—this conversation will leave you feeling empowered, informed, and inspired to take action right from the op.

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Dr. Stanley Liu, a dentist and a physician, trained as an oral & maxillofacial surgeon and ENT sleep surgeon to discuss a critical (yet often overlooked) part of airway surgery: the muscles that surround—and make up—the airway.

We dive into why jaw surgery isn’t just about skeletal correction or airway volume. It’s about functional muscle rehabilitation. Dr. Liu shares why collaboration with myofunctional therapists before and after surgery is vital for long-term stability, smoother orthodontic care, and patient comfort.

You’ll learn:
-Why focusing only on airway space is a mistake
-How pre-surgical myo can reduce post-op complications
-What happens when we ignore muscle rehab
-And how to build stronger provider collaboration for better outcomes

If you work with surgical cases, airway patients, or post-op relapse concerns—this is the conversation you didn’t know you needed.