Episode Description
What do you do when your career no longer feels sustainable—or even recognizable?
In this episode of A Tale of Two Hygienists, Jessica Atkinson and David Torres talk with Bethany Montoya, RDH, about navigating burnout, toxic work environments, and the uncertainty that many clinicians quietly carry. Her journey from corporate dentistry to fee-for-service practice, and eventually into writing, speaking, and social media, offers a candid look at what it means to rebuild a career from the ground up.
Bethany shares how a single conversation changed her trajectory, why community is foundational to advocacy, and how shifting internal dialogue from “what if it fails?” to “what if it works?” can open unexpected doors.
This episode explores burnout and misalignment in clinical practice, differences between corporate and fee-for-service environments, the role of community in professional growth and resilience, building a career beyond the operatory, and overcoming fear, self-doubt, and negative self-talk.
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