Dental hygiene school teaches clinical ideals, but the first years in practice can test how well those ideals fit into real schedules, office expectations, and patient perceptions.

In this episode of A Tale of Two Hygienists, Billie Lunt, RDH, joins David Torres and Jessica Atkinson to talk about what self-advocacy looks like after graduation. The conversation centers on how hygienists define their own value, communicate their role to patients, and hold themselves to a professional standard even when the day is running behind.

Lunt also reflects on curiosity, integrity, and personal responsibility as practical tools for staying engaged in the profession without waiting for permission from others to lead.

Key takeaways

• The transition from school to practice can challenge a hygienist’s sense of value, especially when clinical ideals meet packed schedules and production pressures.
• Self-advocacy starts with how hygienists carry themselves in the operatory: what they explain, what they model, and what they are willing to stand for.
• Patients may not fully understand what hygienists are trained to do, which makes everyday communication about credentials, care, and clinical judgment part of the work.
• Professional identity is built in the small moments: staying consistent when running behind, asking for better instruments, completing the exam, or choosing not to lower the standard just because no one else is watching.
• Inviting patient feedback can be one way to stay accountable and reinforce that comfort, communication, and quality of care matter.
• New graduates do not need to have everything figured out, but they do need curiosity, honesty, and the confidence to keep asking questions as they grow.

Episode transcript

David Torres:

Well, hello, dental people, and welcome to another episode of A Tale of Two Hygienists, episode 539. I am your co-host, David Torres, and I'm here with my illustrious co-host, Jessica.

And just before we get started, I want to go ahead and say thank you to the listener that's probably driving and listening to the podcast, who probably has an hour-and-a-half commute, or either working out or cooking dinner and listening to this podcast.

We want to thank you. Thank you so much for listening in.

And one of those listeners that has an hour-and-a-half commute is with us today as our guest and as the one, the only, Billie Lunt. And we are so glad you're here with us. Thank you for coming.

Billie Lunt:

Oh, I'm so excited to be here. As you guys know, I love your podcast. I love what you guys are doing. This is great.

David Torres:

Well, we can't be any more thrilled about what we're going to be talking about today. And we have chosen Billie to come and talk with us on how you may be a long-time hygienist or just starting out as a new grad, how you can advocate for yourself. You're no longer in school.

Jessica Atkinson:

How are you going to start advocating yourself as a professional? So, Billie, tell us a little bit about you, your professional journey and who you are, and why this topic is important to you.

How one action step led to dental hygiene

Billie Lunt:

Oh, thank you so much. I really appreciate having the floor with both of you. Oh my gosh. Long story short, I did not realize that just by taking action steps and following something that I was curious about, and that was healthy smiles. Five years old, I just made a comment in the grocery store to the gentleman behind us to take better care of his teeth, and it all started there.

And so one action step after another, which, you know, is sometimes things that people need help with, is how to take that step. It really helps you develop your why and become that person, but you never stop taking the action steps. And that is what leads me to dental hygiene.

And dental hygiene is one of those professions where there's always a need to take the next step. So this is how I landed here, and I'm still taking steps. So I'm an educator. I'm an entrepreneur. I'm a podcaster. I'm an examiner. Oh my gosh. And I'm a mom and all the other fun things too. So just keep taking those steps is what I'm doing. Yeah, that's my origin story.

Jessica Atkinson:

That's a good origin story. I think there could be a book written about that origin story for sure. So with all of those hats that you wear, what would you say to a brand-new dental hygienist? I'm just right out of school. Like, here we are. What do you want them to learn about how to take those steps in advocation and advocacy?

What new hygienists need to know about their values

Billie Lunt:

Yeah, that's a great question, Jessica. I think the first thing for them to do is to really question their values, thoughts, and beliefs, because that is going to be what they're going to have to lean into when they start, because there's such a big gap between what they learn in school and all the ideal things, and then what's expected of them when they get out in the field.

And it's not that anything's right or wrong. It's just that they have to say, okay, is this questioning what I know? And so you have to lean in on, what do I believe to be true? What am I going to stand for as a hygienist, and what do I want patients to say about me? And how do I want to feel at the end of the day when I leave, knowing that I've made a difference?

And sometimes when you really keep that stuff in the back of your mind, those faculty that held you to the professional standards or all of the stuff that you learned in school, and then you can't really quite figure out how it fits, it starts to make you a natural advocate. It just turns you into that person that you're meant to be, right?

So you learn how to advocate for yourself first. Right? In the operatory, who are you serving? You're serving those patients. And how are you serving those patients? And how do you want those patients to define you?

And sometimes it is probably the first day of work. You're going to run into a conversation where you have to all of a sudden recognize that, oh, this isn't exactly what I thought it was going to be. I feel like I felt that way the very first day I did. I went home crying. Yeah.

And it's like, oh my gosh, how, why do I feel so overextended? And what was that? And where's the integrity in what I'm doing? And who valued?

How hygienists define value in practice

Billie Lunt:

So let's just talk about value for a second. So when I graduated, I thought value was how well I cared for my patient, you know? And then I quickly realized that it wasn't. It was how fast I did for my patient or how many patients I could care for.

It took me a long time to come around the barn to realize that I could do both if I said no to things, or I didn't overextend myself, or I was able to build my confidence as a provider to see the value in what I was doing for each individual.

And I think that's a hard thing for students to navigate when they first get out in the field. So that is what leads them naturally to either doing one of two things: advocating for the profession, advocating for their own personal professional beliefs, or putting themselves in a box and conforming to the status quo, and then being defined by what maybe the, I don't know who those people are. I'm not going to label those people, those other people. People I haven't met, those people. But whoever they are that, you know, that's you of them.

Yeah. So I teach ethics in my curriculum. And one of the, I had an entire lecture, all I did was write on the board professional, and I underlined “al,” so it's profession all, and I asked the students, how does the consumer define you as a hygienist?

And they had all kinds of great words. And how do they define themselves? And those two things don't even align.

Yeah. So then it's like, well, what can we do as individual clinicians to change those adjectives that patients describe us as and how we describe ourselves, and then how we want to be seen? Because honestly, a profession is defined by what others say, not what you say about yourself, but what others say about you.

So I think we can do a better job individually in the operatory with our patient, explaining our credentials, helping develop conversations around our educational standards, because they just see someone in scrubs. That's, I mean, are they talking? Are hygienists talking like hairdressers, or are they talking like health-care professionals? So that I challenge—

Jessica Atkinson:

Good line. Sorry. It's good. That is really good.

Billie Lunt:

I challenge every hygienist out there to look at themselves first and say, am I behaving like the professional I want to be described as? And it really starts there, and it's one by one, and we have a lot of work to do.

What patients call hygienists

David Torres:

Dental technician. Dental mechanic. Salesperson. These are words that have been used to describe me by a patient. And it takes everything in my body not to take it ill. But some people don't know what they don't know. Right.

And on the other side of the thing, I've been called doctor multiple times, to the point that even the doctor has to tell the patient, you know, he's not a doctor, right? Yeah. These are transitions of perceptions versus reality that I have personally witnessed and understood face value for what it is.

But I do agree with a lot with what you're saying. At the beginning of my career, I was very intimidated, if you can believe that. I was very intimidated, shy, and wanting to be in that position of, don't go against the current, because it might mean that they'll cut my hours. It might mean that other hygienists are feeling intimidated. It might mean that I don't get the instruments that I want because we're working with instruments that have been here for 10 years. Probably the instrument has a longer career than I have. Right.

And so how do you encourage students or even hygienists that have been doing this for a really long time that know you know your worth, but here's how you're going to sound like? Because I agree. I mean, we've all been in positions where we're like, dress for the role or the career that you want to have. And I echoed that message of saying, hey, sound, behave, and practice like the hygienist that you want to be, that you want to be recognized by.

Stop waiting for permission to own your value

Billie Lunt:

I love that. So that's that be, do, have model. You have to, you know, stop waiting for permission from someone else. Just be that person that you want to be described as and defined as. You know, and recognize that your work has tremendous value. Tremendous value.

I personally like dental nurse. I think dental nurse is probably the best.

David Torres:

I want, let's just change the professional title, please.

Billie Lunt:

You know what, we are in—

David Torres:

We are into alternate universes here. And so in the Billie universe, we are dental nurses.

Billie Lunt:

Absolutely.

David Torres:

Okay, so I've been called hygienist, my dentist.

Billie Lunt:

So it really starts there. You have to take yourself serious. You have. Don't wait for permission for someone else to say, okay, it's okay for you to be valued and show your value. We'll allow you to do that. No, just own it. Now be that person. Recognize that your work has value and then hold yourself to the standard even when you're running behind, even when nobody's watching.

And I tell the students that you are defined by the hygienist that you behave like when you are 30 minutes behind. And the beauty is when the patients don't know you're behind other than they had to wait a little bit, right? That's it. That is it.

It's not practicing. It's just doing. So that's that action thing that goes all the way back to when I was five. Don't just talk about it. Don't just say it. Don't just wish or hope for it. Just be that. Be that person, and then you'll have that career.

How one hygienist can shift the office standard

Jessica Atkinson:

Yeah. And being that person creates those conversations. Being the person that does an IO exam, and you might be the only one in the office doing that exam, creates some dissonance and creates a conversation. And then at the end of the day, what's that conversation about? Standard of care. What is our standard of care going to be?

You being the person that is requesting new instruments. Are you being the person that provides a certain level of care that then the patients start to notice a difference? And you know, for me, I've seen that. I've seen that you're in an environment that you may be acting differently than others, and that can provide a really good springboard for these changes that we're hoping to make.

And it doesn't have to be a look at me, that's what I'm doing. I loved, I'm like, what happens in my operatory is what happens in my operatory. And if somebody decides to change and do what I'm doing, awesome. But I'm not going to go into their operatory and say, you should have, could have. That was helpful for me.

And so when I decided, no, in my operatory, this is how, in my house, this is how we do it.

Billie Lunt:

I love that, Jessica. Yeah, well, I think it's a natural human behavior to like, well, no one else is doing it, right? So just even the not-so-glamorous parts of your job, you should do with the greatest amount of enthusiasm at the highest level you can, because that's what integrity is, and it is contagious. Both sides of the fence are contagious.

So quick story, I worked in, I was filling in this summer just for funsies. And the hygienist next to me at lunchtime, she was like, you're driving me crazy. I don't know how you have done this twice as long as me, and you're just like in here, just killing it. I am like on autopilot, and I just want some of your love.

Jessica Atkinson:

Yes. So we all want some of your love.

Billie Lunt:

Yeah. Take a class, get around the right people, change your mindset, and know that you have power in your own. What's going on in your room is your responsibility. Yeah. And I think far too often, we just kind of, I don't know what to do now, you know?

The mindset of being a provider

David Torres:

So the advocacy again. Oh, there's that word again. The mindset. Right. Like us having the mindset of saying, listeners, you guys are providers. You hold a license. You provide care. And so if you say that over and over again at the beginning of the day, it really does not matter how your day finishes. But if you keep that in your mind and you practice and you take care of your patient because you're providing care for them, essentially that's what happens.

I mean, I've gotten that compliment too. I'm just going to say compliment, because a comment is a comment, but a compliment to where it's almost backhanded, like, oh, why are you so happy all the time? And I'm like, because smiling is contagious, right? And I have fun. Yeah, I like having fun at work. And if I can make somebody else smile, that's my mojo. Like, that's what I'm doing, you know?

But very quickly, and I always think that the tone of the appointment is set when you open the door and you call out your patient's name, and they're immediately grumpy, and you're like, hi, Mrs. Jones, how are you? And they immediately are like, okay, I guess I can't be grumpy because this guy's smiling, right?

And he has the mindset, and it's almost a sixth sense that you can pick up and say, I'm going to treat the patient for who they are and not what they are or what time I'm seeing them or what services I'm doing. Everybody's a little bit different.

But when you tailor that care and you have fun with it, you will have a compliment of another hygienist saying, how are you so happy? How are you having so much fun? And that's called advocating for ourselves.

Jessica Atkinson:

That's right. And you can change today if you feel like you're in a little bit of a slump. Just breathe in a little bit of Billie Lunt and change today.

Because, you know, I look back on my career and, Billie, you said it best. You've got to surround yourself with people who are exuding the kind of care you want to give. And if you're feeling maybe not the most enthusiastic about your profession or the most exclusive about X, Y, Z, surround yourself with someone who is about those things, who can show you a better and different way. And that has been a profound influence and value in my life.

When a patient showed her she was in a rut

Billie Lunt:

Well said, Jessica, well said. So I have to say, and I'm going to confess this right out on the carpet. I was a hygienist for seven years when I asked a patient the same question twice, and the patient said, you just said that to me. And I said, oh, I guess I was okay, so I'm going to go back to school, was what I said in the car on my ride home.

I said, I need to learn to be better at what I do. I was kind of in a little bit of a rut. I guess it was a seven-year thing. And I have your itch. That's a thing.

Jessica Atkinson:

Other thing. I don't know. It is a marriage, and you are married to your job.

Billie Lunt:

All right. So I was like, I'm not going to cheat on this profession. I've put too much love into it.

Jessica Atkinson:

That was right. That is right.

Billie Lunt:

So I knew that I was not showing up as my best self. So you are well said when you said that you can change today, right? And it took that moment of realization that that patient deserved better.

And then I had to first, I had to get myself in the right spot, to David's point, your mindset, and then move forward and say, okay, I got to get this. I got to get this figured out and improve things and right the ship to be the best, to show up as the best self. That was like the best thing that ever happened, repeating myself on a medical history question to a patient.

Asking patients to hold you accountable

David Torres:

Well, you owe it to yourself, right? To be the best version of yourself. Because who are you going to be more proud of? Right. Like the monotone, the robotic, like same hygienist day in and day out? Or are you going to be, dare I say, inspired by your future selves and saying, man, eight-year career Billie or David or Jessica is going to be this amazing clinician, right? A mentor, somebody who inspires people.

And one of my coworkers asked me this question. I don't know what she meant by it because it just became so organic. But every time I finish an appointment with my patient and we're having a blast because, you know, we have fun in my operatory, I always say, be your patient, David.

Billie Lunt:

Do I know? I know you and Billie, please.

David Torres:

But I always ask as I sit them up, and by the way, I turn off the lights in my room because this is a whole vibe, right? Like you're getting there to treat yourself. Then I turn on the lights, the chair's going up, and as I'm taking off my gloves, I'm like, hey, is there anything else I could have done to make this appointment more comfortable?

And every time a patient is like, no, you are perfect. And I was like, well, I'm not perfect, but if I am or if I am not, because I'm a human, right? I'm going to have my off days. Please hold me accountable because you deserve the best care that I can give you.

And so a lot of the other hygienists that hear me say that, it's almost as though, like, man, why are you doing this? Why are you saying that? And it's like, because I mean it. We deserve for us to be the best versions of ourselves.

Because if I'm ever a patient, I would hope that that provider is providing me with the best possible care. Right? And so when I was a student and I felt intimidated by even saying anything because I didn't want to upset a patient, a doctor, or other hygienist, or the front desk, I noticed very quickly that it's really what you make it out to be, right?

And at least have the pure intentions to say or be humble enough that I'm not there yet. I'm not perfect, but I'm working towards it. I'm working towards being a master of my trade.

What personal responsibility looks like in practice

Billie Lunt:

The trick is you're working on being a master of your trade, and what that is, is that's personal responsibility. Because what I often, in my own self, and what I hear often is, well, I can't. I can't do that because I have 30-minute appointments, and that's all I get. I can't because my this, my that, doesn't give me this, doesn't give me that. I can't X, Y, Z.

And what you just described there, Dave, is, well, what are the things I can do? What is in my decision-making abilities to do now and do today? And when you make those decisions one moment at a time, then you get more decisions to make that are going to open up your world.

I'm just thinking right now how I want to show up differently at work, and I feel like I show up pretty good. I mean, I think I approach work, but I'm also thinking in my mind, I'm like, oh yeah, I kind of let that get to me.

I mean, we're in our last semester and they're the same goblins that show up every last semester that I'm sometimes like, why does this always show up? And they're regular working and growing pain points.

And I'm just thinking, sitting here thinking to myself, how can I show up differently in order to make that a little bit different experience? So wherever you're at, even if you feel like you're doing, you know, you're doing all right, or maybe you're having some moments like I just did there, there are opportunities for you to either be a light for someone and also be shown by the light of someone else.

Staying in love with the career

David Torres:

I love that. There's also so many personalities within the office and patients, right? Like if you see more than one patient, you have different personalities. But going back to the whole, like our careers are marriage, right?

Jessica Atkinson:

Yeah.

David Torres:

Like you have to work at it. You have to work with that healthy relationship and checks and balances of what makes you happy. And I always relate this, and Jessica, I already mentioned this to you. I was like, you got to do things that give you energy, right? And recognize the ones that suck the energy out of you.

Like for me, something that sucks the energy out of me for some reason is clinical notes. God, I wish I can just like, you're not in my head. It's in the computer, right? Like, I just, it is what it is, right? Maybe in the universe, we just have, like, these little machines that just can know what we want to write in the notes.

This Billie's really good. Make it in the clinical note. Boom. There it is. Like, AI, hurry up. You know you're not there yet. But let's focus.

But at the end of the day, I think you do have to romanticize, like, oh, I can't wait to write about my note. And how I've hacked that is, I'm remembering the experience with my patient and how happy they've made me or how happy I've made them, and put that into writing in a clinical note.

Like, that's how I've been able to have that, right, being able to kind of like say what we can control. And going back to the relationship of, like, you don't just fall in love with the career and stay in love. You got to keep on working on it, right?

Jessica Atkinson:

Yeah.

David Torres:

And so coming from a place of a student graduating, what are some of the habits that they currently should be building, kind of like a newlywed, right? Like what are some of the habits that they should be building as students that maybe they shouldn't lose momentum once they start entering the career or the marriage or the seven-year itch?

Why students do not need to have it all figured out

Billie Lunt:

I don't think they should think they should have it all figured out. I know they should give them, but they put a lot of pressure on themselves to have it all figured out. And I think we put a lot of pressure on them too.

Jessica Atkinson:

Oh.

Billie Lunt:

I'm like, remain curious. This is just, I tell them that when they graduate, it just means that they've been told they're safe to figure it out now on the public. So sorry, public, if you're listening. But that's the truth.

Jessica Atkinson:

It's called practicing dentistry, right?

Billie Lunt:

Right. And they really do have all the elementary skills to then believe in themselves too, because we know that leap of faith we take when we go into the operatory, it's like, oh my gosh, what do you mean I don't have a faculty to guide me or my shoulder?

Jessica Atkinson:

Yeah.

Billie Lunt:

So that is where they have to really lead with curiosity and be open and communicate and ask lots of questions, and be honest with patients. The first day I worked, I didn't tell anyone it was my first day as a hygienist.

Jessica Atkinson:

Yeah.

Billie Lunt:

You're like, I just—

Jessica Atkinson:

I mean, so you had been, you've been working for two years in one way or another. That's one thing I tell students. I'm like, you have been doing this. You're going to be in a different environment, and you have been doing this.

Answering the “how long have you been doing this?” question

David Torres:

And another public PSA, make sure that your provider has been doing this. Ask to see if they are a licensed human being.

Jessica Atkinson:

Yes. That's a really good point.

David Torres:

There's always that question of like, how long have you been doing this? At the very beginning of the appointment to the end of the appointment, like, oh, how long have you been doing this? Same question, different tone.

And I've got my smart-aleck answers on both. Right. Like the patients that don't know me and they see me for the first time, they ask me that question. I'm like, since like 8:00 in the morning, right? You know what that means, right?

And then now, like, towards the end, I'm like, oh, it's been over a decade and I've done this and I've done that, enough for them to be like, I only want to see you, right? Like I only want to see you. And if you ever have to reschedule my appointment, I only want to see you. Right?

Jessica Atkinson:

Yeah.

David Torres:

And it's like, thank you. I take the compliment, but I also build up my other hype because there's four of us in my office. I also build them up because, like, they're just as good as I am, right?

Jessica Atkinson:

I'm sure.

David Torres:

Like, you're cheating on me. Like, it's okay to see them as well. I'm a human being. I have three kids. But it's a compliment.

Again, goes back to us believing in ourselves, advocating for ourselves, the people that you work with, right? Being able to kind of have that hand over your shoulder, like, hey, Dave, I notice you're using this. Do you mind if I listen in a little bit more because I want to go off?

Billie Lunt:

Yes, my career too.

David Torres:

And after all, like, I've been married for 13 years, maybe longer. I got to check on that one, but definitely. Yeah. And I want to be able to also love to hear from a couple that have been together for like three decades or four decades. You know, what is the spark, right?

Jessica Atkinson:

Yeah.

David Torres:

And I just love my career so much that I hope that people continue to create that momentum for themselves, that you have to stay in love, not like a toxic relationship. Right?

Jessica Atkinson:

Yeah.

David Torres:

So, Billie, how do you stay in love with this marriage of you and dental hygiene?

Why difficult patients can be the most meaningful

Billie Lunt:

I love that. So one of the things that I think life is all about is creating tension and tension. Okay. So whenever somebody is frustrated. So, Dave, for you, it's writing clinical notes. I don't know what yours is, Jessica. But for me, one of many, it's morning huddles.

When they do those morning huddles and everybody's talking negative, oh, so-and-so's coming in, blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. I look at this, you know, the grown-up grouchy, the grumpy, grouchy patient who's just really anxious on the inside to come in. Those are literally my favorite people.

I feel like they're like the sandpaper that smooths off all my rough edges. And I almost look at them as a challenge. I'm like, I'm going to get them to smile. I'm going to get them to enjoy the dental appointment.

Like, I just look at them as a challenge. But in the huddle, they're like, the discussion in the huddle is like, I just want to start the day off on the right foot, people. And I'm not a fan of the huddle. I know people love the huddle. Like, I want my own huddle.

Jessica Atkinson:

Yes, I'm a huddle of one.

Billie Lunt:

Of one. But it's the challenging patient. When you can help a challenging patient overcome an anxious fear, anxiety, then you know that you have done something meaningful for them. Because if you can bring them into routine care, that is a challenge. That's a difference maker for that person, and that changes the trajectory of their whole health, overall health, for the rest of their life.

And that is where I think that's the secret sauce to hygiene, is when you can have behavior changes or even bring awareness to a patient who didn't even have any idea what it is that you actually do, and bring them down the path to wellness where they're self-propelled, and then they don't even need your coaching anymore. They just do it because they know. They have a knowing now, and you've developed that for them.

Jessica Atkinson:

Oh, Billie, I love that. Thank you for being a change maker and for helping propel the future of our profession into being self-propelled as autonomous dental nurses.

Billie Lunt:

Dental. Thank you for being with us today. Thank you so much.

Jessica Atkinson:

Oh, thanks for having me, guys.

David Torres:

And Billie, thank you so much for being contagious as far as smiling, right. Making sure that we all are a little happier after talking to you. And, you know, your patients, your students, they're very lucky. Your children are very lucky to have you because you can tell that you're such a positive force that is just amazing for having our lives. Thank you for being here.

Billie Lunt:

Thank you so much.

Keep learning, keep laughing, and keep showing up

David Torres:

That's a wrap on today's episode of A Tale of Two Hygienists podcast. If this conversation made you feel seen, inspired, or even just a little fired up, share it with a fellow hygienist or fellow dental professional. Share it with your neighbors. Your friends. Share it with everyone. That is how this community grows.

Make sure you subscribe to review and connect with us on social media so that we can keep on going with this conversation.

Remember your career, your voice, and your story matter here. We're David and Jessica. And until next time, keep learning, keep laughing, and keep showing up for yourself and for each other.

This has been a production of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.