The DSO Hygienist Podcast

Hosted by Christine Diehl

Business Health Fitness

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Latest episode

Nov 2026

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EN-US

About the show

DSOs are built on numbers, but they are run by people. The DSO Hygienist pulls back the curtain on what's really happening inside today's dental organizations, with conversations that go deeper than the metrics. Christine Diehl, BGS, RDH, talks with executives, clinicians, entrepreneurs, and industry experts about leadership, culture, acquisitions, technology, and what separates the organizations that thrive from the ones that just survive

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52 recent

November 3, 2026Episode 1620 min

The Business of Brighter Smiles Making Teeth Whitening Work for Your Practice

Arturo Paiva is the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GloboDent LLC, a top-tier dental and oral health company specializing in offering cutting edge oral care products. Paiva oversees global operations and is responsible for delivering innovative tools and techniques to improve consumer and dental professional oral care. He has more than eighteen years of experience in the dental industry. Prior to founding GloboDent, he was Vice President of an international dental manufacturing company. He has an entrepreneurial mindset with exceptional proficiency in product development and is known for helping emerging entrepreneurs with launching their products and building a leading brand. Additionally, Paiva is also very passionate about giving back to the community. Paiva holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas. A native of Peru, he is married with two children and resides in Houston. In his free time, he enjoys travelling with the family and playing sports. @thedsohygienist "Like" and "Subscribe" https://thedsohygienist.buzzsprout.com Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-diehl-rdh/ music credit: "Seize the Day" by Andrey Rossi https://thedsohygienist.com

October 13, 2026Episode 1529 min

What Great Hygiene Leadership Looks Like

What does great hygiene leadership actually look like? It’s not just about hitting production goals. It’s not just about clinical excellence. And it’s definitely not about having the loudest voice in the room. Great hygiene leadership is about developing people, creating trust, and giving hygienists avoice in the success of the organization. In my latest episode of The DSO Hygienist, I sit down with Misty Mattingly for a conversation about what it really takes to lead hygiene teams well. We talk about leadership, growth, team development, and the opportunities available to hygienists who are willing to step beyond the operatory. Because I believe the future of dental hygiene needs more than great clinicians. It needs great leaders. Misty Mattingly, RDH, BS, FADHA is Senior Vice President and Chief of Dental Hygiene Operations at Sage Dental (280-plus hygienists, 163 locations) and host of Hygiene Happy Hour. She raises awareness about growing diversity in the profession, builds hygiene ecosystems and Hu-Friedy innovation for better care at scale, and is bringing SmileSip to the USA while educating hygienists through Hygiene Happy Hour. @thedsohygienist "Like" and "Subscribe" https://thedsohygienist.buzzsprout.com Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-diehl-rdh/ music credit: "Seize the Day" by Andrey Rossi https://thedsohygienist.com

September 8, 2026Episode 1416 min

The Hidden Risks Behind DSO Growth

Linda Harvey, MS, RDH Email: lynda@compliancepartners.net LinkedIn: Linda Harvey Company: Compliance Partners Event: Scaling Without Exposure Focus: Leadership, Compliance & Risk Strategy for Growing Healthcare Organizations The event is scheduled for September 25, 2026, from 8:00 AM–4:00 PM ET in Atlanta, Georgia , at SpringHill Suites by Marriott Atlanta Northwest. As founder of the Dental Compliance Institute, Linda Harvey has shaped dental risk management and risk remediation for more than thirty years. DCI extends that legacy beyond its trainthetrainer courses to offer something dentistry has long needed: a professional home and career pathway for emerging and established dental compliance leaders. inda Harvey is a nationally recognized speaker/consultant and veteran healthcare risk manager. She is recognized as a Distinguished Fellow in the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management. Linda is also a 2026 Denobi Award recipient. @thedsohygienist "Like" and "Subscribe" https://thedsohygienist.buzzsprout.com Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-diehl-rdh/ music credit: "Seize the Day" by Andrey Rossi https://thedsohygienist.com

August 24, 2026Episode 1326 min

What most Dental Leaders misunderstand about AI adoption

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sonia-szamocki/ Dr Sonia Szamocki is the CEO of 01Health, which helps dental offices and DSOs drive new revenue through specialty care, including orthodontics and sleep. She trained as a doctor at Oxford and worked as an ER doctor before moving to the Boston Consulting Group, helping advice transformations in healthcare, then helped build a digital health company that became the world’s largest medical device app for hemophilia patients. She founded 32Co in 2022 (now 01Health) on a single conviction: the bottleneck to healthcare isn’t cost, it’s access. Specialists are concentrated in a handful of postcodes; patients aren’t. 01Health is the platform that fixes it, giving everyday practices the clinical protocols, specialist oversight, AI tooling and patient acquisition to deliver specialist care in-chair, today across orthodontics (32Co) and sleep medicine (Aerox), with more specialties in build. Backed by Balderton Capital, the company has raised $25M to date. Sonia is one of the first to make the case that the hygienist, the person who sees the patient most often and for longest, is the most underused growth lever in dentistry, and to build the tools and incentives to unlock it. As a former BCG consultant advising organizations on technology strategy, and as a founder building AI infrastructure inside a clinical environment, Sonia has seen both sides of the coin. Sonia has featured in: Dentistry Magazine , Dental Leaders Podcast , Dentistry Uncensored Podcast @thedsohygienist "Like" and "Subscribe" https://thedsohygienist.buzzsprout.com Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-diehl-rdh/ music credit: "Seize the Day" by Andrey Rossi https://thedsohygienist.com

August 11, 2026Episode 1239 min

Why the Next Three Years Will Change Dentistry Forever

Dr. Alan J. Acierno is the founder of DecisionOne Dental Partners and currently Chief Dental Officer at Smile Brands. After receiving his D.D.S. from Creighton University, he practiced dentistry in both group and private environments, where he discovered the benefits and challenges of each practice. Compelled with a vision to make a difference in the way dentistry is practiced, Dr. A.J., together with his brother and fellow dentist, Dr. Michael Acierno, founded DecisionOne Dental Partners in 2011. In 2019 DecisionOne partnered with Smile Brands to continue their mission of changing the way dentistry is done to improve lives with the backing of a best-in-class partner. In 2021 Dr. Acierno stepped into his role as one of the COOs within SmileBrands, overseeing the Midwest division. In 2024 Dr. Acierno took the role of Chief Dental Officer of Smile Brands. In his free time, Dr. Acierno enjoys spending time with his family, watching his kids play sports, staying active, and traveling. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-aj-acierno/ https://smilesipusa.com/discount/thedsohygienist @thedsohygienist "Like" and "Subscribe" https://thedsohygienist.buzzsprout.com Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-diehl-rdh/ music credit: "Seize the Day" by Andrey Rossi https://thedsohygienist.com

July 23, 2026Episode 1136 min

Turning Dental Data into Measurable Growth

Elliot Zibel is the CEO of ClariFi Health, where he leads strategy, growth, and innovation initiatives focused on transforming healthcare delivery through technology. With a background in healthcare operations and entrepreneurship, he works with providers, partners, and investors to build scalable solutions that improve efficiency, access, and patient outcomes.He can bridge the gap between clinical excellence and business performance. Optimal patient care and stronger financial results don’t have to compete, but complement each other when data is used the right way. He can be reached on LinkedIn and https://clarifihealth.us/ @thedsohygienist "Like" and "Subscribe" https://thedsohygienist.buzzsprout.com Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-diehl-rdh/ music credit: "Seize the Day" by Andrey Rossi https://thedsohygienist.com

June 23, 2026Episode 1024 min

Leading with Purpose: Empowering Women in Dentistry

Dr. Aman Kaur is a seasoned executive and a DSO industry veteran passionate about driving results through clinical excellence and operational discipline. Dr. Kaur is the Founder and President of Women in DSO; she also assists DSOs in various stages of growth, PE Groups and VC Firms supporting different dental organizations and emerging healthcare companies. In this capacity, Dr. Kaur works with board members and executive team members to develop organizational structure through business analysis. In addition, she helps build financial and operational efficiencies, compliance programs, governance, peer review, training programs and creates development and growth strategies. Dr. Kaur is an inspirational leader who encourages actions that assist organizations in gaining market share and reputation among dental professionals while being grounded in clinical and financial information that leverages the business. Respected as a credible voice in the industry for her clinical and business decision-making, finding strategic solutions, and building partnerships and alliances, Dr. Kaur is constantly shaping the dental industry. @thedsohygienist "Like" and "Subscribe" https://thedsohygienist.buzzsprout.com Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-diehl-rdh/ music credit: "Seize the Day" by Andrey Rossi https://thedsohygienist.com

June 1, 2026Episode 926 min

DSO Due Diligence: The Tech Deal Breakers

In this episode, Mike Huffaker breaks down why technology infrastructure has become one of the most heavily scrutinized areas of private equity due diligence in today’s DSO market. As buyers look beyond production numbers and EBITDA, they’re evaluating whether a DSO’s systems can scale, integrate, protect patient data, and support long-term growth. Mike shares the most common technology gaps that trigger concern during the sale process, how outdated systems can impact valuation, and the framework DSO leaders can use to identify hidden risks before they become costly negotiation points. From cybersecurity and reporting capabilities to operational efficiency and scalability, this conversation gives dental leaders a practical look at what private equity firms are really evaluating behind the scenes. If you’re preparing for growth, recapitalization, or a future exit, this episode offers insight into how the right technology strategy can strengthen both operational performance and enterprise value. Mike Huffaker is the Chief Revenue Officer for Planet DDS. With a remarkable track record, he spearheads both the sales and marketing divisions of this rapidly growing dental software solutions company. Huffaker brings invaluable insights into evolving trends in the dental industry. During his tenure, the company has achieved significant milestones, now proudly serving over 13,000 dental practices, including many large DSOs and emerging groups. @thedsohygienist "Like" and "Subscribe" https://thedsohygienist.buzzsprout.com Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-diehl-rdh/ music credit: "Seize the Day" by Andrey Rossi https://thedsohygienist.com

May 19, 2026Episode 817 min

Revenue Leakage Is Quietly Killing Dental Practices. Here’s How to Stop It

In this episode of The DSO Hygienist, we break down the hidden operational gaps quietly costing practices thousands every month, without most teams even realizing it. Helen Sublette is a dental executive and revenue cycle strategist with over 15 years of experience leading and scaling operations across multi-site dental organizations. As the Founder and CEO of Coastal Dental Professionals Consulting, she specializes in designing and optimizing revenue cycle systems, from insurance verification to analytics and A/R performance, helping practices eliminate revenue leakage and recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost production and collections. Known for her ability to turn complex operational challenges into structured, high- performing systems, Helen has built and led teams supporting dozens of practices, consistently improving accuracy, reducing denials, and driving measurable financial results. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Professional Model Workgroup with the Dental Assisting National Board and is a speaker with the American Association of Orthodontists, where she educates on orthodontic billing, coding optimization, and revenue cycle strategy. At the core of her work is a people-first philosophy, Helen believes that sustainable success comes from strong relationships, aligned teams, and systems that empower people to perform at a high level. @thedsohygienist "Like" and "Subscribe" https://thedsohygienist.buzzsprout.com Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-diehl-rdh/ music credit: "Seize the Day" by Andrey Rossi https://thedsohygienist.com

May 6, 2026Episode 735 min

The Invisible Expert Problem (And How to Fix It)

Janis Sadoyama has spent over 16 years helping founders, entrepreneurs, executives, and leaders architect aligned brands from the inside out. Her philosophy is that a powerful personal brand isn't something you create; it's something you excavate. You start from experience, from everything you've already lived and built and learned, and you bring it to the surface in a way that finally makes sense to the people who need you most. Janis specializes in working with what she calls "invisible experts," the highly qualified, deeply experienced people who are somehow still the best-kept secret in their industry, and she helps them build brands that create real autonomy, real authority, and a whole lot more of the right opportunities. She's the founder of Stratum Brand Partners and the host of The Launch My Brand Today Podcast. https://stratumbrandpartners.com/ LAUNCH MY BRAND TODAY Build a brand around what you want to be known for TAKE THE PERSONAL BRAND ARCHETYPE QUIZ – Discover what makes you stand out. @thedsohygienist "Like" and "Subscribe" https://thedsohygienist.buzzsprout.com Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-diehl-rdh/ music credit: "Seize the Day" by Andrey Rossi https://thedsohygienist.com