The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes · 2026-08-07 · 27 min
On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Michelle Strange, MSDH, RDH, live from Thrive Live 2026 in Las Vegas. Michelle shares her unconventional path from dental assistant to hygienist, educator, entrepreneur, speaker, and now independent hygiene practice owner in Colorado. She discusses what it was like to sell everything, travel the country with mobile dental equipment, and eventually step into ownership of a hygiene practice where she can practice prevention-focused care on her own terms. Michelle and Mark dive into guided biofilm therapy, minimally invasive products like SDF and Curodont, BlueCheck, laser certification, implant maintenance, infection control, and how hygienists can play a powerful role in early detection and patient education. Michelle also shares her approach to motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, and helping patients feel seen, heard, and empowered rather than judged. Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast! EPISODE RESOURCES Dental Success Network
2575: How to Keep Your Team Compliant and Supported80 / 100
2574: Turning Hygiene Challenges Into Practice Growth
2573: The Stress-Free Hygiene System2572: The Daily Money System Every Practice Owner Needs
2571: Training the Next Generation of Dental Assistants