Today didn’t look like a workday on paper.

I spent the afternoon at Go Place Spa in Markham, Ontario with two wonderful friends:
Dr. Sanjukta Mohanta (a general dentist whose resting face is literally a smile) and Robyn Shields, who has recently retired from Crest & Oral-B (P&G) but is very much still in the game—mentoring, connecting, and generously sharing her years of experience.

If you know Robyn, you know she always went above and beyond for her clients. She’s one of those rare people who builds real relationships, not just professional networks.

We spent the afternoon moving between hot tubs, hot rooms, and lounging in those cozy spa robes and pajamas. It was relaxing, grounding… and at the same time, full of deep, meaningful conversation.

And isn’t that often how it goes?

When you finally slow down, the best ideas have space to show up.

A Spa Day… and an Editorial Plan

Somewhere between the steam rooms and the quiet rooms, we started talking about work, ideas, and what’s next.

As many of you know, I’m curating an upcoming issue of the Oral Hygiene Journal, and my issue is coming out in May. I shared that I was thinking about making the theme Implementation.

Not just learning.

Not just knowing.

But actually putting ideas into practice.

I asked Sanj if she would consider writing an article for the issue—and she said yes!

That sparked a really rich conversation between the three of us:

Why is implementation so hard in dental practices—even when everyone agrees something is a good idea?

And more specifically:

How can dental hygienists get dentists truly on board when they want to introduce a new program, a new protocol, or a new way of doing things?

The Aha Moment

Here’s what we kept coming back to:

Most implementation struggles aren’t about the idea.

They’re about alignment, communication, and timing.

As dental hygienists, we often:

• See the opportunity first
• Feel excited about what’s possible
• Take courses, read, learn, get inspired
• And then… hit a wall when we try to bring it into the practice

Not because the dentist is “against it.”

But because:

• They’re thinking about workflow, cost, disruption, team readiness
• They’re carrying the weight of the whole business
• And they need to see the how, not just the why

A Reframe That Changes Everything

One of the biggest insights from our conversation was this:

Implementation works best when it’s positioned as a solution to a shared problem—not just a good idea.

Instead of:

“I took a course and we should do this.”

Try:

“I’ve noticed we’re struggling with X. I think there’s a way we could improve this, and I’d love to explore it with you.”

Instead of:

“This is the new standard of care.”

Try:

“Here’s how this could improve patient experience, efficiency, outcomes, or consistency in our practice.”

And If You’re an Independent Dental Hygienist…

This conversation isn’t just for those working in traditional practices.

If you’re an independent dental hygienist, clinic owner, or mobile practitioner, implementation shows up in a different—but equally real—way.

You don’t need to get a dentist on board.

But you do need to:

• Get yourself on board with doing things differently
• Get your systems aligned
• Get your partners, referral sources, or collaborators aligned
• And sometimes, get your clients on board with a new way of experiencing care

The same truth applies:

Implementation isn’t about having a good idea. It’s about designing a path that makes the idea easy to adopt.

Whether you’re introducing:

• A new service
• A new workflow
• A new patient experience
• A new piece of technology
• Or a new boundary in your schedule or business

The work is the same:

Clarity. Framing. Alignment. Follow-through.

From Champion to Change Agent

Dental Hygienists are often the champions of change—whether in a group practice or in their own business.

But successful change doesn’t happen through enthusiasm alone. It happens through:

• Thoughtful conversations
• Clear framing
• Understanding the clinical and business impact
• And inviting others (or yourself) into the vision, not presenting it as a finished plan

That’s when implementation stops feeling like “extra work” and starts feeling like the natural next step.

Why This Matters

This is exactly why I’m so excited about the Implementation theme for the journal.

And it’s also why, in so many of our rdhu programs, we don’t just teach what to do—we focus on:

• How to integrate it
• How to create buy-in
• How to make it stick
• And how to turn good intentions into real-world change

My Invitation to You This Week

Ask yourself:

What’s one idea, improvement, or program you’ve been sitting on… because implementation feels hard?

And then:

What would it look like to start a conversation instead of making a proposal?

Sometimes the next big step forward doesn’t come from pushing harder.

Sometimes it comes from stepping back, putting on a robe, and letting the right conversation unfold.

Warmly,

Kathleen

Kathleen Bokrossy, RDH, BSc ~ Founder | President