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The Aligned Hygienist
The Aligned Hygienist is your essential guide to thriving in the dental profession with purpose, passion, and a powerful sense of alignment. Join Caitlin Parsons, Registered Dental Hygienist turned Certified Yoga Therapist, Ergonomic Consultant, and wellness advocate, as she shares her insights and brings together inspiring voices from across the dental field. In each episode, Caitlin and her guests dive into today's dental professionals' real-life challenges and opportunities, offering actionable strategies to overcome pain, manage stress, enhance ergonomics, and boost overall well-being.
From solo deep dives to engaging conversations with industry leaders, The Aligned Hygienist is designed to empower you with tools and knowledge that help elevate your career, enhance patient care, and support healthcare’s larger mission. Whether you’re here to fine-tune your ergonomic practices, learn from the experiences of other practitioners, or find alignment in your work and life, this podcast is your invitation to grow, transform, and thrive.
Subscribe to The Aligned Hygienist and join Caitlin on a journey to reshape what’s possible for you, your patients, and the future of dentistry.
Be sure to follow me on Instagram if we're not connected yet, @thealignedhygienist - I would love to hear what you think!
The Aligned Hygienist
72. Putting the Head Back on the Body: Holistic Dentistry with Heather Kenney
In this episode of The Aligned Hygienist, I sit down with Heather Kenney, a Registered Dental Hygienist with nearly 20 years of experience across general practice, DSOs, periodontology, and holistic dentistry. As an HIAOMT-certified practitioner and oral health coach with Bristol Health, Heather is passionate about bridging traditional dental care with integrative health approaches.
Her work focuses on the oral microbiome, salivary diagnostics, and the oral-systemic connection, helping patients and dental teams take a comprehensive, root-cause approach to care.
🚀 In This Episode, We Cover:
✅ Heather’s journey from traditional hygiene to holistic and integrative dentistry
âś… Why salivary diagnostics are key to understanding oral and systemic health
âś… How the oral microbiome impacts overall wellness and disease prevention
âś… The connection between airway health, myofunctional therapy, and dentistry
âś… Tips for dental professionals to prioritize whole-body wellness in patient care
💡 If you’re interested in the future of dentistry, functional health, and how to integrate a more holistic approach into your practice, this episode is for you!
About Heather: Heather Kenney is a Registered Dental Hygienist with nearly 20 years of experience in general practice, DSOs, periodontology, and holistic dentistry. As an HIAOMT-certified practitioner and Oral Health Coach with Bristle Health, she bridges traditional care with integrative approaches, focusing on the oral microbiome, salivary diagnostics, and the oral-systemic connection. Heather empowers patients and dental teams to prioritize prevention, address root causes, and deliver comprehensive care. Her mission to “put the head back on the body” drives her passion for redefining health through collaboration and education.
Connect with Heather & Bristle Health:
đź”— Follow Heather on Instagram
Want to thrive in your role as a dental professional? Whether you’re struggling with ergonomics, managing pain, or just looking for guidance to elevate your practice, I’m here to help! As a dental hygienist, coach, and consultant, I’m passionate about empowering you to work more comfortably and effectively.
🎉 Get Your Free Chairside Guide – a quick, practical resource designed to support you in providing top-notch patient care while taking care of yourself with chairside yoga exercises, ergonomic tips, and more!
Learn more about The Aligned Hygienist here.
Let’s connect:
• Instagram: @thealignedhygienist
• LinkedIn: Connect with me here
• Email: Hello@TheAlignedHygienist.com
Looking forward to helping you align your passion with your well-being!
Be well,
Caitlin