Dentistry in NYC is changing, and in Tribeca, there's a little hidden gem.

I sat down with Cody Levine, and honestly, this conversation felt like stepping into what dentistry could be when it’s done differently.

We talked about the kind of journey that doesn’t look linear. From doing dentistry under a cellphone light on mission trips to building one of the most intentional, beautifully designed practices in Tribeca, NYC. The story shared is a vision that materialized and is making a change in how patients see dentistry.

And I’ll be honest… if I didn’t live in Toronto, I’d be in New York. And if I were in New York, I’d probably be picking up a shift or two at Smile House. That’s how aligned this philosophy feels with how we also practice at Toothlife Studio.

What Cody and his team are building is a complete shift in how we think about care, moving away from quick fixes and toward something comprehensive, collaborative, interdisciplinary and way rooted in the connection between oral and systemic health.

This episode shows you what can happen when you stop treating teeth in isolation and start treating people as a whole. Sign it with me..."Head, shoulders, knees and toes."

In this episode, we yap about:

▪️ The journey from mobile dental units to creating a modern, tech-driven dental practice in New York

▪️ Why dentistry is shifting toward a mouth-body connection instead of isolated treatments

▪️ The four pillars of care: esthetics, structure, function, and biology—and how they change patient assessment

▪️ How advanced diagnostics and collaboration between specialists improve patient outcomes

▪️ Real patient cases involving TMJ, airway issues, sleep improvement, and recovery from past dental experiences

▪️ How to educate patients who come in expecting “just a cleaning” and shift their understanding of oral health

▪️ The challenges of running a modern dental practice and continuously improving both clinically and as a leader.

Connect with the Smile House Squad:

https://www.smilehouse.co/

https://www.instagram.com/smilehousetribeca/

https://www.instagram.com/codymarclevine/

If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment.

Until next time, Peace out peeps! ✌️

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RDH's...Are you taking BP at every visit?

In this episode of the Tooth or Dare Podcast, Irene and Victoria break down one of the most common questions in dental hygiene:

“Is taking blood pressure at every visit mandatory?”

Patients often say:

“I’ve never had this done before.”

So what do the guidelines actually say?

We discuss:

• Is blood pressure screening mandatory in Canada or the U.S.?
• What provincial and ADA guidelines recommend
• What to do when a reading is over 180/110
• Can patients decline?
• When to defer treatment or refer
• Real clinical stories from practice
• The disconnect between dental and medical care

Clinical stories shared:

- A patient with BP over 200 systolic who went to ER and was later medicated

- A young patient with elevated BP who turned out to be pregnant with gestational diabetes

- Patients dismissed to physicians

- What happened when a patient was told by physicians, “We’re not concerned and monitor.”

- The disconnect between dental and medical frameworks

Blood pressure screening is strongly recommended — but in most places, not legally required. So, where does that leave us as preventive healthcare professionals?

We unpack it and discuss the following Resources & References:

CDHO Hypertension Advisory

https://cdho.org/advisories/hypertension/

CDHO Hypertension Factsheet

https://cdho.org/factsheets/hypertension-in-adults/

American Dental Association – Hypertension

https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/hypertension?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Today’s RDH – Pre-Operative BP Screening

https://www.todaysrdh.com/heart-health-importance-of-pre-operative-blood-pressure-screenings-in-the-dental-office/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Peer-Reviewed Study (PMC) – BP Screening in Dental Settings

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7523566/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

If you’re a hygienist, dentist, or healthcare provider navigating this conversation in your operatory — this episode is for you.

If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment.

Until next time, Peace out peeps! ✌️

_______________________________________

📦 Amazon Store with my FAV things:

https://www.amazon.ca/shop/toothlife.irene?listId=YLX0271390I3

Follow on Social Media:

_______________________________________

💁🏼‍♀️Personal Instagram @Toothlife.Irene

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https://www.facebook.com/irene.iancu

💃🏼TikTok @Toothlife.Irene

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🛒Online Store and Instagram @Toothlife

https://www.instagram.com/toothlife

🥼Office Instagram @ToothlifeStudio

https://www.instagram.com/ToothlifeStudio

_______________________________________

🎤Podcast @ToothorDare.Podcast

https://www.instagram.com/ToothorDare.Podcast

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🔗🌲Cool links in my Linktree

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f you're a dental professional curious about using technology to SEE sub-G this is the episode for you!

In this episode, Irene sits down with Kristen Ranaldo, a perio-focused hygienist who has spent her career using dental endoscopy to treat advanced perio and failing implants. Kristen shares how seeing below the gumline transforms diagnosis, treatment, and patient communication and why blind SRP and laser-only approaches often fall short. They also discuss how desiccation gels like PerioDT and Hybenx fit into workflows and what it takes to implement this technology in everyday practice.

In this episode, we talk about:

▪️ Kristen’s early hygiene career and how she became part of the 1% of hygienists using an endoscope routinely

▪️ When to use endoscopy alone vs. combining it with lasers, biologics, and desiccation gels like PerioDT

▪️ Practical implementation: appointment flow, patient communication, coding, fees, and how general practices can keep more advanced cases in-house

▪️ The bigger picture: technology, insurance, and why hygiene needs better protocols, standardization, and support to truly move forward

Connect with Kristen:

Instagram → @thesubgingivalqueen

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If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment.

Until next time, Peace out peeps! ✌️

_______________________________________

📦 Amazon Store with my FAV things:

https://www.amazon.ca/shop/toothlife.irene?listId=YLX0271390I3

Follow on Social Media:

_______________________________________

💁🏼‍♀️Personal Instagram @Toothlife.Irene https://www.instagram.com/toothlife.irene

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💃🏼TikTok @Toothlife.Irene https://www.tiktok.com/@toothlife.irene

🛒Online Store and Instagram @Toothlife https://www.instagram.com/toothlife

🥼Office Instagram @ToothlifeStudio https://www.instagram.com/ToothlifeStudio

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🎤Podcast @ToothorDare.Podcast https://www.instagram.com/ToothorDare.Podcast

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🔗🌲Cool links in my Linktree https://linktr.ee/TOOTHLIFE.IRENE