We can get so caught up thinking we have to fit into this perfect image of how to practice dentistry. That usually means having a busy, successful private practice. By now you know that I love to challenge that idea.

So here is my challenging viewpoint: it is possible to be passionate about dentistry outside the Dental Op. My guest today proves it. While Carrie Ibbetson is clearly passionate about life at the dental chair, her true calling within dentistry has pulled her interests in a different direction.

Carrie is a dental hygienist with a slightly different mission. Listen to our interview today as she shares how she became “America’s Oral Health Coach.”

She had a unique vision even before she began her dental career. Surprisingly, she didn’t go to hygiene school to become a dental hygienist. Instead, she knew she wanted to empower people and teach them how to take care of their own oral health.

Carrie went to hygiene school to become an Oral Health Coach, something that I’m not sure even existed at the time.

I invited Carrie to share her story because she beautifully exemplifies how we can get creative in our dental careers. I spoke to a woman yesterday who knows she is passionate about dentistry, but she’s not as passionate about clinical dentistry in a private practice setting. She felt so empowered and invigorated after discovering that she is indeed normal! When we can stop seeing the limitations and start seeing possibilities, who knows what we can create? As you saw with Barbara, our Dental Whitening Guru, Carrie shows us that we can get creative in dentistry and pursue passions outside the dental operatory. Whether you are a dentist, a dental hygienist, or an assistant, you have choices.

What is an oral health coach anyway?

Carrie describes an oral health coach as:

a personal trainer for you and your mouth. In the gym, a personal trainer watches how you do something, and then helps you learn a way to do the same move more effectively. They don’t do a squat for you but instead teach you how to do a squat correctly so that you don’t injure yourself and so you’ll get maximum results. We also help you feel inspired and motivated, instead of ashamed and irritated.

Wow, if this doesn’t fill a need in our community, I don’t know what does.

And the beauty of it is how synergistic this can be in partnership with dental offices around the country! I mean, seriously, I don’t know what dental practice out there wouldn’t want more informed and motivated patients.

I hope Carrie’s story inspires you to think outside the box and gain the confidence to pursue your dream. Our creativity can help us find ways to help the community while we fuel our own passions. That is what makes life exciting!

Click here to find out more about Carrie, and check out her Oral Health Coaching Program. Be sure to watch her awesome docu-series where she completely stopped brushing her teeth for 9 months!

Listen right here on my blog, or go to Lolabees on iTunes .