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Ronda Holman found her passion for dental assisting while in the Air Force.
She assisted in oral surgery, general dentistry, and ended her four-year service as a prophy tech, the military’s version of a dental hygienist.
She married and spent 13 years traveling the country while her husband served in the Air Force. Each time Ronda relocated she got the opportunity to work in a new dental office, where she picked up pearls that have helped her become an expert in educating dental assistants.
Her interests are immediate denture/partial fabrication, CEREC technology, patient education, and striving for optimal chairside skills.
Ronda believes that every dental assistant has the potential to be a rock star assistant if given the right tools and guidance.
Buying a Dental Practice Is the Easy Part—Earning the Team’s Trust Is the Real Work
By: Ronda Holman Purchasing an existing dental practice offers a significant advantage: a team that already knows…
Meaningful Ways New Dentists Can Show Gratitude to Their Team During the Holidays
…Without Spending Much Money By: Ronda Holman The holiday season is a perfect opportunity for new dentists…
Did Your Dental Assistant Give You Expired Anesthetic Again?
If So, Here’s What We Need to Do By: Ronda Holman There’s nothing that sinks a dentist’s…
Blessing or Curse? The 4 O’Clock Dilemma
By: Ronda Holman It’s 3:55 p.m. on a Thursday. The 4 o’clock patient just canceled. You can almost…
That’s Not My Job: Why Clear Delegation Matters in Dentistry
By: Ronda Holman You’ve probably heard the old story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and…
How Dentists Can Be Patient with Their Dental Assistant as They’re Still Learning
By: Ronda Holman Every dentist remembers that awkward learning curve when they first started practicing — the…
3 Ways to Invest in Your Dental Assistant
By: Ronda Holman What Dentists Can Learn from Chef Tina in The Bear In the TV series…
Why Dental Teams Should Learn Together
By: Ronda Holman In the fast-paced world of dentistry, continuing education (CE) is essential, not just for…
What’s Keeping Your Dental Assistant from Becoming an EFDA?
By: Ronda Holman If you’ve ever found yourself wishing you had two pairs of hands during a…
Help! My Dental Assistant Keeps Giving My Patients Dirty Glasses
By: Ronda Holman It might seem like a small thing, but when a dental assistant hands a…
What If Saliva Were Red?
By: Dr. David Rice What If Saliva Were Red? Do you remember that video from school? Depending on when you graduated, it will likely hit you differently. I was a 90’s grad so the whole Hepatitis, HIV was top of mind and made it stick with me. I’m guessing if you graduated in the last…
Prioritizing Value for Ideal Shade Matching with Composites
By: Lee Ann Brady DMDThis topic originally appeared on Pankey.org: Dr. Brady allowed permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. Determine Value Before Chroma and Hue Shade matching is one of the biggest challenges for dentists when it comes to composite restoration. It requires a great knowledge of color science and playing with enamel…
Leading with Empathy & Setting Standards: Insights from Irene Iancu RRDH
Host: Dr. Tanya Sue MaestasGuest: Irene Iancu RRDHEdited By: Candy Velez CRDH In a recent enlightening interview, Tanya Sue Maestas sits down with Irene Iancu to peel back the layers of her professional journey. In this episode, Irene shares invaluable leadership insights applicable across all professional landscapes. In our ever-changing world, Irene’s open-hearted conversation illuminates…
Navigating Post-Graduation: Strategies for Preventing Burnout in Dentistry
The journey beyond graduation can be fraught with challenges and pressures, such as burnout, especially for young professionals like Dr. Savanah Craig and Dr. Ronnetta Sartor. In their conversation, they tackle the crucial topic of burnout in dentistry—a pervasive issue facing many in their field. Sharing their personal experiences and proactive measures highlights the importance…
HPV and Oral Cancer: Early Detection and Prevention
By: Lee Ann Brady DMDThis topic originally appeared on Pankey.org. Dr. Brady granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that can cause cancer later in life. Infection with this virus is very common, and almost everyone with get this virus at some point in life. Most of…
The Crucial Role of Psychology in Financial Planning
By: Todd Doobrow, CFP Financial planning isn’t just about numbers and spreadsheets; it’s equally about understanding how human behaviors influence our financial decisions. Psychology plays a pivotal role in shaping how individuals perceive, prioritize, and manage their finances, ultimately impacting their financial well-being and long-term goals. We this play out in six different ways; how…
Lessons I Learned in My First Year of Dentistry
By: Dr. Savanah Craig Each year feels like it moves faster than the one before it. In the blink of an eye, 52 weeks have passed and it can be easy to miss how far you have come – unless you take the time to reflect. This year has been the first year of my…
Tongue Ties, Restricted Fascia, and Mouth Breathing
By: Dr. Soroush Zaghi, MDThis topic originally appeared on TheDawsonAcademy.com. Dr. Zaghi granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. The consequences of tongue ties, restricted fascia, and mouth breathing, are explained by a leading expert, physician, and researcher in nasal obstruction, snoring, and sleep-disordered breathing. Conversation with Dr. Zaghi on Tongue Ties, Restricted…
Ready or Not: How to Know When It’s Time to Buy a Dental Practice
By: Dr. Hannah Crowell Buying a dental practice is a significant milestone in your career as a dentist. It represents not only a financial investment but also a commitment to managing a business and caring for a patient base. Deciding when you’re ready to take this step requires careful consideration of several key factors. 7…
Help…My Dental Assistant Won’t Restock the Treatment Rooms
By: Ronda Holman My name is Ronda Holman and I have been sitting across from a dentist for a living for the last 25 years. I thought it might be time to make some written confessions about what I have been guilty of over the years and how my dentist effectively molded me into their…









