The medically complex patient is no longer the exception in dentistry — it's the new normal. In this episode of the DrBicuspid.com podcast, Editor-in-Chief Kevin Henry sits down with DrBicuspid hygiene editor Dr. Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH, to talk about how the entire dental team needs to be thinking differently about the patients walking through the door.

Dr. Tanner breaks down why the medical history form is far more than paperwork — it's a decision-making tool that the front desk, assistants, hygienists and doctors all need to be reading together. She explains how a patient's medication list can explain nearly everything the clinical team is seeing in the mouth, and why systemic literacy has to be a whole-team skill, not just a clinical one.

The conversation also covers how trust shapes patient disclosure, how morning huddles can help teams get ahead of complex appointments, and why communication — truly reading and connecting with patients — may be the most undertrained skill in dentistry today.

What's covered:

Why the "routine" dental patient is increasingly rare How the medical history form should function as a team communication tool The connection between medications and common clinical findings How anxiety, neurodiversity and systemic conditions are changing patient care Why onboarding new team members should include communication training How to bridge the gap between what patients report and what the team is seeing

Dr. Tanner is the co-host of Quit Dreaming, Start Teaming, a podcast-style CE series with pharmacology educator Tom Viola. Continuing education courses are available at rarebirddentalce.com.