Speaker: Michelle Kruse, RDH

Program Track: Professional Development

Course Description: Discover how decades of clinical knowledge and skills has transformed a borrowed idea into a successful dental instrument sharpening business. After years of firsthand experience with the challenges of dull instruments and no time to sharpen in clinical set-up, the demand for precision was unmistakable. There had to be a better way to provide comfortable patient care without sacrificing valuable appointment time and clinician fatigue. You'll hear the entrepreneurial story behind StaySharp and learn the essentials of starting your own LLC. Business strategy topics include choosing a branding structure, navigating the LLC process, setting up pricing and services, marketing to dental professionals, creating efficient workflow schedules, and building a loyal client base. Michelle combines her clinical expertise with a practical, sometimes humorous, real-world approach from the development of StaySharp to educating and assisting dental professionals to stay efficient, effective and always StaySharp.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify essential components of starting a sharpening business and the WHY.
• Explain marketing and branding strategies for dental client growth
• Discuss systems for workflow, scheduling and client management and retention
• Assist and educate dental professionals for efficiency and effectiveness

CE Credit Hours: 1.0

Original Date of Session: June 10, 2026

The American Dental Hygienists' Association is designated as an approved provider by the American Academy of Dental Hygiene, Inc. #AADHADH (Jan. 1, 2026–Dec. 31, 2026). Approval does not imply acceptance by a state or provincial Board of Dentistry. Licensee should maintain this document in the event of an audit.

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association is an approved provider of dental continuing education as recognized by the Dental Board of California, Provider #5238.