Dental Hygiene Basics

How did Andreina Sucre @ThePathoRDH become a dental hygienist without going to dental hygiene school? We're explaining it all in this episode, talking about Andreina's path as an internationally trained dentist from Venezuela, with a background in oral pathology, to becoming a licensed dental hygienist in Florida. She discusses the licensing process, the financial and time investment, adap...

Becoming a registered dental hygienist can feel like one big leap, but the journey is actually made up of many small steps. In this episode of the Dental Hygiene Basics Podcast, Dana reflects on her experience facing a fear that had held her back and connects it to the realities of dental hygiene school. From applying to a program and getting accepted to learning clinical skills, building confiden...

Guest host Michael Suruy with @dhy_boys is back this week with Ursula Jaimes, RDH, @latinahygienist to highlight her journey to becoming a dental hygienist, taking advantage of a local program that covered her tuition costs completely! Ursula also talks about how she navigated the intensity of dental hygiene school while raising her daughter. Her experience is a reminder that feeling uncertain dur...

Dana's sharing the top three life hacks she's learned so you don't have to, and how you can apply them to dental hygiene school! These three practical principles can change how you approach dental hygiene school— through consistency, intentionally designing your life, and investing in yourself. Small, repeatable habits can make a significant and meaningful difference over time. You’ll also learn h...

Jozel Campbell @jozel.hygienist has been practicing as a dental hygienist for a year now and shares her journey- from immigrating to the US and navigating dental hygiene prerequisites to overcoming a waitlist, financial challenges, and a high-stakes clinical competency that nearly changed the course of her career. Jozel also talks about how her passion for community service led her to create a non...

Being able to accept constructive criticism is part of becoming a competent dental hygienist—but it doesn’t mean you have to feel hurt in the process. In this episode, Dana talks about how dental hygiene students can learn to build thick skin and take criticism in a way that will boost their growth. She explains how to recognize the emotions and negative thought patterns that feedback can trigger,...

Mahdi Mohseni @idham_mohseni is a current dental hygiene student whose journey to getting into dental hygiene school did not follow the traditional path. In this episode, Mahdi shares how he went from having no dental experience and several F's on his transcript to getting into a dental hygiene program. His academic setback changed how he approaches school by asking instructors for help, build...

Your prerequisite courses do more than help you qualify for dental hygiene school—they build the foundation you'll rely on throughout your education and clinical career. There's a common narrative being shared that anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology, communication, and even math are "just boxes to check," but this is far from the truth. Challenge yourself to see ho...

Whitney DiFoggio joins Dana to share her RDH origin story, how she got into content creation in 2015, and now working on her doctorate in health science! Whitney hosts a yearly Dental Hygiene Month Party, a free virtual event celebrating the dental hygiene community through connection, games, giveaways, and the inaugural Future Hygienist Award. Her story highlights how a dental hygiene career can...

Dannia's @danniardh episode was so good, we had to share it again for those who missed this amazing conversation! She talked about her inspiring journey getting into dental hygiene school at the age of 19 as a first-gen college student. Dannia's story is one you don't want to miss! We discussed networking, the costs of hygiene school, and the continuous improvements you can make to be...

Dental hygienists are responsible for scanning each patient for abnormal lesions in the mouth- known as an intraoral exam. To an untrained eye, oral lesions can look very similar, but the way to manage each is very different. In this episode, Dana explains how to distinguish herpetic lesions, aphthous ulcers, and traumatic ulcers by focusing on four practical factors: location, appearance, patient...

Current dental hygiene student and special guest host Michael Suruy from @DHY_Boys sits down with Liliet Quiroga @sparklingsmileslge, RDH, for a conversation about the realities of dental hygiene school and the transition into clinical practice. Liliet's inspiring story of moving to the States at 20 years old without speaking English shows that dental hygiene is a career path possible for anyo...

Preclinic is typically the most intimidating class for dental hygiene students in their first semester, but it's also where the habits that shape your clinical career begin. In this episode, Dana talks about practical strategies to approach instrumentation, competencies, and hand skills with realistic expectations, rather than perfectionism. Whether you're struggling in preclinic, preparing for a...

Dana sits down with dental hygiene program director Brionna Watson @brionnawatson_, MPA, RDH, Director of the Dental Hygiene Program at the Community College of Baltimore County, to discuss what it really takes to thrive in dental hygiene school, from trusting the learning process and developing resilient study habits to understanding why true competence comes from comprehension—not memorization....

Dana's path into dental hygiene is more winding than most, with several rejections, moments of self-reflection, and unexpected turns. In this episode, Dana shares her personal journey—from college rejections, career uncertainty, and questioning whether she was pursuing the right profession, to ultimately finding her place in dental hygiene and education. Tune in for practical advice she learned al...

Bringing back one of our fav episodes with guest Billie Lunt in case you missed it! Dental hygiene educator and podcast host Billie shares what admissions committees are really looking for, along with practical advice for navigating the transition into dental hygiene school. Billie also shares her #RDHoriginstory and the experience that inspired her career in dentistry. This episode offers thought...

Applying for scholarships in dental hygiene school sounds like a great way for students to make some quick cash, but it's knowing where to get started that holds them back. In this episode, you'll learn practical strategies for finding dental hygiene scholarships at the national, state, local, and school levels, along with simple ways to organize applications and make the most of your personal sta...

Michael Suruy, current dental hygiene student and co-host of the DHY Boys podcast, joins Dana to discuss his unconventional path into dental hygiene. With a background in manufacturing and no prior experience in dentistry, Michael shares how he utilized intentional preparation, evidence-based study strategies, and a willingness to adapt to help him be accepted into a competitive dental hygiene pro...

Are you truly a procrastinator, or is perfectionism keeping you from moving forward? Dana unpacks why last-minute productivity can feel effective but also cause you more stress and decision fatigue. Dental hygiene students who find themselves in a rut of procrastination while preparing for exams and projects should take the time to self-reflect on this. Dana shares a practical framework built arou...

Finding your dream path in dental hygiene rarely happens immediately after you graduate, but guest Irene Iskander shares how you can get there eventually. In this episode, Irene talks about how her unexpected start in dentistry, the challenges she faced in dental hygiene school, and years of exploring different practice settings ultimately led her to airway dentistry and myofunctional therapy. Dan...

For many aspiring dental hygienists, the goal is clear: get accepted into dental hygiene school, graduate, and start your career. But what happens after that? In this episode, you'll learn why building a fulfilling career starts by thinking beyond admission and boards. Rather than designing your life around a job title, consider what you want your everyday life to look and feel like—and how dental...

Recent dental hygiene graduate Emma Yegan navigated multiple application cycles to DH school before being accepted on the third try, despite earning her bachelor's in biology and having experience as a dental assistant. She shared all her best tips on improving your dental hygiene school application, overcoming challenges in clinic, and performing well didactically. Emma also shed light on paying...

If you've ever wondered whether you're being too heavy-handed during instrumentation, you're not alone. In this episode of the Dental Hygiene Basics Podcast, we break down why patient discomfort happens in the dental hygiene chair, how to recognize the origin of patients' pain, and which fundamentals have the greatest impact on patient comfort. You'll learn practical strategies for improving scali...

Kristen King, RDH and founder of Dental Reveal, shares how unexpected opportunities, strong professional relationships, and a willingness to stay curious shaped her career—from clinical practice across multiple states and countries to building an educational platform that helps dental hygienists integrate oral microbiology and microscopy into patient care. She offers practical advice for the futur...

Patient education is one of the most important—and often overlooked—skills developed in dental hygiene school. Dental hygienists will find themselves explaining periodontal disease, treatment recommendations, and providing informed consent in a way patients can understand multiple times a day. Dana breaks down how classroom concepts connect directly to patient care, why treatment acceptance depend...