Dental Hygiene Basics

Amber Lovatos shares the practical realities of her RDH origin story, from first-generation Mexican American and single teen mom to now a public health dental hygienist, public speaker, author, and engagement manager with Curaprox. Limited access to dental care shaped Amber’s understanding of oral health disparities and drove her desire to give back to her community in Houston, Texas. Amber talks...

Dentinal hypersensitivity affects a large portion of patients in the dental hygiene chair, and as an RDH (or future RDH!), it is our responsibility to help patients manage it. In this episode, Dana explains what dentinal hypersensitivity is, its various causes, and effective management strategies dental professionals can share with their patients. This episode is sponsored by Curaprox. Learn more...

Recent dental hygiene graduate Nancy Her shares her career path from dental assisting and a biology degree to completing an accelerated dental hygiene program and entering clinical practice as an RDH. She and Dana discuss student loans, finding patients for school, accepting constructive feedback, and building confidence during the transition from dental hygiene student to practicing hygienist. Gr...

Histology and embryology are often among students' least favorite classes in dental hygiene school, and many struggle to recognize the relevance they have in dental hygiene. As providers who treat disease, dental hygienists must thoroughly understand the development and function of the body's tissues. Dana shares a basic explanation of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems in a practical, easy...

What does it look like to enter a profession where you don't see many people who look like you? In this episode, Dana sits down with the DHY Boys—Madhi, Javi, and Michael, three first-year dental hygiene students navigating the challenges, opportunities, and realities of hygiene school as men in a female-dominated profession. They share their experiences with managing the workload of dental hygien...

Top-performing dental hygiene students don't often get there by relying on natural intelligence- it has more to do with how they approach learning. In this episode, Dana breaks down the habits and mindset shifts commonly seen in successful dental hygiene students- from previewing material before class and using active recall to seeking feedback, setting clinical goals, and reflecting on mistakes w...

Career growth in dental hygiene rarely follows a straight line. In this episode, Dana Schmitt, RDH, shares how a sociology degree, nonprofit work in Ecuador, and a later start in dental hygiene helped shape a fulfilling career where she supports dental hygiene students and educators nationwide with Cloud Dentistry. If you're a dental hygiene student or new grad wondering whether you're behind or u...

Taking out student loans is a reality for many dental hygiene students, but understanding how they work before you borrow can make a significant difference in your future financial situation. Dana is breaking down the basics of federal and private student loans, interest, repayment options, scholarships, and budgeting during dental hygiene school. You'll learn how to evaluate borrowing decisions w...

Guest Melanie Boyd, BS, RDH, and founder of New Wave Perio, discusses her journey from dental school rejection to building a successful dental hygiene business centered around periodontal endoscopy. She faced challenges in dental hygiene school, navigated self-doubt, learned to accept constructive feedback, pushed herself to explore different career opportunities with her RDH degree, and used all...

Preparing to start dental hygiene school can look different for everyone. Dana is sharing how you can be ready to embark on this two year jourey by managing your finances, strengthening your study habits, building a support system, and protecting your mental and physical health. She also discusses the most common challenges students face when starting a rigorous dental hygiene program and offers r...

Felicity DeLemos, aka Tooth Fairy RDH, joins the podcast to share her path from dental assisting to dental hygiene school, career burnout as a newly graduate, and eventually expanding into entrepreneurship. Felicity shares tips on setting boundaries in school with practical study strategies, time management habits, and the importance of checking in with yourself before burnout takes over. If you’v...

What makes one dental hygiene school or scholarship application stand out while another gets overlooked? In this episode, Dana shares the most common personal statement mistakes she sees after reviewing hundreds of dental hygiene school and scholarship applications. You'll learn how to move beyond generic answers, tell a story that reflects who you are, and use AI as a tool without losing your aut...

Guest Stephanie Botts, RDH and certified ergonomic assessment specialist, discusses the realities of chronic pain and career longevity in dental hygiene. Stephanie shares her journey from struggling with instrumentation in dental hygiene school to becoming certified in ergonomics and helping dental professionals prevent musculoskeletal injuries before they become career-limiting. The conversation...

If you’ve ever sent a quick email and immediately moved on, this episode may challenge you—in a useful way. Dana walks through how everyday communication habits, especially over email or messaging, shape your professional reputation long before you meet someone in person. For dental hygiene students and early-career clinicians, this isn’t about being overly formal—it’s about being intentional. A c...

Dana is talking with dental hygiene student Julianna Page about the realities of returning to school after working in dentistry for over 20 years and what dental hygiene school has been like for her as she nears the end of her last semester. They discuss burnout in accelerated dental hygiene programs, the stress of finding patients, balancing family life, and learning how to ask for support before...

One of the most challenging aspects of dental hygiene education is recognizing that your instructors are still learning, too. Dana reflects on the biggest mistakes she made as a dental hygiene educator, from navigating perfectionism and rigid, militant-like academic culture to learning how to support students without losing accountability. This conversation sheds light on the pressure faculty face...

Sarah Payne's journey to getting into dental hygiene school is truly motivating! Guest hosts Julio and current dental hygiene student Sarah offer a more accurate picture of how dental hygiene admissions actually work. From changing majors and failing prerequisites to being waitlisted, Sarah ultimately succeeded in gaining admission to a community college dental hygiene program on the first try. He...

In this episode, Dana walks through her go-to dental hygiene instruments—the 204S, Barnhart 12, Montana Jack, and the essential 11/12 explorer. She reinforces a key principle for dental hygiene students and new hygienists: once you understand adaptation, angulation, and activation, you’re not memorizing instruments—you’re applying a system. If you’ve been feeling behind in instrumentation skills o...

AI isn’t replacing dental hygienists—but it is changing how you work day to day for the better. In this episode, Dana talks with Maria Jackson, RDH and owner of Dental AI Solutions, about how tools like voice charting and automated notes are already reducing time pressure in clinical practice. Her path wasn’t straightforward, and her experience highlights a common gap: strong clinicians still need...

Are you dealing with haters bringing you down in your dental hygiene journey? In this episode, Dana talks honestly about handling discouragement, comparison, and negative feedback while staying grounded in your own goals. This conversation explores imposter syndrome in dental hygiene school, why outside validation can feel so important, and how to stay connected to your “why” when self-doubt shows...

Richard Robinson's RDH journey is a reminder that the path into dental hygiene doesn’t always start with a plan—it can start with exposure and a willingness to pivot. In this episode, Richard shares how he entered the dental hygiene profession later in life and built a 3.8 GPA despite undiagnosed dyslexia and test anxiety. His strong study habits, along with a great support system, and managing hi...

Trying to decide if you should work during dental hygiene school isn’t about the job—it’s about whether your current capacity can support it. In this episode, Dana walks through a common question for dental hygiene students: should you take on a job while in dental hygiene school? The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some students can balance work and school; others find that adding responsibilitie...

Dental hygienist, educator, and author Dr. Tonya Jeffries shares her multifaceted journey of establishing a fulfilling career in dental hygiene, including leadership, mentorship, and innovative tools that empower both students and educators. Her years of experience in education inspired her to write The Dental Hygiene Hack- a guide for students to be successful in dental hygiene school. Find her b...

Have you heard of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs? It's often taught in dental hygiene school in the context of patient care, but in this episode, Dana uses it to demonstrate how you can use it to find out if your foundational needs are being met. Stress, sleep deprivation, financial pressure, chronic pain, burnout, and self-doubt can affect learning, clinical performance, confidence, and even patient...

Allison Freimuth, a current dental hygiene student, is on this episode with guest host Julio and shares what her path actually looked like when applying—strong grades, limited program options, and a schedule that left little room for downtime. She walks through how her program evaluated applicants using a point-based system, what it meant to apply to only one school, and how timing and preparation...