Dental Hygiene Basics

In today's episode, Maryam shares her personal struggles to get through dental hygiene school including the struggles of English not being her first language and how that affected her application. She got into hygiene school on the 4th try and has loved the career since! She's doing amazing things in this profession by writing articles and being a trainer on innovative technology. I found her stor...

Matthew @the_guygienist joins me on this episode to talk about his experience as a senior in dental hygiene school. It's amazing how many connections he's made so far within the dental community before even graduating! Matthew is attending an accelerated 2-year program that includes some pre-requisite courses and, although the breaks between semesters are minimal, he still finds time to work part-...

Register for "A Night with Teacher Tina" on January 28th at 7:00 pm CT HERE !! I love sharing stories of dental hygienists who have carved out a new path in this profession for themselves. Carl Demadema, CEO of Dente Media, shares his amazing story of attending oral hygiene school in South Africa where he was assigned a school project assignment and ended up founding Dente Magazine! This really un...

This BONUS episode features Teacher Tina, a dental hygiene educator, published author, speaker, and educator. She wears many hats but also has an incredible wealth of knowledge on local anesthetics in dentistry. Teacher Tina is a great resource for both dental hygiene students and registered dental hygienists looking to get certified in local anesthetic- which is why we are partnering together for...

Register for "A Night with Teacher Tina" on January 28th at 7:00 pm CT HERE !! Do you ever feel like you’re not living in the moment? It’s probably because you need to “Do Less.” And doing less isn’t what you think it is- I'm not telling you to quit everything you’re doing or do the bare minimum. It simply comes down to living in the moment you are in presently, allowing yourself to enjoy the now...

Register for "A Night with Teacher Tina" on January 28th at 7:00 pm CT HERE !! Maryam is an RDH in Canada who currently works as an instructor for dental assisting students while also creating her very own dental hygiene practice! This episode is great for all the future AND current RDHs because we cover so many good topics, including different working environments available for dental hygienists,...

Leah Hargrove is a dental hygienist in Tennessee who is a strong advocate for mental health support. She's hit a few bumps in the road to get where she is now but is so open about her story! Her goal is to help future dental hygiene students avoid the issues she's had trying to obtain her bachelor's after becoming a hygienist. Learn more about finding the right dental hygiene program for you on th...

Josie Jasperson, creator of Study Pass RDH is my guest today and shares her path to becoming a dental hygienist. She truly has the heart of a teacher and is passionate about getting students ready to ace the NBDHE by providing FREE practice questions on Instagram every single day! She also has an affordable study-prep program for students preparing for the national board exam available on her webs...

It's no surprise that dental hygiene school is tough. High levels of stress can induce anxiety and you should be equipped with the tools on how to manage it if you ever experience it! I personally had severe anxiety through school and want to share how I was able to destress in an efficient and easy manner. These are simple ways you can bring your body out of the "fight or flight" mode and into a...

Julie @peachstaterdh is a dental hygienist working in periodontics and uses social media to support other hygienists. She loves her career but admits it wasn't easy to get where she is now. We talked about being second-time girlies and how she improved her application for hygiene school to get in the second time. Before hygiene, she had a degree and worked in communications and decided to have a c...

Finding your own happiness in life is just as important as finding happiness in your career! This episode gets into hard topics like hitting brick walls in your career and how you can adapt and learn from them. Trust me when I say I didn’t have it all figured out as a new grad but can confidently say that I’ve learned from my mistakes and have come such a long way. Remember- the only person who kn...

Are you struggling to make the perfect dental hygiene resume? This episode is for anyone applying to dental hygiene school or seeking employment as a dental hygienist. Follow all my best tips to put your best foot forward in any application! Want a question answered on the show? Fill out the DHB Questionnaire HERE . Transcripts are available on Apple or by request. Slide into my DMs HERE: Instagra...

Sasha is currently a senior in dental hygiene school and is only six months away from becoming an RDH! She joins me on this episode to talk about her journey so far and shares her best advice to future and current students to pay close attention to deadlines and “just go for it!” We also get into how she’s been able to find patients despite not having family and friends in her city and the controv...

If you've followed my podcast for a while, you know how much I emphasize the importance of finding great mentors in your career. I had amazing ones who helped me get to where I am today, and I truly gained so much insight about this field through all my dental hygiene heroes. I thank them for motivating and helping me in so many ways and hope to be a mentor for others as well! Want a question answ...

If you're interested in working in the field of dental hygiene, I'm sure you know that prevention is KEY to maintaining oral health. Caitlin from @thealignedhygienist makes a great point in this episode when she says that dental professionals can apply this principle to their careers by preventing physical injuries to our bodies. She is an ergonomics consultant and yoga instructor who shares great...

Mia and Nicole from the ToothBytes Podcast join me to share their journeys into dental hygiene school. We cover the rigors of an accelerated program, getting into hygiene school with low grades on your transcript, overcoming harsh interviews, and more! Head over to their podcast to hear their experiences as new graduates. Want a question answered on the show? Fill out the DHB Questionnaire HERE ....

Dental hygiene school can feel like a two-year marathon and while the courseload is no joke, it's good to take a step back and really reflect on your journey! Through all the studying and stress, I was still able to make some really great memories that I'm grateful for to this day. Don't be afraid to get involved in student organizations and get out of your comfort zone! Those two years will be ov...

Are you looking for a mentor to guide your dental hygiene journey? Look no further! Whether you're applying to programs, are currently in hygiene school, or are a new graduate, this week's guest, Christine Phillips, and I have a passion for being a mentor to aspiring and registered dental hygienists. Christine is a hygiene coach and the founder of RDH Pro Connect. She applies her years of experien...

I love to showcase dental hygienists who have branched off from clinical hygiene to do something unique because it's so refreshing to think of all the possibilities we have in this field! In this episode, I interviewed Katie and Marvelyn, who founded their company Perio Precise. They're doing amazing work in Las Vegas, Nevada by helping hygienists incorporate the use of endoscopes in their practic...

Looking for some mentors on your path to becoming a dental hygienist? Fiona and I are perfect for the job! These “second-time” girlies didn't get into dental hygiene school on their first try yet managed to become educators in the field later down the road. With her passion for dentistry starting at a young age, Fiona was surprised to face some rejections on her path to becoming a dental health pr...

Jevonah, @the.happy. RDH, sheds light on her journey to becoming a registered dental hygienist and, although she had some bumps in the road, she remains positive and strives to spread happiness by integrating healthy mental habits. She is what we call a "second-time" girly and did not get into hygiene school on her first try. Jevonah shares her tips on improving her application to get in on her se...

Today's episode provides incoming dental hygiene students with the best advice on how they can make mental connections while in school. This is a tip to help you learn better and faster. It will also help you to perform stronger on your exams! Want a question answered on the show? Fill out the DHB Questionnaire HERE . Transcript is available on Apple or by request. Slide into my DMs HERE: Instagra...

On this bonus episode of the Dental Hygiene Basics Podcast, Dana interviews Areal, a registered dental hygienist living in Canada. Areal's RDH origin story starts with her dropping out of high school, but ends with her becoming an RDH, of course! Areal shares her story in a way that will inspire any person who may be holding onto limiting beliefs about their future career. Plus, there is a valuabl...

Katie Steger shares her amazing story of overcoming mental health struggles like anxiety and depression to now becoming a dental hygienist and educator. She’s had a non-linear path to dental hygiene school and talks about the impact of her undiagnosed ADHD and autism through it all. Katie is now an incredible resource for current dental hygiene students and shares her perspective on patient care f...

Founder of Dental Hygiene Nation, Caitlyn, joins me for a special bonus episode! She talks about how a career in dental hygiene can have more diversity than you think! She combined her passion for dentistry and graphic design as well as her experience in sales to build her successful business. Caitlyn's merch has built a community of hygienists who are proud to represent this profession and I coul...