Dental Hygiene Student: Starting Strong

Welcome to Starting Strong, a limited‑series podcast designed just for brand‑new dental hygiene students. I’m Billie, your dental hygiene educator and the creator behind The Happy Flosser. This series is here to help you feel grounded, confident, and supported as you begin one of the most challenging, and most rewarding, journeys of your life. Companion Workbook: https://thehappyflosserrdh.etsy.co...

At the very beginning of the hygiene school journey, you can feel excited but terrified. you don’t know what to expect, what’s normal, or how to prepare. Scrolling on socal media can only make your anxiety worse, even if someone is sharing a message to help, it can create fear before you even step onto campus. Each of us has our own unique storythat led us to the day we find out we are accepted in...

Here is what I see as the semester begins to get going. As a student, readings, skill checklists, and deadlines can get ahead of you. This begins to hit you all at once, or so it seems at first. I promise there is a method to the process, and you get better at it. My best advice is to know that this is a normal feeling and that you are capable of growing into it, if you give yourself the chance Ad...

It doesn't take long for self doubt to drift into your mind as you get yourself working along in dental hygiene school. Many students fear the challenge of performance in the clinical setting. In this episode, we are going to discuss some of the most common issues students face in the clinical aspect of school. Additional Resources: Worksheet on Regaining Focus ⁠Here⁠ Leave me a message or sen...

Students fear being evaluated, corrected, or sounding inexperienced. You don’t need to sound perfect when you speak to others, just present and professional. Patients and faculty respond more to calm and honest rather than polished expertise. “If you’ve ever felt nervous talking to patients,faculty, or classmates, remember: you’re not alone. Communication anxiety is part of learning, and every con...

There are specific strategies you can use for your learning that will create hyper focus attention to the details you need to know. Learning what the high yield content is can go a long way in helping you foucs your study time. In this episode, I want through some of the strategies that actually work to help you pull information out of your head. Additional Resources: Worksheet on Regaining Focus...

As your journey begins to unfold, things will start to feel a bit more like the new norm for you. You will develop study strategies, study groups, time management skills, organizational skills, clinical skills, and test taking skills. These things will not happen overnight, but they will happen. Enjoy every moment of your journey to become an RDH. Additional Resources: Worksheet on Regaining Focus...