It’s easy to feel behind in dental hygiene school- the pace is fast and the expectations are high. But that pressure often has more to do with mindset than proficiency. In this episode, Danni Linton shares her path from student to educator and how perfectionism and fear of feedback can hold students back. Learn how…
Preparing for the dental hygiene clinical manikin exam comes with a lot of pressure, but the goal of the exam is simpler than you may think. The objective is to demonstrate that you are minimally competent and safe to practice as a dental hygienist. In this episode, Dana shares practical dental hygiene instrumentation tips for…
Lisa Curbow, RDH, shares her dental hygiene journey from grocery store work to dental assisting— and how it led her to a long-term career in dental hygiene, including a specialized role in special needs dentistry and hospital coordination. Her story reinforces a steady truth for both dental hygiene students and early-career clinicians: your direction often…
In this episode, Dana walks through what to do after an unsuccessful board exam attempt, starting with the first 48 hours—when processing the disappointment matters just as much as planning your next step. Once the initial emotions settle, the real work begins: reviewing your failure report, identifying gaps in foundational dental hygiene knowledge, and shifting…
Learning information in dental hygiene school is one thing—retaining it long enough to use it in practice is another. In this episode, Jaskiren explains why connecting classroom knowledge to real clinical experiences is one of the most reliable ways to strengthen memory retention in dental hygiene school. Instead of “learning and dumping” material after exams,…
Instrumentation isn’t something you simply learn with enough practice. Many dental hygiene students find themselves repeating mistakes without knowing why. In this episode, Dana explores how visualization—a strategy used in sports and supported in dental education—can strengthen the neural pathways behind fine motor skills and improve clinical performance. Struggling on your dental hygiene school journey?…
Not every dental hygienist started their journey with a perfect GPA or a clear path. Guest host Julio talks with current dental hygiene student Cailin Hawn about navigating dental hygiene school prerequisites, competitive admissions, and the realities of clinic and coursework. This episode is a reminder that dental hygiene school is challenging, but with preparation,…
Dental hygiene school can make it feel like you need to memorize everything—but not every topic carries the same weight. In this episode, Dana breaks down how to recognize high-yield dental hygiene topics—the concepts that show up repeatedly across classes, impact patient safety, and are commonly tested on exams and the National Board Dental Hygiene…
Dental hygiene students assume the key to passing boards is as simple as hitting the textbooks—but that approach often falls short. In this episode, Claire Jeong, founder of Student RDH- a National Boards Prep Company, explains why traditional study methods don’t always work and shares her expertise on what students can do instead. Drawing from…
Preparing for the dental hygiene national boards can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re wondering if you’re even studying the right things. In this episode, Dana walks through a clearer, more effective approach to dental hygiene boards prep that helps you retain information without burning out. Instead of trying to master every detail at once, focus…