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…
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…
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…
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…
Imposter syndrome in dental hygiene school—and even early in your dental hygiene career—is often a sign you’re in an active growth season, not falling behind. It means you’re challenging yourself to do more than what you thought you were capable of, which you can use to build confidence through action! The goal isn’t to eliminate…
Dana sits down with Whitney Howerton, RDH, to unpack a career that didn’t follow a straight path. Whitney shares how an initial goal of becoming a dentist shifted into dental hygiene, then evolved into clinical practice, education, industry leadership, and eventually a vice president role within a global dental company. What stands out isn’t a…
Starting off as a new grad dental hygienist can feel less like a transition and more like a sudden increase in expectations—on your time, your body, and your decision-making. Dana is sharing all the tips she wishes she had as a new grad hygienist! This episode centers on a simple but often overlooked skill: daily…
Brittany Wragg’s dental hygiene journey reflects what it looks like to build a career while also managing real-life responsibilities. From entering dentistry with no experience to completing hygiene school as a working mom, she outlines what it takes to stay consistent and achieve long-term goals. If you’re questioning your timeline or capacity to move forward…
There’s a point where your to-do list stops being helpful and starts becoming a quiet source of stress. Many dental hygiene students fall into the pattern of writing detailed to-do lists that feel productive, but don’t consistently lead to action. Dana is sharing practical ways to approach task management more intentionally, including using short, defined…
Kim Augustus from Bloom RDH is back again on the podcast and is shedding light on the difficult transition dental hygienists often face after graduating and starting their careers. With several years of experience as an RDH, educator, and career coach, Kim has built a surplus of resources to provide for new grad dental hygienists…