Dental Hygiene Basics

Although your GPA does not define you, it should be used as crucial feedback. It shows how you’re managing coursework, using resources, and adjusting when things don’t go as planned. Admissions committees for dental hygiene programs look closely at GPAs, especially relevant science courses, because it reflects your readiness for their program. Dana shares great tips on how to polish your dental hygiene school application to put your best foot forward. 

A hand injury for a dental hygienist can be career-ending, yet many don't have a backup plan in place if it were to happen to them. Miranda Linkous shares how her wrist injury led her to pivot from clinical hygiene into dental sales. It's a refreshing reminder that the skills developed in dental hygiene translate beyond the operatory. If you're interested in learning how she did it, check out this episode and then head over to her YouTube channel, @MirandaLinkousRDH. 

Consider this episode a check-in with your personal advisor, Dana, for your dental hygiene school prerequisites. Dana walks through the common pre-req courses for dental hygiene programs. There's so much emphasis put on these science courses because they directly prepare you for the intensity of dental hygiene coursework, so they can really make or break your application. Choosing two to three target programs and tailoring your prerequisite plan to their requirements is a more effective and less overwhelming approach. Dana also normalizes having C's on your transcript, reminding listeners that strong planning, experience, and thoughtful applications can matter just as much as grades. 

Do you want the honest truth about dental hygiene—not the sugar-coated version you see on social media? Dana gets into the real downsides of dental hygiene on this episode, including musculoskeletal disorders and chronic pain, burnout, lack of autonomy, difficult workplace dynamics, emotional fatigue, and the tough transition from school expectations to real-world practice. It's important to recognize none of these challenges automatically mean dental hygiene isn’t right for you—but they do mean you have to be intentional. You can set yourself up to have a great career early on by prioritizing ergonomics, strength, and self-check-ins. If something feels off, don’t ignore it. Identify the issue you can change and make a small shift. Having an honest conversation about the downsides of dental hygiene is crucial if you’re deciding whether this career truly fits you.

Dana welcomes back Britt from Brush with Britt on the podcast to discuss finances for dental hygienists—beyond just the hourly rate. New grads and early-career hygienists often overlook crucial factors when picking a job as a result of putting so much emphasis on their compensation package. Dana and Britt agree that work environment, commute, schedule flexibility, equipment quality, and long-term financial planning are equally important when accepting a job. Britt shares her best tips for negotiating pay, asking for creative bonuses, avoiding early burnout, and starting retirement savings like a Roth IRA—even without employer benefits. A higher hourly wage doesn’t always equal a better job or a better life. Before accepting or renegotiating a position, write down your top five non-negotiables (schedule, commute, culture, equipment, growth opportunities) and evaluate the offer as a whole—not just the number. If finances feel overwhelming or you’ve only been taught to chase the highest rate, this episode will help you zoom out, advocate for yourself, and make smarter money moves from the start.

If you’re considering going into dental hygiene, you've probably wondered whether dental hygiene is truly the right path for you. This episode meets that question head-on—without fear-mongering or false promises. Dana walks through what it really means to feel “meant” for a profession, reframing doubt, delays, and detours as common parts of the journey rather than signs of failure. She discusses the concept of The Nudge, The Knock, and The Rhino—the subtle interests, clear opportunities, and unavoidable obstacles that often guide us toward where we’re meant to be, even when the path feels messy. Let this be a reminder that dental hygiene is not a lifelong trap, but a foundation of transferable skills that can grow, pivot, and evolve with you. If you’re deciding between paths or feeling unsettled by setbacks, the takeaway is practical and grounding: shadow, ask questions, listen to your intuition, and trust that struggle does not disqualify you—it often clarifies you. Caring for people is at the heart of dental hygiene, and there’s more than one “right” way to arrive there.