Dental Hygiene Basics

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 work and school; others find that adding responsibilities compromises their ability to stay afloat academically and mentally. The more useful question is practical: do you need the job, and can your current schedule realistically support it without putting your progress at risk? Learn about a simple decision-making approach grounded in self-awareness—stepping away from outside opinions long enough to assess your own bandwidth, stress level, and priorities.🟠Start here: Get dental hygiene school tips, free resources, and access to upcoming student events →https://dentalhygienebasics.mykajabi.com/newsletter🟠 When you're ready for boards: Become a StudentRDH VIP member → https://www.studentrdh.com/national-dental-hygiene-board-review-nbdhe-studentrdh-vip-club?utm_source=Referral%60&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=DHBasics&utm_content=DVIP3🟠Want extra support + events? Get your free CloudU student membership (monthly events + giveaways) → http://clouddentistry.com/r/vxn1

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 hygiene school. Find her book here: https://www.amazon.com/Dental-Hygiene-Hack-Must-Have-Strategies/dp/B0FKJCC3XD🟠Start here: Get dental hygiene school tips, free resources, and access to upcoming student events →https://dentalhygienebasics.mykajabi.com/newsletter🟠 When you're ready for boards: Become a StudentRDH VIP member → https://www.studentrdh.com/national-dental-hygiene-board-review-nbdhe-studentrdh-vip-club?utm_source=Referral%60&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=DHBasics&utm_content=DVIP3🟠Want extra support + events? Get your free CloudU student membership (monthly events + giveaways) → http://clouddentistry.com/r/vxn1

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 can affect learning, clinical performance, confidence, and even patient communication in dental hygiene school and early practice. This conversation is a reminder that struggling does not always mean you are incapable—it may mean your brain and body are trying to manage too many unmet needs at once. You’ll also hear practical ways to check in with yourself, support overwhelmed dental hygiene patients with more empathy, and create realistic routines that protect your well-being while pursuing long-term growth in dental hygiene school and clinical practice.🟠Start here: Get dental hygiene school tips, free resources, and access to upcoming student events →https://dentalhygienebasics.mykajabi.com/newsletter🟠 When you're ready for boards: Become a StudentRDH VIP member → https://www.studentrdh.com/national-dental-hygiene-board-review-nbdhe-studentrdh-vip-club?utm_source=Referral%60&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=DHBasics&utm_content=DVIP3🟠Want extra support + events? Get your free CloudU student membership (monthly events + giveaways) → http://clouddentistry.com/r/vxn1

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 to only one school, and how timing and preparation influenced her acceptance. Just as important, she speaks honestly about what happens after you get in. The workload is manageable, but the adjustment is not always easy. The shift in routine, relationships, and expectations can take a toll if you’re not prepared for it. Her perspective on mental health, finding your people, and staying teachable offers an accurate picture of what future DH students can expect!🟠Start here: Get dental hygiene school tips, free resources, and access to upcoming student events →https://dentalhygienebasics.mykajabi.com/newsletter🟠 When you're ready for boards: Become a StudentRDH VIP member → https://www.studentrdh.com/national-dental-hygiene-board-review-nbdhe-studentrdh-vip-club?utm_source=Referral%60&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=DHBasics&utm_content=DVIP3🟠Want extra support + events? Get your free CloudU student membership (monthly events + giveaways) → http://clouddentistry.com/r/vxn1

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 discomfort because that would mean you're not pushing yourself. Keep your dental hygiene journey moving with tips from this episode.🟠Start here: Get dental hygiene school tips, free resources, and access to upcoming student events →https://dentalhygienebasics.mykajabi.com/newsletter🟠 When you're ready for boards: Become a StudentRDH VIP member → https://www.studentrdh.com/national-dental-hygiene-board-review-nbdhe-studentrdh-vip-club?utm_source=Referral%60&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=DHBasics&utm_content=DVIP3🟠Want extra support + events? Get your free CloudU student membership (monthly events + giveaways) → http://clouddentistry.com/r/vxn1

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 perfectly mapped plan, but a pattern: she stayed engaged, said yes to aligned opportunities, and continued building skills that translated across settings. This episode is a must-hear no matter where you are in your dental hygiene journey!🟠Start here → https://dentalhygienebasics.mykajabi.com/newsletter🟠 When you're ready for boards: Become a StudentRDH VIP member → https://www.studentrdh.com/national-dental-hygiene-board-review-nbdhe-studentrdh-vip-club?utm_source=Referral%60&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=DHBasics&utm_content=DVIP3🟠Want extra support + events? Get your free CloudU student membership (monthly events + giveaways) → http://clouddentistry.com/r/vxn1