Dental Hygiene Basics

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 becomes clear through patient care, not before it. One patient experience led her to build a niche serving an underserved population, reminding listeners that growth in clinical dental hygiene often starts with curiosity and a willingness to adapt. She also offers grounded insight into common challenges like finding patients in clinic, paying for dental hygiene school, and navigating workplace culture—emphasizing that the right office environment and continued education (like CE courses and conferences) can shape long-term satisfaction in the profession.Start here:Get dental hygiene school tips, free resources, and access to upcoming student events → https://dentalhygienebasics.mykajabi.com/newsletterWhen you're ready for boards:Join StudentRDH VIP → 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=DVIP3Want extra support + events?Get your free CloudU student membership (monthly events + giveaways) → http://clouddentistry.com/r/vxn1

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 from passive review to active recall, spaced repetition, and full-length practice exams that mirror the real test experience.🟠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

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, students can reinforce concepts by actively applying them in clinic.Struggling on your dental hygiene school journey? Download our free guide to help you overcome your dental hygiene hurdles HERE! https://dentalhygienebasics.mykajabi.com/pl/2148740487Thank you to our sponsor, Student RDH, for supporting Dental Hygiene Basics! You can access more information on their national boards prep services here.

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? Download our free guide to help you overcome your dental hygiene hurdles HERE! https://dentalhygienebasics.mykajabi.com/pl/2148740487Thank you to our sponsor, Student RDH, for supporting Dental Hygiene Basics! You can access more information on their national boards prep services here.

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, support, and balance, it’s absolutely doable!Struggling on your dental hygiene school journey? Download our free guide to help you overcome your dental hygiene hurdles HERE! Thank you to our sponsor, Student RDH, for supporting Dental Hygiene Basics! You can access more information on their national boards prep services here.

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 Examination (NBDHE). Instead of spreading your study time thin, start paying attention to patterns: what instructors repeat, what appears on multiple quizzes, and what connects to real clinical decision-making. Struggling on your dental hygiene school journey? Download our free guide to help you overcome your dental hygiene hurdles HERE! Thank you to our sponsor, Student RDH, for supporting Dental Hygiene Basics! You can access more information on their national boards prep services here.

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 her own academic journey and years of helping students prepare for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), Claire shares how learning how to study—not just what to study—can change everything!Struggling on your dental hygiene school journey? Download our free guide to help you overcome your dental hygiene hurdles HERE! Thank you to our sponsor, Student RDH, for supporting Dental Hygiene Basics! You can access more information on their national boards prep services HERE.

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 on building a structured study plan that starts with identifying your strongest and weakest subjects, then uses spaced repetition—returning to topics at strategic intervals—to strengthen recall over time. Struggling on your dental hygiene school journey? Download our free guide to help you overcome your dental hygiene hurdles HERE!Thank you to our sponsor, Student RDH, for supporting Dental Hygiene Basics! You can access more information on their national boards prep services HERE.

Dana sits down with former dental hygiene student Aliyah to unpack what it really looks like to navigate the unexpected in dental hygiene school. From an unplanned career change, setback in her acceptance, and grieving a family loss during the program, Aliyah shares how preparation, a strong support system, and clear priorities helped her stay grounded without losing track of the ultimate goal- to become a registered dental hygienist. Find her on TikTok @aliyahburrelll and IG @aliyahrdh_ Struggling on your dental hygiene school journey? Download our free guide to help you overcome your dental hygiene hurdles HERE!This episode is sponsored by StudentRDH. Check out all of their services to help you get ready for boards HERE.