Dental Hygiene Basics
by Dental Hygiene Basics
200: Dana's Top 3 Life Hacks You Can Apply to Dental Hygiene School
About this podcast
Are you dreaming of becoming a dental hygienist? The Dental Hygiene Basics Podcast is your go-to resource for getting in, getting through, and graduating dental hygiene school.
Never miss an episode, study tips, or upcoming events! Sign up for our newsletter: www.dentalhygienebasics.com/newsletter
Hosted by Dana Paladino, RDH (educator, mentor, and founder of Dental Hygiene Basics), this is the only podcast dedicated solely to guiding future and current dental hygiene students from start to finish. Whether you're prepping your application, tackling first-semester stress, or studying for the NBDHE/NDHCE, you’ll find clear, practical, and uplifting guidance here.
At Dental Hygiene Basics, we offer a full-circle support system:
🎙️ Podcast
📚 Tutoring
🎓 Scholarships
🧡 Educational Resources
This podcast helps you navigate every stage of your dental hygiene journey — from getting accepted to succeeding in school and building your career. You’ll learn how to stand out in your application, prepare for interviews, and develop the study skills, clinical techniques, and instrumentation confidence needed to thrive in hygiene school. We also cover board exam prep (NBDHE/NDHCE), explore both traditional and alternative career pathways for RDHs, and share real stories from hygienists who’ve been in your shoes. Plus, you’ll hear about scholarships and student resources designed to support you along the way.
We answer the questions students actually have — like how to get into dental hygiene school, what to expect once you’re in, and how to prepare for interviews. We break down the biggest challenges students face, how to improve instrumentation and clinical confidence, and the most effective study strategies. We also explore career options after graduation and how to find scholarships and support as a dental hygiene student.
Our Mission: We’re building a supportive, uplifting community where hygienists help aspiring hygienists succeed. 🧡 Our big goal is to award $100,000 in dental hygiene scholarships by 2035 and open doors for the next generation of RDHs.
If you're committed to becoming a registered dental hygienist, this podcast will walk with you every step of the way.
Subscribe now and start your journey to becoming an RDH! 🎧✨
See All of Our Services: https://dentalhygienebasics.com/
Connect With Us on Socials: @dentalhygienebasics
#dentalhygieneschool #dentalhygiene #futurerdh #studentrdh #dentalhygienebasics
This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, dental, legal, or academic advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your individual situation.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 206 episodes
- 200: Dana's Top 3 Life Hacks You Can Apply to Dental Hygiene School · 25 min · Season 1 Episode 200Dana's sharing the top three life hacks she's learned so you don't have to, and how you can apply them to dental hygiene school! These three practical principles can change how…
- 199: Jozel’s Dental Hygiene Journey and Navigating the No’s Along the Way · 34 min · Season 1 Episode 199Jozel Campbell @jozel.hygienist has been practicing as a dental hygienist for a year now and shares her journey- from immigrating to the US and navigating dental hygiene…
- 198: How to Develop a Thick Skin and Accept Criticism in Dental Hygiene School · 21 min · Season 1 Episode 198Being able to accept constructive criticism is part of becoming a competent dental hygienist—but it doesn’t mean you have to feel hurt in the process. In this episode, Dana talks…
- 197: From Academic Setbacks to Successful Progress with Mahdi Mohseni · 24 min · Season 1 Episode 197Mahdi Mohseni @idham_mohseni is a current dental hygiene student whose journey to getting into dental hygiene school did not follow the traditional path. In this episode, Mahdi…
- 196: Why Your Prerequisites Matter in Dental Hygiene School · 20 min · Season 1 Episode 196Your prerequisite courses do more than help you qualify for dental hygiene school—they build the foundation you'll rely on throughout your education and clinical career. There's…
- Bonus Episode: Whitney DiFoggio and the Dental Hygiene Month Party: Celebrating Our Profession · 18 minWhitney DiFoggio joins Dana to share her RDH origin story, how she got into content creation in 2015, and now working on her doctorate in health science! Whitney hosts a yearly…
- 195: Dannia's Secrets to Success in Dental Hygiene School · 42 min · Season 1 Episode 195Dannia's @danniardh episode was so good, we had to share it again for those who missed this amazing conversation! She talked about her inspiring journey getting into dental…
- 194: Three Lesions You Should Absolutely Know for Dental Hygiene Clinic AND Boards · 16 min · Season 1 Episode 194Dental hygienists are responsible for scanning each patient for abnormal lesions in the mouth- known as an intraoral exam. To an untrained eye, oral lesions can look very…
- 193: Guest Host Michael Suruy with Liliet Quiroga · 20 min · Season 1 Episode 193Current dental hygiene student and special guest host Michael Suruy from @DHY_Boys sits down with Liliet Quiroga @sparklingsmileslge, RDH, for a conversation about the realities…
- 192: Struggling through Preclinic in Dental Hygiene School? · 24 min · Season 1 Episode 192Preclinic is typically the most intimidating class for dental hygiene students in their first semester, but it's also where the habits that shape your clinical career begin. In…
- 191: Consistency Over Perfection in Dental Hygiene School with Brionna Watson, MPA, RDH · 56 min · Season 1 Episode 191Dana sits down with dental hygiene program director Brionna Watson @brionnawatson_, MPA, RDH, Director of the Dental Hygiene Program at the Community College of Baltimore County…
- 190: Dana's Dental Hygiene Story · 30 min · Season 1 Episode 190Dana's path into dental hygiene is more winding than most, with several rejections, moments of self-reflection, and unexpected turns. In this episode, Dana shares her personal…
- 189: Shaping Smiles and Minds with Billie Lunt, RDH · 49 min · Season 1 Episode 189Bringing back one of our fav episodes with guest Billie Lunt in case you missed it! Dental hygiene educator and podcast host Billie shares what admissions committees are really…
- 188: How to Find Dental Hygiene Scholarships · 14 min · Season 1 Episode 188Applying for scholarships in dental hygiene school sounds like a great way for students to make some quick cash, but it's knowing where to get started that holds them back. In…
- 187: Michael Suruy from the DHY Boys on Chasing Success in Dental Hygiene · 39 min · Season 1 Episode 187Michael Suruy, current dental hygiene student and co-host of the DHY Boys podcast, joins Dana to discuss his unconventional path into dental hygiene. With a background in…
- 186: Are you a Procrastinator? Or a Perfectionist in Disguise? · 18 min · Season 1 Episode 186Are you truly a procrastinator, or is perfectionism keeping you from moving forward? Dana unpacks why last-minute productivity can feel effective but also cause you more stress…
- 185: Build a Dental Hygiene Career That Fits You with Irene Iskander · 26 min · Season 1 Episode 185Finding your dream path in dental hygiene rarely happens immediately after you graduate, but guest Irene Iskander shares how you can get there eventually. In this episode, Irene…
- 184: Design Your Dream Life as a Dental Hygienist · 18 min · Season 1 Episode 184For many aspiring dental hygienists, the goal is clear: get accepted into dental hygiene school, graduate, and start your career. But what happens after that? In this episode…
- 183: Lessons from a New Grad Dental Hygienist with Emma Yegan · 28 min · Season 1 Episode 183Recent dental hygiene graduate Emma Yegan navigated multiple application cycles to DH school before being accepted on the third try, despite earning her bachelor's in biology and…
- 182: I Think I'm Hurting My Patients When I Debride! Help! · 23 min · Season 1 Episode 182If you've ever wondered whether you're being too heavy-handed during instrumentation, you're not alone. In this episode of the Dental Hygiene Basics Podcast, we break down why…
