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.

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