Katie Steger shares her amazing story of overcoming mental health struggles like anxiety and depression to now becoming a dental hygienist and educator. She’s had a non-linear path to dental hygiene school and talks about the impact of her undiagnosed ADHD and autism through it all. Katie is now an incredible resource for current dental hygiene students and shares her perspective on patient care for those with autism through her social media. Tune in to hear how she went from C’s and D’s in high school to becoming the valedictorian of her hygiene class! See the full transcript HERE. Want a question answered on the show? Fill out the DHB Questionnaire HERE. Slide into my DMs HERE: Instagram: @dentalhygienebasics. Facebook: Dental Hygiene Basics. Twitter: @DH_Basics Email:[email protected]

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:51) Katie’s Not-So-Linear Path

(05:04) Her Undiagnosed ADHD and Autism

(11:27) Application and Interview Process

(13:56) Managing Mental Health Through School

(17:30) Katie’s Stressors in Hygiene School

(22:17) Advice to Students as an Educator

🔹 Listen & Subscribe: The Dental Hygiene Basics Podcast is available on all platforms. Never miss an episode—hit follow and stay updated!

🔹 Join the Community: Follow @DentalHygieneBasics on socials for study tips, motivation, and exclusive content.

🔹 Need Help on Your Journey? Check out www.dentalhygienebasics.com to see all of our services! Whether you are applying or recently accepted, we got you!

🔹 Support Future Hygienists! A portion of our proceeds funds the Dental Hygiene Basics Scholarship, helping aspiring RDHs achieve their goals. Learn more at www.dentalhygienebasics.com/scholarship.

🎧 Thank you for listening! If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review—it helps more future RDHs find us! 💙

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Founder of Dental Hygiene Nation, Caitlyn, joins me for a special bonus episode! She talks about how a career in dental hygiene can have more diversity than you think! She combined her passion for dentistry and graphic design as well as her experience in sales to build her successful business. Caitlyn's merch has built a community of hygienists who are proud to represent this profession and I could not be more excited to see our field continue to evolve. I hope this episode ignites a passion for your future career because it truly can open so many doors for you!!

Want a question answered on the show? Fill out the DHB Questionnaire HERE. Transcript is available on Apple or by request. Slide into my DMs HERE: Instagram: @dentalhygienebasics Facebook: Dental Hygiene Basics Twitter: @DH_Basics

Timestamps:

(00:00) Caitlyn’s RDH Origin Story and the Birth of Dental Hygiene Nation

(07:45) Transition from Clinical Hygiene to Sales

(14:34) Full-Time vs Part-Time Hygiene

(20:10) Dental Hygiene as a Nation

(24:00) High School Straight into Hygiene School

(28:29) Paying for Hygiene School

(30:12) Caitlyn’s Challenges

(34:05) Words of Wisdom

🔹 Listen & Subscribe: The Dental Hygiene Basics Podcast is available on all platforms. Never miss an episode—hit follow and stay updated!

🔹 Join the Community: Follow @DentalHygieneBasics on socials for study tips, motivation, and exclusive content.

🔹 Need Help on Your Journey? Check out www.dentalhygienebasics.com to see all of our services! Whether you are applying or recently accepted, we got you!

🔹 Support Future Hygienists! A portion of our proceeds funds the Dental Hygiene Basics Scholarship, helping aspiring RDHs achieve their goals. Learn more at www.dentalhygienebasics.com/scholarship.

🎧 Thank you for listening! If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review—it helps more future RDHs find us! 💙

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you stuck in a cycle of procrastination? This episode has the best tip on how to curb this habit while in school. Find out how to make the best out of your education with some preparation and engagement here!

Want a question answered on the show? Fill out the DHB Questionnaire HERE. Transcripts are available on Apple or by request.

Slide into my DMs HERE: Instagram: @dentalhygienebasics Facebook: Dental Hygiene Basics Twitter: @DH_Basics Email:[email protected]

Timestamps:

(00:00) Pros and Cons of Procrastinating

(02:05) My Number One Tip

(05:42) Preparation Powers Performance

🔹 Listen & Subscribe: The Dental Hygiene Basics Podcast is available on all platforms. Never miss an episode—hit follow and stay updated!

🔹 Join the Community: Follow @DentalHygieneBasics on socials for study tips, motivation, and exclusive content.

🔹 Need Help on Your Journey? Check out www.dentalhygienebasics.com to see all of our services! Whether you are applying or recently accepted, we got you!

🔹 Support Future Hygienists! A portion of our proceeds funds the Dental Hygiene Basics Scholarship, helping aspiring RDHs achieve their goals. Learn more at www.dentalhygienebasics.com/scholarship.

🎧 Thank you for listening! If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review—it helps more future RDHs find us! 💙

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arianna Cazares graduated from dental hygiene school one year ago and joins host Dana on this episode to share her experiences working in the clinical setting. Her passion is to educate patients with low dental health literacy and spread awareness through her social media. This episode sheds light on many topics for aspiring dental hygienists such as paying for school, finding patients, preventing dismissal from your program, and so much more! Go give Ariana a follow on Instagram @thergvrdh

Want a question answered on the show? Fill out the DHB Questionnaire HERE. Transcripts are available on Apple or by request.

Slide into my DMs HERE: Instagram: @dentalhygienebasics Facebook: Dental Hygiene Basics Twitter: @DH_Basics Email:[email protected]

Timestamps:

(00:00) The RGV RDH’s Origin Story

(04:58) Her Journey to Dental Hygiene School

(12:13) Paying for School

(18:50) How to Stand Out Without an Interview

(22:00) Perks of Programs in Rural Cities

(29:11) Struggles of Finding Patients

(36:26) Dropping from Dental Hygiene School

🔹 Listen & Subscribe: The Dental Hygiene Basics Podcast is available on all platforms. Never miss an episode—hit follow and stay updated!

🔹 Join the Community: Follow @DentalHygieneBasics on socials for study tips, motivation, and exclusive content.

🔹 Need Help on Your Journey? Check out www.dentalhygienebasics.com to see all of our services! Whether you are applying or recently accepted, we got you!

🔹 Support Future Hygienists! A portion of our proceeds funds the Dental Hygiene Basics Scholarship, helping aspiring RDHs achieve their goals. Learn more at www.dentalhygienebasics.com/scholarship.

🎧 Thank you for listening! If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review—it helps more future RDHs find us! 💙

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a lifelong learner, Dana has found the BEST ways to retain information. One of her most reliable methods is self-explaining. It is simple yet very efficient when having to learn difficult concepts like histology or embryology. These tips are not only important to do well on your tests, but also to provide better care to patients in the clinical setting!

Want a question answered on the show? Fill out the DHB Questionnaire HERE. Transcript is available on Apple or by request.

Slide into my DMs HERE: Instagram: @dentalhygienebasics Facebook: Dental Hygiene Basics Twitter: @DH_Basics

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(00:59) Self-Explaining

(03:43) Treat Learning Like a Game

🔹 Listen & Subscribe: The Dental Hygiene Basics Podcast is available on all platforms. Never miss an episode—hit follow and stay updated!

🔹 Join the Community: Follow @DentalHygieneBasics on socials for study tips, motivation, and exclusive content.

🔹 Need Help on Your Journey? Check out www.dentalhygienebasics.com to see all of our services! Whether you are applying or recently accepted, we got you!

🔹 Support Future Hygienists! A portion of our proceeds funds the Dental Hygiene Basics Scholarship, helping aspiring RDHs achieve their goals. Learn more at www.dentalhygienebasics.com/scholarship.

🎧 Thank you for listening! If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review—it helps more future RDHs find us! 💙

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Letitia, also known as Toothfairytish, is a mentor for newly graduated dental hygienists and has her own Podcast, Sunday Scalies! She offers amazing advice for incoming hygiene students and discusses her own personal struggles through school. Both Letitia and host, Dana get vulnerable as they tell their stories of being pre-dental before hygiene school. Tune into this episode to hear all about Letitia's journey to become a dental hygienist! Then give her a follow on Instagram @toothfairytish See the full transcript HERE. Want a question answered on the show? Fill out the DHB Questionnaire HERE. Slide into my DMs HERE: Instagram: @dentalhygienebasics. Facebook: Dental Hygiene Basics. Twitter: @DH_Basics Email:[email protected]

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION: bold.org/scholarships/dental-hygiene-basics-scholarship/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:20) Letitia’s RDH Origin Story

(21:00) Second-Time Girly

(24:59) Working in Hygiene School

(31:25) Letitia’s Struggle

🔹 Listen & Subscribe: The Dental Hygiene Basics Podcast is available on all platforms. Never miss an episode—hit follow and stay updated!

🔹 Join the Community: Follow @DentalHygieneBasics on socials for study tips, motivation, and exclusive content.

🔹 Need Help on Your Journey? Check out www.dentalhygienebasics.com to see all of our services! Whether you are applying or recently accepted, we got you!

🔹 Support Future Hygienists! A portion of our proceeds funds the Dental Hygiene Basics Scholarship, helping aspiring RDHs achieve their goals. Learn more at www.dentalhygienebasics.com/scholarship.

🎧 Thank you for listening! If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review—it helps more future RDHs find us! 💙

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I talk about my love for dental hygiene while also addressing the challenges in this field. It's so important to focus on the positive aspects of the job and highlight the growth in the dental hygiene profession. I encourage all aspiring dental hygienists to focus on the positives just as much- if not more than the negatives. Some of my favorite things about being a dental hygienist is the satisfaction of removing calculus, interacting with patients, and being able to work with new technology and resources. There are so many opportunities to explore the various specializations and career opportunities available in dental hygiene. You don't want to miss my "pros" of being a dental hygienist!

See the full transcript HERE. Want a question answered on the show? Fill out the DHB Questionnaire HERE. Slide into my DMs HERE: Instagram: @dentalhygienebasics. Facebook: Dental Hygiene Basics. Twitter: @DH_Basics. Email:[email protected]

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION: bold.org/scholarships/dental-hygiene-basics-scholarship/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(00:57) Negativity in Dental Hygiene

(03:47) What I Love About This Profession

(07:58) Using Your Soft and Hard Skills

🔹 Listen & Subscribe: The Dental Hygiene Basics Podcast is available on all platforms. Never miss an episode—hit follow and stay updated!

🔹 Join the Community: Follow @DentalHygieneBasics on socials for study tips, motivation, and exclusive content.

🔹 Need Help on Your Journey? Check out www.dentalhygienebasics.com to see all of our services! Whether you are applying or recently accepted, we got you!

🔹 Support Future Hygienists! A portion of our proceeds funds the Dental Hygiene Basics Scholarship, helping aspiring RDHs achieve their goals. Learn more at www.dentalhygienebasics.com/scholarship.

🎧 Thank you for listening! If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review—it helps more future RDHs find us! 💙

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neurobics can be utilized when studying to improve the retention of information faster and longer. It can also help to strengthen hand skills, which is a very important aspect of dental hygiene. Today's episode focuses on how dental hygiene students can utilize these studying methods to succeed in their preclinic course!

Want a question answered on the show? Fill out the DHB Questionnaire HERE. Transcript is available on Apple or by request.

Slide into my DMs HERE: Instagram: @dentalhygienebasics Facebook: Dental Hygiene Basics Twitter: @DH_Basics Email:[email protected]

Timestamps:

(00:00) Neurobics

(01:55) How to Use Neurobics When Studying

🔹 Listen & Subscribe: The Dental Hygiene Basics Podcast is available on all platforms. Never miss an episode—hit follow and stay updated!

🔹 Join the Community: Follow @DentalHygieneBasics on socials for study tips, motivation, and exclusive content.

🔹 Need Help on Your Journey? Check out www.dentalhygienebasics.com to see all of our services! Whether you are applying or recently accepted, we got you!

🔹 Support Future Hygienists! A portion of our proceeds funds the Dental Hygiene Basics Scholarship, helping aspiring RDHs achieve their goals. Learn more at www.dentalhygienebasics.com/scholarship.

🎧 Thank you for listening! If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review—it helps more future RDHs find us! 💙

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dana is a public health hygienist, educator, tutor, entrepreneur, and more. In this episode, she reflects on her journey to becoming a dental hygienist and shares what she would have done differently. She emphasizes the importance of not rushing the process and recommends gaining work experience in the dental field prior to dental hygiene school. She also encourages finding volunteering opportunities that align with your personal interests and values, rather than just focusing on what looks good on an application. Seeking out resources and support, such as tutors and teachers, is another great way to improve your application experience! Make sure to drop any questions for Dana via email or DM! See the full transcript HERE. Want a question answered on the show? Fill out the DHB Questionnaire HERE. Slide into my DMs HERE: Instagram: @dentalhygienebasics. Facebook: Dental Hygiene Basics. Twitter: @DH_Basics Email:[email protected]

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION: bold.org/scholarships/dental-hygiene-basics-scholarship/

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(02:29) Don’t Rush the Process

(08:31) Find Your Own Passions

(10:36) Seeking Tutoring Services

(12:15) Remember Your “Why”

🔹 Listen & Subscribe: The Dental Hygiene Basics Podcast is available on all platforms. Never miss an episode—hit follow and stay updated!

🔹 Join the Community: Follow @DentalHygieneBasics on socials for study tips, motivation, and exclusive content.

🔹 Need Help on Your Journey? Check out www.dentalhygienebasics.com to see all of our services! Whether you are applying or recently accepted, we got you!

🔹 Support Future Hygienists! A portion of our proceeds funds the Dental Hygiene Basics Scholarship, helping aspiring RDHs achieve their goals. Learn more at www.dentalhygienebasics.com/scholarship.

🎧 Thank you for listening! If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review—it helps more future RDHs find us! 💙

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ash, also known as the Redhead RDH, is an amazing mentor for hygiene students and registered hygienists. This episode focuses on her path to becoming a hygienist and the struggles she overcame during hygiene school. She reveals how she got into hygiene school with a secret weapon despite having C's on her transcript and got through the program with three kids. You don't want to miss Ash's nuggets of advice on this episode! See the full transcript HERE. Want a question answered on the show? Fill out the DHB Questionnaire HERE. Slide into my DMs HERE: Instagram: @dentalhygienebasics. Facebook: Dental Hygiene Basics. Twitter: @DH_Basics. Email:[email protected]

Timestamps:

(00:00) Ash’s RDH Origin Story

(04:43) Juggling Three Kids in Hygiene School

(16:01) Ash’s Secret Weapon for Acceptance

(19:40) Moving States for School

(27:03) Advice for Applying to Hygiene School

🔹 Listen & Subscribe: The Dental Hygiene Basics Podcast is available on all platforms. Never miss an episode—hit follow and stay updated!

🔹 Join the Community: Follow @DentalHygieneBasics on socials for study tips, motivation, and exclusive content.

🔹 Need Help on Your Journey? Check out www.dentalhygienebasics.com to see all of our services! Whether you are applying or recently accepted, we got you!

🔹 Support Future Hygienists! A portion of our proceeds funds the Dental Hygiene Basics Scholarship, helping aspiring RDHs achieve their goals. Learn more at www.dentalhygienebasics.com/scholarship.

🎧 Thank you for listening! If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review—it helps more future RDHs find us! 💙

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.