Dental Hygiene Basics
Do you dream of becoming a dental hygienist? 🦷✨
Welcome to the Dental Hygiene Basics Podcast, your go-to resource for getting into and succeeding in dental hygiene school! Hosted by Dana Paladino, a dental hygienist, educator, and mentor, this podcast was created to fill a major gap. We help students before they even step into dental hygiene school.
While many resources focus on surviving school or advancing a hygiene career, few exist to guide students through the application process and their dental hygiene school journey. That’s where Dental Hygiene Basics comes in!
We cover:
✅ Admissions insight – How to strengthen your application and excel during your dental hygiene school interview
✅ Dental hygiene school survival – Study strategies, clinical tips, & NBDHE prep
✅ Career pathways – Exploring alternative and traditional RDH careers
✅ Community & mentorship – Real stories from dental hygienists who’ve been in your shoes
Dana has worked closely with first-year dental hygiene students and has seen their struggles firsthand. She knows that preparation powers performance. By sharing expert advice, personal experiences, guest interviews, she’s here to help YOU succeed.
More than just a podcast, Dental Hygiene Basics is a growing community of hygienists helping aspiring hygienists. Because when we lift each other up, we all succeed. 🧡 Dana's personal mission is to award $100,000 in scholarships by 2035. Learn more about Dental Hygiene Basic's Services and Scholarships at www.dentalhygienebasics.com.
Wondering if this podcast is right for you? Here are some questions we answer on the Dental Hygiene Basics Podcast:
- How do I get into dental hygiene school?
- What should I expect in dental hygiene school?
- How can I prepare for a dental hygiene school interview?
- What are the biggest challenges of dental hygiene school?
- How can I improve my instrumentation skills as a dental hygiene student?
- What are the best study tips for dental hygiene students?
- How do I manage stress in dental hygiene school?
- What career options are available for dental hygienists?
- How can I network and grow my dental hygiene career?
- Are there scholarships available for dental hygiene students?
Subscribe now and start your journey to becoming a Registered Dental Hygienist!
#dentalhygieneschool #dentalhygiene #futurerdh #studentrdh #dentalhygienebasics
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 24 minutes
- Episodes
- 104
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
99: Part 2 - Dental Hygienists and Graduate Students Marcus and Lily
Part 2 of my episode with Lily and Marcus is here! We talk in depth about their dental hygiene school experiences and navigating parenthood, as well as employment during their programs. Both original…
98: Part 1 - Dental Hygienists and Graduate Students Marcus and Lily
Lily and Marcus are pursuing master's degrees in dental hygiene, and both join me to share their unique journeys as RDHs. Lily has been a hygienist for over two decades and, outside of studying, work…
97: The Face Behind Dental Hygiene Basics: Dana, MS, RDH
This episode is a deep dive with your host of the Dental Hygiene Basics Podcast, Dana Paladino, on the Toothbytes Podcast with Mia and Nicole! We dive into the timeline of my entire academic and prof…
Positive Self-Talk in Dental Hygiene School
This episode is all about self-talk and analyzing our inner dialogue to shift our feelings and actions for the better! We underestimate the power of our thoughts and how they can impact our performan…
The Journey of Pediatric Dental Hygienist An Chih Do
An Chih Do has been a dental hygienist for 10 years and has 19 years of dental experience. Her journey started when she received her degree in film to then working as a dental assistant, and eventual…
AI is Ruining Your Personal Statements
Scholarships can help to relieve the financial burden of tuition in school, which is why it is my passion and goal to continue awarding dental hygiene students money with the Dental Hygiene Basics Sc…
Amanda's Versatile Resume as a Dental Hygienist
Amanda Hale, a dental hygienist for 18 years, has developed such a versatile resume and has truly done the most she can with her career! Our conversation in this episode covers her RDH origin story, …
Things to Leave Behind in Dental Hygiene School
It may sound strange, but some things are better left behind when entering dental hygiene school. Your mindset is something that has a substantial impact on everything you do, including your educatio…
Marie Shares Her Educator's Perspective for Dental Hygiene Students
Are you preparing to start dental hygiene school soon? If so, this is the perfect episode for you! Marie Richey, a current dental hygiene educator, joins me on this episode to give insider tips and t…
The Future of Dental Hygiene Basics
Two years ago, Dental Hygiene Basics was founded to provide educational tools to aspiring dental hygienists and help students transition into DH programs. Today, the mission remains the same, with th…
Excelling in an Accelerated Dental Hygiene Program with Anistinn
Starting dental hygiene school soon? You've come to the right place! Anistinn joins me on this episode to share her RDH journey so far. She's currently in an accelerated dental hygiene program and is…
Maggie Moodie Explains Game-Based Learning for Dental Hygiene Students
Maggie Moodie started her dental hygiene career early, getting into a DH program at the early age of 18! Her career has taken her through various working environments from temping, working in public …
Variety in Dental Hygiene: Public Health Clinician and Educator Shelley Brown
Shelley Brown joins me on this episode to share her dental hygiene journey from struggling to get accepted into a program to now, being an educator in Utah and practicing as a public health hygienist…
The Hijabi Hygienist's Experience in Dental Hygiene School
My favorite RDH origin stories are the ones of people who didn't originally plan to become dental hygienists and somehow fell into it and end up loving this career. That was the case for Wafaa, @the_…
Getting Ready to Start Dental Hygiene School? Make Sure You Have Your Vaccines in Order!
Dental hygiene programs require students to be up to date on all their vaccines and submit their records prior to starting school. This episode focuses on what vaccines your dental hygiene program wi…
Managing Cancer Patients as a Dental Professional
Ever wondered how to provide dental hygiene care to patients with cancer? Jill is a dental hygienist who recognized the limited course material she was given in school when caring for cancer patients…
Avoiding Dental Hygiene Scholarship Scams
Future RDHs who have been listening to my podcast for a while know I am a huge advocate for scholarships and encourage all students to apply to as many as possible. But I also want to shed light on s…
Navigating the Dental Field as a New Grad Dental Hygienist
The transition from dental hygiene school and working in a dental practice may sound overwhelming. If this sounds like something you're experiencing, you're in the right place! In this episode, I tal…
Dana's Tips for Dental Hygiene Finals
Future RDH's, finals week is just around the corner and the stress is probably starting to kick in. Trust me, I've been there before, and I get that it can be overwhelming so I've put together my bes…
Part 2: First Recipient of the Dental Hygiene Basics Scholarship: Makya Smith
This episode is the second and final part of my interview with Makya Smith, the first student to receive the Dental Hygiene Basics Scholarship! In this episode, you'll get to learn how Makya lost acc…