My RDH Origin Story

When I tell my RDH origin story, I always say that it was a windy and twisty road. Who would have thought that a kid who got her 2 front teeth knocked out would become a dental hygienist? Not me. Especially because my dad pushed them back into their sockets, and we went on about our day.

Once I started dental hygiene school, I truly felt like I was right where I belonged. However, underneath my high functioning exterior, a tight ball of anxiety was stuck in my chest. Before and during dental hygiene school, I experienced failures, multiple rejections, soul-crushing anxiety, and depression. But with my lowest lows, I also had my highest highs. I was finally accepted into dental hygiene school, was voted class president, graduated summa cum laude, earned my master’s degree, and became a dental hygiene educator.  

​

As an educator, I noticed the trend of stress, anxiety, and lack of preparation was not just my experience. This is the experience of most students entering dental hygiene schools. We are ill-prepared for the rigors of dental hygiene school. We struggle with the foundational knowledge while also being burdened by the stress and anxiety of it all. In a good situation, students manage to survive with only slight trauma. In the worst cases, students have complete mental breakdowns and leave the program.

​

Watching my students go through this was incredibly emotional for me. Sure, I had done it and survived, but I thought that if I could save one student from some of the struggles I endured, it would be worth it. With that, Dental Hygiene Basics was born. It started as a podcast and has grown into an educational platform.

​

There aren’t many resources focused specifically on the aspiring dental hygiene student, and I am here to fill that gap. While it's still in its earliest stages of growth, I feel passionate about my mission: prepare and educate students for a successful dental hygiene school experience, both academically and mentally. 

​

Want to hear my full RDH origin story (including the craziest dental hygiene school interview of all time)? 

​