A Letter to the Dental Hygiene Class of 2022

To the Class of 2022

Welcome to the best profession. And we’re not going to lie, can be one of the hardest. 

This is definitely an interesting time to start hygiene school. Honestly, no one has ever started school at a time like right now. There have been lots of changes to your program, updates in protocols, and new ways of doing things that no many people have done before. Lots are for the better. Some you may not love, but that’s ok. We’re all trying to navigate the longevity of these changes. 

Here is some advice as you embark into this new world of dental hygiene school. 

1. Get a great planner or utilize Google Calendar like crazy. There will be lots of assignments in the first few weeks that will have due dates weeks out. Write then down immediately on the date they are due. Having them written down gets them out of your head and feels so much more manageable to see them on a calendar.

2. Be patient with your instructors and professors. This is the 1st time they’ve had a class start in the middle of a pandemic, and they’re getting new information from your institution, administrators, and the government each day. They may change policies in the middle of the semester or even after the first week, which isn’t want they want to do. Changing things last second is no fun for anyone! As changes come, you’ll be feeling them and it may be frustrating. But, please, be open minded to these changes and roll wit the punches.

3. Stay healthy! We know there is so much going on- reading, watching videos, study groups, and practicing instrumentation. However, it’s going to be so important to stay healthy, especially this semester. Make sure you’re drinking tons of water, sleeping as much as you can, and taking your vitamins. It’s going to be so important to be healthy to stay activity engaged in your classes and in clinic.

4. Stay positive. It’s so easy to go to class and feel everyone’s stress or negativity. We as instructors can totally feel it. And it spreads like wild fire. I remember in school, I didn’t feel to stressed at home in the evenings or on the weekends, but my stress was through the roof when I was around my classmates. Strive to be the one who sees the positive in each situation, learn from each failure, and keep things light when you fine your classmates start thinking or talking with negativity. 

You’ve got this! We’re rooting for you and want this to be the best experience for you. Have a question, or need some support? Watch our videos and reach out to us. We’re here for you. 

With so much love from some seasoned RDHs and instructors,

Jessica, Melia and Shelley, the Hygiene Edge Team