Front-loading the truth: Why The Dental Hygiene Hack is changing how students enter the profession

Choosing a career path is one of the most consequential decisions a person will ever make—yet too often, students enter professional programs without a full understanding of what lies ahead. Dental hygiene is no exception. While the profession is widely respected, flexible, and financially stable, many prospective students discover too late that the rigor, expectations, and professional responsibility of becoming a licensed dental hygienist far exceed what they were initially told.

The Dental Hygiene Hack: Untold Secrets, Must-Have Apps, and Essential Strategies for Success in Hygiene School was written to address that gap.

Why this book matters—before day one

At its core, The Dental Hygiene Hack is designed for anyone seeking a meaningful, stable career, but who is unsure of their direction, as well as new and current students exploring or enrolled in dental hygiene programs. Unlike traditional textbooks that focus solely on program content, this book front-loads the realities of the profession—what students need to know before they ever step into a hygiene program.

Dental hygiene has long been recognized as a licensed profession, grounded in science, prevention, ethics, and accountability. The book intentionally emphasizes this historic foundation, reminding readers why hygienists earned—and must continue to uphold—the title of licensed professional. It reframes dental hygiene not as a fallback option, but as a disciplined, evidence-based career requiring commitment, academic strength, and professional maturity.

The conversations that rarely happen on day one

One of the defining features of The Dental Hygiene Hack is its willingness to address the “unspoken truths” of hygiene education. Many programs, often unintentionally, delay difficult conversations about workload, financial strain, academic intensity, time management, and emotional resilience until students are already overwhelmed.

This book brings those conversations forward.

Readers gain insight into:

• The true academic rigor of hygiene school
• Common challenges that derail otherwise capable students
• Professional expectations beyond graduation
• Practical strategies to navigate coursework, clinical requirements, and personal responsibilities

Rather than discouraging students, this transparency empowers them. By knowing what to expect, students are better equipped to persist, adapt, and succeed.

A thoughtful response to the dental hygiene workforce shortage

At a time when the dental hygiene workforce shortage dominates national conversation, The Dental Hygiene Hack offers a measured, student-centered response. While some propose reducing educational requirements as a quick fix, this book argues that preparation—not dilution—is the key to sustainability.

By equipping students with a realistic understanding of the profession before entry, the book helps:

• Increase retention in hygiene programs
• Reduce attrition caused by misinformation or unrealistic expectations
• Strengthen foundational knowledge in oral prevention and professional responsibility

A better-prepared student is more likely to graduate, pass licensure exams, and enter the workforce ready to deliver safe, high-quality preventive care—benefiting patients, practices, and communities alike. This is the answer to the workforce shortage!

Supporting completion through knowledge and resources

In addition to the book, I created the first and only dental hygiene clinical mobile app, HygieneHack app. Students can now download the app (from the Apple store or Google Play Store) and track their clinical performance all at the tip of their fingertips. Research shows that most students fail out of dental hygiene school because of being unsuccessful in clinical courses. The HygieneHack app is designed to support student learners by tracking, measuring, and organizing all clinical coursework from program acceptance to graduation.

The app was created with CODA accreditation in mind so that all competencies, patient treatment requirements, knowledge in theory, as well as student progress are captured in real time from semester to semester. Student performance can be downloaded at the end of each semester and provided to program administrators in a fully organized spreadsheet. The thing I love most about the app is that it pushes notifications out to students throughout the semester, informing them of missing competencies like a bitewing series of radiographs or if they are falling short of the required number of calculus class I patients. Conversely, the app also notifies students when they are doing an excellent job and reminds them to keep up the great work.

This is where educational technology is today—bringing innovation directly into the heart of dental hygiene pedagogy. These details can also be used as a standardized method for capturing data within any CODA-accredited dental hygiene program across the country and can be submitted as organized evidence for CODA exhibits. Students rave about how efficient and easy the app is to use, while administrators appreciate the consistency in organized assessments from student to student. Program directors find it to be a true time-saver when preparing for CODA accreditation and submitting annual surveys to the American Dental Education Association (ADEA).

A resource trusted by programs and educators

The impact of The Dental Hygiene Hack extends beyond individual readers. A growing number of dental hygiene programs now require the book as a mandatory resource for incoming first-year students, recognizing its value in setting realistic expectations, fostering professionalism, and supporting student success from the outset. The HygieneHack app offers an innovative and practical approach to helping students master clinical coursework.

By aligning transparency, preparation, prevention, and innovation, the book and app serve as both a student guide and an educational tool—bridging the gap between aspiration and achievement.

Conclusion

The Dental Hygiene Hack and HygieneHack clinical mobile app are not about shortcuts. They are about clarity, preparation, and respect for the profession. By telling the truth early, they help students make informed decisions, strengthen the educational pipeline, and contribute meaningfully to addressing the workforce shortage—without compromising safety or professional standards. By advancing the way in which students learn to mirror that of today’s learning style standardizes students’ assessment tools and places student learning on the cutting edge.

For anyone considering dental hygiene—or committed to supporting the next generation of hygienists—these resources are not just recommended; they’re essential.