r/dentalhygieneschool

hey everyone! i’m currently entering my senior year of college and i have one class left to complete my english degree. i am still taking classes the rest of fall & spring semester bc i originally wanted to pursue teaching, but i’m now thinking of switching to dental hygiene.

in high school, i wanted to either be a teacher or dental hygienist. when i started college, i loved the atmosphere, joined a bunch of clubs, and began a pre-teaching track. now entering my senior year, i’m very hesitant on entering the teaching field (various reasons: student behavior, administration, pay) and want to possibly start knocking out pre-requisites for a dental hygiene program.

i can’t help but feel like i’m starting too late. i need to complete quite a few pre reqs still before i can apply to any programs. i could get my pre reqs done by a fall 2028 start (IF i get in) meaning i wouldn’t start my career till i’m 25. when did you all start your dental hygiene career? any advice on someone beginning to enter the field?

i’m also afraid of how competitive these programs are. i got A’s in high school in IB Chem, IB Bio, and am currently in the Honors program at my college with a 4.0- I feel confident in my abilities, but what makes a dental hygiene student successful?

thank you if you read this!

hello everyone I am a 22yr old male and this fall I will start taking my prerequisites for dental hygienist school, I have a few questions and concerns so if I could get some help or answers that would be awesome. so the first question i have is I see a lot about people getting waitlisted for dh school for a year or two and that scares me I’m already 22 and have to do 2yrs prereq I don’t wanna have to be waitlisted and 4 years just do to 2 more years of dh school. question number 2, jsut how hard is dh school actually I’ve heard a lot of things that make me kinda shy away from wanting to go but I love a challenge. and last question is 22 to old start I feel like working a part time fast food job while I’m doing prereqs makes me look like a loser.

This might not be the right thread but I moved away from home for dental hygiene school (left my fiancé, step son and dogs). Has anyone else here done this and have any advice? I’m struggling and miss my family so much. I just started school so I’m hoping it’ll get easier with missing them but I’m already struggling so hard.

Hi, does anybody have idea what sort of questions come in? I’ve a big gap of study so don’t have any idea how difficult it might be. Also 50 questions in 12 minutes are doable? How about interview

If someone can help me with this, I’ll be very grateful.

I am a dental assistant if 5-6 years now I’ve done it all . Every specialty you can think and I think I’m bored and want to advance my career and be a hygienist however I feel like I’m too old for it now. I’m 29 with a 2 year old and 6 month old . I thought being an assistant would fulfill me but the lack of money and no freedom and snappy dentist I want something more . I love the dental field and always thought of being a hygienist but never went further until now . Is there anyone else that did it a little later or am I being crazy for wanting to start over at this late in age ?

I’m really torn and would appreciate honest opinions, especially from current hygienists/students or people who were in a similar situation. I have a BS in science with a 2.82 cumulative GPA. I currently work as a dental assistant, so I know I genuinely enjoy the dental field. Dental hygiene has been my goal for a while, but I’ve struggled with how competitive the programs are and whether my GPA is going to hold me back.
I’ve completed most/all of the typical science prerequisites, but some of my science courses are getting older and I may need to retake certain classes depending on the school’s expiration rules. I’m willing to retake courses and improve my application, but I also don’t want to spend years retaking classes and applying if my chances are realistically very low.

Here’s where I’m stuck: I was recently accepted into a Respiratory Care program, which starts soon and would take about 2 years. RT seems like a solid career and gives me a guaranteed path forward, but my heart is still with dental hygiene. I’m worried that if I choose RT, I’ll always wonder “what if I had just kept trying for hygiene?”
Would it be reasonable to start RT and continue applying or just completely denying my seat for rt. Or would that be waste of money and time😩
For those who had a lower GPA or had to reapply multiple times:
Were you eventually accepted?
Did retaking prerequisites make a meaningful difference?
Would you pursue RT as a backup while continuing to apply?
At what point would you personally stop pursuing hygiene?
I’m not looking for “just follow your heart” advice. I’d genuinely appreciate realistic opinions based on admissions experience. 😭

I’m taking a gap year, took the DAT, and I’m applying to dental school for next year’s intake. I want to have a backup in case I don’t get in, so I’m thinking of applying to both dental hygiene and pharmacy at the same time (I have all the pre-reqs for both).
I’m really stuck between the two.

Dental hygiene: I actually like pretty much everything about it. I’m fine with the teeth stuff. I also really like that it’s hands on and allows me to interact with others. My biggest concern is the back/neck problems and musculoskeletal issues that can come with hygiene. I already sometimes get mild lower back pain, so that makes me even more worried about developing serious back problems later on. I don’t want to have to leave the career early and retrain for a completely different job after already doing the schooling.

Pharmacy: I don’t really have that concern of back issues. It seems like a career I could physically do long term, but I’m worried I’d find it boring. I know I prefer hands on work, and pharmacy just doesn’t seem as interesting or satisfying to me as hygiene.
So I’m basically torn between something I think I’d enjoy but could potentially take a toll on my body, vs something that seems safer long term but I might not enjoy as much.

What made you decide pharmacy was the right choice for you? If you were in my position, which would you choose as a backup to dentistry? Honestly just thinking I apply to both and make a decision then.

I’m 21 and currently finishing up my last couple of classes at community college before I apply to their dental hygiene program for the winter deadline. If I get in, I’ll graduate with an AAS around age 23 and start working as a hygienist pretty quickly.
I genuinely like the dental field and the idea of becoming a hygienist makes a lot of sense on paper — shorter schooling, less debt, and I can start earning real money years earlier than if I went the full dentist route. That early income would let me start investing sooner (stocks, Roth IRA, eventually real estate properties) and work toward financial independence.
At the same time, I’m worried hygiene won’t be enough long-term. I have goals of buying investment properties, building a solid portfolio, and reaching true financial independence. I also know that at some point I may need to support a family, and I’m not sure a hygienist salary will stretch far enough once those responsibilities kick in. Becoming a dentist would take significantly longer and cost a lot more, but the higher earning potential and the ability to own my own practice feel more aligned with the lifestyle and financial freedom I want.
What adds to the anxiety is hearing and seeing dentists who actually regret the profession. A lot of them talk about how it takes years (sometimes decades) to pay off the debt, how they have little to nothing saved for retirement, or how they’re not even making enough to have the lifestyle they expected. That makes me worry — what if I go through all the extra years and debt only to end up as one of those people who can’t get ahead financially?
So I’m stuck between two paths:
• Hygiene first → start making money and investing earlier, but possibly hit a ceiling later
• Push toward becoming a dentist → much longer timeline and more debt, but higher ceiling and business ownership (with the risk of becoming one of those dentists who struggles under the debt)
Has anyone been in a similar spot? Did you go the hygiene route and later feel limited when trying to invest aggressively or support a family? Or did you choose (or switch to) dentistry and feel the extra years and debt were worth it for the financial upside? Especially curious to hear from people who’ve seen both sides or who have thoughts on the debt/regret side of dentistry.
Looking for honest experiences from people further along in either career.

This year will be 2nd attempt applying to Dental Hygiene, im losing hope bc of how competitive it is. Im rethinking my entire existence and if i should do a career change bc what if i never get accepted !? However, I wouldn’t like to do a career change + i just got hired as a RDA and I feel like im a step closer yet far 😓 plz help any advice is more than appreciated 🙏🏻

I have pretty bad tendinitis in both of my thumbs pointer fingers and wrist. It started about two months ago and it still hasn’t gone away. I am resting them, my wrists are in braces, I am icing them, and I’m using topical anti-inflammatory gel. I start school on 24 August, which is in 11 days. I am seeing a hand professional on the 20th and I’m very scared of what they’re going to say if I’ll have to rest them for a month or more. I am so terrified that my instructors are going to tell me that I shouldn’t be in the program or that they’re going to think I should be held back in some type of way. I can’t believe this is happening to me. I’m in a very dark place. I worked extremely hard to get into the program and I can’t believe that I have tendinitis right before I’m supposed to start. I know that over using your muscles that already have tendinitis can be very risky like I said I’m in a very dark place. If anyone has any advice or stories similar to mine that have good outcomes please let me know anything will help thank you

I’m trying to prepare for the HESI exam next week and want to know what subjects are in the exam? Like for example is it reading, math, vocabulary, grammar and A&P?

I 21F have been thinking about going into school to be a dental hygenist....I have autism and social anxiety but I really want do it...I heard you have to go in person which classroom settings are a huge trigger for me so I dont know if any place could accommodate it. Its something I really want to be but I do not know if it is possible if I have anxiety. Is it worth it? I want a truthful honest response before I apply! Please help!!

Hi everyone! I'm a dental hygiene student at Baltimore City Community College, and I'm looking for patients to help me complete my clinical requirements.
All appointments are completely FREE and are supervised by licensed dental professionals.
Services may include:
Dental cleanings
Dental X-rays (if needed)
Oral cancer screening
Fluoride treatment
Oral health education
Deep cleanings (if clinically indicated)
Please note that this is a teaching clinic, so appointments are longer than a typical dental office visit and may require more than one appointment to complete your care.
The clinic is located at Baltimore City Community College on Liberty Heights Avenue in Baltimore.
If you or someone you know is interested in receiving free preventive dental care, please send me a private message for more information or to schedule an appointment.
😊🦷

🎁 Patient Perks
Patients may be eligible to receive a stipend and personal hygiene items as a thank-you for their time and participation.

Hi! A company called Q-Optics came to our school yesterday to present about our loupes we will be ordering next week. I know for sure I’ll be purchasing the ergo loupes, so my question is about magnification. Our instructor advised us to not go above 3.0 if we are going with the ergo loupes. Although, when trying them on, many of us liked the 3.5 magnification. Seniors in our program gave us mixed reviews, some saying 3.0 isn’t enough and that 3.5 is too much. I planned on trusting my instructor who was a hygienist for many years as I’m sure she knows what she’s talking about. But I feel conflicted and this is a huge purchase lol. They do have a 45 day trial period where we are able to change these kinds of things.

What magnification did you guys go with when ordering loupes and what do you like / not like about it? Thanks in advance!

I just began my second quarter of hygiene school, and I just feel unsure. Is finishing dental hygiene even worth it with all of the changes in laws around the country allowing assistants to scale supragingivally? I can see in the next 10 years this turning into assistants taking a crash course to learn to scale sub as well. Just a theory. Because of this worry of mine I’m feeling unsure whether or not all of this mental anguish hygiene school gives me is worth it. What does everyone think?

Im planning to stay in california to start and finish my pre-requisites for dental hygiene but wondering what would be the best option for my situation if i want to move to near Portland or Vancouver WA. My girlfriend is originally from Tigard so most likely would be moving back to that area but also open to vancouver wa if its a better option for getting into a school. What would you guys reccomend in my situation? Ive looked alot of concorde career college but the reviews on google look absolutely awful and i would want to avoid to go to a school that isnt the best for me , but i also dont know about getting into a public college like pcc or clark college. I did really horrible in highschool and even though that was 4 years ago this will be my first time going to school and really trying , and the criteria to get into a private school seems way more realistic to me then a community college unfortunately. Okay with paying since i think id be able to stack good money for the time being now and get help paying it off too . Id really appreciate it if anyone can help me in the right direction here :) cheers!

Hello guys, I am a 25 yr old Dental assistant at california and i’ve been thinking about the next step. It’s either hygiene or oral surgeon. I originally want to pursue dental hygiene do you guys think that’ll be enough for a long life career and actually make good money ? Or should I just go with being an oral surgeon

I’m trying to find a good online program for my daughter who wants to become a dental assistant and then eventually a dental hygienist. Can anyone recommend an affordable online program?

Hi! I'm apply to dental hygiene schools this fall and I'm super nervous and need people to be honest with me.

I graduated high school in May (of 2026). I just finished all my prerequisite and extra courses that could boost my position this summer. I took majority of them my junior and senior year and a couple in the summer. I got all A's and two B's (one in a gen ed class and one in organic chem).

I've already started applying to the schools that have open applications. The schools that don't have applications open require shadowing that I plan on completing early November.

I have no experience being a dental assistant. I am a CNA though and plan on writing on how I instruct and do oral care on my residents.

I'm trying to have complete faith in myself and not give up, but some people have started putting doubt in me and it's only growing.

Do you think I'll be waitlisted? If so how long. I find it acceptable to be waitlisted for a year and a half but I know deep down I'll consider myself a failure if it's any longer than that.

Do you have any advice for me?

Hey all,

Wanting to reach out and possibly see if others have been in the same boat. I planned to apply for a dental hygiene bachelor program in my state and have been attending a university with a pre-dental hygiene route to help meet the pre-requsites for the program. Unfortunately life has happened and it's not longer going to be feasible to relocate to attend this bachelors program if I got accepted into it. I'm currently on my second year and have this fall and spring semester to finish the pre-requsites (class-wise not including community service, leadership, shadowing that is also needed) but anyways I was looking into applying to an asoicate dental hygiene program instead because the schools are in a more reasonable location. I still plan to finish out this fall and spring semester as I am under the impression that I will still earn an AS. My concern is how the process of applying to an associates program is and later down the road if I wanted to pursue the bachelors if my past schooling will help. Thanks in advance.