What I Wish I Knew as a New Grad

(And Why I Created a Free Starter Kit to Help You Thrive!)

Starting out as a new grad dental hygienist is overwhelming. You’re suddenly thrown into 1-hour appointments after spending years in school with 3-hour patient blocks. You’re expected to move quickly, adapt instantly, and somehow avoid burnout while you’re at it.

I remember those first days vividly. If you’re feeling nervous or unsure about what’s ahead—you are so not alone.

My First Day: From 3-Hour Patients to Chaos

I started temping right after graduation. My first day? I was shaking in my scrubs, trying to figure out how I was going to complete a full adult recall in 60 minutes when I’d just come from a world of 3-hour student appointments. There were fumbles (lots of them), but I made it through. 😅

It was 2011, and jobs were hard to come by. As a new grad, I was at the bottom of the hiring barrel. Offices wanted experience, and I didn’t have it. So I said yes to every temp shift, every interview—even ones I knew in my gut didn’t feel right.

One office literally had employees (and the dentist!) smoking in the basement. I wish I were joking.

My First Full-Time Job… and My First Big Red Flag

After nearly a year of temping, I finally landed my first full-time position. The appointment times were tough—45 minutes for adult recalls and 30 minutes for kids. We did get 1.5 hours for SRPs and a generous 1 hour and 15 minutes for new patients, but still… it was a hustle.

The schedule was hard, but the office dynamics were worse.

The office manager would regularly pull employees into her office under the guise of “feedback”—only to deliver personal, demoralizing criticism she claimed came from the dentist. 

The dentist’s work was… not great. They cycled through associate dentists constantly. Their longest-employed hygienist had only lasted four years, despite the practice being decades old.

I cried on the way home at least once a week.

The Day I Finally Walked Out

One day, a text came from an office I had temped at. They were looking for a full-time hygienist. It was a longer commute, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t get out of my current office fast enough.

I gave my two weeks and thought I could make it through. That changed quickly by the end of week 1.

My schedule that day included an SRP with a patient who had previously made extremely inappropriate comments to me. I had documented it. I had reported it. I had been told I’d never see him again.

Yet—there he was.

I went to speak with the office manager and accidentally overheard her, the head hygienist, and an associate dentist talking about me. They said I was a terrible hygienist, that they were bringing back someone else they had repeatedly trashed to me, and that she’d be a “better fit.”

I waited for a quiet moment, confronted the office manager, and her only response was: “You weren’t meant to hear that.”

I told her calmly and professionally that I was done—that I had tried to finish my two weeks with integrity, but she had made that impossible.

I walked out. I got in my car. And I sobbed.

I spiraled. I thought I was the worst hygienist ever. I’d had a job since I was 14. I had never just quit like that before.

What Helped Me Shift My Perspective

That night, my (now) husband reminded me of something I had forgotten:

“If you’re such a horrible hygienist, why do multiple offices keep asking for you back?” (I was still temping on the side.)

He was right. Why was I letting people I didn’t respect make me question my skills?

The truth is—your environment matters. Who you work for, how they treat you, and the systems they put in place either set you up for success… or push you toward burnout.

Fast Forward: A Full-Circle Moment

Years later, I was working in a supportive office with a boss I respected. One day, guess who came in for a working interview?

That same office manager.

I froze.

But because of the relationship I had built with my current dentist, I was able to share—professionally but honestly—what I had experienced under her management. He thanked me… and bounced her out before she ever saw my face.

I’m not sharing that for the drama. I’m sharing it because this is what working in a supportive, healthy office looks like. You’re heard. You’re protected. You’re part of a team.

And it changes everything.

So, New Grad… What Can You Learn From All This?

You deserve more than just a paycheck. You deserve:

• A schedule that supports quality care
• A boss who values your input
• Coworkers who lift you up, not tear you down
• Systems that prevent burnout, not cause it

And you deserve to feel confident walking into your first job—knowing how to spot red flags and what green flags to look for.

🎁 That’s Why I Created the New Grad Hygienist Starter Kit

Inside this free guide, you’ll find:

✔️ 5 mobility moves to protect your body
✔️ Red & green flags in dental offices
✔️ Tips for finding a mentor who actually helps

I built this kit with the exact things I wish I had known when I graduated. Because you shouldn’t have to learn everything the hard way like I did.

📥 Download your free starter kit here and start your hygiene career on solid ground. You’ve got this—and you’re not alone. 💙

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