With complete honesty, there were two primary reasons I joined the dental field: I’ve always loved teeth and everything about them, and I saw dentistry as a path to financial success. In the beginning, those were the only two things I sought, believing they would bring me lasting satisfaction in my career.
Once I began working as an RDH, it quickly became clear that those two goals, love of teeth and money, weren’t enough to keep me happy. My first five years as a dental hygienist were far from my happiest or healthiest. Although those initial motivations still matter, my goals have since changed drastically, and with that change came a renewed sense of enjoyment in what I do.
Over time, I discovered that three additional goals—career growth, respect, and body health—were essential for me to feel fulfilled as a dental hygienist. They may seem small, but they completely transformed the way I practice and view my profession. Honestly, they saved my career.
Reflecting on your own goals
Before we dive deeper, I encourage you to take out a piece of paper. Write down your current goals, what do you feel you need as an RDH to be happy and satisfied in your career? Keep that list nearby; we’ll revisit it at the end to see whether your perspective shifts or whether you might tweak how you pursue those goals.
Career growth
Throughout my career, I’ve experienced tremendous growth, shifts that seem to happen every year. For me, growth has taken many forms. Early in my career, it meant expanding the procedures and services I could provide. I continually improved how I assessed patients and broadened what I could do to enhance their health.
I added new skills like soft tissue management, laser therapy, and focused education in implants, sleep apnea screenings, Invisalign assessments, and myofunctional therapy, all of which deepened my understanding and ability to make appropriate referrals.
Later, my growth shifted toward education. I began guiding sales teams and clinic staff, then transitioned to college clinics, content creation, and mentorship. Once I recognized that growth was a core need for my career satisfaction, I began asking myself each year: Am I happy where I am and with what I’m doing? If not, I’d ask: What can I add or change, clinically or professionally, to reignite my passion?
Body health
It’s common for many RDHs to experience neck, back, and hand pain—occupational hazards that come with our line of work. By my third year, I began suffering from excruciating neck and back pain to the point where I dreaded going to work.
Following advice from educational articles and colleagues, I adopted a wellness-focused approach. I began strength training to build my upper and lower back and arm muscles. Monthly massages became part of my routine, and I regularly assessed my ergonomics and posture throughout the day.
I started asking patients to adjust within reason, modified chair positions for better body alignment, and reviewed my operatory setup before each appointment to minimize strain. These changes made a massive difference in how I felt and how I showed up for my patients, a much happier, healthier me.
Respect
My final consideration for long-term happiness was respect. I asked myself: Do I feel respected by those around me? Do my colleagues and dentists trust my knowledge and recommendations? Do I have autonomy in my hygiene department?
For years, the answer to those questions was “no.” I worked in environments where I didn’t feel valued and it made me question my career choice altogether. Eventually, I began advocating for myself. I requested meetings to discuss concerns, communicated openly with office managers and dentists, and if respect wasn’t possible in that setting, I began seeking opportunities elsewhere.
During interviews, I now ask questions that reveal how a team values their hygienists, such as:
- Do you support the continual growth of your hygiene team?
- Do you provide ongoing education as a team or within departments?
The answers help me identify offices that understand the importance of shared knowledge and mutual respect, where the entire team supports patient care, professional development, and appointment time frames.
Final reflections
It took time and introspection to identify what truly makes me happy in my career, but it was absolutely worth it. Since redefining my goals, I’ve achieved better pay, diverse career opportunities, improved body health, and, most importantly, a sense of respect wherever I work.
Achieving respect alone has transformed my day-to-day life. I no longer bring home negativity or self-doubt, only pride in what I do.
Now, revisit the list you made earlier. Have your priorities shifted? What might you add or change to find deeper satisfaction in your career?
For me, there are now five musts for career fulfillment:
- Love of teeth
- Financial stability
- Career growth
- Respect
- Body health
These five goals continue to guide me toward a career and life that truly feels rewarding.
If you’re curious, check out my Instagram page @mouthboxx, where I explore non-traditional RDH roles and share my journey toward building a fulfilling career outside the operatory.
About the author
With over 14 years as a Registered Dental Hygienist Fiona (@mouthboxx) maintains a passion and drive to learn and provide new and positive experiences in any aspect of her career. She is currently focused on mentoring RDH students (@BigsisRDH) with online webinars and Soon to be grads with events like The RDH New Grad Summit (@DearRDHNewGrad). When she isn’t mentoring she is working as a Clinical Instructor, Content Creator (Mouthboxx) and Consultant. In her spare time she is providing free dental services locally and abroad, most recently to an under served community in The Dominican Republic. Connect with her: Email: mouthboxx@gmail.com Website: mouthboxx.com