Back in 2013, I was just like every other dental hygiene student—stressed, overwhelmed, and facing the biggest hurdle between me and my license: the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE). And let me tell you, studying for that thing was rough.
The best study option at the time? An expensive, in-person board review course that meant driving four hours, booking a hotel, and sitting in a crowded room for hours on end. Hard pass. The alternative? Lugging around heavy textbooks like Mosby’s and Saunders, trying to make sense of what actually mattered for the exam. Spoiler alert: they made everything seem important, were super heavy, and extremely dense, which only made studying even harder.
I kept thinking—there has to be a better way. What if there was an online board review that let me study anytime, anywhere, in short, effective study sessions? Turns out, my classmates were thinking the same thing. That’s when I started creating my own study materials—trimming the fluff, and focusing on the most critical information. I even interviewed seniors who had already taken the boards to find out what really mattered.
But here’s the crazy part—I took my notes to my former professors (yes, the same ones who had just graded my assignments!) and asked them to review my work. And somehow, they actually said yes! That support was a game-changer because it meant my study materials weren’t just my take on the exam—they were validated by experts. That’s when I knew I was onto something.
Before StudentRDH, board prep was honestly a mess. Here’s what I saw:
- Bulky textbooks that were difficult to navigate and carried excessive, unfocused information.
- Ineffective in-person courses that required costly travel and provided a lecture-based approach that didn’t work for everyone.
- Lack of structured online resources that allowed for flexible, independent study.
I built StudentRDH to change all of that by offering:
- Concise, high-yield study materials that actually focused on what mattered.
- Mock exams and interactive features that made studying feel more like the real test.
- Memory techniques (Wake Up Memory™) to help students actually retain what they were learning.
One of the most memorable students I’ve worked with is Sarah. She had failed the board exam twice, and her third attempt was just two weeks before her wedding. She was terrified of failing again and bringing that stress into what was supposed to be one of the happiest moments of her life.
She reached out to me in tears. She had a diagnosed learning disability and struggled with reading comprehension. We had just three months to completely change her study process, rebuild her confidence, and get her ready for the exam.
We focused on:
A structured study plan so she knew exactly what to tackle each day.Active recall techniques to reinforce learning (instead of just passively reading).Managing test anxiety so she could walk into the exam feeling in control.
But the biggest reason for StudentRDH’s growth? The community. I never wanted this to be just another study tool—I wanted to create a space where students felt supported. Social media became a big part of that. We celebrate wins, acknowledge struggles, and make sure students know they’re not alone in this journey. Word-of-mouth has been our biggest driver of success—students pass their boards, tell their classmates, and the cycle continues.
Even after helping over 30,000+ students pass their boards, I feel like we’re just getting started. The mission remains the same: to make board prep smarter, less stressful, and more effective. That means constantly improving our content, adding new features, and always listening to student feedback.
I built StudentRDH because I needed it. And I know thousands of students still do. Whether you’re preparing for the NBDHE/NDHCE, Local Anesthesia, or OSCE exams, I want you to know this: You’ve got this. And we’ve got your back every step of the way.