141: How Lisa Curbow Built a Career in Special Needs Dentistry
From Dental Hygiene Basics by Dental Hygiene Basics
April 8, 2026 · 25 min · Season 1 · Episode 141
About this episode
Lisa Curbow shares her journey in special needs dentistry and offers insights for dental hygiene students and early-career clinicians.
Lisa Curbow, RDH, shares her dental hygiene journey from grocery store work to dental assisting— and how it led her to a long-term career in dental hygiene, including a specialized role in special needs dentistry and hospital coordination. Her story reinforces a steady truth for both dental hygiene students and early-career clinicians: your direction often becomes clear through patient care, not before it. One patient experience led her to build a niche serving an underserved population, reminding listeners that growth in clinical dental hygiene often starts with curiosity and a willingness to adapt. She also offers grounded insight into common challenges like finding patients in clinic, paying for dental hygiene school, and navigating workplace culture—emphasizing that the right office environment and continued education (like CE courses and conferences) can shape long-term satisfaction in the profession. Start here: Get dental hygiene school tips, free resources, and access to upcoming student events → https://dentalhygienebasics.mykajabi.com/newsletter When you're ready for boards: Join StudentRDH VIP →…
People in this episode
Host: Dental Hygiene Basics
Guest: Lisa Curbow
Topics covered
- special needs dentistry
- dental hygiene career
- patient care
- clinical challenges
- education in dentistry
Keywords
- dental hygiene
- special needs
- patient care
- career advice
- dental assisting
- clinical challenges
- education
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Dental Hygiene Basics, StudentRDH, Cloud Dentistry
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