Top 7 Habits of Dental Students Who Actually Pass
Preview
Dental school is a high-pressure environment. But the students who thrive—and pass with confidence—aren’t necessarily the smartest. They’re the ones who build smart, consistent study systems.
In this post, you’ll learn the 7 habits that set successful dental students apart, including how tools like Anki Remote help make those habits stick.
1. They Time-Block Their Week in Advance
Top-performing students treat studying like a scheduled responsibility, not an afterthought.
They don’t “find time”—they make time.
- Use Google Calendar or physical planners
- Block time for review before and after lectures
- Set reminders to avoid procrastination
Time-blocking removes decision fatigue. It helps you stay ahead rather than scramble the night before a quiz.
2. They Use Spaced Repetition Daily
Spaced repetition is proven to improve long-term memory.
Instead of rereading notes or cramming the week before exams, top students use Anki to:
- Review 20–100+ cards a day
- Focus on active recall, not passive rereading
- Build knowledge retention gradually
Daily review is what separates the “barely passing” from the confident test-taker.
3. They Organize Their Flashcards by Topic + Priority
Successful dental students don’t just download giant decks—they curate them.
- Separate decks by subject (Anatomy, Path, Micro, INBDE, etc.)
- Use tags like must-know, missed, low-confidence, clinical
- Filter cards based on what you need most
4. They Make Studying Friction-Free
The less energy it takes to start studying, the more likely you are to stick with it.
That’s why so many dental students now use AnkiRemote:
- Hands-free flashcard review
- Study on the go, in bed, or between classes
- Click through 200–300 cards per day without touching your screen
- Customize your clicker for “Again,” “Good,” and “Easy”
No more excuses. No burnout.
Get Your Anki Remote for Dental School
5. They Learn from What They Miss
It’s not enough to just get cards wrong—you have to learn why.
- Tag incorrect cards as missed, needs-review, or tricky
- Use Anki’s stats dashboard to track weak spots
- Make review a learning moment, not just repetition
Self-awareness turns mistakes into memory.
6. They Study Before, Not Just After, Lecture
Most students think learning happens during class. High-performers prep beforehand so they can focus better during the lecture.
- Pre-load key concepts via Anki (10–15 cards before class)
- Let lecture reinforce what you’ve already seen
- Makes in-class learning stick faster
7. They Focus on Retention, Not Just Progress
Successful dental students don’t obsess over card counts—they focus on what they remember.
- Suspend or filter cards that are too easy
- Spend extra time on low-confidence or must-know tags
- Regularly review filtered decks to reinforce memory
Studying isn’t a race. It’s a system.
Real Student Feedback
“I do my cards while commuting and between clinic patients. I never thought I’d be consistent, but now I can’t go a day without it.” — Med Student
“I use the Mental Dental deck and the clicker helps me stay on track without burnout.” — MD_anki
“The remote has made reviewing for dental school so much easier. Definitely a must-have if you're a dental student using Anki.” — medreviewer
Key Takeaway
You don’t need a 4.0 GPA to pass dental school—you need a repeatable, low-stress system.
By building these 7 habits and pairing them with tools like AnkiRemote, you can study more consistently, retain more material, and actually enjoy the process.