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The University of Florida College of Dentistry American Student Dental Association Newsletter
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UFCD ASDA News September 2011
Gator Dentist Times 3 Letter from the
President
4 Meet the UFCD
ASDA Board
6 Everything You
Need to Know to
Survive 1st Year
10 Family Day
11 The Future,
Digital Impressions
12 Senator &
Dentist, Alan Hays
17 The End of
Graduate
Subsidized Loans
19 Boards, White
Coats, & Patients
A s many of you have heard, there have been
some changes implemented with the Florida
clinical licensure exam, which is an exam
completed at the end of senior year allowing
graduates to practice dentistry in the state of Florida. In
the past, the state of Florida offered its own clinical
licensure examination which out-of-state graduates and
practicing dentists had to successfully complete at UF
or NOVA in order to practice dentistry in Florida. Any-
one desiring to practice in Florida was required to take
the Florida clinical licensure exam, regardless of their
number of years in practice or previously completed
licensure in another state.
On May 31, 2011 Florida‟s Governor Rick
Scott signed a bill recognizing the American Board of
Dental Examiners, Inc. (ADEX) as Florida‟s new licen-
sure examination organization.1 ADEX offers the
American Dental Licensing Examination (ADLEX) to
its 25 members including: Colorado, Connecticut, Dis-
trict of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ken-
tucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Wyo-
ming, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and most
recently Florida.2 This decision has been considered for
several years due to the similarities between the AD-
LEX and Florida‟s clinical licensure exam. Combined
efforts from the Florida Dental Association and the
Florida Board of Dentistry finally made this bill possi-
ble. The implementation of the new ADLEX will re-
duce costs associated with the previous independent
state-developed clinical exam and grant eligibility to
practice dentistry in several different states for those
who successfully complete the examination. After Oc-
tober 1, 2011 anyone taking the ADLEX will be quali-
fied to practice dentistry in the state of Florida. Fortu-
nately, the bill is not retroactive, which means those
who have taken the ADLEX in
the past cannot simply migrate
to Florida and establish a prac-
tice. But those individuals can
apply for a one year licensure
in Florida which must be main-
tained through additional ex-
aminations and requirements.1
Students should not be con-
cerned as the new exam should
be very similar to the previous
Florida clinical examination
and is equivalent in measuring clinical competence.
This is just one step closer to achieving a uniform na-
tional examination for all dental students and practicing
dentists to have fewer limitations in their careers.2
Our senior dental students are also experienc-
ing changes in the timing of their clinical licensure
examination. The Florida Board of Dentistry requires
students at UF and NOVA to complete a mock board
exam to prove their eligibility to take their clinical li-
censure examination during the spring break of their
senior year. Students take the mock board exam in No-
vember of their senior year as part of a course require-
ment for graduation. If a student does not pass their
mock board exam, they are unable to proceed with the
clinical licensure examination (whether is it the AD-
LEX or another region‟s exam). Students are given
several chances to take this mock board exam in the
event that they do not pass on the first try. But this does
not leave ample time to take the actual clinical exami-
nation in March due to the fact that students must pass
the mock board to sign up for the clinical licensure
exam, which must occur 60 days prior to the date they
plan to sit for the actual licensure exam. The unfortu-
nate students who do not make this deadline must take
Continued on Page 2
New Horizons for the Florida Clinical Licensure Exam Jayme Kemp
Continued from Page 1
their clinical licensure exams post-graduation
preventing them from beginning their careers
immediately after dental school. It is no secret
that our dental students are not huge fans of
this mock board exam. Why must we take es-
sentially TWO board exams our senior year?
The stress of finding patients for both exams,
completing graduation requirements, passing
NBDE part II, job hunting, and residency inter-
views is enough to drive anyone insane. But
without the mock board exam the Florida
Board of Dentistry has no proof that UF or
NOVA students are clinically competent to
take their clinical licensure examinations prior
to graduation.
Faculty members from UF and NO-
VA, senior dental students from the class of
2011 and 2012 as well as members of the Flori-
da Board of Dentistry met earlier this year and
agreed to change the date of the clinical licen-
sure exam. The mock boards will still take
place in November of senior year but students
will now have more time between the mock
boards and the actual boards in the event they
do not pass mock boards on the first attempt.
Beginning in 2012, senior dental students will
now take their licensure exam in early May,
approximately 2 weeks before graduation. This
also allows more time for seniors to improve
their technical skills and screen for boards pa-
tients during the spring of their senior year. It is
expected that students will be at their highest
level of clinical competence just prior to gradu-
ation and should have no problem passing their
clinical licensure examinations. Students re-
ceive their scores just a few days after taking
the exam, allowing them to graduate and start
their dream jobs immediately post-graduation.
The few students that may struggle to pass in
May can register to retake the exam in early
August. But with the new structure of the ex-
amination process, we hope all students can
complete their mock boards on time and pass
their clinical licensure examinations in May
with flying colors- ORANGE and BLUE! Best
wishes to the class of 2012!
1. Fox, Karen. "Landmark Decision in Flori-
da: State Opts for ADEX Exam for Dental
Licensure - American Dental Association -
ADA.org." American Dental Association.
02 June 2011. Web. 22 Aug. 2011. <http://
www.ada.org/news/5903.aspx>.
2. ADEX. Web. 22 Aug. 2011. <http://
www.adex.org/>.
theNEXTDDS Visit theNEXTDDS.com and enroll yourself
in this new dental student portal. It‟s free and
will require your ASDA membership number.
Another reason to belong to ASDA.
Some articles from the Practice Management
section will be used as required readings in
DEN 8321 Small Business Principles and
Practices, which starts for seniors in Septem-
ber.
Enroll now and start using some of the other
resources on the website and connect with
other dental students in different parts of the
country.
2
A Letter From
Our President
Dusty Pfundheller
ASDA is very excited to be actively
involved with UFCD this year. Our primary
goals include keeping members informed about
important new legislation and rules; helping
convert seniors to FDA & ADA membership;
and providing educational opportunities
throughout the year.
As part of ASDA‟s leadership team, I
can assure all members that we are working
diligently to keep you informed, including pro-
ducing two newsletters a semester, updating
our website and bulletin board, and holding
monthly meetings (with food provided to en-
courage you to come and learn about the is-
sues!)
In addition to dispensing information,
legislation is a significant focus this year.
Therefore, UF ASDA has several board mem-
bers assigned to specific legislative positions!
Also, we are very excited to have current State
Senators, House of Representatives, and FDA
legislative committees come and speak to us.
Furthermore, any ASDA member may partici-
pate in State and National lobby day.
Another focus of ASDA is to continue
to organize large events for the ADA and FDA
convention, including organizing a large trip to
this year‟s ADEA‟s annual spring convention.
Also, we will invite both the ADA & FDA to
speak to us throughout the year. Attend meet-
ings and conventions so ASDA can hear your
voice.
Best of all--ASDA plans to have many
fun events this year! One event was recently
creating an awesome ethics video that we are
anxious to have members view. Also, each
month ASDA will be planning various commu-
nity service, educational, and social events for
students which will be posted on our on-line
calendar. We are excited for a fun year with
ASDA and hope you are too!
Live patients and the
Florida Dental Licensing
Exam
The state of Florida,
supported by the Florida
Board of dentistry, and the
Florida Dental Association
has joined with ADEX to of-
fer an examination identical to
the Florida Dental Licensing
Exam in locations other than
the state of Florida. For sever-
al years other states have rec-
ognized the validity of the
Florida exam and accepted it
when candidates petitioned their state for licensure. More students will
now have the ability to take the clinical licensing exam for Florida
without having to travel to Florida or enjoy the many expenses of tak-
ing an out of state exam.
The examination includes live patients for both restorative and
periodontal procedures. This is important because the exam is not just a
test of the candidate‟s ability to mill an intricate shape while having
their vision obstructed. Every hour of every working day a dentist must
be able to manage a live patient, with a whole body, saliva, blood, a
moving tongue, and an opinion about the dentist, their treatment and
their environment. The dentist must properly diagnose whether the pa-
tient has a condition that will benefit from the knowledge and skills of
the dentist. The dentist must also assess whether he/she has the
knowledge and skills to treat this individual patient, while having their
vision obstructed by blood, saliva, cheeks, a tongue and the patient‟s
desire or ability to help them complete the task. The manual skills are
the least of what we do. This is what makes us doctors and separates us
from technicians.
Manikins and computer simulations are excellent training aids
and have a place in introducing us to new skills. They do not replace
live patients. Until dentists can make a living treating manikins, or can-
didates are applying for a license to treat manikins, I wholeheartedly
disagree with those who believe that testing on manikins proves we
have skill with live patients.
Respectfully,
John H. Paul DMD
Florida Dental Association
Christie Eastman and Dusty Pfundheller
3
What is ADPAC?
The American Dental Political Action Committee otherwise
known as ADPAC is an important bipartisan legislative arm of the
American Dental Association (ADA). Its main purpose is to elect con-
gressional candidates who understand the issues that are important to
dental professionals. Every year, congressional members debate count-
less numbers of bills that affect health care and the medical profession.
ADPAC works by providing financial contributions to candidates that
are willing to speak on the behalf of all dental care providers. These can-
didates serve as advocates for current and future dental professionals. In
addition, ADPAC also provides opportunities for dentists and specialist
who are interested in running for public office to learn about how to
reach their goals.
As students it is often hard to look at what is going on outside
of our current curriculum. However, it is important to be aware that what
happens today in the political world will have a heavy impact on our
careers after we graduate. Issues such as access to healthcare, Medicaid,
expanded duties of auxiliary personnel and licensure are current hot top-
ics and it is important that we have someone that is willing to represent
us while the government is deciding how to resolve all of these issues.
There are many ways to participate as a student. It only cost $5
to join as a student compared to the $49 for graduated dentist. An AD-
PAC drive will be happening soon but if you‟d like to go ahead and join,
you can find more information on the ADA or ASDA website.
Anthony Le
ASDA ADPAC/National Issues Chair
4
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Join Our Facebook Group! UF ASDA CHAPTER
5
Everything You Need to Get
Through the First Year of Dental
School
Getting in to dental school is a great accom-
plishment, and everyone is eager and anxious to get
started with their new education. Despite this excite-
ment, the beginning of dental school can be quite over-
whelming. It is important to learn to balance your time
between a variety of classes and information as well as
your life outside of C1-4. First years, do not stress, the
Class of 2014 has helped to compile some great tips
for you to help make your transition into dental school.
10. Do not compare yourself to others. Everyone has
different backgrounds, life situations, study habits, and goals. Do what you need to
do for yourself to reach your own goals.
9. Have plenty of chocolate around. It always makes you feel better J
8. Make time for hobbies – IM games, working out, leisure reading, cooking, etc.
Give yourself a real break away from the computer.
7. Laugh, spend time with your friends and family, and have fun! Get involved in
clubs and activities with your class and the dental school. Stress release and enjoy-
ing life is vital for good overall health.
6. Prioritize and stay organized. Know what classes you need to spend more or less
time on.
5. Do not procrastinate. Stay on top of your classes on a daily basis so you do not
get too far behind and cause unnecessary stress during exam blocks.
4. Do not expect to excel right away in regards to hand skills. Practice and you will
improve with time. The learning curve is not a myth and you will get there!
3. Do not forget to sleep! Your brain and body need sleep to function properly
2. Have a good support system. Your family and friends are your life line!
1. Always remember to envision your goals and maintain focus on why you are
here! J
On top of these things do not forget to ask upper classmen for help and advice,
may it be with the basic sciences or your dental anatomy/operative courses. We
are always willing to help because we know what you are going through! With
that being said, do not forget to take the advice that you are given with a grain of
salt because everyone is different (see number 10). Good luck Class of 2015!
Special thanks for contributions to: Courtney Worlinksy, Lauren Dupre, Valenti-
na Espinosa, Melissa Bridy, Danny Sabra, Valentina Ayala, Jesse Alonso, and
Logan Schenck.
Chelsea Brinkman
Susan Nimmo, DDS, MPH At first I didn‟t want to be a dentist because
my mother made me work in her orthodontic prac-
tice as an assistant and I didn‟t think I‟d like work-
ing with spit all the time. Eventually I stopped
fighting the inevitable and succumbed to my destiny
as a good Chinese firstborn whose parents could
proudly refer to as “Our daughter, the dentist.” It
didn‟t strike me until much later just how liberated
and ahead of their time my parents were.
The first year in dental school my dental
anatomy bench instructor announced that my man-
dibular molar “looked like a daisy.” (He was proba-
bly right.) The second year of dental school was
remarkable in that my bench instructor for my den-
ture course was rather cute. (The rest is history.) The
third year in dental school I met my first dental pa-
tients, some from whom I still receive Christmas
cards 26 years later. My last case in dental school to
graduate was 6 anterior PFM crowns cemented the
last day of clinic. (Stress? What stress?)
The first reason I like dentistry remains the
patients: the opportunity to serve others by doing
what is needed in a professional and caring manner.
The second reason I like dentistry is the camaraderie
with other professionals either in patient care or or-
ganized dentistry; the outcome is often greater that
the sum of the parts. Finally, I love dentistry be-
cause of the students; young people with lots of
questions and energy that continue to keep life inter-
esting and new. As faculty advisor to AAWD I
strive to pass on the opportunities that were made
available to me to succeed as a dental professional.
6
Not Your Typical District Meeting:
UF ASDA chapter will be hosting the ASDA district five meeting from September 9th through September 11th! LSU, UAB, Nova, and Puerto
Rico all plan to be in attendance. The conference is packed with prestigious speakers including Florida State Senator Dr. Alan Hays; State House
of Representative Dr. Costello; the founder of “Save the Smile”, Dr. Terry Buckenheimer; and the ADA 2010 Membership Chair
as well as the FDA Vice President. Also, many of our own professors will be presenting including former American Association
of Dental Research President Dr. Marc Heft; our Dean of The University of Florida Dental School Dr. Teresa Dolan; former American Dental
Education Association President Dr. Catalanotto.
The meeting will end with a cookout on Sunday morning at Lake Wauburg. One of the highlights of the weekend is that one leader from each
school will attend the UF vs. UAB football game, sitting with UF‟s President in the Presidents box! This district meeting will be one of the larg-
est District 5 meetings ever held, with some of the most prestigious presenters. All ASDA members are encouraged to attend! Hope to see you
there!
Dusty Pfundheller, District 5 ASDA Trustee
ASDA Trivia Night
7
The Psi Omega Chapter of the University of
Florida continues to make great strides this year! With more members than
ever, we are moving full steam ahead in both our academic and extracurric-
ular endeavors. Our goal, which is to provide the absolute best experience
for our members and community through academic offerings, community
outreach, and social activities, remains consistent.
One of the oldest traditions carried out by Psi-O involves our foot-
ball tailgators! Nothing compares to game day at the University of Florida,
for which our tailgate is a staple. With delicious food, a great DJ, and un-
beatable people, it is no wonder these weekly events have become so popu-
lar. In fact, our homecoming tailgate had over 400 people in attendance
last season.
In addition to tailgates, the society plans to host socials to allow
members to take a break from the stresses of school. We will also plan CE
courses for upperclassman and other extracurricular events for all.
Psi-O is a unique organization and I welcome everyone to take the
opportunity to become a member!
For more information about Psi-O, please contact Keith Polizois kpolizois@dental.ufl.edu or Caitlin Buchanan cbuchanan@dental.ufl.edu.
ASDA Welcomes
3 New US Dental
Schools!
By the end of this summer, three brand
new dental schools will open their doors to
their very first incoming classes. These schools
are East Carolina University School of Den-
tal Medicine in Greenville, North Carolina,
Roseman University of Health Sciences Col-
lege of Dental Medicine in South Jordan, Utah,
and Midwestern University College of Dental
Medicine-Illinois located in Downers Grove.
Midwestern University enrolled its first dental
school class on its Glendale, Arizona campus in
2008. All three of these schools have been
granted “initial accreditation” by the Commis-
sion on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and have
admitted full classes of dental students for this
coming Fall 2011 semester. East Carolina Uni-
versity has enrolled a class size of 50 students,
Roseman University has enrolled a class of 80
and Midwestern University-IL has enrolled a
class of 125. With the addition of these three
new dental schools, the total number of dental
schools in the U.S. has climbed to 61.
The very first matriculating class of a
dental school has the unique opportunity to
bond very closely with the faculty, receive
more attention than those in dental schools with
4 full classes of students, as well as get in-
volved in the initiation and establishment of
their dental school‟s chapters and organiza-
tions. Of course, with the rewards also come
the challenges. The first class of a dental school
may have the disadvantage of being the “guinea
pig” class. They may not receive the same ben-
efits that a more established dental school will
be able to provide its students (for instance,
East Carolina‟s brand new clinics…but pending
completion of the construction!).
Roseman University and Midwestern
University-IL are both private dental schools
while East Carolina University is a state school
of North Carolina, currently open to only North
Carolina residents. Though a private institution,
Roseman University will be the first dental
school established in the state of Utah. The fact
that North Carolina is now opening its second
state dental school while other states such as
Massachusetts, New Mexico and Wisconsin
have yet to establish public dental schools for
their residents may be puzzling or even frustrat-
ing to some dental students.
It is projected that 20 more new dental
schools will have opened their doors to eager
dental students by the year 2020. Is this a good
answer to the challenge of barriers to care?
What are your thoughts on being a
part of an inaugural class of a brand new
dental school? Wise or risky?
~Allison Ferris, Tufts ’14, ASDA Administra-
tive Extern
This article has been reprinted with the permis-
sion of the American Student Dental Associa-
tion. It originally appeared as a blog post on
Mouthing Off, www.ASDAblog.com.
8
Ethics Corner: The Realities
of Prescription Opioid Abuse
Angela McNeight ‟13 ASDA Ethics Chair
When I opened up my mail-
box last month, a picture of a huge red
and white pill caught my eye on the
front of one of the magazines. Look-
ing more closely, I realized it wasn‟t
just another ad from CVS, but rather
the July 2011 Journal of the American
Dental Association (JADA). The cov-
er story “Prevention of Prescription
Opioid Abuse” Denisco et al was writ-
ten by a committee of the Tufts Health
Care Institute Program on Opioid Risk Management, and the article is
studded with shocking statistics. One states, “Dentists prescribe 12
percent of IR opioids in the United States, behind only family physi-
cians, who prescribe 15 percent of IR opioids.” At UFCD, we are
constantly reminded about the dangers of prescription drug abuse and
the responsibility we have as future health care providers. We do not
foresee ourselves blatantly prescribing unneeded medication to an
addict or friend. However, we must be aware that patients can fake
symptoms of pain, forge prescriptions, alter pill quantities, or claim
their prescriptions were lost or stolen. “Doctor shopping” to obtain
controlled drugs is absolutely a real phenomenon. Dentists must care-
fully balance the responsibilities of taking their patients out of pain
(beneficence), avoiding overprescribing, and screening patients for
their substance abuse risk level. So the next time you are on SOS rota-
tion or filling out medical history during a COE asking about drug
use, you may want to pause a second longer, look the patient in the
eye, and really listen to their response.
Suggestions:
Familiarize yourself with evidence-based guidelines and recommen-
dations for treatment of pain in patients with and without
suspected substance abuse.
Be suspicious of patients who tell you stories about how their medica-
tion was “lost” or “stolen.”
Determine whether your patient actually needs an opioid for their
pain and discuss the likelihood they will use it.
Secure prescription pads when they are not in use.
Write out dosage quantities and indicate “no refills” unless you are
sure they are needed.
Consider if the patient is referred from another dentist that they may
have already received a prescription for an analgesic.
Advise patients on how to dispose of their remaining doses properly.
Ask the family members of patients with self-proclaimed substance
abuse disorders to dispense the medication when needed to the
patient.
Discuss patient‟s drug abuse history with their primary care physician
or if referring, to the specialist.
If you‟d like to read this article:
Denisco, Richard C et al. "Prevention of Prescription Opioid Abuse-
The Role of the Dentist." The Journal of the American Dental
Association 142.7 (July 2011): 800-10. Print.
John Syrbu, Iowa '13
The Christian
Dental Society
(CDS) is a group of dental students who are pas-
sionate about their Christian faith. We go on a
mission trip to Guatemala every year, and we help organize
community dental treatment through GCM (Gainesville Com-
munity Ministry) in Gainesville. Our group meets every Tues-
day during lunch to join in fellowship and prayer. Come join
us!
If you would like to be added to our list serv or have
questions about CDS, the Guatemala Mission Trip, volunteer-
ing at GCM, or God please contact our President Drew Byrnes
AByrnes@dental.ufl.edu or our Secretary Don Dau
DDau@dental.ufl.edu.
UFASDA
9
Class of 2014
Family Day Throughout the course of dental school,
there are events that mark the progression of a dental
student towards achieving a dental degree. The first
of these events is Family Day, which occurs at the
end of the spring semester of the first year. This year
the Class of 2014 welcomed family and friends from
all over the United States to join us on this special
day. There was a great turnout, and it was our first
opportunity to meet our classmates‟ family from out
of town.
Family day allowed the Class of 2014 to
take a second and look back at all of the accomplish-
ments we have achieved throughout the past year. It
is unbelievable to think that just one short year ago,
some individuals came to UFCD not knowing any-
one, and now, many of us have made friends that we
plan to keep for a lifetime. During the morning
speeches, all of the guests were informed on how
much time we spend with each other and how im-
portant our lives out side of dental school are to us
even if we do not always show it. We made sure to
thank our guests for playing such an instrumental role
in this journey that has brought us to where we are
today.
The morning was completed with a few
hours in the simulation lab. Potential future dentists
and future patients occupied the seats in the sim lab
that normally occupy the 82 members of 2014. Some
family members were even able to re-live their time
in dental school and reminisce on how much things
have changed. The day was filled with laughter and
excitement. We were all left waiting for our next big
milestone, the White Coat Ceremony.
Lauren Dupre
UFCD Class of 2014 President
10
The Future of
Digital
Impressioning
Shawn Stott
From many years ago to today, creat-
ing impressions resorted to mixing alginate and
gypsum like a scientist and gagging your patient
for an occlusal analysis, and then inevitable
retakes to succeed with no voids, bubbles, or
missed anatomy. I have recently felt this frustra-
tion. After two failed impressions, I was prep-
ping myself at the counter, Okay you can do
this, just pour and mix faster this time, drizzle it
into the tray, and make sure you get it far
enough in your patient’s (my classmate)
mouth to seat her second molars, but not
too far that you hit the centrals up
front… and finally I got a negative model
that was acceptable but not great. It‟ll
have to do because now I have to strate-
gically race up to junior/senior lab,
squeeze into line, and hope I can pour
my stone, mount to my articulator, and
clean my station (plus retrieve my scat-
tered supplies) before 5‟o clock!
That was over a month ago in
Dr. Notzer‟s Occlusion course and now I
stand in clinic, mesmerized by the pure
brilliance of Cadent‟s iTero digital im-
pression unit. Dr. Weinstein stood beside
the third year to guide him through the
technique and I laughed when she said,
“It‟s like a video game!” It was so pre-
cise that it would tell the user to take another
image more mesial of tooth 14 if the previous
one was unacceptable and would blink green
when he scanned over the missing piece. I knew
with today‟s iPads and smart phones, there had
to be a more advanced approach to making
models than goop and gagging your patient.
I met with Dr. Weinstein to receive my
digital impressioning tutorial. She informed me
that we currently have two digital impressioning
units at our school: the CEREC we‟ve had for
six years and iTero has been here since January
2011. With the iTero, you just scan your image
and then send it off to lab. With CEREC, you
have the options of sending it straight to lab or
the restoration can be done “in house,” mostly
porcelains. The students learn from a demo with
the CEREC, but with the iTero, there‟s really no
software because it tells you what steps to fol-
low. The CEREC also requires a bluish spray to
coat the patient‟s teeth before scanning, where-
as iTero does not. But after she showed me both
units and I could see that the iTero instrument is
a little heavy for the operator to hold for long
and it is a little more bulky than the CEREC
which is a disparity for a patient‟s small mouth,
so they both have their advantages and disad-
vantages.
I have received a few responses from
the Class of 2012 for their take on the wave of
technology. Bryan Thatcher explained his expe-
rience to me that resulted in a crown remake
because of his
impression
scan error so
he concluded,
“Overall it is
a quick, clean
system with a
steep learning
curve. The
operative
should have
proper train-
ing before
using it on a
patient.” Kevin Parekh said, “My three experi-
ences with CEREC have been all fair to bad.
There is a significant learning curve involved,
but, this is the future of dentistry so I am not
shunning this technology by any means.” In
general I have received the same response:
It is the direction advanced dentistry is
heading, but there is most certainly a tech-
nique learning curve that requires a hand-
ful of experience to master.
Dr. Weinstein also informed me that,
“the students are to complete 5 traditional
impressions prior to use of the Itero Im-
pression System. The software may be a
little tricky but the seniors seem to have
picked it up along the way. We have done
50 cases of crown and bridge on the Itero
digital sytem with no remakes.” Dr. Ot-
tenga added, “By and large it is the direc-
tion of indirect inlays/onlays, it will save
more time when you get used to the tech-
nique.” This year, Dr. Ottenga instituted a
requirement in Operative for all students to
complete at least one CEREC restoration prior
to graduation, something we can all look for-
ward to. On the other hand, if you and digital
imaging don‟t get along well at UF, hopefully
your assistant can be a part of making this a
speedy process in your practice one day.
ASDA Volunteers
at
St. Francis House
11
Alan Hays: Senator
Dentist
UFCD Alumnus
Carolyn A. Norton
For many dental students, getting ac-
cepted to the dental school of their choice was
the ultimate goal. An acceptance letter from a
dental school essentially means that if you
work hard now, then you will get to be a
dentist 4 years later. I was definitely one of
these students, very focused on one, big pur-
pose, but now that I am in dental school,
what comes next? I find myself often thinking
about this, wondering if I should specialize
or not, where I would do a GPR if I did, and
even what I would do after that. Although to
some degree it is necessary, and important,
to anticipate the future, not having all of the
answers right now is okay. This is an im-
portant lesson for us Type A personalities to
learn- and something we can learn from Sen-
ator Alan Hays.
If you asked Alan as a young boy
what he wanted to be when he grew up, I am
pretty sure he would not have said dentist. If
you asked Alan Hays as an undergrad in
college what he wanted to do with his life, he
probably still would not have said dentist. If
you asked Dr. Alan Hays, working in his
family practice, what his future plans were,
he probably would not have said become a
Florida state senator. Senator Alan Hays’ story
so simply and naturally illustrates that you do
not need to plan and orchestrate every single
moment of your life to have a great impact on
your community, state, and country. Sometimes
the best paths in life are the unplanned ones,
the surprises you find around corners and
through friends.
Senator Alan Hays was born in Ken-
tucky, but grew up in Winter Garden, Florida.
He completed junior college in Oklahoma,
which included 2 years of football, and then
received another scholarship to play football at
Kent State University. Hays eventually became
a member of the UFCD charter class of 1976.
The charter class had over 2000 applications,
and only 24 students were selected among these
applicants. Hays was one of these 24 individu-
als, and, in addition, he was elected president of
his class in his senior year. Hays was also the
founding president of the UFCD Alumni Asso-
ciation. He also served one term as the presi-
dent of the Academy 100, which is now called
the Academy of Friends and Alumni.
In undergrad, Hays studied trade and
industrial education and planned to become a
drafting teacher. Instead, he enlisted in the US
Coast Guard. During his time in the Coast
Guard, Hays worked as a dental assistant for 4
years. The more he learned about dentistry,
working and talking with the Coast Guard den-
tists, the more he realized that this profession
was right for him. Upon discharge from the
Coast Guard, he moved to Gainesville, Florida
with his wife and daughter. There he enrolled
in the UF undergraduate curriculum in order to
complete the science credits necessary to apply
to dental school at UF. Hays was accepted, and
matriculated in the fall of 1972.
Senator Hays‟ favorite thing about
Gainesville is without question football season.
He has been a Gator fan
since 1955. There was a ten or twelve
year span of time in which Hays attended every
single game the Gators played at home and on
the road. His dream as an athlete was to play
football for the Gators but as he puts it,
“Instead of using a stop watch to time my
sprints, the coaches used a calendar”.
There are many benefits to being in
the charter class of a dental school. Those stu-
dents were the first class to get new operatories,
a new building, and they basically got to do so
many more procedures than present day stu-
dents. Hays and one of his classmates were
each able to complete and cement more than
50 units of crown and bridge treatment be-
fore graduating. At the time, there were no
oral surgery residents, there were no perio
residents. If someone came in with impacted
3rd molars that needed to be taken out, Hays
was able to do it. Students had so much
hands on experience with procedures that we,
as dental students today, would probably
only observe. This, I feel, would be the great-
est and most beneficial privilege of being in a
charter dental class, but there are many oth-
ers, like having 24 students and more than 50
faculty members all focused on making each
one of you the best dentists you can possibly
be. This type of attention and guidance must
have been overwhelming, but in the best of
ways. Faculty and students were very close,
and most students became personal friends
with their professors, even sharing meals
with each other‟s families. Hays says, he was
very fortunate to be working with some of the
“brightest and best minds in the country at that
time”. Hays was actually scheduled to be the
first student to put fillings in a patient‟s mouth
at UFCD, but then the patient called at the last
minute and cancelled on him.
After dental school, Hays opened a
family practice in Umatilla, Florida. Hays re-
calls that he had 8 patients on his first day of
practice and 12 patients on the second, and after
that there was no time to count. The nearest
dental office at the time was 60 miles north of
12
his office. He owned his practice for 27 years
and then sold it in 2003, staying on for 6
months during a transition period, working 2
days per week.
Shortly after this time, a friend asked
him to run for the Florida House of Representa-
tives. There were already 4 people in the race,
and saying yes was a very last minute decision,
giving him only 10 weeks to campaign. The
amount of time spent campaigning is usually 1
to 1.5 years, and, in addition, Hays also had to
consider the fact that when most people run for
office they do not get elected the first time
around. In the end, Hays won 36% of the vote
in a 5 person race, which was sufficient to
place him in the House of Representatives. He
attributes his win to being widely known from
his 27 years of practice. His patients had confi-
dence in him and knew he would take care of
their tax dollars as well as he did their teeth. He
served in the House for 6 years and then ran for
Senate when a seat opened up last year.
Hays’ favorite thing
about being a Senator is
helping his constituents cut
through the government
red tape- this is what he does the most
of. He also loves that his job allows him to
learn so much about environmental protection
and energy problems, education system prob-
lems, and the budgeting and legislature process.
The list goes on and on; the more people he
interacts with, the more he learns. Hays is
known for being a strong advocate for property
insurance reform in Florida, he is a very
staunch fiscal conservative and hates seeing tax
payer dollars wasted in our government at the
national, state, and local levels. Hays views
himself as a steward to his constituents; the
people of his district have entrusted him with
their tax dollars, and it is up to him to be a
good steward, maximizing the value of what
his people get for their money.
Even though his main focus now is
being a Senator, Hays keeps all of his CE hours
up to date so that his dental license is valid, he
still goes to dental conventions, like FNDC
(Florida National Dental Conven-
tion), and he spends a lot of time
meeting with various dental soci-
eties to talk about legislative mat-
ters that affect dentists. He is
also currently working closely
with UFCD Dean, Teresa Do-
lan, helping her with state den-
tal legislative issues. Hays still
works on a patient every now and
then; some of his friends just
don‟t want anybody else working
in their mouth. More than any-
thing I think this demonstrates
how dedicated and loyal Hays‟
patients were to his practice and
speaks worlds about Hays‟ ability
to represent our profession.
Hays has 2 pieces of
advice for dental students: “First and foremost, always, under all circum-
stances be honest with your patients. If you
don‟t know what‟s happening, be professional
enough to tell them, „I don‟t really know, but I
will find out‟. And secondly, never, under any
circumstances let a patient leave your office
with a service in their mouth that you would
not allow to be done in your own mouth or that
of your loved ones.” Hays further explains,
“We owe every patient our very best effort and
should always make sure that the services we
render for them are the same quality we would
allow in our own mouth.” A successful dentist
should never, and would never, violate these
two rules.
Hays explains that he always ap-
proached patients from the standpoint of being
teammates. “Basically I considered myself the
hired hand. The patient is the boss, and my
obligation was to give the patient options and
recommendations” based on an examination of
his or her mouth. Hays advises us as students to
be as thorough, detailed, and precise as possi-
ble. Tell the patient their options, the cost, and
what they can expect out of each treatment
option in terms of longevity and value. Let
them make the decision out of those options,
and if they ask you for your recommendation,
then give it. But, be honest. Hays says, “I can-
not count
the patients
over the
years that
have said,
„I don‟t
like what
you had to
tell me, but I sure appreciate you being honest
with me.‟ There is no substitute for honesty and
quality. If the shade is not correct or if the mar-
gin is not correct, then send it back to the lab. If
the contact is too open, then send it back to the
lab. It will take more time to do it right, but it
will take a whole lot more time to correct a
mistake later on.”
Final words from
Senator Alan Hays: “After you
get out of school, make a point to get in the
dental chair as a patient at least once every 5
years. Get one of your colleagues to find some-
thing to do in your mouth, just so you can re-
late to what your patients go through every day.
We have one of the most highly regarded pro-
fessions in this country, and it is up to you and
your generation to perpetuate the esteem with
which the public holds our fine profession.”
If you would like to meet Senator Alan Hays, he
will be speaking at the ASDA District 5 Region-
al Meeting on September 10, 2011 from 12:50
pm to 1:25 pm right here at UFCD. We look
forward to seeing you all there.
Hays Represents District
20, NW of Orlando.
13
ASDA, besides being an institution that
promotes political advocacy for dentists and
dental students, has many tangible
BENEFITS FOR
MEMBERS. As an ASDA
member is important that you are informed of
the many other benefits you get with your
membership. Here is a quick list of them:
Student loan & debt management services- GL
Advisor
Credit card plans for students- Bank of Ameri-
ca
Student dis-
count on test
prep services-
Kaplan Test
Prep & Admis-
sions
Discount on
wireless ser-
vices -10%- T-
mobile
Insurance
(Many different
insurance com-
panies)- United
Healthcare,
ADA Life &
Disability In-
surance Plans
(which is Free
with your mem-
bership), Geico
Auto, Renter‟s, Homeowner‟s Insurance
Free enrollment to NEXTDDS.com - This is a
website designed for D1-D4 which features
instructional videos, publications and much
more to complement our learning in the class-
room and clinics.
Publications to keep you up to date with all the
advances and decision that are done about and
within our profession.
Take full advantage of your ASDA member-
ship during your time at UFCD – stay involved
& up to date on the latest information affecting
dentistry & dental
students!
Every dental stu-
dent should be an
ASDA member.
For more ques-
tions regarding
ASDA member-
ship please contact Janis Kendrick,
jkendrick@dental.ufl.edu. Janis Kendrick is the
UFCD ASDA Membership Chair.
JOIN ASDA!
The Future is Bright for 2015
Haley
Freymiller
T he 83 members
of the Class of
2015 beat out 1429
other applicants for
their seats this year,
slightly less than last
year‟s total applicants of 1539. Compared to
classes in years past, the Class of 2015 is
younger, having an average age of 23 years
old, and is composed of 46 females and 37
males. Of the 83 people, 80 have earned Bac-
calaureate degrees and 8 have also earned
Masters degrees. Their class consists of 76
Florida residents, 37 of which are native Flo-
ridians, and 7 out-of-staters.
According to a study by our own Dr.
Sandow, when looking at admission criteria,
there is a strong relationship between the DAT
Academic score and the NB-I and NB-II
scores. The Class of 2015 has an above-the-
national-DAT Academic-average score of 20,
with the national average being a 19. Dr.
Sandow also found correlations between sci-
ence GPA and both yearly and final dental
school GPA. With a total science GPA of 3.49,
which is right on par with the national average,
combined with the DAT score, the Class of
2015 has all of the predictors of becoming a
shining class for the UF College of Dentistry.
Sandow, P., Jones, A., Peek, C., Courts, F.,
Watson, R. 2002. Correlation of Admission
Criteria with Dental Schhol Performance and
Attrition. Journal of Dental Education: 66(3):
385-92.
14
Nereyda P. Clark, DMD Email: nclark@dental.ufl.edu
Dental school you graduated from: Universi-
ty of Florida College of Dentistry 1977.
Undergraduate: University of Miami, Organic
Chemistry
Position held at UFCD: Associate Professor
Department of Restorative Sciences
Dental Specialty: GP
Why did you want to be a dentist? During my
childhood, I thought of becoming a veterinari-
an, dental hygienist or flight attendant. Unfor-
tunately, my Cuban parents were
very traditional and since there were
no vet schools near Miami where we
lived, I was dissuaded from applying
to vet school. During my undergrad-
uate education at the University of
Miami, while working a job in a
chemistry research laboratory, I de-
veloped a strong interest in science
and in particular, organic chemistry.
Later, I got married and my husband
at the time was accepted to UF‟s
medical school. Living in Gaines-
ville, I learned about the dental pro-
gram at UF through some first year
dental students. I was really fascinat-
ed by the innovative curriculum, and
decided to apply. I wanted a better
way of life and my previous child-
hood curiosity in dental hygiene still
remained, sparking my interest in becoming a
dentist.
Curriculum at UFCD in when you went to
school: I think the dental curriculum when I
went to school was way ahead of its time. Eve-
rything was self-paced. We read books,
watched videos and watched slides-tapes in the
library and took our tests when we were
“ready”. All the dental classes were pass/fail.
We had minimal dental faculty interaction until
we got into pre-clinic and clinic. We took our
basic sciences with the medical students and
were able to take Boards Part I after our first
year. Our clinical curriculum was competency-
based. We were assigned a family of patients
that provided a wide variety of clinical experi-
ences. Since we were focused on comprehen-
sive care, we had to finish all of the patient‟s
care to recall. If something happened and the
patient was unable to continue, we received
another patient and had to start at the beginning
with their treatment. The idea was that if you
received an appropriate family of patients and
completed them, you would graduate! Some
individuals actually graduated a semester early
(and some a semester late).
What would you have been if you weren’t a
dentist? I would probably have been a chemis-
try professor at the college/university level.
What is your favorite thing about dentistry?
There are three things that I love about being a
dental professor. First of all, my job allows me
to be very versatile. I get to interact with pa-
tients on a frequent basis, which gives me an
opportunity to practice comprehensive dentis-
try. But more importantly, it allows me to teach
my patients about their oral health and hopeful-
ly make a difference in their lives. Secondly, I
enjoy my time in the student clinics because it
allows me to stay youthful and teach students
my passion for dentistry. I expect a lot from my
students and I try my best to convey my
knowledge so that they may become the best
dentists they can be. Lastly, dentistry gives me
an opportunity to think on a daily basis. I love
the research aspect of dentistry where I have
the opportunity to develop a question, and think
through the process to find an answer.
Favorite memory in dental school: My favor-
ite memory was one day I thought I had failed a
post test and I actually got a perfect score.
Worst memory of dental school: I made a
silly mistake when I was making my first den-
ture and thought it was the end of the world. I
was just told to redo it.
Memory of 1st patient: He was a young pa-
tient, in his late teens. He did not have many
treatment needs but his data collections and
treatment planning took me six hours! Just as
you do today, I also had to mount study casts,
take an FMX, and go through all the forms.
How did you know teaching was right for
you? I started teaching right after I graduated
from dental school. I have always been passion-
ate about sharing my knowledge with others
and making an impact in their lives. I have al-
ways been curious about how things work. I am
patient, and I desire that my students fully un-
derstand what I am trying to teach them. It
gives me such pleasure to have alumni come
back and remind me of what I taught them
years before, and thank me for teaching.
Tell me a little bit about your family: I have
two children. Tyler is twenty-six years old. He
did his undergraduate studies here at
UF and has a Masters in guidance
counseling from UVA. My daughter
Abby is twenty-two years old, also
completed her undergraduate degree
at UF, and is moving to San Francis-
co to pursue a Masters in Fine Arts
with a specialization in photography.
My husband Dan is a data manage-
ment expert who is currently work-
ing on grant-funded research projects
within the UF College of Design,
Construction and Planning. My mom
and 2 sisters live in Miami with their
husbands and children.
What is your favorite hobby? I
absolutely love being by the water. If
I had more free time I would love to
go to the lake or beach to sail and
water ski. I would love to spend more time out-
side.
What is the coolest place you have ever been
to in the world? Capri, an island off the south-
ern coast of Italy. When I was a teenager, my
sister and I traveled to Europe and we visited
Capri. We went swimming in the grottos! I
have many fond memories of our trip.
Words of wisdom to future dentists: Dentis-
try is, first and foremost, a very people-
oriented, caring profession that will engage all
of your senses. It demands accuracy and preci-
sion, but also offers many opportunities for
creativity and innovation. Treat patients com-
prehensively and always view your work in the
larger context of the patient‟s health and well-
being. Dentistry is a wonderful profession -
always strive to do the best you can each day.
Valentina Espinosa
15
Summer Research Experience
Sergio Jacas, UFCD Class of 2015
Every summer since 1995 the University of Florida College of
Dentistry has offered incoming first year dental students the chance to
participate in their Summer Research Program. The program is designed
to provide students with an interest in research the opportunity to carry
out a ten-week research project under
the direction of a faculty member. This
year eight students were selected to
participate in the program. We worked
on a variety of different projects with
great supporting mentors that guided us
throughout the program. The final ob-
jective was to construct an abstract
based on the ten weeks of research and
present the results at an abstract presen-
tation. We later will have the opportuni-
ty to present the research in other na-
tional and international dental research
meetings. In general, it offers an excel-
lent introduction to research and also to
the college as a whole.
The program allowed us to form relationships with faculty and
become familiar with the college prior to commencing dental school.
Throughout the ten weeks, we had several lunch & learns and social
gatherings that gave us a chance to interact with some of our professors
and other dental students. It gives us some level of comfort coming into
our first year, already recognizing some familiar faces as we walk the
hallways of Shands. The social gatherings were also a great introduction
to the city of Gainesville for some of us in the program. Overall, the
Summer Research Program offers a great experience for incoming fresh-
man dental students. I would highly recommend it without hesitation.
The application to the Summer Research Program tries to match
each student up with a mentor depending on his or her interest in re-
search. The students picked what they found most interesting from a list
of research topics that the faculty are currently working on. As I looked
through the list I found significant importance in every research project. I
was willing to participate in any of the
projects because I was simply excited to
learn something new about dentistry. I
was selected to work with Dr. Nereyda
Clark from the Restorative Dental Sci-
ence department. For ten weeks, I
worked with Dr. Clark in a study de-
signed to evaluate the efficacy of two
different methods for teaching head and
neck examinations to dental student
participants. The ultimate goal of the
study was to improve the competence
level of dentists and healthcare provid-
ers when providing patients with regular
oral cancer screenings. It was a great
experience to work with Dr. Clark on
this project, and I learned a great deal about oral cancer and the im-
portance of early detention.
A special thanks to the Office of Research and all the faculty members
who put in their time and effort to support the program.
For more information about the summer research program visit: http://
www.dental.ufl.edu/Offices/Research/Student-Resources/summer-
research-program.php.
16
An End to Graduate
Subsidized Loans
Phil Bell, ASDA
Legislative Liaison
It is official. As if the reality of
our 15% tuition increase was not enough
for you to stock up on Ramen Noodles,
President Barack Obama signed the Budg-
et Control Act of 2011 into law August 2,
20111. The bill passed in the House by a
vote of 269-161 and in the Senate 74-26
before being signed into law. It will cost graduate and professional stu-
dents an estimated $21.7 billion dollars through fiscal year 20212. The
signing of the law brought an end to months of hard work and effort
from the American Student Dental Association,
in addition to numerous other national organiza-
tions on our behalf. A question many students
ask is, “Why spend $95 to become a member of
ASDA?” Not only do members receive delicious
food at lunch and learns, social events, vendor
fair, and free life and disability insurance, we are
also fighting on your behalf at the local, state,
and national levels to advocate against legislation
as costly as the Budget Control Act of 2011. I
recently asked this same question, among others,
to the Executive Committee of National ASDA
and want to share exactly was done on behalf of
your $95. The Executive Committee currently
consists of our President Adam Shisler, Vice
Presidents Brittany Bensch and Ken Randall, and
Central Office Staff Nancy Honeycutt. Each con-
tributed to the responses.
What actions did ASDA take to advocate against the Budget Con-
trol Act of 2011?
The ASDA website was updated to educate our members. Two main
courses of action were recommended for ASDA members. The Execu-
tive Committee drafted a template letter to US Congress for students to
fill out and mail. ASDA signed on to support the Student Advocates for
Graduate Education (SAGE) online petition. We encouraged our mem-
bers to sign the petition electronically using several communication
methods including the June edition of Word of Mouth, email to chapter
leaders, and a post on the ASDA blog Mouthing Off.
How did the Executive Committee generate a plan of action?
The Executive Committee coordinated with central office staff daily via
emails and weekly via conference calls. The initial plan of action was
decided via email and solidified through conference calls. The plan was
monitored at the Executive Committee meeting in July.
Is the Executive Committee satisfied with the actions ASDA took as
a whole?
Yes. With our current resources regarding political actions and emerg-
ing issues, the Executive Committee was happy to provide speaking
points embedded in a template letter to forward as communication to
Congress. Our organization does not directly hire lobbyists; we utilize
the ADA‟s Office of Government Affairs in Washington, D.C. and the
collaborative relationships as student members of the ADA.
Do you think we could have done anything more?
According to our Office of Governmental Affairs within the ADA, the
financial environment in Washington, D.C. is combative and highly
tumultuous. This was evident in our congressional conversations regard-
ing NIDCR funding at National Dental Student Lobby Day. This envi-
ronment has not improved according to ADEA or the ADA Office of
Governmental Affairs. Enlisting more student responders through im-
proved communications would have made our effort look more pro-
found. However, exercising rational political capital in a time when
irrational government actions are being agreed upon is beyond tough.
Is the Executive Committee aware that the backbone of our advoca-
cy efforts, the SAGE petition, only received 2,654 total signatures,
which includes all disciplines and undergraduate students, not just
dentistry?
Of course we would have liked a 100% response! The Executive Com-
mittee is currently reviewing
communication pathways re-
garding short timeframe issues
with the intent to increase effi-
ciency and broaden our scale of
action. We need grassroots ef-
forts in situations like this to be
as effective as possible and plan
to do more to encourage this
type of involvement in the fu-
ture.
Thank you to the National
ASDA Executive Committee
for participating in the inter-
view and their hard work
throughout this legislative pro-
cess. Summarized below are the
financial aid provisions relevant to dental students in the Budget Con-
trol Act of 20112.
1. All changes will take effect July 1, 2012.
2. The in-school interest subsidy for graduate and professional stu-
dents will be eliminated.
3. The rebate incentive for borrowers who agree to automatic debit
repayment has been eliminated. Previously this meant an up-front
interest rebate of 0.5% of the loan amount applied toward the 1%
loan origination fee. PLUS loans were previously 1.5% applied
towards the 4% origination fee. Borrowers were previously allowed
to keep this rebate if they made their first 12 payments on time.
*For more information, visit the sources provided. Should you have
additional questions regarding how the Budget Control Act of 2011 will
impact your financial aid, contact Tom Kolb in the Office for Student
Financial Affairs.
1. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/senate-passes-debt-limit-
bill/2011/08/02/gIQAIp2kpI_story.html
2. http://www.nasfaa.org/advocacy/budget-2012/News/
Debt_Ceiling_Law_Provides_$17_Billion_for_Pell_and_Ends_Gra
d_Student_Loan_Interest_Subsidy.aspx
17
Summer Learning Program
Ivette Landrian
The morning of July 11th was the beginning of an enlightening
and inspiring journey. Twenty-one students from Florida, Georgia, and
New Jersey began their three-week experience at UFCD‟s Summer
Learning Program 2011. By the end of the program, it was clear that this
was a life-changing event.
During the first week, stu-
dents met with several members of
the faculty: Dr. Jackson, who de-
scribed what to expect in her Gross
Anatomy class, and Dr. Primosch,
who helped us use oral health and
hygiene to help raise awareness to
middle and high school students in
the CROP program. The highlight of
the week, however, was the Sim Lab
experience, where Dr. Sposetti and
Dr. Notzer taught us about dental
anatomy and occlusal waxing; stu-
dents were able to use hand pieces to
drill and learn the challenges that
come with working with different
dentistry materials.
The second week included clinic rotations, Sim Lab, DAT re-
views, and the application process. As the program continued, we be-
came aware of just how busy the life of a dental student is. The program
organizers made sure that we were always learning and gaining as much
experience as possible. A very important part of the program included
tips provided by members of the Office of Admission on the application
process. Students were even asked to practice calling a school of interest
and asking questions in a professional manner. Dr. Sposetti opened our
eyes to the financial aspect of dental school as well as the application
process itself. Not only were we given the opportunity to take a practice
DAT exam from Kaplan, but the program also provided reviews on the
different sections students normally struggle with. Due to the numerous
clinic rotations, students gained an understanding of dental specialties
and were even able to assist 3rd and 4th year dental students in team clin-
ics.
The final week of the program was an emotional one; by that
point, no one wanted the experience to end. Many dental students took
time out of their busy schedule to
speak to us and answer questions.
They, as well, volunteered their time
to help during Sim Labs. There were
several moments during the program
when we met with dentists from the
community who inspired and encour-
aged us to pursue our dreams the way
they had.
On the last day, the SLP class
tried to demonstrate to the faculty just
how much it meant to us through a
music video “My Shiny Teeth” which
can be seen on you-tube. The best part
of the day was when we all got up and
expressed how the program had im-
pacted our lives. Some students shared
just how convinced they now were
about becoming a dentist, while others
spoke of their renewed confidence in themselves to pursue this career.
Most of all, we all discovered just how important we had become to
each other, and how our friendships would last far beyond the program.
Personally, I am very grateful to this program. It is an amazing
opportunity for undergraduate students. Above all, I learned a great deal
about myself and my passion for dentistry in those three weeks.
Ivette is a junior at UF. Her major is Microbiology and Cell Sciences.
Mark your calendars today for a trip to Las Vegas for the 152nd ADA
Annual Session from October 10-13, 2011! The ADA
Annual Session brings together leaders in dental practice, research, academics and indus-
try to present more than 260 continuing education courses in over four days. This is a
perfect chance to combine opportunities for continuing education, networking and the
latest developments in dentistry. Continuing education courses will be held Monday, Oct.
10-Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Convention Center. The
ADA World Marketplace Exhibition will be open Oct. 10-12 with over 600 vendors
planned to be in attendance.
Reg-
istration is still open so reserve
your spot on ADA.org today.
18
Firsts for 2013:
Boards, White
Coats & Patients Christie Eastman, UFCD ASDA
Vice President
A s dental stu-
dents, we
experience many
“firsts” together –
whether it be our
first day of dental
school, our first
psychomotor,
drilling on syn-
thetic teeth for the
first time in sim
lab, filling our first real tooth in the clinics, or
having our first real patient experience. These
“firsts” not only help guide us along the path to
becoming the best healthcare professionals we
can be, but they also help us grow stronger –
mentally, emotionally and intellectually – to-
gether and individually.
This past semester was a busy one and
marked the coup de gras of firsts for the mem-
bers of the University of Florida College of
Dentistry Class of 2013. One of our major ac-
complishments was achieving an outstanding
100% first time pass rate on Part One of the
National Board Dental Exam in June. Our pas-
sion for this profession is what essentially kept
us going and led us through countless months
of studying and restless nights. It is through
this dedication that we continue to uphold our
commitment to “developing and refining our
professional conduct via lifelong learning,” as
stated in our Class Code of Conduct.
Our second “first” was enjoyed on
June 24, 2011 when we participated in our Pro-
fessionalism & White Coat Ceremony. This
day to remember symbolized our transition to a
new phase of our dental training as we enter the
clinics and begin caring for patients. The UF
Center for the Performing Arts was overflow-
ing with hundreds of proud family members,
friends, and college faculty and staff. We en-
joyed speeches from Dean Dolan, FDA Presi-
dent Dr. Sabates, and Academy of Alumni &
Friends President Dr. Weaver, along with a
special presentation from our very own, Huy
Huynh. Students were introduced by 2013 Fac-
ulty Advisor, Dr. Ottenga, and donned with the
infamous white coats by Dr. Clark and Dr.
Jackson, followed by caring hugs from each.
We had the pleasure of listening to the beautiful
voices of four of our classmates who sang The
University of Florida Alma Mater. After the
ceremony, we savored each bite of two exquis-
ite, delicious cakes baked from scratch and
hand decorated by talented members of the
Class of 2013 and our loved Sim Lab Manager,
Marilyn Vaughn.
Our last and most recent “first” has
been what we all envisioned since the start of
dental school: PATIENTS & CLINICS! As
we‟ll all remember during that first week, it
was a rollercoaster of emotions. From the low-
est in terms of learning patient flow and Axium
to the highest in terms of our very first patient
experience, we will always remember every-
thing about that first appointment. We have
each felt the happiness and satisfaction of im-
proving someone else‟s life – finally!
Becoming a dentist has lots of obsta-
cles – thousands of which we have met and
passed and many more of which have yet to
come. With each and every new first, we be-
come stronger and better together. We are Ga-
tor dentists and dentists to be! Lets continue
this great journey together.
19
The publication of this newsletter was made possible by UF Student Government.
Event Equal Access Clinic, Volunteer Opportunity Activity Dental Education
Location UF Family Practice Clinic, Thursdays Mobile Clinic @ Tower Road Library, Mon-days
Time 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm 5:45 pm to 7:45 pm
Site Coordinators Ali Best, D2, abest@dental.ufl.edu Danny Kalash, D2, dkalash@dental.ufl.edu
Address 625 Southwest 4th Avenue Gainesville, FL 32601
3020 S.W. 75th Street Gainesville, FL 32608
Hours Received 2 hours
What is Equal Access Clinic (EAC)?
EAC is an entirely student run, free clinic, established in 1992. After
being in operation for 19 years EAC services include medical, pharmacy,
physical therapy, mental health, social work, and other select specialties.
EAC serves the underserved populations within Gainesville and Alachua
County.
What can UFCD do for EAC?
EAC dental services are just beginning. Please come be a part of this!
Our goal is to get the dental school involved in this well-established, UF,
interdisciplinary, outreach opportunity. Dental students will provide den-
tal education to all EAC patients. Dental education also includes, but is
not limited to, nutrition and tobacco cessation counseling. Dental stu-
dents are also essential for identifying patients with acute problems need-
ing immediate attention. This volunteer opportunity allows the dental
student to communicate with patients, provide them with valuable infor-
mation regarding their oral health, and practice their patient interviewing
skills. Patients are more than grateful, and often very interested to find
answers to their oral health questions, given that they have usually not
had the opportunity to do so previously. Dental students are an integral
part of this education equation.
I am a first year and don’t know enough to provide dental education
yet.
Yes, you do! Because we are learning to become dental professionals,
you tend to know much more about oral health care than you think. And
just in case, there will be an information meeting on EAC Dental TBA
coaching you on the basics of dental education and how volunteering at
EAC works.
Please go to http://medinfo.ufl.edu/cgi/signup.cgi to sign up! Sign in with your gatorlink username and password.
This volunteer opportunity has been approved by Dr. Micaela Gibbs.
Letter From The Editor There is so much great information in this edition of the newsletter. I encourage all of you
to read these articles and see what your peers have to share with you about current events in den-
tistry, nationally and locally. I thank each and every one of you who wrote articles for this news-
letter; without you this newsletter would not be possible. I would also like to thank our own Dr.
Susan Nimmo, Dr. John H. Paul
from the FDA, Allison Ferris from
Tufts University School of Dental
Medicine, and John Syrbu from
University of Iowa College of Den-
tistry for their contributions. If you
are interested in writing for Gator
Dentist Times please contact me at
cnorton@dental.ufl.edu.
Carolyn A. Norton
UFCD ASDA Newsletter
Editor, Class of 2014
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