The Diastema - Winter 2013

Always striving to be on the cutting edge of technology, UCLA has made the single largest purchase of CEREC machines of any dental school in the nation. Dr. Rich-ard G. Stevenson, Chair of the Division of Restorative Dentistry, has worked closely with Dean No-Hee Park to make this large purchase possible with gracious donations from both Dean Park and Sirona, the den-tal company that makes CEREC machines.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was hosted by Dean Park in August for the new CEREC machines. Representatives from Sirona, Patterson Dental, and Ivoclar attended, along with UCLA School of Dentistry stu-dents and faculty. While 44 other U.S. dental schools also utilize CEREC equip-ment, UCLA boasts three Bluecam de-sign centers, four Redcam design centers (which Sirona has agreed to upgrade to Bluecam in May), two MC XL milling units, and five Compact milling units. To put the cost of this venture into perspective, one Bluecam plus MC XL unit costs $111,000.

So what exactly is CEREC and why is it so special?

CEREC stands for Chairside Economi-cal Restorations of Esthetic Ceramics, the key words being “chairside” and “ceram-ics.” CEREC restorations are all-ceramic, individualized, and delivered in one single appointment. The single appointment eliminates the need for impressions and temporaries–patients will leave the dental office with a cemented final esthetic resto-ration on the same day. Patients can even watch as the dentist designs their new in-lay, onlay, veneer, partial or full crown, or temporary bridge on the CEREC software. From the moment the preparation is com-pleted, it is only a matter of minutes until the final product is ready for cementation.

While there are several options for ce-ramic materials, UCLA has chosen to use only Emax blocks for our CEREC restora-tions due to their superior strength. The

top-of-the-line machines at UCLA can mill a full Emax crown in about 10 minutes and then finish the crystallization, staining, and glazing of the crown in 20 minutes. The creative possibilities that the system en-ables are endless, the results are superb, and patient convenience is maximized.

How will CEREC training be in-corporated into the UCLA cur-riculum?

To prepare for the introduction and in-tegration of the new technology, ten UCLA faculty members received CEREC certifica-tion by participating in a four day formal CEREC training led by Dr. Rick Fox, a Patter-son Company certified basic and advanced CEREC trainer, and Betsy Ashworth, Sirona’s CEREC Sales Representative for Universities and Institutions.

Since then, about fifty 3rd and 4th year dental students have also been CEREC

UCLA Adopts Cutting-Edge CEREC Technology

To the left: Drs. Steven-son, Capio, Morgan, Lo-pez, and Betsy Ashworth with UCLA’s new acquisi-tions

2 UCLA School of Dentistry | ASDA

by Allie Inouye (2014)

- COVER STORY -

On the cover: (top left) Dr. Stevenson, Betsy Ashworth, and Dr. LeSage at the Ribbon Cutting Cer-emony; (top right) CEREC technology at work creating an all ceramic crown for #9; (bottom left) students at the CEREC Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on August 22, 2012; (bottom right) CEREC milling unit.

trained and certified. These students completed training over several sessions throughout the past summer and fall quar-ters led primarily by Drs. Richard G. Steven-son and Brian Lesage, with the help of the other UCLA CEREC trained faculty. Starting with the Class of 2015 and PPID students in the Class of 2014, CEREC training will be integrated into UCLA’s pre-clinical curricu-lum and every student will be trained dur-ing the summer and fall of their third year.

What are other exciting CEREC developments coming to UCLA?

UCLA is the first school to develop a CEREC certification sticker. Sirona has designed a hologram sticker that will be placed on the student ID cards of UCLA students who have been CEREC trained. Sirona actually likes the idea so much that they are now creating stickers for other dental schools as well. UCLA will also be the first dental school to upgrade to the

new Omnicolor cam, which could be ar-riving as early as May. Omnicolor involves powder-free scanning and 3D images tak-en by video in natural color.

It is without question that the incor-poration of CEREC technology in UCLA’s revamped pre-clinical curriculum will revi-talize the excitement of our student clinic and patients alike, while providing the highest standard of care and convenience. Thank you Dr. Stevenson and Dean Park!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1-3 UCLA Adopts Cutting-Edge CEREC Technology4 New Medical Device Tax May Affect Future Dental Office Costs5 A GLIMPSE INTO THE FIELD OF ORAL MEDICINE6-7 Budget Bites: 5 recipes from a rotisserie chicken8-9 Meet the First Years: class of 201610 Food for Thought: Brain-Boosting Foods for Finals Week11 Periodontal Study Club Helps to Supplement

Pre-Doctoral EducationSNDA: Student National Dental Association

12 UCLA ASDA Reaches Out to Neighboring Pre-Dental Societies13 Reflections from the PDSOP President14 new gadgets for the Savvy Dental Professional 15 Jokes for Dental Folks COMIC: YOU’RE NOT THE TOOTH FAIRY

16 COMIC: JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE UCLA SOD

The Diastema | Winter 2013 3

New Medical Device Tax May Affect Future Dental Office Costsby Adrien Hamedi-Sangsari (2015)

A 2.3% tax on medical devices went into effect on January 1, 2013. This policy applies to any of the 180,000 devices ap-proved by the Food and Drug Administra-tion (FDA) and affects approximately 130 dental devices. The tax was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010 as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as “ObamaCare.”

Items that will be taxed include devices central to the dental of-fice, including handpiec-es, x-ray sensors, nitrous delivery systems, hand instruments, and CAD/CAM machines. Manu-facturers will collect the tax from the purchaser of the device and ulti-mately pay the IRS in bulk. The policy does not apply to items sold in retail stores, such as toothbrushes, floss, and teething rings. It is unclear how much this tax on device manufacturers will affect the price of pa-

tient care in the dental office.The IRS will ultimately decide how to

structure the tax and the manner in which it will be applied. The inclusion of finished restorations made of technically taxable gold and porcelain materials has yet to be decided.

The ADA and its political action com-mittees (PACs) have been fighting for the past year to either repeal the tax alto-gether or allow an exception for dental devices. Congress has not brought up the issue for a full House vote, but House Res-olution (H.R.) 436 was introduced in the House Ways and Means Committee in June 2012 and passed with a 23-11 vote in

the committee. If H.R. 436 is brought up for a vote in the full House and passes with a simple majority, it would repeal the medical device tax and reduce the cost for

dentists and patients.Separately, the IRS has been studying

the consequences of this tax, recently in-volving the United States Treasury Depart-ment. Delayed implementation of the tax seems to be off the table, and even though the parameters of the tax have not been fully established, the first deposits to the IRS from the manufacturers were techni-cally due by January 29, 2013. However, the IRS is allowing for transition relief from deposit penalties during the first three quarters of this year. This would mean that the IRS will expect a bulk payment from manufacturers later in the year.

Advocacy is key in solving this issue. The help of all affected parties includ-ing dental students are needed to ensure House passage of H.R. 436. Students are urged to call their member of congress and ask him or her to vote in favor of H.R. 436!

Congressman Henry Waxman8436 West Third Street, Suite 600 Los Angeles, CA 90048 (310) 652-3095 / (323) 651-1040

Sources: ADA

Items that will be taxed include devices central to the den-tal office, including handpieces, x-ray sen-sors, nitrous delivery systems, hand instru-ments, and CAD/CAM machines.


A Glimpse into the Field of Oral Medicineby Lindsay Graves (2014)

When it comes time for a dental stu-dent to think about specialties, oral medi-cine is an often overlooked choice. How-ever, this dark horse candidate is worth consideration, especially for those who are medically inclined. Oral medicine is at the juncture of medicine and dentistry. It is “the discipline of dentistry concerned with the oral health care of medically com-promised patients and non-surgical man-agement of medically-related disorders or conditions affecting the oral and max-illofacial region,” according to the Ameri-can Academy of Oral Medicine (AAOM). Typical types of problems treated by these specialists include salivary gland disor-ders, sensory/neurological impairment of the oral and maxillofacial region, orofacial diseases, and orofacial complications of systemic diseases. Lichen planus, burning mouth, pemphigus (and other immuno-bullous diseases), oral complications of HIV, Sjogren’s Syndrome, and xerostomia are all common conditions in oral medicine practice.

In order to treat such a variety of diseases as an oral medicine specialist, a dentist must go through an additional two years of training accredited by the Com-mission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). This residency includes rotations in hospi-tal dentistry, orofacial pain, clinical oral pa-thology, dermatology, and rheumatology. Though CODA recognizes oral medicine

as a specialty, it is not one of the nine “of-ficial” specialties as distinguished by the ADA. There is a push for it to become an of-ficial specialty. Those against it becoming recognized argue that its patient population is served by oral sur-geons in combination with oral patholo-gists. However, this is not necessarily the case. While patholo-gists diagnose disease based on histology, surgeons focus on sur-gical treatments, but many oral maladies are only treatable through pharmacology. This is where oral medicine doctors come in.

Oral medicine ex-perts often serve a col-laborative role across disciplines. They are finding a niche in cancer treatment. “Because of all of the effects of chemotherapy, oral mucositis is very big and it can really be detrimental to patients, so there are several oral medicine specialists that practice within oncology groups,” says Dr. Diana Messadi, Chair of Oral Medicine & Orofacial Pain at UCLA. Rheumatologists refer patients to oral medicine doctors for lip biopsy to confirm

Sjogren’s Syndrome diagnosis. They work with dermatologists to treat diseases that affect the body’s epithelium, including that in the mouth, such as lichen planus and

pemphigus. They also serve to coor-dinate dental care with these patients’ general dentists.

With only eight accredited pro-grams in the U.S., oral medicine is a small specialty. Per-haps the relative unpopularity of oral

medicine can be attributed to its practice. A ma-jority of oral medicine doc-tors are uni-versity-affiliated. According to

Dr. Messadi, “There are some in private practice, but unfortunately they cannot survive only on oral medicine. They do general dentistry with a day or two days a week of oral medicine. Or if they had a strong orofacial pain background in their residency, they become an oral medicine and orofacial pain specialist combined.”


Oral medicine is ... “the discipline of dentistry concerned with the oral health care of medically compromised patients and non-surgical man-agement of medically-related disorders or conditions affecting the oral and maxillofacial region”

{}

BUDGET BITES: 5 Recipes from a Rotisserie Chickenby David Lindsey (2015) As a broke dental student, one of my New Year’s resolutions this year is to spend less money eating out. The easiest way to cut down food expenses is to cook more and be thrifty with my grocery purchases. When you think of saving money on groceries, one of the first things you may think of is buying in bulk. And the first place you probably think of when buying in bulk is Costco. While Costco offers a slew of discounted items, the truth is Costco can also be a death trap for those on a budget. How often have you walked into Costco just for a few items, but after an hour of wandering the ware-house, you check out with a full cart and a bill well over $100? In this edition of Budget Bites, I’m going to share with you the best bang for your buck at Costco and how to stretch it into one or two weeks’ worth of meals. Besides the free samples, the best deal at Costco is their rotisserie chickens. Not only are they freshly prepared every half hour, but they are also the largest (3 pounds each) and moistest rotisserie chickens you can buy from a grocery store. In addition, Costco’s chickens are only $5! Below are five different meals that demonstrate the versatility of Costco’s rotisserie chicken. Please feel free to substitute with your favorite ingredients. Enjoy!

CrEAmy ChICkEn wITh BroCColI AnD Corn

2 Chicken Thighs, shredded½ Onion, chopped

1 cup Corn (frozen or canned)2 cloves Garlic, chopped

1 cup Broccoli Florets, chopped1 can Condensed Cream of Mushroom soup

1 cup Chicken Broth1 Tblspn Soy Sauce

Crushed Red Pepper Flakes - to tasteGround Black Pepper - to taste

In a large sauté pan over medium high heat, add a little bit of oil and brown the onion, garlic, and broccoli. Once the onions are translucent, add the chicken and corn. Cook for 2-3 minutes before dropping the heat to a medium low. Add the remaining ingredients and stir. Leaving the pot uncovered, simmer for 10 – 15 minutes to allow the sauce to reduce. Serve over a bed of rice. Makes 4 servings.

GArlIC ChICkEn CArBonArA

1 Chicken Breast, cubed½ Onion, chopped

4-5 cloves Garlic, chopped2 cups Broccoli Florets

1 cup Peas (frozen or canned)1 cup Chicken Broth

2 Eggs1-2 Tbspn Butter

¼ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese1 tspn Dried Oregano

Crushed Red Pepper Flakes- to taste Salt & Pepper- to taste

1 lb Thin Spaghetti Pasta

In a large sauté pan over medium high heat, add a drizzle of oil along with the onion, garlic, broccoli and red pepper. Meanwhile, in a large pot, bring salted water to boil and cook the pasta to a slight al dente. Once the onions begin to brown, add the chicken, oregano and butter. Cook for 1 – 2 minutes allowing the butter to brown. Drop the heat to medium low and add the chicken broth. After the pasta is done cooking, drain and place the pasta back in the pot. Add the contents of the sauté pan to the pasta along with the peas. In a small bowl, whip the eggs with the parmesan cheese. Slowly mix the egg and cheese mixture into the pasta, tossing the pasta frequently to prevent the eggs from scrambling. Add salt and pepper to taste. Makes 5 – 6 servings.


ChICkEn FrIED rICE

2 Chicken Wings, shredded½ Onion, chopped

1 clove Garlic, chopped3 Eggs

3 cups Cooked Rice1 cup Frozen Peas and Carrotts

2-3 Tblspn Soy SauceSalt and Pepper- to taste

In an oiled large sauté pan over medium high heat, add the on-ions, garlic and chicken. Once the onions become transluscent add the rice, peas and carrots, and soy sauce. Continue cooking for 5 minutes. In a small bowl whip the 3 eggs. Drop the heat to medium low and in the center of the pan clear a small circle by pushing the rice to the edge of the pan. Pour the eggs into the pan and cook until scrambled. Mix the scrambled eggs into the rice. Add salt and pepper to taste. Makes 4 – 5 servings.

ChICkEn TACo SAlAD

2 Chicken Drumsticks, shredded½ Onion, chopped

1 cup Corn (frozen or canned)1 clove Garlic, chopped

1 can Black Beans1 cup Cooked Rice

2 tspn Dried Oregano1 Tblspn Smoked Paprika1 Tblspn Ground Cumin

1 Tspn Chili Powder1 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded

2 Roma Tomatoes, dicedCrushed Red Chili Flakes- to taste

Salt and Pepper- to tasteRomaine Lettuce, chopped

In an oiled large sauté pan over medium high heat, add the onion, garlic, and chicken. Once the chicken begins to

crisp, add the oregano, paprika, cumin, and red chili flakes. Cook for 1 – 2 minutes. Drop the heat to medium low adding the corn, beans, and rice. Cook for another 3 – 5 minutes. In a separate bowl, add romaine lettuce. Add the chicken mixture to the bowl of lettuce. Sprinkle the cheese and tomatoes over the top of the salad. Serve with salsa, lime, and crushed tortilla chips. Makes 5 – 6 servings. The chicken mixture can also be served in a tortilla as a taco or burrito.

ChICkEn PITA wrAPS

1 Chicken Breast, cubed½ Red Onion, sliced

2 Roma Tomatoes, diced2 cloves Garlic, chopped

2 tspn Dried Oregano1 tspn Ground Cumin

Romaine Lettuce, choppedFeta Greek Yogurt Sauce

Pita Bread

In an oiled medium sauté pan over medium high heat, add the chicken, garlic, oregano, and cumin. Cook for 3 – 5 minutes or until the chicken is golden brown and slightly crispy. Warm the pita in a microwave or toaster oven. Cut the pita in half and open. Add the chicken, onion, lettuce, tomatoes, and yogurt sauce. The yogurt sauce can be substituted with hummus, tahini, or tzatziki sauce. Makes 4 servings.




Food for Thought by Mona Derentz (2015)

800 Degrees, Pizookies, In N’ Out, Caramel Lattes…these are the foods UCLA dental students rely on when we are pressed for time and cramming for exams. Unfortunately, most of these quick go-to foods are filled with unhealthy saturated fats. We all know that saturated fats are bad for our hearts and overall health, but

they have also been shown to decrease performance on tests of thinking and memory.

What you eat can affect your performance, and certain foods can boost your brain power, and improve your memory and alert-ness. Try to add some of these brain foods into your normal diet.

Leafy Greens: Spinach, Sprouts, and BroccoliGet your salad on! A 25-year Harvard Medical School study found that participants who ate green leafy vegetables retained their memory best.

Wild SalmonNot only is salmon low in saturated fats, but it is high in protein to keep you full. The omega-3s in this meat enhance communication between brain cells; and according to a study by Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, they keep your memory functions equiva-lent to a person three years younger!

WaterDehydration plays a major role in inhibiting optimal brain function. Water cleanses toxins from your body and keeps your organs (especially your brain) in tip-top shape! Here’s a quick formula to figure out how much water you should be drinking per day: your weight in pounds divided by two equals the number of ounces you need to drink per day. For example a person who weighs 120 pounds would need about 60 ounces of water per day, which is about 3.5 average-sized water bottles.

BerriesBerries contain antioxidants which merge with free radicals (that down brain cells) and help protect your memory as you age. Try to reach for darker berries which contain phytochemi-cals, like anthocyanin and quercetin, which reverse age-related memory loss. Blueberries are also known for improving motor skills- so reach for a handful before your next indirect practical!

NutsAccording to the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, nuts can boost your memory and help reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. All varieties of nuts are beneficial-- from walnuts and pistachios to hazelnuts and almonds. You can even reach for nut butters such as peanut butter, almond butter or tahini- just make

sure to look for one that is lower in saturated fats. One option is “Better’n Peanut Butter,” which has no saturated fat or cholesterol, yet is natural and tastes like peanut butter-- check it out the next time you’re at Trader Joe’s!

Dark ChocolateDark chocolate makes you happy, focused and pretty! It increases endorphins in your body, which enhance your level of focus and concentration. The cacao also helps re-duce stress hormones, resulting in less collagen breakdown in the skin and thus, fewer wrinkles! Make sure to reach for dark chocolates with at least 70% cacao and limit your indulgence to about 1 ounce per day.

Green TeaGreen tea encourages the production of dopamine in your brain, which can keep you feeling happy and positive while studying. Also, the polyphenols found in green tea, such as catechins and theaflavins, have been indicated to prevent tooth decay and oral cancer!

references:"Boost Your Memory by Eating Right." Harvard Women's Health Watch (Aug. 2012): n. pag. Print.Hebert, Emily. "Beauty Tip: Brain Boosters." Elle 30 June 2009: n. pag. Web. <http://www.elle.com/beauty/health-fitness/beauty-tip-brain-boosters-330844>.Lee, M.-J. "Delivery of Tea Polyphenols to the Oral Cavity by Green Tea Leaves and Black Tea Extract." Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention 13.1 (2004): 132-37. Print.

Maccaro, Janet C. Brain-boosting Foods. Lake Mary, FL: Siloam, 2008. Print."Omega-3 Fatty Acids." University of Maryland Medical Center Medical Reference. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/omega-3-000316.htm>.Vallas-Pedret, Cinta. "Polyphenol-Rich Foods in the Mediterranean Diet Are Associated with Better Cognitive Function in Elderly Subjects at High Cardiovascular Risk." Journal of Alzheimer's Disease 29 (2012): 773-82. Print.


by Dmitriy Ivanov (2014)

Periodontal Study Club Helps to Supplement Pre-Doctoral Education

The Periodontal Study Club at UCLA School of Dentistry is an organization geared towards providing guidance, preparation, and additional hands-on ex-perience for members interested in ap-plying to periodontics residency programs. Founded in 2010, its focus has been to pro-vide interested dental students the oppor-tunity to gain insight about current topics in periodontics that are beyond the scope of the predoctoral cur-riculum.

Currently, the curriculum requires that students suc-cessfully complete at least three periodon-tal surgeries as part of their graduation requirements. However, the education in periodontal surgeries is limited to pow-erpoint slides and lecture presentations, and unfortunately, students do not have any hands-on experience with scalpels and flaps until the day of the first surgery.

With the help of club advisors and residents, the study club has been able to bridge this gap by creating, promoting, and

............... Perio Club Events over the Past year ............... – 3rd year resident Dr. Jonathan Do presented and facilitated a discussion regarding several of his own clinical cases in the Pe-rio Surgery Clinic. Cases involved implants and esthetic crown lengthening. – 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-year residents conducted a panel to share their personal trials, strategies, and pathways leading to the field of Periodontics. – 4th year dental students Jeesoo Choe, Todd Jenny, and Tina Cheng, who were recently accepted into periodontal residency programs, conducted a panel sharing tips they found useful as they navigated the overwhelming residency application process. – Dr. Whang, a practicing periodontist and faculty member in the UCLA predoctoral clinic, discussed the types of patients and procedures he encounters in his own practice, at an all-school lunch-and-learn supported by the American Academy of Peri-odontology. – Dr. Zahedi, an implant researcher and outstanding clinician, held an informative and captivating lecture on implant dentistry and its implications in the field of periodontics.

approving a periodontics selective course, which is designed to afford students the chance to participate in organized didactic and commu-nity service events and hands-on

workshops. The selective

course involves lec-tures and notably, the renowned pig jaw workshops, in which members have the unique opportunity to practice surgeries such as pocket reduc-tion, crown lengthen-ing, soft tissue graft-ing, suturing, and other periodontal surgical techniques on isolated pig jaws. The last two work-shops were very successful

with over 120 students in attendance. The other aspect of the selective

course includes periodontal screenings, shelter visits, school visits and informa-tional lectures. The club is also planning a periodontal instrument sharpening work-shop with Ms. Chambers in the Spring quarter to reinforce the importance of sharp instruments during Phase I therapy.

As the club continues to garner in-

creasing support from students, faculty ad-visors, and external organizations, it hopes to expand the scope of its selective course. “With enough support, we hope to be able to conduct pig jaw workshops in which we learn how to place implants in the near future,” says Dmitriy Ivanov (2014), club president. “We would like to thank all of the current members, residents, and advi-sors, including Dr. Klokkevold, Dr. Pirih and Dr. Camargo, for their support in allowing the Periodontal Study Club to grow and develop.”

After a years-long hiatus, the Stu-dent National Dental Association (SNDA) was re-ignited under the mentorship of Dr. Edmond Hewlett, Associate Dean of Outreach and Diversity at UCLA School of Dentistry. Historically, SNDA is an ex-tension of the National Dental Associa-tion, an organization established in 1900 as a response to the barring of dentists of ethnic minorities from joining the American Dental Association (ADA). The unfortunate racial attitudes of the early 20th century excluded dentists of color from participating in professional orga-nizations, such as the ADA.

Today, SNDA continues to thrive as more than a support system for minority dental students; SNDA offers every den-tal student opportunities to serve popu-

lations that do not have access to care.SNDA has held health fairs that reach

out to those most in need of dental care. This past fall quarter SNDA organized the Synergy Health Fair at the Holman Method-ist Church in Los Angeles and participated in Project Santa at Charles Drew University. The health fairs provided care to minorities from at-risk neighborhoods. Furthermore, the club members look forward to visiting high school students in south Los Angeles to expose them to dentistry as a potential profession in hopes of increasing diversity in dental schools and the profession itself.

Last year, SNDA held Impressions Day, an all-day event catered towards pre-dental students. These students attended lectures from inspirational speakers and participated in hands-on activities, such as

taking impressions. The club’s Commu-nity Service Representative Loliya Bob-Manuel is “really excited to have SNDA back and reinstated on campus. There is a need to expose underrepresented minorities to the field of dentistry.” This year, the club hopes to continue the tradition of inviting pre-dental students to explore the dental field as a great av-enue to service others.

The club members are amazed at the participation of the dental stu-dents and active commitment to vol-unteerism. The club hopes to continue to provide avenues for the dental com-munity to give back to deserving popu-lations.

SNDA Student National Dental Association by Susan Bae (2015)


our core service is maintained, while the expansion positions focus on reaching out to nearby universities. The Shadow Day Coordinators have already hosted students from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, CSU-Northridge, CSU-Fres-no, and UC Santa Barbara; they are cur-rently working on arranging a group from UC Riverside for Spring Quarter. To date, we have hosted near-ly 90 pre-dental stu-dents.

Our aim is to help p re - d e nta l students get a glimpse into dental school while enhancing their chances of being ac-cepted into dental school. The shadow day consists of first spending an hour sitting in with D1s, experiencing what a dental

During college, I never had the oppor-tunity to interact with a dental student. I felt a huge disconnect between where I was as a pre-dental student, and where I aspired to be. Once I matriculated at UCLA, I quickly became aware of the strong re-lationship our dental school has with its undergraduates. I admired what ASDA Pre-Dental Committee was doing for the pre-dental students at UCLA and I wanted to continue the tradition of mentoring them as they transition into dental students. I thought what we were doing locally was excellent, and I felt there was no reason to limit ourselves to only serving UCLA, con-sidering the breadth of other outstanding universities in the surrounding area.

Immediately after being appointed as ASDA Pre-Dental Chairs, David Lindsey and I reached out to other neighboring South-ern California universities. Traditionally, our position was largely focused on men-toring and educating the Pre-Dental Society at UCLA. However, after the previous chairs, Allie In-ouye and Ryann Walker, invited a group of CSU-Fullerton students to tour the dental campus, Da-vid and I thought this interaction should become a regular part of our role and a crucial component of ASDA’s outreach efforts.

We began by expanding the size of our committee from six to nine students, with the addition of three students as Shadow Day Coordinators. The original six po-sitions work directly with UCLA’s Pre-Dental Society to ensure that

“This year, our committee has been

able to recruit more than 80 pre-

dental members into the UCLA

ASDA Chapter“

UCLA ASDA Reaches Out to Neighboring Pre-Dental Societies

by Alex McMahon (2015)

course is like. Then, Pre-Dental Lecture Se-ries Coordinators give the group a presen-tation on their experience going through the dental application process and how to best approach the DAT, build a strong application and excel at the interview pro-cess. Each group is given the opportunity to spend about an hour with Admissions Coordinator Noemi Benitez and one fac-

ulty mem-ber on the ad-miss ions c o m m i t -tee to ask questions a b o u t

UCLA’s admission process and learn the “Do’s and Don’ts” in completing the ap-plication. At previous shadow days, Drs. Bibb and Hewlett highlighted personal ex-periences from their time serving on the Admissions Committee. During one visit, UC Irvine students had a special opportu-nity to visit UCLA on the day of the Vendor Fair, and about 15 students were able to browse the fair to see the latest technolo-gies of dentistry and become integrated with our community.

The excitement these young groups have is inspiring. This year, our commit-tee has been able to recruit more than 80 pre-dental members into the UCLA ASDA Chapter (which is more than triple the nearest contender)! We hope to continue this model in future years to reach out to more and more universities in the area and help build the excitement for their future careers in dentistry.

”

ASDA Pre-Dental Chairs David Lindsey (2015) (left) and Alex McMahon (2015) (right)


Reflections from the PDSOP President

by Nicole Ahobim (Pre-Dental)

Many people applying to dental school find the process both exhilarating and frus-trating. On one hand, students are excited at the prospect of getting closer to their goals, but on the other hand, they face an unbelievable amount of stress while fulfilling prerequisites, taking the DAT, par-ticipating in extra-curriculars, tackling the dental application, and practicing for inter-views.

The Pre-Dental Student Outreach Pro-gram (PDSOP) at UCLA is an exemplary program for undergraduates interested in dental school. The club provides as-sistance and mentoring that can shift this application process from something that seems quite daunting to something con-siderably less scary. Serving as president for the past two years, I have seen first-hand the enormous help provided by PD-SOP and the generous support given to this pre-dental club from the dental stu-dents of UCLA School of Dentistry.

Earlier this year, 40 UCLA dental stu-dents donated their time and energy to demonstrate a waxing procedure. Pre-den-tal students worked one-on-one with den-tal students, who guided them through the hands-on process. For many pre-dental stu-dents, this was their first time working with dental instru-ments. By the huge amount of feedback we received, it was evident that they loved it. The follow-ing day, on Facebook, I discovered pictures and quips by three pre-dental students il-lustrating their excitement with their wax-ups.

In addition to being able to work with dental students in an instructional setting,

the collaboration of UCLA School of Den-tistry and PDSOP gives pre-dental students the chance to have their very own mentor. The Big Sib-Little Sib program, one of PD-SOP’s most successful endeavors, pairs a dental student with a pre-dental student for the entire year. The Big Sibs provide guidance on becoming a more competi-tive dental applicant, effectively preparing for the DAT, and conducting oneself ap-

propriately during an interv iew. This ar-rangement not only p r o v i d e s great sup-port for the pre-dental s t u d e n t s , but also of-ten leads to

friendships.It is admirable that busy dental stu-

dents are willing to take time to not only mentor aspiring dentists, but also arrange meetings to answer pre-dental students’ questions, teach PDSOP about some cur-rent dental policies, and review personal

statements. This past year, on two sepa-rate Tuesdays, first and fourth year dental students came in to educate members about their choices and experiences. These meetings were extremely beneficial, as they exposed PDSOP members to den-tal students at various stages of their ca-reers—first years getting used to their new paths as dental students and fourth years getting accepted into different residencies.

I am inspired by the outstanding den-tal students who serve as ASDA representa-tives. Last year, ASDA Pre-Dental Outreach Committee Chairs, Al-lie Inouye (2014) and Ryann Walker (2014), were enthusiastic and generous with their time and energy, mak-ing this program ef-fective and fun at the same time.

This year’s chairs, David Lindsey (2015) and Alex McMahon (2015), continue to

provide a high level of leadership and ca-maraderie. Each of them has been instru-mental in making the pre-dental club a resounding success and we cannot thank them enough. The pre-dental members can always count on their ASDA represen-tatives to be well-informed and dedicated role models who aptly represent the UCLA School of Dentistry.

In my leadership capacity, I have seen the collaboration of PDSOP and UCLA den-tal students creating a supportive, conge-nial environment for pre-dental students. On behalf of all PDSOP members, I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to work side by side with the dental stu-dents here at UCLA. The dental students epitomize the best in what we all aspire to be—kind and generous people who are passionate about the dental field.

Above: PDSOP Big Sib-Little Sib Meeting in December 2012.Below: PDSOP Presentation on Wax-ups.


Dentistry is an ever evolving field, as evidenced by the latest dental products available on the market. Many companies even offer free samples of their products, allowing dentists to try new gadgets. Though the effectiveness of these products remains yet to be studied in many cases, one cannot help but wonder if such products may make that impression a tad bit easier or reduce the incidence of needle stick injuries. And of course, even the best of these products cannot alter the basic principles of sound dentistry.

A new retraction paste, dispensed using common composite guns, has been introduced as a replacement for retraction cords. This paste is gentler on gin-gival tissues, while still allowing for effective retraction and hemostasis.


New Gadgets for the Savvy Dental Professional

A)

B)

C)

D)

E)

by Khushbu Aggarwal (2014)

Color changing alginate provides a visual signal for when the material is ready to load, seat, and remove, allowing for consistency in impression making.

And lastly (for now), new rubber dam clamps offer not only gingival retrac-tion, but also retraction of the cheek and tongue and moisture control.

New mini high speed handpieces, along with mini burs, allow for maximum access and visibility in patients with small mouths and limited opening.

Improved needle and syringe designs allow for disposal of the needle with-out recapping or unscrewing contaminated needles, thus decreasing the risk of needle stick injuries. And for those with smaller hands, the petite syringe features a smaller thumb ring handle as well as a shortened harpoon rod, for easier aspiration.

Jokes for Dental Folks

by Jessica Zhu (2015)You’re Not the Tooth Fairy

What’s the best time to go to the dentist?

Tooth-hurty!

What does a dentist call his X-rays?

Tooth-pics!

What did the dentist give to the marching band?

A tuba toothpaste!

What did the dentist see at the North Pole?

A molar bear!

Why do dentists like potatoes?

Because they are so filling!


Collected by Michael Hoang (2015)

Writers & Contributors

Laura Chan | 2016Elaine Lu | 2016

Dmitriy Ivanov | 2014Alex McMahon | 2015David Lindsey | 2015Michael Hoang | 2015Mona Derentz | 2015Susan Bae | 2015Jeremy Chau | 2016Jeremy Chau | 2016

Nicole Ahobim | Pre-DentalAllie Inouye | 2014Jessica Zhu | 2015Catherine Pham | 2016Lindsay Graves | 2014Elaine Lu | 2016

Brian Hui | 2015 Eugen Kim | 2016Catherine Kim | 2015 Vickie Lai | 2014Sanjay Merchant | 2016

Jennifer Pierce | 2016Jeremy Chau | 2016Jennifer Sun | 2015

Catherine Kim | 2015Kavita Sainanee | 2015

UCLA ASDA The Diastema Staff

Editors-in-Chief Section Editors

Layout Editors Photographers

SUBMISSIONS: If you would like to submit an article for The Diastema or have any suggestions, please send an email to [email protected].

EDITORIALEDITORIAL DISCLAIMER: The opinions contained herein do not necessarily reflect those of UCLA or of UCLA School of Den-tistry in particular.

SPECIAL THANK YOU: We would like to thank Dr. Richard Stevenson and Dr. Diana Messadi for their contributions to this issue, and Dr. Carol Bibb for her continued sup-port and mentorship.

Documents

The Diastema - Winter 2013