ASDA November Gator Dental Times
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Transcript of ASDA November Gator Dental Times
UFCD ASDA News November 2011
Gator Dentist Times 6 Coming
Soon to a
Clinic Near
You!
8 Crossword
10 11 Mighty
Molar
12 Steve Jobs
14 15 Dominican
Republic Service
Trip
17 Sudoku
18 19
UFASDA.com
The Mid Level
Provider Solution
to Access
Samuel Low, DDS, MS
Assoc. Dean & Professor
Department of Periodontology
R ecently the phrase “fair
and balanced” reso-
nates as a need to ob-
jectively characterize
opinions on critical issues. The de-
bate over the validity of the mid-
level provider in dentistry could
have used the phrase yesterday.
Access to care/ barriers to
care in dentistry is a major topic of
discussion in dental circles. Lack of
care to the underserved is a given
and moreover a highly multivaria-
ble complex issue. Our students at
UFCD are well versed on the sub-
ject with a curriculum that provides
an excellent community health
background. The core fundamental
end point is to decrease oral disease
by access and effective utilization
in disease management. And while
we could expand on the “solution of
the month” to resolve the disparity
issue, let’s consider the suggested
mid level possibility.
The mid level hypothesis
is primarily based on an insufficient
workforce driver. And any study
that purports a scarcity of dentists
in the future can be countered by
surveys that demonstrate the “right”
amount or too many practitioners.
Note the recent “tug of war” over
the need for more dental schools in
the State of Florida. Most health
care economic models suggest in-
creasing numbers of workforce do
not directly impact care since those
practitioners will not necessarily
relocate to “underserved” areas and
moreover, they need to get paid.
The energy expended by
all players engaged in the argument
over midlevel scope of practice and
levels of supervision has been sub-
stantial and while necessary to de-
fine, possibly tangential to any real
comprehensive answers. (ADA:
http://www.ada.org/sections/
advocacy/pdfs/
ada_workforce_statement.pdf) .
And what complicates the midlevel
solution are studies that suggest
advantages of adding the mid level
practitioner to the dental workforce
are fraught with study design limi-
tations that would not pass the scru-
tiny of evidence based dentistry. A
critical aspect is very small num-
bers of midlevel’s actually practice
in the United Sates (Alaska) and
data is scant.
Bottom-line is that until
the midlevel solution can be tested
to determine safety and efficacy, a
responsible society would suggest a
strategic approach to barriers of
care with a comprehensive oral
health management plan. Utilizing
tax dollars to create another provid-
er level when a variety of solutions
have not been explored may be
considered myopic. Also consider
in the mix unemployed hygienists
and the increasing debt load of
Continued on Page 2.
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
Continued From Page 1
graduating dental students.
There is no simple solution to this very complex
problem and unless there are systems to train such mid
level individuals in a fiscally effective model and provide
salaries in a current state and federal tattered safety net,
(ADA: http://www.ada.org/sections/advocacy/pdfs/
breaking-down-barriers.pdf) common sense suggest mid
levels will end up in a corporate setting as in the recent
experience with New Zealand and Canada workforce
models. A more plausible and timely process to truly help
our underserved would be to take the political debate of
the midlevel out of the equation and replace it with effec-
tive and sustainable and encompassing solutions.
Erin Zimmer mymilktoof.blogspot.com
3
Club President, Sara El-Sherbini, opened the first General
Body Meeting of the Association of Public Health Dentistry by asking
a few of the officers to share what they love about public health dentis-
try.
“I feel that as dentists we have skills that we can pay forward,
and we can do that through public health dentistry,” offers club Histo-
rian, Lorielle Alter. Treasurer, Ron St. John, highlights the abil-
ity“ ...to reach many instead of just a few.”
The American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD) was
founded in 1937 to meet the challenge of improving the oral health
care of many. Not only does it focus on disease prevention and service
delivery, but also on the education of health professionals and legisla-
tors on the importance of oral health to overall well-being. Now in its
third year, the UF chapter of AAPHD aims to provide opportunities
for students and faculty to learn more about Public Health Dentistry,
be it through hands on service experiences or discussions with influen-
tial leaders in the field.
During each upcoming month, the organization will focus on
a particular segment of the community. In October the club concentrat-
ed on pediatric preventative care. The timing was appropriate, as dur-
ing September and October the Alachua County Health Department,
UF College of Dentistry, and the Alachua County School Board will
perform oral health screenings on every third grader in the county and
the club encouraged people to volunteer to help with this endeavor.
With Halloween, October was also a big time for candy-binging and to
help combat the potentially harmful effects of excessive sugar con-
sumption, AAPHD and SNDA had a Halloween party at the Boys and
Girls Club on October 18th to re-enforce and educate about oral hy-
giene while throwing in some non-confectionary fun,
like face-painting. For those interested in career
paths in legislative and organizational public health
dentistry with a focus on prevention, there’s a
“Brown Paper bag lunch-in” with past National
AAPHD and UF faculty member, Dr. Tomar to dis-
cuss prevention.
The club is excited to dive into this year; upcoming
months hold discussions and activities centered on
care for Geriatric, Native American, Urban and Rural
populations. With all the fun, interesting opportuni-
ties, and no dues, there is no reason not to get in-
volved with the UF Chapter of AAPHD. Those inter-
ested in further information should contact Iris Gar-
cia, club secretary at [email protected].
AAPHD
Caitlin Buchanan
4
Organized Dentistry
Beyond ASDA Christopher Shannon, D3, ASDA
Organized Dentistry Chair
A SDA at
UF has
been dedicated
to making all
our ASDA
members more
aware of orga-
nized dentistry.
We have been
working hard to create opportunities for each
member to get involved. Each district in Flori-
da Dental Association has been contacted in an
effort to expand dental student participation and
understanding about the topics affecting dentis-
try.
The Central Florida District Dental
Association, which Alachua County falls into,
has invited UF dental students to attend their
annual meeting in Daytona Beach on April 27
and 28, 2012. Seniors should be aware that the
Alachua County Dental Association holds bi-
monthly meetings and invites up to 15 dental
students to each meeting. Students are able to
attend an elegant dinner while learning about
the newest legislation or dental technology.
We are also trying to strengthen the relation-
ship that dental students have with the Acade-
my of General Dentistry. As organized dentis-
try chair, I talked to Tony Menendez, the cur-
rent Membership Chairman and future Presi-
dent of the AGD. He is highly interested in
hearing the opinions of dental students at their
meetings. He also wants more young dentists
and dental students to get involved with AGD
so that AGD can better represent general den-
tists in all stages of learning and practice. Cur-
rently membership is free to all Junior and Sen-
ior dental students at the University of Florida.
Melissa Alfonso has been gracious to
take the lead in planning a first ever ASDA
State Lobby Day for UF ASDA dental students
to get more involved in the political issues af-
fecting dentistry. This march to Capitol Hill
took place on November 15, 2011. Some of the
issues that ASDA members will address with
legislatures include new dental schools in Flori-
da, continued availability of TED funds, and
loan repayment options after dental school. UF
is one of the only schools nationally where stu-
dents are organizing a state lobby day. We also
plan to team up with the FDA on February 1st
for their lobby day.
This past June, UF ASDA lobbied
hard to get 2 dental students added to the FDA's
Council on Membership, Council on Education
and Licensure, and the Subcouncil on the New
Dentist. At the American Dental Association,
Florida Dental Association allowed several
dental students to sit in upon their meetings.
As you can see, UF ASDA is making it easier
for dental students to get more involved in
making a difference in the dental profession
through organized dentistry.
For more information regarding at-
tending Alachua County Dental Association
meetings, AGD meetings, and/or becoming
members of these organizations you can contact
me at [email protected].
What is the best part of dental school
so far? Class of 2015 Answers!
Sergio Jacas: A great family atmosphere amongst our class.
Yosvel Blanco Sanchez: The new and diverse family that we
gained. I love all my fellow classmates already and the faculty are also
incredible.
Kirsten Kimbler: Mighty Molar!
Michael Yuan: I love how our class is so tight knit like
one big family.
Vikash Dahya: Embryology :)
Olga S Luaces: Learning about all the opportunities we
have to utilize our knowledge and improve the oral hygiene
of the Gainesville community. Through volunteering at the
Equal Access Clinic and with other dental service organiza-
tions at UFCD, I feel that I have been able to reach out to
people of various age groups and teach them about preven-
tive dental practices, enabling them to improve their oral
health.
Phillip Claassen: Waxing teeth!
Desmond Foster: The excitement of beginning the initial
steps on the path of becoming a dentist.
Join Our Facebook Group! UF ASDA CHAPTER
5
Cosmetic Dentistry:
Breaking the Trends of
the National Recession
D uring
these
hard economic
times, it is no
secret that
Americans are
cutting back in
non-essential
expenditures.
One may be
surprised, however, to find that these cuts are
not reflected in revenue spent on cosmetic
dental procedures. According to a recent study
by the American Academy of Cosmetic Den-
tistry (AACD), the number of cosmetic dental
procedures increased significantly over the
last five years, with a 300% increase in teeth
whitening procedures and a 250% increase in
porcelain dental veneers.
Such an increase in cosmetic proce-
dures may suggest a grand turn-around from
the recession and a new, booming economy.
This proves not the case, as the nation’s unem-
ployment rate continues to soar. In fact, in the
last five years that marked such an increase in
elective dentistry, the unemployment rate rose
from 4.6% in 2006 to the current 9.1%. Why
then is there such an increase in cosmetic
work? Another study by the American Acade-
my of Cosmetic Dentistry shows that 75% of
Americans believe an unattractive smile could
potentially harm a person’s chance for em-
ployment success. Thus, what may have once
been deemed an “optional” or “luxurious”
expense is actually an asset in obtaining and
maintain a successful career.
As for dentists, the added interest in
cosmetic procedures also comes with added
pressures in keeping up with new products and
procedures. So refresh on your dental anato-
my, practice your composite layering tech-
niques, subscribe to an aesthetic dentistry
journal, and take special care in choosing your
lab technicians, as the results will pay off for
your patient and your practice.
http://www.designerforsmiles.com/news/
houston-cosmetic-dentist-discusses-latest-aacd
-statistics/
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/
A0104719.html
Jessica Biggs, D2
ASDA Community Service
Chair
6
Coming Soon to a Clinic Near
You: 5 Phases of Treatment! Tavis Sisson, D3, ASDA Synergy Weekend Chair
T he UF College of Dentistry has
recently approved a new method
of organizing treatment. While this is
still a work in progress the roots of the
new treatment plan phases are estab-
lished.
The first phase of therapy is
titled the ‘Systemic Phase’ and is to be
completed before progressing to other treatments. The Systemic
Phase consists mostly of items discovered in the medical history or
physical exam. Possible actions necessary in the Systemic Phase
would include medical consults, biopsies, and any ‘action steps’ nec-
essary for any conditions or medications. Examples of an action step
would include getting an INR for patients on Coumadin or making
sure a patient has their inhaler at the beginning of every appointment
for patients with asthma.
The ‘Acute Phase’ of therapy is begun after systemic com-
plications have been addressed and is broken up into first addressing
emergency problems followed by urgent problems. Problems such as
trauma, pain, and infection are addressed as emergency problems.
This is not just limited to extractions and root canals as large carious
lesions may be addressed as well as rapidly progressing periodontal
diseases, such as ANUG.
The second part of the Acute Phase treats urgent problems.
What we currently consider to be a ‘caries control’ situation with
multiple sedative restorations would be considered an urgent prob-
lem. Extraneous patient needs as well as pure dental needs can also
classify something as urgent. For example, a patient who has a
chipped front tooth and is getting married in two weeks makes that
class IV restoration an urgent problem based on the time limitations.
What we currently think of as Phase I therapy would be con-
sidered the third phase of treatment in the new model called the
‘Disease Control Phase’. In the Disease Control Phase we are ad-
dressing the prime dental diseases: caries and periodontal disease.
This phase is also broke up into two parts. The first part is disease
control treatment and primarily would revolve around oral health
instructions, scaling/root planning, and adult prophylaxis. This is
essentially periodontal in nature since ‘caries control’ patients are
addressed in the Acute Phase. The second part of the Disease Control
Phase is the ‘initial restorative phase’. During this portion of treat-
ment you are utilizing your standard compliment of operative ADA
codes and should bring the patient to a stable restorative situation.
Even if the ultimate goal is an indirect restoration in the Definitive
Phase you are most likely completing a core buildup here in the ini-
tial restorative phase.
Also considered to be part of the Disease Control Phase is a
Re-Evaluation. During this re-evaluation all actions taken up until
this point are reviewed for their ability to control disease in the
mouth. We would typically think of this as our Phase I Evaluations
(both perio and operative). The question to answer here is “Is the
patient ready to move to the Definitive Phase?”.
In the ‘Definitive Phase’ (4th phase for those who are count-
ing) we are preparing for and completing any prosthetic restorations
deemed necessary. This is what we normally would consider to be
Phase II and is broken up into two parts.
The first part of the Definitive Phase is adjunctive therapy
and consists of pre prosthetic surgery, crown lengthening, orthodon-
tics, etc. Anything that is necessary to get the patient ready for their
final prosthesis would be considered adjunctive therapy as well as
definitive therapies for patients not needing prosthetic devices
(orthodontics). This is followed by the second part of the Definitive
Phase called the prosthodontic phase where fixed and removable
prosthetics are fabricated and delivered.
Following the Definitive Phase is another evaluation step
called ‘post assessment’ and is essentially what we would currently
consider a case completion. After this, the patient is placed on a re-
call schedule and has entered the ‘Maintenance Phase’. This fifth and
final phase is meant to support the long term dental health of the pa-
tient and can feed back into the previous phases as situations arise in
that patient’s maintenance.
The presented phases of treatment, while approved, are still
being tweaked and the final presentation may differ slightly from
what you see above. For example, they may be listed as phases 0-3 +
maintenance rather than phase 1-5 as listed above. However, the
numbering system assigned should not change what is addressed in
each of the phases. I hope this helps prepare you for what is coming
down the pipeline in the near future, and I preemptively wish you
good luck in explaining the 5 phases of treatment to your future pa-
tients.
1. Systemic Phase
2. Acute Phase (Emergency Problems and Urgent Problems)
3. Disease Control Phase (Disease Control Phase and Initial Re-
storative Phase)
Re-Evaluation
4. Definitive Phase (Adjunctive Therapy and Prosthodontic Phase)
Post-Assessment
5. Maintenance
7
Staying Healthy
In Dental School Mikilena Hall, D3, ASDA
Community Service Chair
F all is here,
and so are
boards, block
exams, the rush
to complete re-
quirements
and… runny
noses. I know
I’m not the only
one who hears
sniffles in the hallway and sees puffy eyes and
the hunched backs of colleagues
hard at work. As UFCD students
strive to be their best, flu season
approaches and brings with it the
possibility of missed appointments
and wasted hours of brainpower that
could be better put to use. With that
in mind, I encourage our student
body to be mindful of the environ-
ment and changing weather. Bring
a sweatshirt to school and keep an
umbrella at hand. Speaking of
hands, anti-bacterial sanitizer is
around every corner, so use it! We work and
learn in a hospital full of patient traffic with
many sick people so be
mindful of that elevator but-
ton and (ick) bathroom door.
Flu shots are available all
over Gainesville and can be
found at little to no cost for
students. Also, remember to
eat healthy and stock up on
vitamins (2nd years, get some
vitamins for nothing else but
to study their names and
effects for boards). Being healthy is not just
about you; it’s about taking care of your pa-
tients and being there, ready and alert, for them
when they have a scheduled appointment.
For those students who are already
prepared for flu season and take daily sanitation
precautions, keep it up! Think about other
ways you can be healthy and set a good exam-
ple for your patients.
Take a few minutes
to stretch during an
appointment or after
an hour of studying.
Drink plenty of wa-
ter every day and
take out some of that
angst about not hav-
ing this requirement
done yet or having
to take yet another
quiz – there’s a great
indoor track at Southwest Rec, go do some yo-
ga with friends, or take a walk with your dog.
We live in Florida, so get out there
end enjoy it! You owe it to your-
self!
Research @
The ADA
Conference
It is widely recognized that research is an
essential part in the future of dentistry. The
UFCD curriculum is continuously being
supplemented with research based presenta-
tions, so that students will be able to adapt
to innovative technology that will be availa-
ble in the future. In addition, our UFCD
faculty is continuously conducting research
to advance the field as we speak and they
offer generously their time, knowledge, and
experience to students who want to partici-
pate in research. Additionally, the ADA
supports students who conduct research, and
at the ADA conference in Las Vegas there
was a display of research from both United
States and International dental
schools. Projects displayed at the confer-
ence were conducted by student clinicians
under a competition supported by both
DENTSPLY and the ADA. Their projects
ranged from testing the pH of distilled
drinking water to understanding the molecu-
lar players involved in the competence path-
way of Streptococcus mutans. It was a fan-
tastic display of support for research in den-
tistry and, to me, made a statement that both
clinical and basic science research continues
to further our knowledge and clinical prac-
tice of dentistry. Thank you to our Dean, Dr.
Dolan; Associate Dean of Research, Dr.
Burne; all of the research faculty, graduate
students, and dental students conducting
research; as well as dental students and fac-
ulty/professionals who utilize research in
their everyday practice for having the fore-
sight to advance the future and also patience
to help students understand how to apply
these concepts to their work. Your work and
efforts will change the practice of dentistry
and the lives of our patients.
Ann Sagstetter, D2, ASDA Education Chair
8
Biomaterials Crossword:
A Tribute to KJS
By Stacy M
ichelle N
edru
d D
2
Across
5 Pneumatic Mallets Use This
7 First Country to Ban Amalgam (Gasp!)
9 Best Generation of Self-Etching
11 Module of __________
13 Seaweed Impression Material
14 White Filling Material Pre-Dating Composite
15 Component of Amalgam
17 Squeeze Cloth’s Material
19 Dentinal Tubule Sealer Brand Name
21 Sport Using Gutta Percha in the 1840s
22 Measurement of Force
Down
1 KJS’s Homeland
2 George Washington’s Teeth Material
3 Impressive Crown and Bridges
4 Process of Bending Metal, Displacing Defects
6 KJS’s Catchphrase
8 Old-Fashioned Permanent Cement (Duralon)
10 Strain’s Counterpart
12 Makes a Good Impression
16 Calcium Hydroxide Use
18 Dentinal Tubule Opener
20 First Country to Use Mercury-Containing Dental
Fillings
For
An
swer
s Se
e Pa
ge 1
7
9
HSDA Ali Best, D2, ASDA Special
Events Director
W ith a significantly increased mem-
bership and a great new board, the His-
panic Student Dental Association has
started off the 2011-2012 school year in a
fantastic direction! Thus far, we have
held a Spanish Dental Terminology Ses-
sion, organized a visit to Eastside High
School to give a presentation on “Careers
in Dentistry,” and we finished out the
month of October with salsa lessons that
were open to the whole school. The les-
sons were taught by our own members,
and everyone seemed to have a blast.
HSDA will be continuing its involve-
ment in the dental community by sending four
members to the HDA Annual Meeting in San
Diego, CA, the first weekend of November,
where they will be presenting the Orgullo Pro-
ject, a project designed to promote outreach
and recruitment of minority middle school and
high school students to careers in dentistry.
We then plan to finish out the fall semester
with two more salsa classes held during lunch
on November 22nd and December 6th, a Lunch
& Learn given by Dr. Lense in mid-November,
another Spanish Dental Terminology Session
on November 29th, a Thanksgiving Potluck,
and finally a joint Holiday Social with SNDA.
It’s been a great year so far, and
we’re looking forward to all of our future
events!
From Lectures
to Clinics
D ear
friends,
Now we are
well into the
fall semester
and I thought I
would share
what the transi-
tion from 2nd to 3rd year of dental school has
been like.
To start, there is definitely more time
to relax and to enjoy the week—I am sure
first and second years are relieved to hear this.
Lectures are Wednesday afternoons and Fri-
day mornings. Tests are very few—usually a
midterm and a final, and some classes give
quizzes in between.
Now there are different stresses such
as meeting requirements, looking for patients
and procedures to do, dealing with cancella-
tions, and let us not forget the lab work. Most
of us get to school before 8 am to set up for
our morning patients and to be present for the
morning’s Team Huddle. Sometimes we
spend a big part of our lunch break working
on lab projects, and/or we stay past 5 pm to
finish them.
Despite the new stressors, every day
I am happy to wake up and go to school.
Sometimes I find myself daydreaming about a
procedure: how to prepare for it, how to speed
it up, and how to make it better. That is how I
feel before every new procedure I do on a
patient. Tips from faculty and friends start
becoming like gems because they save a
lot of time and effort. A lot of times,
oddly enough, I actually open books and
peruse their contents to look for tips,
different treatment modalities, and to
learn what to do in different scenarios.
We are the only professional
career that allows us to do such invasive,
irreversible, and potentially dangerous
procedures such as drilling a tooth, cut-
ting tissue flaps, giving anesthesia, and taking
out teeth as 3rd year students. During the first
two years we are taught about dental proce-
dures, treatment planning, and how to manage
complications, but it is the 3rd year when eve-
rything starts to come together and the im-
portance of some steps and precautions start
to become evident. Every day I learn some-
thing new and every day I feel like I acquire a
new skill—I never felt that when I was work-
ing on mannequins.
Thank you for reading,
Jorge del Valle, D3, ASDA
Education Chair
10
Mig
hty
Mo
lar
20
11
Congratulations
No
D4
s :
(
11
Mig
hty
Mo
lar
20
11
Trayless
Impressions
1st 2013
2nd 2014
3rd Pre-Dent
4th 2015
Egg Toss
1st 2013
2nd 2014
3rd 2015
4th Pre-Dent
Relay Race
1st 2013
2nd 2015
3rd Pre-Dent
4th 2014
Tug-of-War
1st 2015
2nd 2013
3rd 2014
4th Pre-Dent
Final points
2013: 18
2015: 9
2014: 9
Pre-Dental: 7
UFASDA Class of 2013!
D1s
12
A Reflection: Steve Jobs 1955-2011 Wednesday evening
October 5th, 2011, Steve Jobs,
Founder of Apple, lost his battle
with pancreatic cancer at age 56.
Jobs, who originally founded
Apple in 1976, will forever be regarded as a
visionary and master innovator who arguably
had one of the most profound impacts on a
generation that has ever been seen. A college
dropout, Jobs pursued his passion for innova-
tion and built the world’s first personal com-
puter in his parent’s garage at age 21. By age
25 his net worth was more than 100 million
dollars and by age 30 he was ousted from the
company he founded only to return in 1997 to
build it into one of the highest valued compa-
nies in the world. Jobs, by the standards of
society, had everything any individual could
ever want.
When I first heard the news of Steve
Jobs’ death I was stressed out while in the
midst of an intense cram session because of
the six exams I have coming up over the next
two weeks. The joys of being in my second
year of dental school were taking their toll on
me. However, after learning the sad news of
his death, I suddenly realized how insignifi-
cant my stresses really were. In dental school,
all of us students get worked up about the next
big midterm or practical, board examinations,
and patients. Too often I hear others, and at
times I have been the one, to complain about
school. In reality though, we are fortunate. We
are fortunate to wake up each day and be
able to attend that dreaded lecture or lab
session. We are fortunate to be able to enter
into a profession where our goal is to help
improve the quality of life for our patients. We
are fortunate to be able to go home at the end
of each day to see our friends, family, spouses
and significant others. Plain and simple, we
are fortunate.
I know school will continue to stress
out every dental student across the country.
This is not an attempt by me to write the mag-
ic words to eliminate this from all of our lives.
Consider this a reminder that even though you
may think getting a bad grade on an exam or
practical is the end of the world, it is not. In
the end you can’t take it with you. It is one of
the oldest clichés, but today it is truer than
ever. Steve Jobs was worth 8.3 billion dollars
when he passed away. Until six weeks ago he
continued to be the CEO of one of the largest
companies in the world while simultaneously
fighting for his life each day. I don’t think it
was the need or desire for money that kept
him motivated. Individuals like Steve Jobs
should be inspiration for all of us. He was
passionate about his life’s work. For him, it
was about the impact he had on those around
him. The man revolutionized the way Ameri-
cans operate in their day to day lives. As fu-
ture healthcare providers I hope this resonates
deep within all of you. We are in an extraordi-
nary position to change the lives of our pa-
tients every time they come in for an appoint-
ment.
I issue this challenge to all of you.
Next time you are stressed out and feel like
the world is weighing down on you, take a
step back and reflect. Appreciate all that you
have been given and find that passion that
brought you to the place you are today. It may
require you to do something impromptu, like
write a blog post even though you have six
exams to study for, but in the end it will serve
as a reminder of what really matters. Cherish
each day and don’t let the insignificant stress-
es of school make you forget why you are
there. Rest in peace, Steve Jobs.
~Michael Pappas, Ohio ’14,
Chapter President
This article has been reprinted with the per-
mission of the American Student Dental Asso-
ciation. It originally appeared as a blog post
on Mouthing Off, www.ASDAblog.com.
Considering Ethics
While Abroad
Deborah Lowry, D2, ASDA
Professional Issues Chair
A s increasing attention is gained by
dental outreach programs, the Ameri-
can Student Dental Association
(ASDA), the American Dental Education As-
sociation(ADEA), and the American Dental
Association(ADA) have found the need to
address concerns facing pre-dental students,
dental students, and dentists nationwide for
participating in these programs.
As members of ASDA, we are urged
to comply with the ASDA Code of Ethics for
dental students. The values proposed are to be
used as a guide for the progression of a den-
tist’s career, beginning as a pre-doctoral stu-
dent to a fully credentialed professional. As
dental students we not only need to have,
“concern for the welfare of our patients,” but
also need to be competent in the care we de-
liver. The values of Non-maleficence and
Beneficence are to be considered daily as
well. Careful treatment planning and supervi-
sion by a licensed dentist lends to avoiding
harm to the patient. Also, students are,
“encouraged to participate in community out-
reach programs to improve the dental health
of the public” as an act of beneficence. The
ASDA Ethics Code, last revised in 2010, lays
a good foundation that if followed will aid in
upholding the
integrity of den-
tistry as a pro-
fession.
In accordance
with their Ethics
Code, ASDA
also addressed
dental outreach
programs in a
Continued on
page 16.
13
FDA MENTOR/
MENTEE PROGRAM
Melissa Alfonso, D3, ASDA
Government Affairs Chair
A t FNDC
this past
year it became
apparent to
me the need
for mentor-
ships for stu-
dents prepar-
ing to enter
the dental
profession. Among the many benefits, men-
torships allow students the opportunity to
make connections in a particular region in
Florida and gather information about the
career from an experienced and willing
professional. The Florida Dental Associ-
ation offers a program that can help stu-
dents develop such a mentorship. I would
like to encourage all of our students to look
into becoming a part of this program. If you
know of any doctors interested in becoming
mentors you can also refer them to the same
contact information.
The Florida Dental Association's
(FDA) Dr. Louis J. Atkins Mentor Pro-
gram offers pre-dental students, dental school
students, and new dentists in Florida the op-
portunity to develop a professional mentor/
mentee relationship with an FDA member
dentist. Usually this is in the form of phone
calls, emails and shadowing the mentor dentist
in the office for a period of time agreed upon
by both parties.
Contact information, organized by
region in Florida, can be found in a blog post
on the UF ASDA blog, www.ufasda.com. For
additional information you can also contact
your local district office.
14
All of the mission trips at UFCD seek
to set themselves apart from the others. For
the Dominican Republic trip I described this as
being a more “rugged” trip at our interest
meeting in November 2010. What I forgot to
mention at that meeting was the life changing
experience that this would become for those
who went on this trip. This past August break,
30 students and 4 dentists found themselves in
Las Matas de Farfan, Dominican Republic
after traveling more than 15 hours. We stayed
at Centro Padre Julio in the city center without
any access to everyday luxuries such as air
conditioning, phone reception, hot water, and
internet.
The Dominican Republic trip has
been one of the longest standing mission trips
in the college. As Dr. Timothy Garvey has
recounted to many of us, this trip developed
from several dentists who sat around in one of
their living rooms one day in 1987, considering
the need in Dominican Republic for dental
care. For the majority of years since then, a
group from UF’s College of Dentistry, accom-
panied by Dr. Garvey has gone to Las Matas
de Farfan to treat those less fortunate. Within
the country, 30% of its population lives below
the poverty line. Some communities shared
with us that our trips there were the only
means of dental care they received, notably in
the mountains where people do not have access
to transportation to the city where the local
dentist and hospital are located.
For five days we worked in four
groups endlessly to help as many people as
possible. Our team worked in four teams, each
headed by one dentist, one team staying at the
center and three going to smaller towns in the
suburbs surrounding the center. At the center
we utilized generators run on gasoline to pow-
er two dental units to perform
restorations. At all of the loca-
tions we made the most of the
minimal resources we had and
performed extractions using
headlamps as a light source, fluo-
ride varnish treatments for chil-
dren, and oral hygiene instruc-
tions for all. After returning to
the center on most days, we re-
ceived lectures from the dentists
there, including some on provid-
ing local anesthetic, anatomy,
and suturing.
When we had just found
ourselves comfortable in
the Dominican Republic on the first day
of working, we received a series of
phone calls from UFCD and concerned
parents regarding Hurricane Irene. It
was forecasted to go directly through
the center of the island joining Domini-
can Republic and Haiti, right where we
were located. Located five hours away
from the capital where the airport was,
evacuating the island seemed like it
would be a difficult task given that we
would likely encounter the storm on the
way there. With the help of Padre
Franquelo, we determined that the saf-
est plan would likely be to remain there
given that the structures were concrete and we
were located in a valley where we would most
likely be
protected
from strong
winds and
rain. With
the help of
my father,
Cayetano
Alfonso,
who hap-
pened to be
there as
well, we
were able
to acquire
phones to
allow stu-
dents to
call home
to their
families
and contact
the college
who proceeded to also contact all emergency
contacts. Hours later, we learned that the
storm had slightly turned to the north. We
informed all those there that we would still
likely get some rain and wind from the outside
of the storm sometime in the middle of the
night. When we awoke the following morning,
we were surprised to see sunny skies and dry
grounds. Not a drop of rain had touched our
area. We were fortunate enough to not have
been affected by the hurricane, but what we
did receive was a big lesson on the importance
of planning ahead for situations like this.
ONE MUST ATTEND EVERY MEETING
INCLUDING THIS ONE. So if you’re inter-
ested, be sure to mark your calendars!
15
Many of those who went on this trip
were challenged and further empowered by
various hurdles we faced while there. We sur-
vived a hurricane, treated over 600 patients
within 16 communities, and learned the value
in giving to those who truly NEED you. After
the fun times, the bonding, and the shrieks
when you come across the occasional unex-
pected bug, there were human beings that
without our help would never be able to rid
their bodies of dental infection. These teeth
would have likely resulted in abscesses and
maybe the further complications that many of
us have seen in the news in our own country.
Although there were many parts of the week
that are difficult to overcome, I am sure that
those who attended the trip found it absolutely
rewarding.
Like all mission
trips at UF, the
Dominican Repub-
lic trip continues to
strive to improve
the mission trip
experience for stu-
dents. We promote
continued learning
throughout our trip,
a positive group
attitude towards
fundraising, and
cohesiveness
among those who
go. At the end of
our trip we met to
discuss improve-
ments that could be
made to this trip. Some of
the suggestions included
planning ahead for potential
unexpected emergencies
such as hurricanes and pro-
motion of better oral health
and self-care among those in
the communities we treat for
better sustainability. We are
look-
ing
for-
ward
to
seeing
the
im-
provements that those
planning the 2012 trip
have in store for the
trip.
We would also like to
thank all of those who
supported our trip and
helped make it possible
including Dr. Timothy
Garvey, Dr. Rosalia
Rey, Dr. Rafael Urbino, Dr. Randall Hancock,
Dr. Sposetti and Ayleen Alexander. We also
had extreme support from several local den-
tists, organizations, and dental supply compa-
nies. A final thank you also to those who pur-
chased items we sold through t-shirt, hoodie,
and decal sales.
Interested in attending the
2012 trip?
The introductory meeting for next
year's Dominican Republic Dental Mission
Trip will be on Monday, November 14 at 5:30
PM in D3-3. This dental mission trip takes
place annually during the August break and is
open for any member of the Class of 2013,
2015, and 2015, however, there are a limited
number of seats available. If we have enough
interest we are looking into possibly having a
second trip during the June break. This second
trip would be to serve the northern part of the
Dominican Republic. During this meeting we
will present some details on both trips as well
as get a count on “interest” between the classes
of who would like to go. IN ORDER TO BE
ELIGIBLE TO GO ON EITHER TRIP, ONE
MUST ATTEND EVERY MEETING IN-
CLUDING THIS ONE. So if you’re interest-
ed, be sure to mark your calendars!
Melissa Alfonso, D3, ASDA
Government Affairs Chair
2012 DR Trip Leaders: Eddy Sedeño, Stacey
Nedrud, Jan García, Danny García, and Valen-
tina Espinosa.
16
Continued from page 12.
resolution titled B-8 Dental Outreach Pro-
grams. This resolution, submitted at the 2010
Annual Session to the Council of Professional
Issues, addressed both U.S. dental students as
well as pre-dental student programs that partic-
ipate in dental outreach programs (e.g. interna-
tional service trips, domestic service trips, or
volunteerism in underserved areas). This
statement emphasizes three main aspects when
it comes to dental outreach programs. First, to
adhere not only to the ASDA Code of Ethics,
but also to the ADA Principles of Ethics and
Code of Professional Conduct. Secondly, stu-
dents are to be directly supervised by dentists
licensed to practice, or teach, in the United
States. Lastly, the volunteer is to perform only
procedures for which they have received prop-
er education and training for. By taking these
aspects into consideration, the ethical values of
non-maleficence and beneficence can be up-
held.
In addition to ASDA, the ADEA has
also addressed the concerns about students
participating in dental outreach programs.
They composed a guideline regarding provid-
ing patient care during clinical experiences
abroad. While this is aimed towards pre-
dental students, it addresses many issues
faced when participating in these pro-
grams. The ADEA guidelines can be ex-
tended to dental students who haven’t yet
received the appropriate education and
training for common procedures that take
place on these trips (e.g. administering
anesthesia, performing extractions, restor-
ing teeth irreversibly, etc.).
As dental students, it is important to
remain aware that it is not necessary to travel
abroad to serve those less fortunate. Locally, in
our community, there is plenty of need for
dental care and there are programs set up local-
ly that we can assist with, such as the ACORN
Dental Clinic, Gainesville Community Minis-
tries, and We Care Clinic at Santa Fe Commu-
nity College. While assisting as first and se-
cond years, or doing procedures as third and
fourth years, invaluable knowledge and experi-
ence will be gained while abiding to the ethics
codes presented by ASDA and ADA.
For more information regarding reso-
lution B-8 please visit the ASDA and ADA
websites.
17
Discovering My
Passion for Dentistry Quyen T. Pham
UF Pre-Dental Society President
Upon entering college, I knew I want-
ed to pursue a profession in healthcare. How-
ever, I did not know my vision of “providing
healthcare” would involve the dental profes-
sion. My preconceived
view of dentistry as just
an esthetic care and lux-
ury was a reflection of
my seldom visits to the
dentist as a child and
initial shadowing expe-
riences only at high-end
private practices.
Uncertain
about which pre-health
route I would commit to
as an undergraduate, I
continued to volunteer
and shadow in different
clinics. During the fall
semester of my sopho-
more year, I met Dr.
Garvey who inspired me
to be more than just a
dentist, but also a com-
munity leader and teacher who genuinely
serves from the heart to make a difference.
Dr. Garvey is an assistant clinical
professor of pediatric dentistry in the UF Col-
lege of Dentistry, who also focuses on provid-
ing dental care for patients with disabling con-
ditions. While he serves at the dental school,
he also sees patients at Tacachale dental clinic
and at We Care clinic on Monday nights. Dr.
Garvey also leads student service trips for UF
dental students in different countries.
I first met Dr. Garvey at We Care
night clinic, where I was able to sit chair side
and serve as an assistant. At the end of the
night, Dr. Garvey invited myself and several
other pre-dentals to assist at Shands operating
room. During the few opportunities I had in
the Shands OR with Dr. Garvey, I witnessed
the energy, skills, and
passion Dr. Garvey elic-
ited as he treated his
patients. During those
times, Dr. Garvey
demonstrated what it
meant to truly make a
difference by providing
care in dentistry.
Away from the
clinic, he also manages
his time to lead dental
health presentations to
grade schools. Recently,
Dr. Garvey has intro-
duced me to Pamela
Fitzgerald (Alachua
County Volunteer Pro-
gram Specialist) to work
on presentations year-
round, rather than just
one or two months of
the year, to Alachua County’s public schools.
Dr. Garvey enabled me to see dentistry in an
entirely different way then how I obliviously
viewed it before.
Not only does Dr. Garvey make a
difference in his patients’ lives, but
also unconsciously to those who have the op-
portunity to shadow and work with him. Lead-
ing by example, Dr. Garvey has positively
influenced my life by demonstrating the many
ways to serve, teach, and lead through dentis-
try. “Paying it forward”, I hope to influence
lives the way he has on his patients and others,
like myself, in the future.
My experiences with Dr. Garvey fur-
ther affirmed my understanding that pursuing a
career in dentistry isn’t just about becoming a
dentist, but the compassionate role you adopt
and examples you lead by to make a differ-
ence. Dr. Garvey authenticates what Woodrow
Wilson once said, “You are not
here merely to make a
living. You are here in
order to enable the
world to live more am-
ply, with greater vision,
with a finer spirit of
hope and achievement.
You are here to enrich
the world, and you im-
poverish yourself if
you forget the errand.”
Sudoku (
Med
ium
)
Crossword
Answers
From Page 8 Across
5 gold_foil
7 Norway
9 four
11 elasticity
13 agar
14 silicate
15 tin
17 amalgam
19 copalite
21 golf
22 newtons
Down
1 Sweden
2 ivory
3 poly_ether
4 coldwork
6 basically
8 polycarboxylate
10 stress
12 alginate
16 dycal
18 primer
20 China
18
VISIT THE NEW
UFASDA.COM!!! The University of Florida ASDA has
recently developed a new, cutting edge website
full of useful information and helpful features-
UFASDA.COM. Some of the features include
an updated calendar of all ASDA events, an
interactive photo gallery, a custom search bar,
useful links and current news feeds, and a fully
integrated blog. All of these features make
UFASDA.COM a great resource for any updat-
ed information related to UF ASDA as well as
National ASDA, the ADA, and the FDA. The
website can be easily navigated using the menu
bar located at the top of each page and quick
links in the side bar.
Calendar
UFASDA.COM is linked to ASDA’s
Google® Calendar which is constantly being
updated with all upcoming events. All these
events are automatically added to the calendar
on the website. Every page on
UFASDA.COM contains a mini calendar in the
side bar which allows users to quickly view
upcoming events from anywhere on the web-
site. By following the calendar link on the
menu bar you can view events in a monthly
view.
Photo Gallery
Another great feature is the interactive
photo gallery where you can view pictures and
videos from recent ASDA events. Photos and
videos are organized into albums for each
event and can be viewed as slideshows. If you
have any photos or videos of events that you
would like added to our photo gallery feel free
to email them to [email protected].
Custom Search Bar
One of the best resources on
UFASDA.COM for finding up to date infor-
mation on state or national issues and even
clinical resources is the custom Google search
bar. This allows visitors to perform a single
search that will find results from a select num-
ber of websites including UFASDA.COM,
DENTAL.UFL.EDU, ASDANET.ORG,
FLORIDADENTAL.ORG, and ADA.ORG.
Next time you are doing some research try
using this feature to find your
answers, it may prove very
helpful.
Links and News Feeds
On every page of the
UFASDA.COM visitors will
see the side bar and footer
which are full of helpful links
and current news feeds. At the
very top of the side bar there is
a link bar for many relevant
websites like The Next DDS
and our Facebook and Twitter
pages which we encourage eve-
ryone to join. Lower on the
side bar you can digitally view
the most current issue of the UF
ASDA Newsletter, the National
ASDA News, and the Mouth
Magazine. At the very bottom
of each page you can view a list
19
SPEA: Student
Professionalism and
Ethics Association
Angie McNeight, D3, ASDA
Ethics Chair
D id you know that in
Las Vegas in early
October, there was another meeting
being held besides the ADA Conven-
tion? It was the inaugural meeting of
the Student Professionalism and Ethics
Association, a new national organiza-
tion that has now officially formed.
Debbie Lowry, the current ASDA
professionalism chair, and I attended
the inaugural sessions where we
helped create the association’s first
bylaws and strategic plan, elect the
first national officers, and meet the
American College of Dentists trustees
that helped the organization get started
on a national level.
In the new bylaws, SPEA is
defined as “a national, student driven
association that was established to
promote and support a student’s life-
long commitment to ethical behavior
in order to benefit the patients they
serve.” In summary, SPEA is a club
made up of dental school students that
will provide a forum to discuss ethical
dilemmas, study cases, and help stu-
dents form their own set of ethical
values which will provide them a
foundation to build on upon gradua-
tion.
The current Ethics Club at
UFCD is changing their name to
SPEA so that we will have a chapter
affiliated with this national organiza-
tion. If you would like to join SPEA
here at UFCD or get involved on a
national level, please let myself or
Debbie Lowry know and we will be
able to direct you to the right person.
Be sure to look out for more infor-
mation in the near future about the
first SPEA meeting here at UF!
of current news feeds from UFCD, our Twitter
Page, and ASDA’s Mouthing Off. By clicking
these links you will be redirected to the full
articles.
UF | ASDA Blog
One of the most interactive features
of UFASDA.COM is the powerful WordPress
Blog which is integrated into the site. This
allows board members to login and create
posts with up to date information, pictures, and
videos about events and other announcements.
Any visitor can also register for the UF ASDA
Blog by following the Subscribe links which
will give you the option to receive emails
when new posts are made. After reg-
istering you can also follow the log in
links and leave comments on posts
that have been created.
We would like to encourage
everyone to regularly visit UFASDA.COM to
get the most up to date information from UF
ASDA, National ASDA, the ADA, and the
FDA. You should also consider using all the
great features and resources, especially the
blog, for your benefit. New features are al-
ready in the process of being developed but If
you have any suggestions or ever run into
problems while using the website, please feel
free to email them to [email protected].
Eddy Sedeño, D2, ASDA
Webmaster
Letter From the Editor
There is so much great information in this edi-
tion 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 dentis-
try, nationally and locally. I thank each and eve-
ry 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.
Samuel Low and Michael Pappas from The
Ohio State College of Dentistry . If you are in-
terested in writing for Gator Dentist Times
please contact me at [email protected].
Carolyn A. Norton, D2, ASDA
Newsletter Editor
The publication of this newsletter was made possible by UF Student Government.
October ADA Convention, Las Vegas!