Looking back on Early Fall as a D3, I would personally describe it as a whirlwind. Between learning clinic protocol, persuading patients to come in on a sunny Buffalo day, searching for Comp Oral paperwork (let alone trying to figure out what a Comp Oral actually includes), and performing dentistry on real live people, I’ve never experienced such a quick six weeks in my life.

Before this summer, I had always found my time spent in clinic assisting to be a bit dull. The hours seemed to creep by while suctioning and attempting to stay out of the student dentist’s way. Once you’re the student dentist, the tables are completely turned.

Clinic introduces your body to a new type of exhaustion . Instead of spending hours upon hours memorizing biochemistry cycles or occlusion definitions, you’re spending those hours physically running around. You’re expected to be prepared, punctual, and knowledgeable, all while socializing with your patient with a smile on your face. No one ever said dentistry was easy.

Only six weeks in, and I have already found my clinic experience to be very rewarding. Despite the signatures, the paperwork and waiting in lines for faculty, meeting, interacting, and helping your pat ients can be extremely gratifying. It’s such a nice change to be in a social environment, fixing real teeth

instead of plastic ones and escaping the depths of B28. Having the privilege to help someone in pain and leave a lasting, positive impact is a huge responsib i l i ty. See ing pat ien ts appreciate your work and efforts makes all of those hours in the library and B28 worth it, so keep your heads up D1’s and D2’s!

Seeing patients appreciate your work and efforts makes

all of those hours in the library and B28 worth it, so keep your heads up D1’s

and D2’s

One of my biggest realizations this summer was how lucky we are to have the staff that we do here at UBSDM. Dave and Kevin are only a phone call away to switch chairs (our class has a weirdly large number of lefties), the IT help desk is extremely efficient (the SOS button real ly works, for anyone wondering), and the dental assistants seem to read minds, recognizing our confused stares and answering our questions before we even ask them. I’m confident that my classmates, the faculty, and the staff are more than capable of adapting to the exciting changes coming to our clinics soon – Good luck to everyone this fall!

Early Fall...I’m A D3? written by Victoria Mesolella, Class of 2016

A New Roastin’ Tradition Steve Fabiano (’16)

ASDA Buffalo RebrandsKevin Kurtzner (’16)

Q & A with Dr. ComisiJordan Telin (’17)

Camp SunshineLauren Zalepeski (’17)

A Look Inside: D1 Clinical PilotKimberly Fluger (’16), Molly Briggs (’17)

Externship: Indian Health Service JoAnna Pufnock (‘15)

Summer Service: BOCAAlyssa Levy (’16)

NYSDA Annual SessionJames Wanamaker (’16)

ADA’s New Dentist ConferenceMorgan Fryer (’15)

In this Issue

Fall 2014

On May 17th, ASDA held their inaugural Student Appreciation Pig Roast in Ellicott Creek Park. The “New Roastin’ Tradition” was designed to express how much the students at the UB Dental School mean to ASDA, and allow some much needed rest and relaxation after a grueling week of finals. 2nd year student Arthur Bigsby III, the Roast’s field game coordinator and megaphone aficionado said, “The Pig Roast provided the perfect combination of good food and fun times. It was great to get outside for an afternoon and escape the pressures of finals week.”

The event involved music, games, t-shirts, refreshments, and of course, a delicious roast pig! One Eyed Jack’s catered the event and provided a decadent spread that 4th year student Meghan Manisero described as, “pignomenal.” And if the savory roast couldn’t satisfy the sweet tooth every dental student denies having, a plethora of desserts were provided by DSD to make sure nobody went home unsatisfied. From egg toss to, “the popcorn/shaving cream game,” everyone that attended left with aching bellies from both the food and some uncontrollable bouts of laughter.

The most significant aspect of the event is that a donation from ASDA will be made to the Tyner Family and their battle against cancer. So while the students helped themselves to seconds of Cajun corn, they were also helping a righteous cause.

Like most great parties, everyone seems to want to do it again. Hopefully the Student Appreciation Pig Roast can become an annual event for students to have a good time and unwind. After a year filled with late night cram sessions and large cups of coffee, a little rest and relaxation is just what the doctor ordered. When asked what he thought of the event, 3rd year student and t-shirt designer Zach Rifkin echoed most attendee’s feelings saying, “I had a blast and I can’t wait for next year.”

“My favorite part of the Pig Roast were all

the field games we played. It was nice to see the classes

mesh so well! ”-Brittany Kraft, ’16

Everyone that attended left with aching bellies from both the

food and some uncontrollable bouts of bouts of laughter

A New Roastin’ Tradition written by Steve Fabiano, Class of 2016

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Changes are abound in ASDA Buffalo for the 2014-2015 school year, and among them is a new look for the organization. In addition to the introduction of the new ASDA Buffalo logo at this year’s first annual ASDA Pig Roast, a new website was unveiled at the conclusion of ASDA week, the first week of class and clinic. The new site contains a calendar of upcoming ASDA events along with photos of past events, an updated list of outreach events, information about organizations within ASDA, a compilation of ASDA Buffalo’s social media feeds, and a monthly student spotlight column, among many other fun features!

The new design was the work of fourth year Michelle Lee, who currently serves as co-website administrator for ASDA Buffalo as well as the website administrator for ASDA District 2. When asked about her passion for the task, Lee said, “As a senior who has watched ASDA Buffalo evolve for over 3 years, it gives me no greater pleasure than to paint this organization electronically, and in doing so to depict just how strong the study body is and what a wonderful school UB is.”

As far as her goals for the site, Lee hopes that it will serve as a hub for students and the general public to get an inside look at all the components that make up our strong organization. “Thanks to the generous photographers spanning all of our classes, we were able to put together this family-feel of a collage. And there’s a lot of truth to that statement – ASDA Buffalo is a large family composed of individuals who truly care about what’s happening now and in the future.”

To see the new site and stay up to date on the happenings of ASDA Buffalo, log on to www.asdabuffalo.com and bookmark our page!

ASDA Buffalo Rebrandswritten by Kevin Kurtzner, Class of 2016

Meet our District 2 TrusteeDear District 2 Colleagues,

I am excited to work with you this year as your Trustee. My primary goal is to provide more value for your ASDA membership at the district level.   I intend to provide you with more networking opportunities, compelling programming, and productive mentorship during my time as Trustee.

My primary goal is to increase networking at the district level both because it is my favorite thing to do and that it is a hallmark of our organization. I have started this by creating a series of cohorts between chapter positions at the different District 2 dental schools to facilitate idea exchange. This will pair up all of the same positions at the five schools so that they can share ideas about successes and challenges.   I also want to increase the amount of district networking events, both at national meetings and throughout the year.  An example of this is the District 2 social, sponsored by the NEXT DDS that was July 20.  This was a great opportunity for about 100 students to get together and talk about dentistry and ASDA.

I also want to provide thought-provoking lectures at district meeting. I am currently recruiting speakers to talk about topics and issues that may not be adequately covered in your dental school curriculum.   I will also use our district newsletter as a medium to provide you with quality content.  

Lastly, I want to help facilitate your mentorship as a future leader in the dental profession.  As Trustee I am your conduit to national ASDA and the ADA. Anyone is welcome to reach out to me with questions and I would love t o either answer your question or put you in touch with someone that can.  You can reach me at gregpshank@gmail.com.

Thanks,Greg Shank

UBSDM’s new SPEA chapter kicked off their speaker series with an excellent presentation given by Dr. Comisi, the current Speaker of the House for the Academy of General Dentistry, as well as the past president of both the New York State Academy of General Dentistry and the Sixth District Dental Society. We had the opportunity to hear about some of his professional experiences as well as his views on the current growth of corporate dentistry. Following the presentation, I was able to have a question and answer session with him where he elaborated a bit further on some of the positive aspects of this type of dentistry. He also shared some of his concerns with not only corporate dentistry, but also the mindset of many young dentists. I’m sure this conversation could have gone much further, but here are his answers to a few talking points from the discussion.

1. In your opinion of DMSO run dental practices with non-dentists as owners, do you think there can be a misalignment of goals between owner(s) and practicing dentists that could negatively impact the treatment choices for patients?

There certainly can be. The dentist must always be aware that they are ultimately responsible for any and all diagnostics and treatments rendered for the patient, not the DMSO.

2. Do you think choosing DMSO/DSO vs. private practice can improve the treatment of patients by allowing the dentist to focus on dentistry and removing the time spent on finances and other business management issues?

I'm pretty sure that it can be viewed in that manner, however, the biggest problem [are the dentists losing] his/her ability to

"call the shots" for treatment, [being able to] a l ter the treatment plan, [or questioning] the modalit ies that other clinicians have prescribed or

planned. [All factors which could lead to] conflict and medico-legal challenges in that dentists future.

3. Data shows that the debt load is not the number one reason that new dentists are choosing DSO models, however as student debt load continues to increase, do you see this becoming a more prevalent factor that could further increase the percentage of new dentists choosing DSO?

The directions that will unfold in the years ahead trouble me. I know that debt is more of an issue than the "data" suggests, but the concept that new dental clinicians want a 9 to 5 job troubles me more. Health care provision, unfortunately is NOT a 9-5 job. Being on call to solve and manage the emergency is part of what we all will do every day in this profession. Pride in ownership is something I would hope that more and more young dental clinicians will strive to achieve.

4. Do you think corporate dentistry has a healthy/sustainable role in our healthcare system or do you think it could be the “bubble” that we need to be wary of?

Corporate dentistry, when understood by the clinician that is participating in it, is not a "bad" thing in and of itself. There are certainly advantages of working in this type of environment, and in fact there are many corporate dental practices that serve the patients in their offices extraordinarily well. It is not understanding what your role as a dentist in these entities that can create a problem, as well as not fully understanding the corporate ladder will or will not bring to you as you progress in that company. Bottom line: "knowledge is power" if you don't fully understand what you are getting into, what the directions for your carrier will be and what downfalls you may encounter, you will be in some serious trouble sometime in the future.

5. Could you state what you feel to be the biggest benefit of choosing DSO as well as the biggest risk of choosing DSO? 

The biggest benefit probably is not having to worry quite so much about the "administrative" aspect of private practice. The biggest risk, is not understanding what you have gotten yourself into, and how to protect and get out of it, if you should need to.

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Q & A with Dr. Comisi interviewed by Jordan Telin, Class of 2017

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CAMP SUNSHINE:A summer getaway for children and teens fighting cancerwritten by Lauren Zalepeski, Class of 2017

Camp Sunshine in Casco, Maine is a place for children with life-threatening illnesses, and their families. A team of seventy volun-teers and staff members work to provide the full sleep away camp experience to the children, their siblings, and their parents. With an expansive campus that houses playgrounds, rock walls, archery, ropes courses, and a full waterfront on the shore of Sebago Lake, Camp Sunshine creates a week long respite away from the typical day of a sick child.

At the end of June, three other students and I had the opportunity to spend four days at camp during an oncology session. We were placed with various age groups ranging from infants to teenagers to guide them through different activities, and we each enjoyed every minute. While anyone involved with Camp Sunshine has only positive things to say about the experience, the most striking always come from the families. During dinner in the dining hall, I sat with a veteran attendee and mother of three, one with neuroblastoma and two healthy, who said the best part of coming to camp is that she forgets her child is sick. For one week, there are no appointments or tests, or waiting for a doctors phone call. Instead the three spend all day playing with a dozen other kids their ages, and all night waiting to do it over again. The whole family focus on fun in place of worry, and she calls it the best week out of her year.

Camp Sunshine is unique because unlike other programs geared toward childhood illness, it welcomes the entire family. Every effort is made to ensure that each child is treated the same way. No one is overprotected and no one is denied atten-tion. It fosters a sense of unity among the families that the parents say can only come from knowing life with a sick child. Together they celebrate victories, or help each other prepare for the fight. Most importantly, the families there estab-lish limitless bonds and teach each other to expect a miracle.

D1 R

etreat

A LOOK INSIDE: D1 Clinical Pilot Programinterviewed by Kimberly Fluger, Class of 2016 & Molly Briggs, Class of 2017

1. How did you become involved with the course?

Adam Gregor: In January, Dr. Antonson sent an email seeking six volunteers to participate in a pilot program designed to expose students to clinical experiences earlier in the curriculum. Such opportunities would include, “head and neck exam, treatment planning, administering local anesthesia, suturing, dental exodontia, border molding, edentulous jaw records, denture esthetics, and placing sedative restorations.” Upon receiving this email, I was excited, and immediately applied. The response from our class was so great, Dr. Antonson choose the six volunteers randomly- I was fortunate enough to be one of the six selected!

2. How prepared did you feel prior to the course?

Adam: Being in clinic was a completely different type of experience compared to our didactic classes- so there was an adjustment period. However, I did feel prepared with my knowledge from our classes. I was able to relate topics we learned in class to clinical situations. Specifically, I applied Gross Anatomy when discussing local anesthesia, Dental Anatomy when discussing dental exodontia, and Occlusion when discussing dentures. Clinical experiences helped reinforce what I learned in lecture. Whenever I had questions, Dr. Hatton, Dr. McHenry, and the students in the clinic were amazing and helped me along the way. 

Cynthia Dowsland: Before the pilot program I hadn’t had many experiences in clinic. I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect, or what Dr. Hatton and Dr. McHenry expected us to do, other than the list of possible clinic experiences we were given. I remember thinking that if they actually expected me to do this, they better give me a lot of preparation beforehand!

Rachel Ducey: Initially I was intimidated, but that feeling ended soon enough. Most upperclassmen were more than willing to share their knowledge with us. In fact, many were genuinely excited that first year students were getting more hands on experience early on in dental school. I learned so much from them! Upperclassmen have a lot to offer first years in terms of clinic knowledge, classes, and life balance as a dental student.

3. Describe your most memorable experience.

Adam: I can't pick just one! My first extraction was something I'll never forget. That was an amazing day! Often during the first year of dental school, it's easy to become consumed with the didactic courses, but extracting a tooth made me remember why all those courses are important. I felt like an actual dentist that day! Another experience was when we

administered local anesthesia to each other. It was amazing to feel like I had a patient who trusted me with their care.

Cynthia: My most memorable experience was definitely doing my first inferior alveolar nerve block and then extracting tooth #29 on a real patient. I had practiced injections on a classmate already, but to do it on a “real” patient was exciting—and nerve wracking. Successfully extracting the tooth without needing anyone’s help, and without the patient feeling any pain, was definitely an achievement. Even the patient gave me a high-five!

4. How do you think this will affect your future clinical experiences?

Cynthia: I absolutely think this program has been beneficial to me clinically, and I wish more of my classmates had the same opportunities. I already feel more confident in the clinic—I know more of the upperclassmen and staff, I know the layout and location of supplies, and I know more of the procedures and protocol. For example, while we were learning about facebows and impressions in Occlusion class, I was able to practice taking these records on a real patient that same afternoon! The information we learn in class becomes more memorable when you can apply it to an experience. I think being exposed to the clinic early on is important because it helped me remember why I’m here—I’m not in dental school because I want to study for eight hours every day, I’m here because I want to learn how to treat patients.

Rachel: I think that being able to interact with patients is really important and it’s not something you can learn from sitting in a classroom. I was taught to work with patients while providing the most comfortable experience possible.

5. If you could share something about this experience with everyone what would it be?

Rachel: Having spent time in clinic as a first year impacted me immediately. I felt that it was easier for me to understand concepts in didactic classes, such as Occlusion and Oral Radiology, because I was seeing the information put to use in real clinical situations. I just began Removable this semester, but already feel that the information is easier to grasp because of the time I spent in denture clinic learning from professors and upperclassmen. I could spend all day reading about something in a textbook and somewhat understand it, but once I saw that concept put to use in a clinical setting, it made sense. Clinic time put the information I learned in the didactic courses in sync with each other so I was able to appreciate their importance.

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SUMMER EXTERNSHIP: Indian Health Service

written by JoAnna Pufnock, Class of 2015

“At the Irving clinic, I was able to build confidence in my clinical skills and apply the knowledge I have

gained at UBSDM. It is a great feeling, knowing I contributed to the dental health of the Seneca Nation”

-Amanda Wilson, ’15

My two-week externship at Indian Health Services was an invaluable experience. As a rising senior student, the majority of our course work is over. Instead of exams, lab projects and practicals, we are focusing on clinical requirements, residencies and life after dental school. It is a crucial time to observe, perform and take away from as many procedures as possible before we graduate from the walls of Squire Hall. Before starting this externship I was hoping to gain clinical experience, build speed and explore the different career opportunities that exist within this type of organization. After two short weeks, I learned all of the above plus more.

This externship proved to be more than just an opportunity to gain clinical experience and increase speed. I learned to work with new dental materials, and managed a diverse population, getting a glimpse of patients suffering from substance abuse and domestic violence. In addition to the new surroundings, having patients booked back to back every hour, made me prioritize my time to work

efficiently. Because of this experience, I will return to UBSDM for my last fall semester with a new prospective.

I gained more applicable, clinical knowledge in two weeks than I

could have learned from an entire semester in clinic

Our clinical experiences are limited by the curriculum and if we are interested in learning more, it's imperative to take it upon ourselves to explore every externship and outreach opportunity available to us. I gained more applicable, clinical knowledge in two weeks than I could have learned from an entire semester in clinic. Working with the patients and staff at Indian Health Services for two weeks was an unforgettable opportunity and I'm grateful for the experience.

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This summer, 17 students travelled with BOCA, to the Dominican Republic under the supervision of Dr. Carlos Munoz, Dr. Stanley Youdelman, Dr. Kathryn Vitelli, Dr. Ronald Zielin, and Judy Taneff. We were also grateful to have had three dentists from Spain who helped run our pediatric operatory and assist Dr. Munoz in screening patients. I had the privilege to be one of the many new third year students. Since many of us just recently started treating patients in the clinic, it was still an adjustment.

Our clinic site was an elementary school, each room set up as a different discipline. We had hygiene, oral surgery, restorative and pediatrics. Each room sat 5 to 6 patients at a time.

We were able to treat over 600 patients during our five days there.

Each morning when we walked into the school, all of the chairs in the hallways, which we had previously arranged, were filled with patients. Many patients waited hours in the sweltering heat to be seen, and some returned for a second day to finish their extensive treatment. Every patient was very grateful and thanked us in some way; with a simple handshake, smile, or hug.

This trip allowed me to refocus and appreciate all the hard work I’ve

endured throughout the school year

Working in restorative was an eye-opening experience for most of us, seeing significantly decayed teeth for the first time. I distinctly remember walking to the hallway line to grab my next patient; a man in his mid-twenties. I spent most of my afternoon rebuilding his anterior teeth, with special care and attention to detail, in order to give him a brand new smile. I was overwhelmed with excitement, happiness and a sense of fulfillment, as I saw him leave my chair with newfound confidence.

SUMMER SERVICE: BOCA in the Dominican Republic

written by Alyssa Levy, Class of 2016

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NYSDA House of Delegates:Annual Session written by James Wanamaker, Class of 2016

This past June, I had the opportunity to represent UBSDM and ASDA’s District 2 as the student delegate to the New York State Dental Association’s (NYSDA) Annual House of Delegates in New York City. At this meeting, dentists from each district in New York vote on NYSDA policy for the coming year in a similar format as ASDA’s Annual Session.

Historically, ASDA had one voting delegate and one alternate delegate representing the four dental schools in New York: Buffalo, Stony Brook, NYU, and Columbia. In collaboration with our District 2 Trustee, Greg Shank, we sought to double the number of student representatives in NYSDA. This resolution was especially important this year, as a new dental school, Touro at New York Medical College, will be joining our district in the near future. It is important for all schools to have an opportunity to voice their ideas and have their opinions represented on a statewide level.

In addition, increasing student voice and participation will help NYSDA appeal to newly graduated dentists in NY and ultimately boost membership. It is essential to the future of

dentistry that we advocate for our profession and patients. It is strength in numbers that allows us to be successful in doing so.

However, ADA membership is currently on a minor decline nationally. Thankfully, NYSDA recognizes the importance and opportunity to work together with ASDA to increase student voice, spark interest and membership, and thus reverse the downward trend in participation.

At NYSDA’s Annual Session, I had the privilege to speak on behalf of this resolution in front of the House of Delegates. I am pleased to report it passed unanimously! We hope that now, with two voting delegates and two alternate delegates, we can better represent the student point of view.

It is important for all students to stay involved in organized dentistry and voice your opinions. ASDA and NYSDA are here to support you and your future career.

“When I showed my patient his new teeth in the mirror, he kept grabbing and touching them. He was in shock that he actually had teeth to smile with and be proud of. His whole family came into the clinic to take pictures with me. I was so happy because

he was so happy. It felt amazing.”-Christyne Chmil, ’16

With all the project and tests during the school year, it’s easy to lost and forget why we joined the profession and just how rewarding it truly is. This trip a l l o w e d m e t o r e f o c u s a n d appreciate all the hard work I’ve endured throughout the school year.

My experience was truly gratifying. Over a short period of time, I learned to treat patients who had severely poor oral health, and provided education with the toothbrushes and toothpaste provided to them.

I am very thankful for the faculty who made this trip possible and who took the time to patiently support and teach each of us. I am proud to have been part of this group. With the support, guidance, and assistance of each other, we were able to successfully help a community in need.

AD

A’s N

ew D

entist Conference

written by M

organ Fryer, Class of 2015

Eventually, we will leave behind the security of knowing we can generate a referral to AEGD when we don’t know what to do with a complex case, or call for an ODS consult when we aren’t sure what we’re looking at- we will be in the real world as new dentists. The ADA’s 28th Annual New Dentist Conference was held July 17-19 in the heart of America, Kansas City, MO. In attendance were new dentists (dentists in practice for 10 years or less), staff members, and dental students. The conference was an opportunity to attend lectures, earn CE credits, browse vendor booths, and network with other members of our profession. Numerous seminars were held addressing the business side of the profession, as well as courses to refresh on procedural techniques.

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A Note from

the Editors

Welcome back to another semester at UBSDM! Thank you for taking the time to read the Fall edition of the UB Impression. We hope you found this issue to be both interesting and informative. Thank you to those who contributed- you have

helped mainstream the student voice and ASDA ideology. As always, we encourage all who discover an interest, harbor a special knowledge, or desire to

share a unique experience to write in upcoming publications.

Kimberly Fluger & Molly Briggs Editor-in-Chief Co-Editor

Crown and Bridge TipsCrown, bridge, and endodontics are “the most profitable and productive procedures in a general practice and will sustain our businesses.” The most common errors of crown and bridge prep, presented by Dr. Gautam Govitrikar:

★ inadequate occlusal reduction (most common error) TIPS: make depth cuts, make a provisional prior to impression so you can assess reduction

★ inadequate axial reduction (mainly an issue proximally and lingually- creates overbulked crowns, periodontal diseases, etc. TIPS: utilize depth cuts

★ lack of a well-defined margin (most serious error reported by lab technicians)

★ excessive taper

★ undercuts

★ excessive or inadequate cervical extension

★ margin placed on a restoration

★ damage to adjacent teeth

★ failure to remove caries

Concerns Voiced Regarding a Changing Dental Landscape

Many attendees believed that a residency is crucial in order to gain experience and be current on new techniques and technology

Along with #1, with continuous changes, we will become more responsible (which usually means more stressed!) and we must stay updated—CE courses are a must!

Finding a job—competing with an increased number of new dentists (fun fact: opening of approximately 13 new dental schools… that means more new dentists looking for jobs); proving yourself; dentists are now practicing 8-10 years longer than previous generations

We may struggle to fill our schedules

Student loan repayment

Why Value your ADA Membership

✦Advocacy, advocacy, advocacy! (*for international dentists, it’s an opportunity to have a voice and fight for more rights)

✦ Mentorship

✦Networking and personal growth

✦Encourage the success of our profession