UFCD ASDA News September 2011

Gator Dentist Times 3 Letter from the

President

4 Meet the UFCD

ASDA Board

6 Everything You

Need to Know to

Survive 1st Year

10 Family Day

11 The Future,

Digital Impressions

12 Senator &

Dentist, Alan Hays

17 The End of

Graduate

Subsidized Loans

19 Boards, White

Coats, & Patients

A s many of you have heard, there have been

some changes implemented with the Florida

clinical licensure exam, which is an exam

completed at the end of senior year allowing

graduates to practice dentistry in the state of Florida. In

the past, the state of Florida offered its own clinical

licensure examination which out-of-state graduates and

practicing dentists had to successfully complete at UF

or NOVA in order to practice dentistry in Florida. Any-

one desiring to practice in Florida was required to take

the Florida clinical licensure exam, regardless of their

number of years in practice or previously completed

licensure in another state.

On May 31, 2011 Florida‟s Governor Rick

Scott signed a bill recognizing the American Board of

Dental Examiners, Inc. (ADEX) as Florida‟s new licen-

sure examination organization.1 ADEX offers the

American Dental Licensing Examination (ADLEX) to

its 25 members including: Colorado, Connecticut, Dis-

trict of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ken-

tucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,

Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon,

Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Wyo-

ming, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and most

recently Florida.2 This decision has been considered for

several years due to the similarities between the AD-

LEX and Florida‟s clinical licensure exam. Combined

efforts from the Florida Dental Association and the

Florida Board of Dentistry finally made this bill possi-

ble. The implementation of the new ADLEX will re-

duce costs associated with the previous independent

state-developed clinical exam and grant eligibility to

practice dentistry in several different states for those

who successfully complete the examination. After Oc-

tober 1, 2011 anyone taking the ADLEX will be quali-

fied to practice dentistry in the state of Florida. Fortu-

nately, the bill is not retroactive, which means those

who have taken the ADLEX in

the past cannot simply migrate

to Florida and establish a prac-

tice. But those individuals can

apply for a one year licensure

in Florida which must be main-

tained through additional ex-

aminations and requirements.1

Students should not be con-

cerned as the new exam should

be very similar to the previous

Florida clinical examination

and is equivalent in measuring clinical competence.

This is just one step closer to achieving a uniform na-

tional examination for all dental students and practicing

dentists to have fewer limitations in their careers.2

Our senior dental students are also experienc-

ing changes in the timing of their clinical licensure

examination. The Florida Board of Dentistry requires

students at UF and NOVA to complete a mock board

exam to prove their eligibility to take their clinical li-

censure examination during the spring break of their

senior year. Students take the mock board exam in No-

vember of their senior year as part of a course require-

ment for graduation. If a student does not pass their

mock board exam, they are unable to proceed with the

clinical licensure examination (whether is it the AD-

LEX or another region‟s exam). Students are given

several chances to take this mock board exam in the

event that they do not pass on the first try. But this does

not leave ample time to take the actual clinical exami-

nation in March due to the fact that students must pass

the mock board to sign up for the clinical licensure

exam, which must occur 60 days prior to the date they

plan to sit for the actual licensure exam. The unfortu-

nate students who do not make this deadline must take

Continued on Page 2

New Horizons for the Florida Clinical Licensure Exam Jayme Kemp

Continued from Page 1

their clinical licensure exams post-graduation

preventing them from beginning their careers

immediately after dental school. It is no secret

that our dental students are not huge fans of

this mock board exam. Why must we take es-

sentially TWO board exams our senior year?

The stress of finding patients for both exams,

completing graduation requirements, passing

NBDE part II, job hunting, and residency inter-

views is enough to drive anyone insane. But

without the mock board exam the Florida

Board of Dentistry has no proof that UF or

NOVA students are clinically competent to

take their clinical licensure examinations prior

to graduation.

Faculty members from UF and NO-

VA, senior dental students from the class of

2011 and 2012 as well as members of the Flori-

da Board of Dentistry met earlier this year and

agreed to change the date of the clinical licen-

sure exam. The mock boards will still take

place in November of senior year but students

will now have more time between the mock

boards and the actual boards in the event they

do not pass mock boards on the first attempt.

Beginning in 2012, senior dental students will

now take their licensure exam in early May,

approximately 2 weeks before graduation. This

also allows more time for seniors to improve

their technical skills and screen for boards pa-

tients during the spring of their senior year. It is

expected that students will be at their highest

level of clinical competence just prior to gradu-

ation and should have no problem passing their

clinical licensure examinations. Students re-

ceive their scores just a few days after taking

the exam, allowing them to graduate and start

their dream jobs immediately post-graduation.

The few students that may struggle to pass in

May can register to retake the exam in early

August. But with the new structure of the ex-

amination process, we hope all students can

complete their mock boards on time and pass

their clinical licensure examinations in May

with flying colors- ORANGE and BLUE! Best

wishes to the class of 2012!

1. Fox, Karen. "Landmark Decision in Flori-

da: State Opts for ADEX Exam for Dental

Licensure - American Dental Association -

ADA.org." American Dental Association.

02 June 2011. Web. 22 Aug. 2011. <http://

www.ada.org/news/5903.aspx>.

2. ADEX. Web. 22 Aug. 2011. <http://

www.adex.org/>.

theNEXTDDS Visit theNEXTDDS.com and enroll yourself

in this new dental student portal. It‟s free and

will require your ASDA membership number.

Another reason to belong to ASDA.

Some articles from the Practice Management

section will be used as required readings in

DEN 8321 Small Business Principles and

Practices, which starts for seniors in Septem-

ber.

Enroll now and start using some of the other

resources on the website and connect with

other dental students in different parts of the

country.

2

A Letter From

Our President

Dusty Pfundheller

ASDA is very excited to be actively

involved with UFCD this year. Our primary

goals include keeping members informed about

important new legislation and rules; helping

convert seniors to FDA & ADA membership;

and providing educational opportunities

throughout the year.

As part of ASDA‟s leadership team, I

can assure all members that we are working

diligently to keep you informed, including pro-

ducing two newsletters a semester, updating

our website and bulletin board, and holding

monthly meetings (with food provided to en-

courage you to come and learn about the is-

sues!)

In addition to dispensing information,

legislation is a significant focus this year.

Therefore, UF ASDA has several board mem-

bers assigned to specific legislative positions!

Also, we are very excited to have current State

Senators, House of Representatives, and FDA

legislative committees come and speak to us.

Furthermore, any ASDA member may partici-

pate in State and National lobby day.

Another focus of ASDA is to continue

to organize large events for the ADA and FDA

convention, including organizing a large trip to

this year‟s ADEA‟s annual spring convention.

Also, we will invite both the ADA & FDA to

speak to us throughout the year. Attend meet-

ings and conventions so ASDA can hear your

voice.

Best of all--ASDA plans to have many

fun events this year! One event was recently

creating an awesome ethics video that we are

anxious to have members view. Also, each

month ASDA will be planning various commu-

nity service, educational, and social events for

students which will be posted on our on-line

calendar. We are excited for a fun year with

ASDA and hope you are too!

Live patients and the

Florida Dental Licensing

Exam

The state of Florida,

supported by the Florida

Board of dentistry, and the

Florida Dental Association

has joined with ADEX to of-

fer an examination identical to

the Florida Dental Licensing

Exam in locations other than

the state of Florida. For sever-

al years other states have rec-

ognized the validity of the

Florida exam and accepted it

when candidates petitioned their state for licensure. More students will

now have the ability to take the clinical licensing exam for Florida

without having to travel to Florida or enjoy the many expenses of tak-

ing an out of state exam.

The examination includes live patients for both restorative and

periodontal procedures. This is important because the exam is not just a

test of the candidate‟s ability to mill an intricate shape while having

their vision obstructed. Every hour of every working day a dentist must

be able to manage a live patient, with a whole body, saliva, blood, a

moving tongue, and an opinion about the dentist, their treatment and

their environment. The dentist must properly diagnose whether the pa-

tient has a condition that will benefit from the knowledge and skills of

the dentist. The dentist must also assess whether he/she has the

knowledge and skills to treat this individual patient, while having their

vision obstructed by blood, saliva, cheeks, a tongue and the patient‟s

desire or ability to help them complete the task. The manual skills are

the least of what we do. This is what makes us doctors and separates us

from technicians.

Manikins and computer simulations are excellent training aids

and have a place in introducing us to new skills. They do not replace

live patients. Until dentists can make a living treating manikins, or can-

didates are applying for a license to treat manikins, I wholeheartedly

disagree with those who believe that testing on manikins proves we

have skill with live patients.

Respectfully,

John H. Paul DMD

Florida Dental Association

Christie Eastman and Dusty Pfundheller

3

What is ADPAC?

The American Dental Political Action Committee otherwise

known as ADPAC is an important bipartisan legislative arm of the

American Dental Association (ADA). Its main purpose is to elect con-

gressional candidates who understand the issues that are important to

dental professionals. Every year, congressional members debate count-

less numbers of bills that affect health care and the medical profession.

ADPAC works by providing financial contributions to candidates that

are willing to speak on the behalf of all dental care providers. These can-

didates serve as advocates for current and future dental professionals. In

addition, ADPAC also provides opportunities for dentists and specialist

who are interested in running for public office to learn about how to

reach their goals.

As students it is often hard to look at what is going on outside

of our current curriculum. However, it is important to be aware that what

happens today in the political world will have a heavy impact on our

careers after we graduate. Issues such as access to healthcare, Medicaid,

expanded duties of auxiliary personnel and licensure are current hot top-

ics and it is important that we have someone that is willing to represent

us while the government is deciding how to resolve all of these issues.

There are many ways to participate as a student. It only cost $5

to join as a student compared to the $49 for graduated dentist. An AD-

PAC drive will be happening soon but if you‟d like to go ahead and join,

you can find more information on the ADA or ASDA website.

Anthony Le

ASDA ADPAC/National Issues Chair

4

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Join Our Facebook Group! UF ASDA CHAPTER

5

Everything You Need to Get

Through the First Year of Dental

School

Getting in to dental school is a great accom-

plishment, and everyone is eager and anxious to get

started with their new education. Despite this excite-

ment, the beginning of dental school can be quite over-

whelming. It is important to learn to balance your time

between a variety of classes and information as well as

your life outside of C1-4. First years, do not stress, the

Class of 2014 has helped to compile some great tips

for you to help make your transition into dental school.

10. Do not compare yourself to others. Everyone has

different backgrounds, life situations, study habits, and goals. Do what you need to

do for yourself to reach your own goals.

9. Have plenty of chocolate around. It always makes you feel better J

8. Make time for hobbies – IM games, working out, leisure reading, cooking, etc.

Give yourself a real break away from the computer.

7. Laugh, spend time with your friends and family, and have fun! Get involved in

clubs and activities with your class and the dental school. Stress release and enjoy-

ing life is vital for good overall health.

6. Prioritize and stay organized. Know what classes you need to spend more or less

time on.

5. Do not procrastinate. Stay on top of your classes on a daily basis so you do not

get too far behind and cause unnecessary stress during exam blocks.

4. Do not expect to excel right away in regards to hand skills. Practice and you will

improve with time. The learning curve is not a myth and you will get there!

3. Do not forget to sleep! Your brain and body need sleep to function properly

2. Have a good support system. Your family and friends are your life line!

1. Always remember to envision your goals and maintain focus on why you are

here! J

On top of these things do not forget to ask upper classmen for help and advice,

may it be with the basic sciences or your dental anatomy/operative courses. We

are always willing to help because we know what you are going through! With

that being said, do not forget to take the advice that you are given with a grain of

salt because everyone is different (see number 10). Good luck Class of 2015!

Special thanks for contributions to: Courtney Worlinksy, Lauren Dupre, Valenti-

na Espinosa, Melissa Bridy, Danny Sabra, Valentina Ayala, Jesse Alonso, and

Logan Schenck.

Chelsea Brinkman

Susan Nimmo, DDS, MPH At first I didn‟t want to be a dentist because

my mother made me work in her orthodontic prac-

tice as an assistant and I didn‟t think I‟d like work-

ing with spit all the time. Eventually I stopped

fighting the inevitable and succumbed to my destiny

as a good Chinese firstborn whose parents could

proudly refer to as “Our daughter, the dentist.” It

didn‟t strike me until much later just how liberated

and ahead of their time my parents were.

The first year in dental school my dental

anatomy bench instructor announced that my man-

dibular molar “looked like a daisy.” (He was proba-

bly right.) The second year of dental school was

remarkable in that my bench instructor for my den-

ture course was rather cute. (The rest is history.) The

third year in dental school I met my first dental pa-

tients, some from whom I still receive Christmas

cards 26 years later. My last case in dental school to

graduate was 6 anterior PFM crowns cemented the

last day of clinic. (Stress? What stress?)

The first reason I like dentistry remains the

patients: the opportunity to serve others by doing

what is needed in a professional and caring manner.

The second reason I like dentistry is the camaraderie

with other professionals either in patient care or or-

ganized dentistry; the outcome is often greater that

the sum of the parts. Finally, I love dentistry be-

cause of the students; young people with lots of

questions and energy that continue to keep life inter-

esting and new. As faculty advisor to AAWD I

strive to pass on the opportunities that were made

available to me to succeed as a dental professional.

6

Not Your Typical District Meeting:

UF ASDA chapter will be hosting the ASDA district five meeting from September 9th through September 11th! LSU, UAB, Nova, and Puerto

Rico all plan to be in attendance. The conference is packed with prestigious speakers including Florida State Senator Dr. Alan Hays; State House

of Representative Dr. Costello; the founder of “Save the Smile”, Dr. Terry Buckenheimer; and the ADA 2010 Membership Chair

as well as the FDA Vice President. Also, many of our own professors will be presenting including former American Association

of Dental Research President Dr. Marc Heft; our Dean of The University of Florida Dental School Dr. Teresa Dolan; former American Dental

Education Association President Dr. Catalanotto.

The meeting will end with a cookout on Sunday morning at Lake Wauburg. One of the highlights of the weekend is that one leader from each

school will attend the UF vs. UAB football game, sitting with UF‟s President in the Presidents box! This district meeting will be one of the larg-

est District 5 meetings ever held, with some of the most prestigious presenters. All ASDA members are encouraged to attend! Hope to see you

there!

Dusty Pfundheller, District 5 ASDA Trustee

ASDA Trivia Night

7

The Psi Omega Chapter of the University of

Florida continues to make great strides this year! With more members than

ever, we are moving full steam ahead in both our academic and extracurric-

ular endeavors. Our goal, which is to provide the absolute best experience

for our members and community through academic offerings, community

outreach, and social activities, remains consistent.

One of the oldest traditions carried out by Psi-O involves our foot-

ball tailgators! Nothing compares to game day at the University of Florida,

for which our tailgate is a staple. With delicious food, a great DJ, and un-

beatable people, it is no wonder these weekly events have become so popu-

lar. In fact, our homecoming tailgate had over 400 people in attendance

last season.

In addition to tailgates, the society plans to host socials to allow

members to take a break from the stresses of school. We will also plan CE

courses for upperclassman and other extracurricular events for all.

Psi-O is a unique organization and I welcome everyone to take the

opportunity to become a member!

For more information about Psi-O, please contact Keith Polizois kpolizois@dental.ufl.edu or Caitlin Buchanan cbuchanan@dental.ufl.edu.

ASDA Welcomes

3 New US Dental

Schools!

By the end of this summer, three brand

new dental schools will open their doors to

their very first incoming classes. These schools

are East Carolina University School of Den-

tal Medicine in Greenville, North Carolina,

Roseman University of Health Sciences Col-

lege of Dental Medicine in South Jordan, Utah,

and Midwestern University College of Dental

Medicine-Illinois located in Downers Grove.

Midwestern University enrolled its first dental

school class on its Glendale, Arizona campus in

2008. All three of these schools have been

granted “initial accreditation” by the Commis-

sion on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and have

admitted full classes of dental students for this

coming Fall 2011 semester. East Carolina Uni-

versity has enrolled a class size of 50 students,

Roseman University has enrolled a class of 80

and Midwestern University-IL has enrolled a

class of 125. With the addition of these three

new dental schools, the total number of dental

schools in the U.S. has climbed to 61.

The very first matriculating class of a

dental school has the unique opportunity to

bond very closely with the faculty, receive

more attention than those in dental schools with

4 full classes of students, as well as get in-

volved in the initiation and establishment of

their dental school‟s chapters and organiza-

tions. Of course, with the rewards also come

the challenges. The first class of a dental school

may have the disadvantage of being the “guinea

pig” class. They may not receive the same ben-

efits that a more established dental school will

be able to provide its students (for instance,

East Carolina‟s brand new clinics…but pending

completion of the construction!).

Roseman University and Midwestern

University-IL are both private dental schools

while East Carolina University is a state school

of North Carolina, currently open to only North

Carolina residents. Though a private institution,

Roseman University will be the first dental

school established in the state of Utah. The fact

that North Carolina is now opening its second

state dental school while other states such as

Massachusetts, New Mexico and Wisconsin

have yet to establish public dental schools for

their residents may be puzzling or even frustrat-

ing to some dental students.

It is projected that 20 more new dental

schools will have opened their doors to eager

dental students by the year 2020. Is this a good

answer to the challenge of barriers to care?

What are your thoughts on being a

part of an inaugural class of a brand new

dental school? Wise or risky?

~Allison Ferris, Tufts ’14, ASDA Administra-

tive Extern

This article has been reprinted with the permis-

sion of the American Student Dental Associa-

tion. It originally appeared as a blog post on

Mouthing Off, www.ASDAblog.com.

8

Ethics Corner: The Realities

of Prescription Opioid Abuse

Angela McNeight ‟13 ASDA Ethics Chair

When I opened up my mail-

box last month, a picture of a huge red

and white pill caught my eye on the

front of one of the magazines. Look-

ing more closely, I realized it wasn‟t

just another ad from CVS, but rather

the July 2011 Journal of the American

Dental Association (JADA). The cov-

er story “Prevention of Prescription

Opioid Abuse” Denisco et al was writ-

ten by a committee of the Tufts Health

Care Institute Program on Opioid Risk Management, and the article is

studded with shocking statistics. One states, “Dentists prescribe 12

percent of IR opioids in the United States, behind only family physi-

cians, who prescribe 15 percent of IR opioids.” At UFCD, we are

constantly reminded about the dangers of prescription drug abuse and

the responsibility we have as future health care providers. We do not

foresee ourselves blatantly prescribing unneeded medication to an

addict or friend. However, we must be aware that patients can fake

symptoms of pain, forge prescriptions, alter pill quantities, or claim

their prescriptions were lost or stolen. “Doctor shopping” to obtain

controlled drugs is absolutely a real phenomenon. Dentists must care-

fully balance the responsibilities of taking their patients out of pain

(beneficence), avoiding overprescribing, and screening patients for

their substance abuse risk level. So the next time you are on SOS rota-

tion or filling out medical history during a COE asking about drug

use, you may want to pause a second longer, look the patient in the

eye, and really listen to their response.

Suggestions:

Familiarize yourself with evidence-based guidelines and recommen-

dations for treatment of pain in patients with and without

suspected substance abuse.

Be suspicious of patients who tell you stories about how their medica-

tion was “lost” or “stolen.”

Determine whether your patient actually needs an opioid for their

pain and discuss the likelihood they will use it.

Secure prescription pads when they are not in use.

Write out dosage quantities and indicate “no refills” unless you are

sure they are needed.

Consider if the patient is referred from another dentist that they may

have already received a prescription for an analgesic.

Advise patients on how to dispose of their remaining doses properly.

Ask the family members of patients with self-proclaimed substance

abuse disorders to dispense the medication when needed to the

patient.

Discuss patient‟s drug abuse history with their primary care physician

or if referring, to the specialist.

If you‟d like to read this article:

Denisco, Richard C et al. "Prevention of Prescription Opioid Abuse-

The Role of the Dentist." The Journal of the American Dental

Association 142.7 (July 2011): 800-10. Print.

John Syrbu, Iowa '13

The Christian

Dental Society

(CDS) is a group of dental students who are pas-

sionate about their Christian faith. We go on a

mission trip to Guatemala every year, and we help organize

community dental treatment through GCM (Gainesville Com-

munity Ministry) in Gainesville. Our group meets every Tues-

day during lunch to join in fellowship and prayer. Come join

us!

If you would like to be added to our list serv or have

questions about CDS, the Guatemala Mission Trip, volunteer-

ing at GCM, or God please contact our President Drew Byrnes

AByrnes@dental.ufl.edu or our Secretary Don Dau

DDau@dental.ufl.edu.

UFASDA

9

Class of 2014

Family Day Throughout the course of dental school,

there are events that mark the progression of a dental

student towards achieving a dental degree. The first

of these events is Family Day, which occurs at the

end of the spring semester of the first year. This year

the Class of 2014 welcomed family and friends from

all over the United States to join us on this special

day. There was a great turnout, and it was our first

opportunity to meet our classmates‟ family from out

of town.

Family day allowed the Class of 2014 to

take a second and look back at all of the accomplish-

ments we have achieved throughout the past year. It

is unbelievable to think that just one short year ago,

some individuals came to UFCD not knowing any-

one, and now, many of us have made friends that we

plan to keep for a lifetime. During the morning

speeches, all of the guests were informed on how

much time we spend with each other and how im-

portant our lives out side of dental school are to us

even if we do not always show it. We made sure to

thank our guests for playing such an instrumental role

in this journey that has brought us to where we are

today.

The morning was completed with a few

hours in the simulation lab. Potential future dentists

and future patients occupied the seats in the sim lab

that normally occupy the 82 members of 2014. Some

family members were even able to re-live their time

in dental school and reminisce on how much things

have changed. The day was filled with laughter and

excitement. We were all left waiting for our next big

milestone, the White Coat Ceremony.

Lauren Dupre

UFCD Class of 2014 President

10

The Future of

Digital

Impressioning

Shawn Stott

From many years ago to today, creat-

ing impressions resorted to mixing alginate and

gypsum like a scientist and gagging your patient

for an occlusal analysis, and then inevitable

retakes to succeed with no voids, bubbles, or

missed anatomy. I have recently felt this frustra-

tion. After two failed impressions, I was prep-

ping myself at the counter, Okay you can do

this, just pour and mix faster this time, drizzle it

into the tray, and make sure you get it far

enough in your patient’s (my classmate)

mouth to seat her second molars, but not

too far that you hit the centrals up

front… and finally I got a negative model

that was acceptable but not great. It‟ll

have to do because now I have to strate-

gically race up to junior/senior lab,

squeeze into line, and hope I can pour

my stone, mount to my articulator, and

clean my station (plus retrieve my scat-

tered supplies) before 5‟o clock!

That was over a month ago in

Dr. Notzer‟s Occlusion course and now I

stand in clinic, mesmerized by the pure

brilliance of Cadent‟s iTero digital im-

pression unit. Dr. Weinstein stood beside

the third year to guide him through the

technique and I laughed when she said,

“It‟s like a video game!” It was so pre-

cise that it would tell the user to take another

image more mesial of tooth 14 if the previous

one was unacceptable and would blink green

when he scanned over the missing piece. I knew

with today‟s iPads and smart phones, there had

to be a more advanced approach to making

models than goop and gagging your patient.

I met with Dr. Weinstein to receive my

digital impressioning tutorial. She informed me

that we currently have two digital impressioning

units at our school: the CEREC we‟ve had for

six years and iTero has been here since January

2011. With the iTero, you just scan your image

and then send it off to lab. With CEREC, you

have the options of sending it straight to lab or

the restoration can be done “in house,” mostly

porcelains. The students learn from a demo with

the CEREC, but with the iTero, there‟s really no

software because it tells you what steps to fol-

low. The CEREC also requires a bluish spray to

coat the patient‟s teeth before scanning, where-

as iTero does not. But after she showed me both

units and I could see that the iTero instrument is

a little heavy for the operator to hold for long

and it is a little more bulky than the CEREC

which is a disparity for a patient‟s small mouth,

so they both have their advantages and disad-

vantages.

I have received a few responses from

the Class of 2012 for their take on the wave of

technology. Bryan Thatcher explained his expe-

rience to me that resulted in a crown remake

because of his

impression

scan error so

he concluded,

“Overall it is

a quick, clean

system with a

steep learning

curve. The

operative

should have

proper train-

ing before

using it on a

patient.” Kevin Parekh said, “My three experi-

ences with CEREC have been all fair to bad.

There is a significant learning curve involved,

but, this is the future of dentistry so I am not

shunning this technology by any means.” In

general I have received the same response:

It is the direction advanced dentistry is

heading, but there is most certainly a tech-

nique learning curve that requires a hand-

ful of experience to master.

Dr. Weinstein also informed me that,

“the students are to complete 5 traditional

impressions prior to use of the Itero Im-

pression System. The software may be a

little tricky but the seniors seem to have

picked it up along the way. We have done

50 cases of crown and bridge on the Itero

digital sytem with no remakes.” Dr. Ot-

tenga added, “By and large it is the direc-

tion of indirect inlays/onlays, it will save

more time when you get used to the tech-

nique.” This year, Dr. Ottenga instituted a

requirement in Operative for all students to

complete at least one CEREC restoration prior

to graduation, something we can all look for-

ward to. On the other hand, if you and digital

imaging don‟t get along well at UF, hopefully

your assistant can be a part of making this a

speedy process in your practice one day.

ASDA Volunteers

at

St. Francis House

11

Alan Hays: Senator

Dentist

UFCD Alumnus

Carolyn A. Norton

For many dental students, getting ac-

cepted to the dental school of their choice was

the ultimate goal. An acceptance letter from a

dental school essentially means that if you

work hard now, then you will get to be a

dentist 4 years later. I was definitely one of

these students, very focused on one, big pur-

pose, but now that I am in dental school,

what comes next? I find myself often thinking

about this, wondering if I should specialize

or not, where I would do a GPR if I did, and

even what I would do after that. Although to

some degree it is necessary, and important,

to anticipate the future, not having all of the

answers right now is okay. This is an im-

portant lesson for us Type A personalities to

learn- and something we can learn from Sen-

ator Alan Hays.

If you asked Alan as a young boy

what he wanted to be when he grew up, I am

pretty sure he would not have said dentist. If

you asked Alan Hays as an undergrad in

college what he wanted to do with his life, he

probably still would not have said dentist. If

you asked Dr. Alan Hays, working in his

family practice, what his future plans were,

he probably would not have said become a

Florida state senator. Senator Alan Hays’ story

so simply and naturally illustrates that you do

not need to plan and orchestrate every single

moment of your life to have a great impact on

your community, state, and country. Sometimes

the best paths in life are the unplanned ones,

the surprises you find around corners and

through friends.

Senator Alan Hays was born in Ken-

tucky, but grew up in Winter Garden, Florida.

He completed junior college in Oklahoma,

which included 2 years of football, and then

received another scholarship to play football at

Kent State University. Hays eventually became

a member of the UFCD charter class of 1976.

The charter class had over 2000 applications,

and only 24 students were selected among these

applicants. Hays was one of these 24 individu-

als, and, in addition, he was elected president of

his class in his senior year. Hays was also the

founding president of the UFCD Alumni Asso-

ciation. He also served one term as the presi-

dent of the Academy 100, which is now called

the Academy of Friends and Alumni.

In undergrad, Hays studied trade and

industrial education and planned to become a

drafting teacher. Instead, he enlisted in the US

Coast Guard. During his time in the Coast

Guard, Hays worked as a dental assistant for 4

years. The more he learned about dentistry,

working and talking with the Coast Guard den-

tists, the more he realized that this profession

was right for him. Upon discharge from the

Coast Guard, he moved to Gainesville, Florida

with his wife and daughter. There he enrolled

in the UF undergraduate curriculum in order to

complete the science credits necessary to apply

to dental school at UF. Hays was accepted, and

matriculated in the fall of 1972.

Senator Hays‟ favorite thing about

Gainesville is without question football season.

He has been a Gator fan

since 1955. There was a ten or twelve

year span of time in which Hays attended every

single game the Gators played at home and on

the road. His dream as an athlete was to play

football for the Gators but as he puts it,

“Instead of using a stop watch to time my

sprints, the coaches used a calendar”.

There are many benefits to being in

the charter class of a dental school. Those stu-

dents were the first class to get new operatories,

a new building, and they basically got to do so

many more procedures than present day stu-

dents. Hays and one of his classmates were

each able to complete and cement more than

50 units of crown and bridge treatment be-

fore graduating. At the time, there were no

oral surgery residents, there were no perio

residents. If someone came in with impacted

3rd molars that needed to be taken out, Hays

was able to do it. Students had so much

hands on experience with procedures that we,

as dental students today, would probably

only observe. This, I feel, would be the great-

est and most beneficial privilege of being in a

charter dental class, but there are many oth-

ers, like having 24 students and more than 50

faculty members all focused on making each

one of you the best dentists you can possibly

be. This type of attention and guidance must

have been overwhelming, but in the best of

ways. Faculty and students were very close,

and most students became personal friends

with their professors, even sharing meals

with each other‟s families. Hays says, he was

very fortunate to be working with some of the

“brightest and best minds in the country at that

time”. Hays was actually scheduled to be the

first student to put fillings in a patient‟s mouth

at UFCD, but then the patient called at the last

minute and cancelled on him.

After dental school, Hays opened a

family practice in Umatilla, Florida. Hays re-

calls that he had 8 patients on his first day of

practice and 12 patients on the second, and after

that there was no time to count. The nearest

dental office at the time was 60 miles north of

12

his office. He owned his practice for 27 years

and then sold it in 2003, staying on for 6

months during a transition period, working 2

days per week.

Shortly after this time, a friend asked

him to run for the Florida House of Representa-

tives. There were already 4 people in the race,

and saying yes was a very last minute decision,

giving him only 10 weeks to campaign. The

amount of time spent campaigning is usually 1

to 1.5 years, and, in addition, Hays also had to

consider the fact that when most people run for

office they do not get elected the first time

around. In the end, Hays won 36% of the vote

in a 5 person race, which was sufficient to

place him in the House of Representatives. He

attributes his win to being widely known from

his 27 years of practice. His patients had confi-

dence in him and knew he would take care of

their tax dollars as well as he did their teeth. He

served in the House for 6 years and then ran for

Senate when a seat opened up last year.

Hays’ favorite thing

about being a Senator is

helping his constituents cut

through the government

red tape- this is what he does the most

of. He also loves that his job allows him to

learn so much about environmental protection

and energy problems, education system prob-

lems, and the budgeting and legislature process.

The list goes on and on; the more people he

interacts with, the more he learns. Hays is

known for being a strong advocate for property

insurance reform in Florida, he is a very

staunch fiscal conservative and hates seeing tax

payer dollars wasted in our government at the

national, state, and local levels. Hays views

himself as a steward to his constituents; the

people of his district have entrusted him with

their tax dollars, and it is up to him to be a

good steward, maximizing the value of what

his people get for their money.

Even though his main focus now is

being a Senator, Hays keeps all of his CE hours

up to date so that his dental license is valid, he

still goes to dental conventions, like FNDC

(Florida National Dental Conven-

tion), and he spends a lot of time

meeting with various dental soci-

eties to talk about legislative mat-

ters that affect dentists. He is

also currently working closely

with UFCD Dean, Teresa Do-

lan, helping her with state den-

tal legislative issues. Hays still

works on a patient every now and

then; some of his friends just

don‟t want anybody else working

in their mouth. More than any-

thing I think this demonstrates

how dedicated and loyal Hays‟

patients were to his practice and

speaks worlds about Hays‟ ability

to represent our profession.

Hays has 2 pieces of

advice for dental students: “First and foremost, always, under all circum-

stances be honest with your patients. If you

don‟t know what‟s happening, be professional

enough to tell them, „I don‟t really know, but I

will find out‟. And secondly, never, under any

circumstances let a patient leave your office

with a service in their mouth that you would

not allow to be done in your own mouth or that

of your loved ones.” Hays further explains,

“We owe every patient our very best effort and

should always make sure that the services we

render for them are the same quality we would

allow in our own mouth.” A successful dentist

should never, and would never, violate these

two rules.

Hays explains that he always ap-

proached patients from the standpoint of being

teammates. “Basically I considered myself the

hired hand. The patient is the boss, and my

obligation was to give the patient options and

recommendations” based on an examination of

his or her mouth. Hays advises us as students to

be as thorough, detailed, and precise as possi-

ble. Tell the patient their options, the cost, and

what they can expect out of each treatment

option in terms of longevity and value. Let

them make the decision out of those options,

and if they ask you for your recommendation,

then give it. But, be honest. Hays says, “I can-

not count

the patients

over the

years that

have said,

„I don‟t

like what

you had to

tell me, but I sure appreciate you being honest

with me.‟ There is no substitute for honesty and

quality. If the shade is not correct or if the mar-

gin is not correct, then send it back to the lab. If

the contact is too open, then send it back to the

lab. It will take more time to do it right, but it

will take a whole lot more time to correct a

mistake later on.”

Final words from

Senator Alan Hays: “After you

get out of school, make a point to get in the

dental chair as a patient at least once every 5

years. Get one of your colleagues to find some-

thing to do in your mouth, just so you can re-

late to what your patients go through every day.

We have one of the most highly regarded pro-

fessions in this country, and it is up to you and

your generation to perpetuate the esteem with

which the public holds our fine profession.”

If you would like to meet Senator Alan Hays, he

will be speaking at the ASDA District 5 Region-

al Meeting on September 10, 2011 from 12:50

pm to 1:25 pm right here at UFCD. We look

forward to seeing you all there.

Hays Represents District

20, NW of Orlando.

13

ASDA, besides being an institution that

promotes political advocacy for dentists and

dental students, has many tangible

BENEFITS FOR

MEMBERS. As an ASDA

member is important that you are informed of

the many other benefits you get with your

membership. Here is a quick list of them:

Student loan & debt management services- GL

Advisor

Credit card plans for students- Bank of Ameri-

ca

Student dis-

count on test

prep services-

Kaplan Test

Prep & Admis-

sions

Discount on

wireless ser-

vices -10%- T-

mobile

Insurance

(Many different

insurance com-

panies)- United

Healthcare,

ADA Life &

Disability In-

surance Plans

(which is Free

with your mem-

bership), Geico

Auto, Renter‟s, Homeowner‟s Insurance

Free enrollment to NEXTDDS.com - This is a

website designed for D1-D4 which features

instructional videos, publications and much

more to complement our learning in the class-

room and clinics.

Publications to keep you up to date with all the

advances and decision that are done about and

within our profession.

Take full advantage of your ASDA member-

ship during your time at UFCD – stay involved

& up to date on the latest information affecting

dentistry & dental

students!

Every dental stu-

dent should be an

ASDA member.

For more ques-

tions regarding

ASDA member-

ship please contact Janis Kendrick,

jkendrick@dental.ufl.edu. Janis Kendrick is the

UFCD ASDA Membership Chair.

JOIN ASDA!

The Future is Bright for 2015

Haley

Freymiller

T he 83 members

of the Class of

2015 beat out 1429

other applicants for

their seats this year,

slightly less than last

year‟s total applicants of 1539. Compared to

classes in years past, the Class of 2015 is

younger, having an average age of 23 years

old, and is composed of 46 females and 37

males. Of the 83 people, 80 have earned Bac-

calaureate degrees and 8 have also earned

Masters degrees. Their class consists of 76

Florida residents, 37 of which are native Flo-

ridians, and 7 out-of-staters.

According to a study by our own Dr.

Sandow, when looking at admission criteria,

there is a strong relationship between the DAT

Academic score and the NB-I and NB-II

scores. The Class of 2015 has an above-the-

national-DAT Academic-average score of 20,

with the national average being a 19. Dr.

Sandow also found correlations between sci-

ence GPA and both yearly and final dental

school GPA. With a total science GPA of 3.49,

which is right on par with the national average,

combined with the DAT score, the Class of

2015 has all of the predictors of becoming a

shining class for the UF College of Dentistry.

Sandow, P., Jones, A., Peek, C., Courts, F.,

Watson, R. 2002. Correlation of Admission

Criteria with Dental Schhol Performance and

Attrition. Journal of Dental Education: 66(3):

385-92.

14

Nereyda P. Clark, DMD Email: nclark@dental.ufl.edu

Dental school you graduated from: Universi-

ty of Florida College of Dentistry 1977.

Undergraduate: University of Miami, Organic

Chemistry

Position held at UFCD: Associate Professor

Department of Restorative Sciences

Dental Specialty: GP

Why did you want to be a dentist? During my

childhood, I thought of becoming a veterinari-

an, dental hygienist or flight attendant. Unfor-

tunately, my Cuban parents were

very traditional and since there were

no vet schools near Miami where we

lived, I was dissuaded from applying

to vet school. During my undergrad-

uate education at the University of

Miami, while working a job in a

chemistry research laboratory, I de-

veloped a strong interest in science

and in particular, organic chemistry.

Later, I got married and my husband

at the time was accepted to UF‟s

medical school. Living in Gaines-

ville, I learned about the dental pro-

gram at UF through some first year

dental students. I was really fascinat-

ed by the innovative curriculum, and

decided to apply. I wanted a better

way of life and my previous child-

hood curiosity in dental hygiene still

remained, sparking my interest in becoming a

dentist.

Curriculum at UFCD in when you went to

school: I think the dental curriculum when I

went to school was way ahead of its time. Eve-

rything was self-paced. We read books,

watched videos and watched slides-tapes in the

library and took our tests when we were

“ready”. All the dental classes were pass/fail.

We had minimal dental faculty interaction until

we got into pre-clinic and clinic. We took our

basic sciences with the medical students and

were able to take Boards Part I after our first

year. Our clinical curriculum was competency-

based. We were assigned a family of patients

that provided a wide variety of clinical experi-

ences. Since we were focused on comprehen-

sive care, we had to finish all of the patient‟s

care to recall. If something happened and the

patient was unable to continue, we received

another patient and had to start at the beginning

with their treatment. The idea was that if you

received an appropriate family of patients and

completed them, you would graduate! Some

individuals actually graduated a semester early

(and some a semester late).

What would you have been if you weren’t a

dentist? I would probably have been a chemis-

try professor at the college/university level.

What is your favorite thing about dentistry?

There are three things that I love about being a

dental professor. First of all, my job allows me

to be very versatile. I get to interact with pa-

tients on a frequent basis, which gives me an

opportunity to practice comprehensive dentis-

try. But more importantly, it allows me to teach

my patients about their oral health and hopeful-

ly make a difference in their lives. Secondly, I

enjoy my time in the student clinics because it

allows me to stay youthful and teach students

my passion for dentistry. I expect a lot from my

students and I try my best to convey my

knowledge so that they may become the best

dentists they can be. Lastly, dentistry gives me

an opportunity to think on a daily basis. I love

the research aspect of dentistry where I have

the opportunity to develop a question, and think

through the process to find an answer.

Favorite memory in dental school: My favor-

ite memory was one day I thought I had failed a

post test and I actually got a perfect score.

Worst memory of dental school: I made a

silly mistake when I was making my first den-

ture and thought it was the end of the world. I

was just told to redo it.

Memory of 1st patient: He was a young pa-

tient, in his late teens. He did not have many

treatment needs but his data collections and

treatment planning took me six hours! Just as

you do today, I also had to mount study casts,

take an FMX, and go through all the forms.

How did you know teaching was right for

you? I started teaching right after I graduated

from dental school. I have always been passion-

ate about sharing my knowledge with others

and making an impact in their lives. I have al-

ways been curious about how things work. I am

patient, and I desire that my students fully un-

derstand what I am trying to teach them. It

gives me such pleasure to have alumni come

back and remind me of what I taught them

years before, and thank me for teaching.

Tell me a little bit about your family: I have

two children. Tyler is twenty-six years old. He

did his undergraduate studies here at

UF and has a Masters in guidance

counseling from UVA. My daughter

Abby is twenty-two years old, also

completed her undergraduate degree

at UF, and is moving to San Francis-

co to pursue a Masters in Fine Arts

with a specialization in photography.

My husband Dan is a data manage-

ment expert who is currently work-

ing on grant-funded research projects

within the UF College of Design,

Construction and Planning. My mom

and 2 sisters live in Miami with their

husbands and children.

What is your favorite hobby? I

absolutely love being by the water. If

I had more free time I would love to

go to the lake or beach to sail and

water ski. I would love to spend more time out-

side.

What is the coolest place you have ever been

to in the world? Capri, an island off the south-

ern coast of Italy. When I was a teenager, my

sister and I traveled to Europe and we visited

Capri. We went swimming in the grottos! I

have many fond memories of our trip.

Words of wisdom to future dentists: Dentis-

try is, first and foremost, a very people-

oriented, caring profession that will engage all

of your senses. It demands accuracy and preci-

sion, but also offers many opportunities for

creativity and innovation. Treat patients com-

prehensively and always view your work in the

larger context of the patient‟s health and well-

being. Dentistry is a wonderful profession -

always strive to do the best you can each day.

Valentina Espinosa

15

Summer Research Experience

Sergio Jacas, UFCD Class of 2015

Every summer since 1995 the University of Florida College of

Dentistry has offered incoming first year dental students the chance to

participate in their Summer Research Program. The program is designed

to provide students with an interest in research the opportunity to carry

out a ten-week research project under

the direction of a faculty member. This

year eight students were selected to

participate in the program. We worked

on a variety of different projects with

great supporting mentors that guided us

throughout the program. The final ob-

jective was to construct an abstract

based on the ten weeks of research and

present the results at an abstract presen-

tation. We later will have the opportuni-

ty to present the research in other na-

tional and international dental research

meetings. In general, it offers an excel-

lent introduction to research and also to

the college as a whole.

The program allowed us to form relationships with faculty and

become familiar with the college prior to commencing dental school.

Throughout the ten weeks, we had several lunch & learns and social

gatherings that gave us a chance to interact with some of our professors

and other dental students. It gives us some level of comfort coming into

our first year, already recognizing some familiar faces as we walk the

hallways of Shands. The social gatherings were also a great introduction

to the city of Gainesville for some of us in the program. Overall, the

Summer Research Program offers a great experience for incoming fresh-

man dental students. I would highly recommend it without hesitation.

The application to the Summer Research Program tries to match

each student up with a mentor depending on his or her interest in re-

search. The students picked what they found most interesting from a list

of research topics that the faculty are currently working on. As I looked

through the list I found significant importance in every research project. I

was willing to participate in any of the

projects because I was simply excited to

learn something new about dentistry. I

was selected to work with Dr. Nereyda

Clark from the Restorative Dental Sci-

ence department. For ten weeks, I

worked with Dr. Clark in a study de-

signed to evaluate the efficacy of two

different methods for teaching head and

neck examinations to dental student

participants. The ultimate goal of the

study was to improve the competence

level of dentists and healthcare provid-

ers when providing patients with regular

oral cancer screenings. It was a great

experience to work with Dr. Clark on

this project, and I learned a great deal about oral cancer and the im-

portance of early detention.

A special thanks to the Office of Research and all the faculty members

who put in their time and effort to support the program.

For more information about the summer research program visit: http://

www.dental.ufl.edu/Offices/Research/Student-Resources/summer-

research-program.php.

16

An End to Graduate

Subsidized Loans

Phil Bell, ASDA

Legislative Liaison

It is official. As if the reality of

our 15% tuition increase was not enough

for you to stock up on Ramen Noodles,

President Barack Obama signed the Budg-

et Control Act of 2011 into law August 2,

20111. The bill passed in the House by a

vote of 269-161 and in the Senate 74-26

before being signed into law. It will cost graduate and professional stu-

dents an estimated $21.7 billion dollars through fiscal year 20212. The

signing of the law brought an end to months of hard work and effort

from the American Student Dental Association,

in addition to numerous other national organiza-

tions on our behalf. A question many students

ask is, “Why spend $95 to become a member of

ASDA?” Not only do members receive delicious

food at lunch and learns, social events, vendor

fair, and free life and disability insurance, we are

also fighting on your behalf at the local, state,

and national levels to advocate against legislation

as costly as the Budget Control Act of 2011. I

recently asked this same question, among others,

to the Executive Committee of National ASDA

and want to share exactly was done on behalf of

your $95. The Executive Committee currently

consists of our President Adam Shisler, Vice

Presidents Brittany Bensch and Ken Randall, and

Central Office Staff Nancy Honeycutt. Each con-

tributed to the responses.

What actions did ASDA take to advocate against the Budget Con-

trol Act of 2011?

The ASDA website was updated to educate our members. Two main

courses of action were recommended for ASDA members. The Execu-

tive Committee drafted a template letter to US Congress for students to

fill out and mail. ASDA signed on to support the Student Advocates for

Graduate Education (SAGE) online petition. We encouraged our mem-

bers to sign the petition electronically using several communication

methods including the June edition of Word of Mouth, email to chapter

leaders, and a post on the ASDA blog Mouthing Off.

How did the Executive Committee generate a plan of action?

The Executive Committee coordinated with central office staff daily via

emails and weekly via conference calls. The initial plan of action was

decided via email and solidified through conference calls. The plan was

monitored at the Executive Committee meeting in July.

Is the Executive Committee satisfied with the actions ASDA took as

a whole?

Yes. With our current resources regarding political actions and emerg-

ing issues, the Executive Committee was happy to provide speaking

points embedded in a template letter to forward as communication to

Congress. Our organization does not directly hire lobbyists; we utilize

the ADA‟s Office of Government Affairs in Washington, D.C. and the

collaborative relationships as student members of the ADA.

Do you think we could have done anything more?

According to our Office of Governmental Affairs within the ADA, the

financial environment in Washington, D.C. is combative and highly

tumultuous. This was evident in our congressional conversations regard-

ing NIDCR funding at National Dental Student Lobby Day. This envi-

ronment has not improved according to ADEA or the ADA Office of

Governmental Affairs. Enlisting more student responders through im-

proved communications would have made our effort look more pro-

found. However, exercising rational political capital in a time when

irrational government actions are being agreed upon is beyond tough.

Is the Executive Committee aware that the backbone of our advoca-

cy efforts, the SAGE petition, only received 2,654 total signatures,

which includes all disciplines and undergraduate students, not just

dentistry?

Of course we would have liked a 100% response! The Executive Com-

mittee is currently reviewing

communication pathways re-

garding short timeframe issues

with the intent to increase effi-

ciency and broaden our scale of

action. We need grassroots ef-

forts in situations like this to be

as effective as possible and plan

to do more to encourage this

type of involvement in the fu-

ture.

Thank you to the National

ASDA Executive Committee

for participating in the inter-

view and their hard work

throughout this legislative pro-

cess. Summarized below are the

financial aid provisions relevant to dental students in the Budget Con-

trol Act of 20112.

1. All changes will take effect July 1, 2012.

2. The in-school interest subsidy for graduate and professional stu-

dents will be eliminated.

3. The rebate incentive for borrowers who agree to automatic debit

repayment has been eliminated. Previously this meant an up-front

interest rebate of 0.5% of the loan amount applied toward the 1%

loan origination fee. PLUS loans were previously 1.5% applied

towards the 4% origination fee. Borrowers were previously allowed

to keep this rebate if they made their first 12 payments on time.

*For more information, visit the sources provided. Should you have

additional questions regarding how the Budget Control Act of 2011 will

impact your financial aid, contact Tom Kolb in the Office for Student

Financial Affairs.

1. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/senate-passes-debt-limit-

bill/2011/08/02/gIQAIp2kpI_story.html

2. http://www.nasfaa.org/advocacy/budget-2012/News/

Debt_Ceiling_Law_Provides_$17_Billion_for_Pell_and_Ends_Gra

d_Student_Loan_Interest_Subsidy.aspx

17

Summer Learning Program

Ivette Landrian

The morning of July 11th was the beginning of an enlightening

and inspiring journey. Twenty-one students from Florida, Georgia, and

New Jersey began their three-week experience at UFCD‟s Summer

Learning Program 2011. By the end of the program, it was clear that this

was a life-changing event.

During the first week, stu-

dents met with several members of

the faculty: Dr. Jackson, who de-

scribed what to expect in her Gross

Anatomy class, and Dr. Primosch,

who helped us use oral health and

hygiene to help raise awareness to

middle and high school students in

the CROP program. The highlight of

the week, however, was the Sim Lab

experience, where Dr. Sposetti and

Dr. Notzer taught us about dental

anatomy and occlusal waxing; stu-

dents were able to use hand pieces to

drill and learn the challenges that

come with working with different

dentistry materials.

The second week included clinic rotations, Sim Lab, DAT re-

views, and the application process. As the program continued, we be-

came aware of just how busy the life of a dental student is. The program

organizers made sure that we were always learning and gaining as much

experience as possible. A very important part of the program included

tips provided by members of the Office of Admission on the application

process. Students were even asked to practice calling a school of interest

and asking questions in a professional manner. Dr. Sposetti opened our

eyes to the financial aspect of dental school as well as the application

process itself. Not only were we given the opportunity to take a practice

DAT exam from Kaplan, but the program also provided reviews on the

different sections students normally struggle with. Due to the numerous

clinic rotations, students gained an understanding of dental specialties

and were even able to assist 3rd and 4th year dental students in team clin-

ics.

The final week of the program was an emotional one; by that

point, no one wanted the experience to end. Many dental students took

time out of their busy schedule to

speak to us and answer questions.

They, as well, volunteered their time

to help during Sim Labs. There were

several moments during the program

when we met with dentists from the

community who inspired and encour-

aged us to pursue our dreams the way

they had.

On the last day, the SLP class

tried to demonstrate to the faculty just

how much it meant to us through a

music video “My Shiny Teeth” which

can be seen on you-tube. The best part

of the day was when we all got up and

expressed how the program had im-

pacted our lives. Some students shared

just how convinced they now were

about becoming a dentist, while others

spoke of their renewed confidence in themselves to pursue this career.

Most of all, we all discovered just how important we had become to

each other, and how our friendships would last far beyond the program.

Personally, I am very grateful to this program. It is an amazing

opportunity for undergraduate students. Above all, I learned a great deal

about myself and my passion for dentistry in those three weeks.

Ivette is a junior at UF. Her major is Microbiology and Cell Sciences.

Mark your calendars today for a trip to Las Vegas for the 152nd ADA

Annual Session from October 10-13, 2011! The ADA

Annual Session brings together leaders in dental practice, research, academics and indus-

try to present more than 260 continuing education courses in over four days. This is a

perfect chance to combine opportunities for continuing education, networking and the

latest developments in dentistry. Continuing education courses will be held Monday, Oct.

10-Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Convention Center. The

ADA World Marketplace Exhibition will be open Oct. 10-12 with over 600 vendors

planned to be in attendance.

Reg-

istration is still open so reserve

your spot on ADA.org today.

18

Firsts for 2013:

Boards, White

Coats & Patients Christie Eastman, UFCD ASDA

Vice President

A s dental stu-

dents, we

experience many

“firsts” together –

whether it be our

first day of dental

school, our first

psychomotor,

drilling on syn-

thetic teeth for the

first time in sim

lab, filling our first real tooth in the clinics, or

having our first real patient experience. These

“firsts” not only help guide us along the path to

becoming the best healthcare professionals we

can be, but they also help us grow stronger –

mentally, emotionally and intellectually – to-

gether and individually.

This past semester was a busy one and

marked the coup de gras of firsts for the mem-

bers of the University of Florida College of

Dentistry Class of 2013. One of our major ac-

complishments was achieving an outstanding

100% first time pass rate on Part One of the

National Board Dental Exam in June. Our pas-

sion for this profession is what essentially kept

us going and led us through countless months

of studying and restless nights. It is through

this dedication that we continue to uphold our

commitment to “developing and refining our

professional conduct via lifelong learning,” as

stated in our Class Code of Conduct.

Our second “first” was enjoyed on

June 24, 2011 when we participated in our Pro-

fessionalism & White Coat Ceremony. This

day to remember symbolized our transition to a

new phase of our dental training as we enter the

clinics and begin caring for patients. The UF

Center for the Performing Arts was overflow-

ing with hundreds of proud family members,

friends, and college faculty and staff. We en-

joyed speeches from Dean Dolan, FDA Presi-

dent Dr. Sabates, and Academy of Alumni &

Friends President Dr. Weaver, along with a

special presentation from our very own, Huy

Huynh. Students were introduced by 2013 Fac-

ulty Advisor, Dr. Ottenga, and donned with the

infamous white coats by Dr. Clark and Dr.

Jackson, followed by caring hugs from each.

We had the pleasure of listening to the beautiful

voices of four of our classmates who sang The

University of Florida Alma Mater. After the

ceremony, we savored each bite of two exquis-

ite, delicious cakes baked from scratch and

hand decorated by talented members of the

Class of 2013 and our loved Sim Lab Manager,

Marilyn Vaughn.

Our last and most recent “first” has

been what we all envisioned since the start of

dental school: PATIENTS & CLINICS! As

we‟ll all remember during that first week, it

was a rollercoaster of emotions. From the low-

est in terms of learning patient flow and Axium

to the highest in terms of our very first patient

experience, we will always remember every-

thing about that first appointment. We have

each felt the happiness and satisfaction of im-

proving someone else‟s life – finally!

Becoming a dentist has lots of obsta-

cles – thousands of which we have met and

passed and many more of which have yet to

come. With each and every new first, we be-

come stronger and better together. We are Ga-

tor dentists and dentists to be! Lets continue

this great journey together.

19

The publication of this newsletter was made possible by UF Student Government.

Event Equal Access Clinic, Volunteer Opportunity Activity Dental Education

Location UF Family Practice Clinic, Thursdays Mobile Clinic @ Tower Road Library, Mon-days

Time 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm 5:45 pm to 7:45 pm

Site Coordinators Ali Best, D2, abest@dental.ufl.edu Danny Kalash, D2, dkalash@dental.ufl.edu

Address 625 Southwest 4th Avenue Gainesville, FL 32601

3020 S.W. 75th Street Gainesville, FL 32608

Hours Received 2 hours

What is Equal Access Clinic (EAC)?

EAC is an entirely student run, free clinic, established in 1992. After

being in operation for 19 years EAC services include medical, pharmacy,

physical therapy, mental health, social work, and other select specialties.

EAC serves the underserved populations within Gainesville and Alachua

County.

What can UFCD do for EAC?

EAC dental services are just beginning. Please come be a part of this!

Our goal is to get the dental school involved in this well-established, UF,

interdisciplinary, outreach opportunity. Dental students will provide den-

tal education to all EAC patients. Dental education also includes, but is

not limited to, nutrition and tobacco cessation counseling. Dental stu-

dents are also essential for identifying patients with acute problems need-

ing immediate attention. This volunteer opportunity allows the dental

student to communicate with patients, provide them with valuable infor-

mation regarding their oral health, and practice their patient interviewing

skills. Patients are more than grateful, and often very interested to find

answers to their oral health questions, given that they have usually not

had the opportunity to do so previously. Dental students are an integral

part of this education equation.

I am a first year and don’t know enough to provide dental education

yet.

Yes, you do! Because we are learning to become dental professionals,

you tend to know much more about oral health care than you think. And

just in case, there will be an information meeting on EAC Dental TBA

coaching you on the basics of dental education and how volunteering at

EAC works.

Please go to http://medinfo.ufl.edu/cgi/signup.cgi to sign up! Sign in with your gatorlink username and password.

This volunteer opportunity has been approved by Dr. Micaela Gibbs.

Letter From The Editor There is so much great information in this edition of the newsletter. I encourage all of you

to read these articles and see what your peers have to share with you about current events in den-

tistry, nationally and locally. I thank each and every one of you who wrote articles for this news-

letter; without you this newsletter would not be possible. I would also like to thank our own Dr.

Susan Nimmo, Dr. John H. Paul

from the FDA, Allison Ferris from

Tufts University School of Dental

Medicine, and John Syrbu from

University of Iowa College of Den-

tistry for their contributions. If you

are interested in writing for Gator

Dentist Times please contact me at

cnorton@dental.ufl.edu.

Carolyn A. Norton

UFCD ASDA Newsletter

Editor, Class of 2014