Welcome to the University of Michigan School of Dentistry's Blog!
Here you will find blogs from our students about various issues facing our prospective dental professionals, from a day in the life to dealing with frigid Michigan winters. Please email umdentalmedia@gmail.com to suggest a topic you would be interested in learning about. Enjoy!
Balance: bal·ance [bal-uhns] noun, verb, -anced,-anc·ing. (noun)
Getting away from the Dental School
- a state of equilibrium or equipoise; equal distribution of weight, amount, etc.
- something used to produce equilibrium; counterpoise.
- mental steadiness or emotional stability; habit of calm, behavior, judgment, etc.
- a state of bodily equilibrium: He lost his balance and fell down the stairs.
- an instrument for determining weight, typically by the equilibrium of a bar with a fulcrum at the center, from each end of which is suspended a scale or pan, one holding an object of known weight, and the other holding the object to be weighed.
If I’ve learned anything about myself during dental school is that I’ve found I’m the most productive when I’m balanced, in respects to my studies and how I spend my time out of school. “Work hard, play hard” is a quote I’m sure most have heard, however actually making time for yourself is harder than you think. Looking back as D1’s, several classmates and I planned a weekend trip after chatting about our love for skiing. Four years later, we’re still going, and have passed on the tradition to classes below us.
Being able to focus and work hard is a daily commitment for those in dental school, however I find that those who have other interests and passions have the healthiest outlook on how to manage stress. Sure, it’s easy to get caught up in the practicals, test cases, exams, and daily grind of school, however weekends like these are where you can remember who you are, and that’s the person who got into school.
Leading up to this past weekend the snow reports were dismal and logistically trying to coordinate 17 schedules was next to impossible. However, before I knew it, I was stepping into my boots and hiking toward the lift, laughing with my classmates, feeling like a kid again, and with 4 inches of fresh snow glittering on the hill.
2012 Destination: Boyne Highlands, which lies 266 miles north by northwest of Ann Arbor, this year’s crew consisted of 17 people, mostly dental students and significant others, all excited to laugh and have fun.
No matter if you’re perfecting your parallel christie, carving GS turns, learning to hockey stop, or what a pole plant is, having balance is what’s important, in life and while on the slopes. Equally important is being able to laugh and have fun, whether you just witnessed someone yard sale from the chairlift, or attempting to make tomato soup out of hot water and ketchup packets (complete with complementary oyster crackers.)
Steve Davis, D4, is an avid nordic and alpine skier, his home hill is Marquette Mountain and the Noquemanon Trail Network. Loves ski movies and looks forward to his next turns on the hill!
Dental Leaders Take Opportunities in SPDL
Saroj Kumar Saha and Lloyd Carr at a SPDL Meeting
As a member of SPDL , I constantly am asked by other dental students what exactly is SPDL? First off, SPDL stands for Scholars Program in Dental Leadership but that probably doesn’t help much either. To be honest, I actually have had a very hard time explaining what SPDL represents. So let us start with the basics, SPDL is a special group of students who are interested in dentistry beyond the tooth and crown margins. The program is designed to encourage leadership within dentistry. Leadership can take many forms within SPDL. For example exploring successful practice management techniques, effecting policy change, participating in dental research, or pursuing academic dentistry have been are consistent themes within SPDL. Leadership is cemented in the profession of dentistry just as much as ceramic crowns are cemented on natural teeth. For example the success of the American Dental Association has represented and protected the interests of dental professionals for years. With the need to encourage leadership efforts within dental students, The University of Michigan School of Dentistry has decided to create a special group of students that participates in leadership training and provides the opportunity to exercise leadership skills.
Students who are interested in SPDL apply for membership and are approved by faculty. Unfortunately not everyone makes the cut. Students who are accepted are required to attend leadership training meetings once every month. Past speakers include Dr. Kenneth Kornman, Dr. Howard Farran from DentalTown, and even former Michigan head football coach, Lloyd Carr. These meetings are typically after school and last less than 2 hours. Each student is also required to construct a Capstone project in order to complete the program. My Capstone project was investigating the knowledge of oral health in parents with children with cleft lip and/or palate. My project has lead to many opportunities like presenting at the AADR Annual Session in Tampa Bay. Capstone projects do take a significant amount of dedication however each student has the freedom to create and design their own project.
My experiences with SPDL have been great and I highly encourage younger students to pursue membership. The field of dentistry is very diverse and expands beyond flowable composites. This program was designed to encourage students to take advantage of these opportunities. I believe SPDL truly represents “The Michigan Difference.”
Saroj Kumar Saha is a very active D3 who is serving on the executive committee for the Scholars Program in Dental Leadership at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.
Providers pumped for Give Kids A Smile!
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Photos by Andrew Horne
$20,000 of Free Care to Kids
On the eve of Give Kids A Smile (GKAS), I was worried we wouldn’t have enough patients. The following morning I was up by 5:30 am too excited to go back to sleep, even though I was still exhausted from getting things organized the night before with my Co-Coordinator, Crystal Ammori. It turns out my fears were unfounded.
By the time the doors opened at 8 o’clock there was a line of people stretched across the Fletcher Parking Structure. The first patient had been there since 5:30am– and I thought I had an early morning! For the first time in the history of our Give Kids A Smile event at the University of Michigan, we reached capacity. By 8:45am we started turning people away because the first 100 children had already arrived. The advertising campaign that I had worked so hard on, with numerous people within the dental school and the community, was a success.
Over 125 volunteers came together to provide $20,000 worth of free dental care to children in need. Even Dr. Woolfolk, our Assistant Dean for Student Services, pitched in and helped check patients out. I am proud of all the work our volunteers did.
Things that require substantial time and effort are often times the most rewarding things in life. While months of planning culminated in a single day of free dental care, it was all worth it to hear stories of how grateful people are for what we have done for them. Today, a father thanked us for hosting our GKAS event. It was the first time his daughter had been to the dentist, and thanks to our volunteers it was a great experience.
Scott Michels is a D3 student and one of the driving forces behind Give Kids a Smile, an annual event here at the School of Dentistry. For more information, email Scott at srmichel@umich.edu.
Providers pumped for Give Kids A Smile!
Photo by Andrew Horne
Reaching Community through Give Kids A Smile
Community. I have been a part of the Michigan community for over two years now, and I am still amazed by how many opportunities are available here. If you want to do anything, more likely than not, you can find people willing to help and the resources to do it. This year, as the Co-Coordinator for Give Kids A Smile (GKAS), I have been blown away by the generosity of people wanting to help kids get the dental care they so desperately need.
Before I go much further, I need to get something off my chest- I have an addiction; a website addiction. I love designing, altering, and sharing them. As the Co-Coordinator for GKAS, one of my goals for this year’s event is to help more kids than ever before. We created a two-pronged advertising campaign involving a website and flyers to hopefully achieve this goal of mine. Cory Cody, a web application developer here at the dental school, along with his boss Dan Bruell, helped me create the GKAS website from scratch. If you’re curious, you can check it out at umgivekidsasmile.org.
The dental school’s Clinic Office Manger, Nancy Von Hofe, helped me create a concise flyer for GKAS, and then used her contacts within the local community to spread the word. Ricky Lugo, a D4, translated our flyer into Spanish to get the word out to even more people. Receptionists at the dental school then helped answer telephone calls from people in the community who had questions about GKAS.
At our GKAS event, we will emphasize ways people can prevent dental disease from occurring. Dental hygiene students have stepped up and are organizing patient education demonstrations for people the day of GKAS. Plus, the Michigan Dental Association Foundation has donated 100 toothbrush kits for patients to take home with them. Inside each kit is a bookmark which has useful tips about good oral hygiene. The Michigan Dental Association Foundation has also created a fund to help patients with unmet dental needs receive dental care in the future.
Dr. Lesch, and the Washtenaw District Dental Society, have been long-time supporters of our GKAS event. They help make our advertising campaign a reality and their members (along with all of our volunteers) have offered to give up their Saturday in order to give a service to the community that only the dental profession can provide.
Of course, this list would not be complete without talking about Dr. Stefanac and my Co-Coordinator, Crystal Ammori. Dr. Stefanac is, in my opinion, the type of faculty member every professor should strive to be. He is knowledgeable, humorous, patient, prompt, and incredibly helpful. Crystal Ammori, who has been my “Dental Mama” ever since D1 year because she has always looked out for me, has done an amazing job creating contacts, carrying out meetings with the dental school’s administration, providing invaluable feedback, and countless other tasks as my fellow Co-Coordinator.
I feel like I’ve just received an Oscar and am desperately trying to remember all of those who have done so much to help; like Jerry Mastey, Dr. Percherski, the front desk receptionists, and my friends in the Radiology department! I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to organize this year’s GKAS event, which truly has been a community effort.
Scott Michels is a D3 student and one of the driving forces behind Give Kids a Smile, an annual event here at the School of Dentistry. For past news stories about Give Kids a Smile, see http://umdental.wordpress.com/2011/02/09/volunteering-at-give-kids-a-smile/ (and notice Scott!). For more information, email Scott at srmichel@umich.edu.
American Association of Women Dentists
Conferences and meetings for dental groups can take you globetrotting to exciting destinations such as Rio de Janiero, New York City, San Diego and…..Oklahoma City?
This past June as AAWD president I was fortunate enough to be sponsored by the office of student services to attend AAWD’s 90th Annual Meeting and Conference. The meeting alternates each year between Chicago, the location of AAWD headquarters, and other destinations like Hilton Head, SC and, you guessed it, OKC. After my D1 year I had the company of other AAWD board members on the easy drive to Chicago, but this year I was on my own. I packed up and headed West to Oklahoma City.
Things started looking up as I checked into Oklahoma City’s most beautiful and famous hotel, the Skirvin Hilton and headed to the rooftop kickoff event at the Oklahoma Museum of Art.
The Skirvin Hotel
The next two days were packed with interesting and relevant presentations corresponding with the meeting’s theme “Aging Gracefully”. I learned helpful tips for caring for our aging patients in the “Expert Panel” as well as more colorful topics like a presentation on “Knowing your Personal Brand” from a professional image consultant. The hands-on restorative implants course provided an opportunity to apply what we had just covered that spring in implant lab and to try out another implant system. The event concluded each year with the student session. This year two practice marketing experts presented on buying versus starting up a practice.
In our free time I visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, which honors victims of the April 1995 bombing. The breathtaking outdoor memorial features a chair for every victim and a reflecting pool between two pillars with the time 9:01 and 9:03, the duration of the explosion. Inside, we experienced what it might have been like for victims that day, beginning with a recording of a meeting interrupted by the explosion followed by news footage of the recovery and investigation efforts. I left with an appreciation for a major historical event I was too young to understand when it occurred.
Oklahoma City National Memorial at Night
Overall, the AAWD meeting was an exciting opportunity to visit a charming city I would not otherwise have seen. Most importantly, through meeting AAWD leaders throughout the country I gained valuable ideas to bring back to our group here at Michigan.
Alexandra Plonka is a D3 and AAWD president.
Taft Clinic- Care for Those In Need
The Jonathan Taft Honorary Dental Society is one of many student groups here at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. As a member of the Taft Society’s executive board, I can say that it is an active group that is fun and easy to be a part of. It is also one of the few that actively helps the community by providing dental care and in adjunct, learning opportunities for the students. The Taft Society was formed in 1965 and is named after the first Dean of the Dental School. The goals of the Taft Society are “fostering dental education and scholarship, engaging in various public service activities, encouraging cooperation between faculty and students, and initiating the future dentist into his or her role and responsibility in the community.” Following these goals, the Taft Honorary Dental Society hosts three free clinics a school year, organized by students with help from faculty and support staff, for underprivileged individuals from the community.
The first event of this year was on October 22, 2011 where 36 patients were seen for simple restorations, radiographs, and cleanings. One patient was an extraordinary case, where she was even able to get her braces off after having them on for 20 years! The day began at 8:30am with fresh donuts, milk, chocolate milk, apple cider, coffee, bagels and cream cheese for all the volunteers. It was a great way to start the day! Breakfast was donated by the local Washtenaw Dairy, and Starbucks.
Vice President Mariya Volvovsky and President Dmitry Vodopyanov
While everyone was enjoying breakfast, TaftVice President Mariya Volvovsky spoke to the group about how the morning clinic would run. She addressed the protocol for the morning and introduced the faculty who were volunteering their Saturday morning. The students were then ready to bring their patients back as if it were any normal clinic day! Patients came from all over Michigan, with many from Alpha House, an Ann Arbor temporary housing shelter . Others were previous patients of the Dental School who were denied treatment due to finances. There was such an abundance of volunteers willing to help with the clinic that every provider even had an assistant, helping everything run smoothly.
Taft Clinic student providers are in various years of dental school, and are assigned to patients depending on the complexity of the case. Second, third, and fourth year students provide the care, first year students assist, and pre-dental students do what they can to help. The morning session slowly closed around 12:15, with the patients grateful for being seen that day and wondering when the next event was, hoping they could be seen again. Taft Clinic student providers are in various years of dental school, and are assigned to patients depending on the complexity of the case. Second, third, and fourth year students provide the care, first year students assist, and pre-dental students do what they can to help. The morning session slowly closed around 12:15, with the patients grateful for being seen that day and wondering when the next event was, hoping they could be seen again. At the end of the event I asked the President of the Taft Society, Dmitry Vodopyanov, how he felt about having to get to school at 7am on a Saturday, and he said that he enjoys working hard to ensure that these clinics run smoothly. Furthermore, he states, “One of the benefits of working in the medical field is that you gain the knowledge and skills that can change people’s lives, and being able to use that knowledge to give back to the community that supports our school is a great feeling”. The students were obligated to do some extra cleaning, as the custodial staff wouldn’t be going through the clinics again that weekend. Student volunteers were happy they could have another day of patient care experience and pleased with the help they could provide to those in need. It was truly a great, productive morning at the University of Michigan Dental School for all!
To see a set of pictures from Taft Clinic, check out https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.275771779124347.72801.100000745814379&type=1
Andrew Horne, D3, is the Taft Honorary Dental Society Secretary and can be reached at arhorne@umich.edu
Back from Alpena
Time out of the Clinic around Alpena
Here is the third installment of my D4 rotation experience; this stop was Alpena – Alcona Health Center for two weeks serving the community and public schools of Alpena. This rotation was solo rotation where I was the only dental student working in the clinic alongside the full-time staff serving emergency and patients of record.
During the month of November, Alcona Health Center – Alpena was working on implementing a program where the clinic would be brought to elementary, middle, and high school students throughout Alpena school district. Once each week, we packed up, headed to a school, found an open classroom and set up portable dental units and performed exams, dental prophylaxis (cleanings,) fluoride treatments and sealants on students who were eligible and their parents had consented to these treatments.
All in all, this was a very rewarding experience and humbling at the same time. As I walked down the halls of these schools I saw the lockers, classes and students in these elementary schools and thought back to my very own elementary school days, growing up in rural Michigan. While waiting for another group of students to be excused from class I saw many students walking single file through the halls and I wondered if one of them would be standing in my shoes in a few years.
Being alone on this rotation allowed me time to reflect on how busy and committed we as dental students have become, and that we all started learning somewhere, in classrooms much like those I was able to visit. I was able to take time to appreciate how lucky I am to continue to learning and serve at the same time, while making a difference in the overall health of the people of Michigan.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, I’m especially thankful for my opportunities, friends, family, and wish you all a relaxing holiday. Safe travels!
Steve Davis, D4, welcomes questions at davissm@umich.edu and best of luck to the candidates who have interviewed thus far and congrats to those who have been accepted! GO BLUE!
MDHA’s MHOD
Every year the Michigan Dental Hygienists’ Association (MDHA) holds their annual Michigan House of Delegates (MHOD). I had the opportunity to attend two years in a row! Last year it was held in Grand Rapids, MI and this year it was held in Dearborn, MI. MHOD is a chance for each local dental hygiene component, (Washtenaw, Detroit, Oakland, etc.), to come together to revise and discuss new bylaws for hygienist in the State of Michigan. Also, elections are held to elect MDHA members into open executive council positions.
As a student, one may attend as a Delegate or Alternate. This is an excellent opportunity for students to see firsthand how the legislative process operates. Usually, the University of Michigan will send at least 2 representatives from each hygiene class. This year since the session was closed; we were able to have 3 or 4 representatives from each class! The session is very professional and business oriented. Students from various dental hygiene programs are able to attend and sit with their local components. The first year I attended, I was selected as a Delegate; and this year I was an Alternate.
I truly enjoyed the experience because I gained a better understanding of the politics involved with moving the profession of dental hygiene forward. The more individuals participating, the more support the organization has when working with the government. Also, I gained a better understanding of the importance of becoming a member of my professional organization. As a member MDHA and ADHA, I have a voice in making change for hygienists, numerous networking opportunities, and an unlimited number of mentors. I am looking forward to the advances in the profession of Dental Hygiene!
Side Note**** This year’s MDHA President is Brenda Marriott RDH,BS! Mrs. Marriott will be coming to speak to our SADHA members this December and we are very excited to have her come!
Elizabeth Easter is a DH4 dental hygiene student, originally from Detroit, MI. She obtained her B.S. degree in Biology from Howard University in 2007. Elizabeth has a passion for community development, and plans to work in community dentistry in the future.
