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!
D2- A Facebook Year in Review
Our own freshly risen D3 Kevin Kuo has done it again, putting together a D2 Year in Review video for his class, featuring highlights like baby announcements, engagements, weddings and surviving finals. Anyone want to know how the dental students handle their D2 year? Check it out!
Leave a comment and let us know what you think- maybe we can convince him to share some more.
~Celia A., Editor
AO in the D- Getting out in the Community
Last Fall, Alpha Omega dental students from UofM and UDM volunteered along with alumni member dentists for their first “AO in the D” volunteer experience. The event was located in Brightmoor, a community in the northwest corner of Detroit that has attracted attention for its unique methods of revitalizing the city. The morning of the event, local activist Riet Schumack guided AOers past abandoned houses as well as plots that had been transformed into community gardens, outdoor performance centers, playgrounds and nature trails. Although the number of residents has declined, there is hope that the area will rebound through the efforts of neighbors and volunteers. After the tour, Alpha Omega fratters began renovating an abandoned house that residents plan to turn into a place for students to stay. The volunteers spruced up the landscaping, painted a room, and demolished a wall to create a common space inside the house. They made great progress in transforming the house and hopefully volunteers from other organizations will continue the project. The event turned out to be more than a volunteer project as everyone left with a greater understanding of the city and the community activism within it. There is talk about making “AO in the D” an annual event. In a year, it will be exciting to see how the Brightmoor community will finish renovating the house, as well as to see the progress in the rest of the neighborhood.
If you’re interested in learning more about activism in Brightmoor, you can check out their Facebook page: “Neighbors Building Brightmoor and the Brightmoor Farmway”.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Alpha Omega (AO) is an international dental organization, founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1907 by a group of dental students. AO is an educational and philanthropic organization that takes pride in its alumni-student relations. Activities include pre-clinic help sessions, community outreach projects, social outings, and events with alumni and faculty. AO membership is open to all dental students!
Hygiene Kick-Off Raises Awareness of Oral Cancer
Being involved in student organizations is large part of my educational experience here at the University of Michigan. As the President of the Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association (SADHA), I help plan and organize various activities for our members. This winter, we held our annual SADHA Winter Kick-Off which is organized for all three dental hygiene classes. Usually, the three dental hygiene classes are separated because we all have different courses and rotations based on our year. The Kick-Off allows the chance for all three levels to interact and start the new semester off in a positive manner!
Our Winter Kick-Off had activities organized around the theme for our Relay for Life team… Oral Cancer Awareness. The first part of the activities was a Lunch & Learn by Stacy from GlaxoSmithKline on “Managing Patients with Xerostomia.” Xerostomia (Dry Mouth) is a condition affecting a large number of individuals just from use of medications. However, cancer patients going through radiation and chemotherapy treatments can experience permanent loss of salivary gland function.
The second part to the afternoon was also the most moving portion. We played a video of Eva Grayzel telling her story as a Oral Cancer survivor.
Her story is a very compelling, detailed, and intense depiction of what she had to endure. By playing the video for the students it was a chance to show a true story of how Oral Cancer changes lives.
Finally, in order to tie in Oral Cancer Awareness and help fundraise for our Relay for life team, we held a competition between the hygiene students! Groups of 8-10 students had to design a button for Oral Cancer Awareness and the design that won would be placed on a button for our Relay for Life team! Each group design was judged by Dr. Paul Edwards (Professor of Periodontics and Oral Medicine), Chris Jung (Multimedia Designer), Katherine Brown (D1 Student), & Lisa Dodge (Senior Administration Assistant) to help make the final decision. Everyone truly enjoyed themselves!
Last year when SADHA participated in Relay for Life we helped raise over $8,000! This year we want to continue to help make an impact and our Winter Kick-Off was just the beginning of a lot more to come!!!!
Elizabeth Easter is a graduating 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.
Spring Break – Outreach in Incredible Places
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Raya Abu-Zahra and Jami Ballantine are the D2 reps of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry-U of M Student Chapter, who find much love and joy volunteering. This is their recounting of a Spring Break outreach trip they took to Guatemala.
On an ordinary fall semester morning, Dr. Mark Berkman was lecturing away on orthodontic anchorage, good times! Midway through the lecture, he switched gears and started discussing a wonderful volunteer experience he once had in Guatemala with a nonprofit organization called Dentistry For All (DFA). This organization annually provides dental services to several locations in Guatemala where there is a lack of access to care. Although we cannot compare it to other mission trip organizations, the commitment to quality and high standards and their genuine care and compassion in caring for the underserved makes it a quintessential organization that we were privileged to be a part of. Two DFA directors we met on the trip were Dr. Shane Fisher, full-time clinical faculty at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, and Dr. Brad Krusky, a practicing pediatric dentist in Calgary who completed his pediatric residency here at UMSOD.
Dr. Berkman shared with us his pictures and stories, and encouraged our class to consider attending a trip with DFA. The trip overview fell in line with our growing interest in pediatric dentistry and public health. What can we say? We were hooked. From that point on, things moved very quickly. We had support from the school and acceptance from the DFA directors and were on our way to have the privileged opportunity to volunteer over spring break and provide dental services for underserved communities in Guatemala City.
Our departure date quickly arrived and we were off to Guatemala! Many thoughts of anticipation had crossed our minds. We were about to travel to a country neither of us had been to, and meet up with 18 strangers from different regions of the U.S. and Canada. Upon arrival, we were accompanied by volunteer general dentists, pediatric dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, as well as non-dental volunteers who would help with sterilization and equipment set-up. We quickly found out that many of them knew each other either from dental practice, residency programs, or previous trips. It was natural to think that we were “outsiders” at first, but everyone greeted us like long-lost friends and treated us like family. After thinking about all the ways in how to spend spring break this year, it was clear to us we definitely made the right choice.
The week began at Camino Seguro (Safe Passage), located in Central America’s largest and most toxic landfill, the Guatemala City Garbage Dump (more info here). After watching a documentary highlighting the difficult conditions the members of this community have lived in for generations, we were eager to head on over the next morning. It was these residents whose children we were going to treat.
The first working day finally arrived, and our mornings began at 5:15 a.m. in hopes to beat the heavy traffic. Despite our early departures, our daily commute from Antigua took about two hours due to the endless highway traffic! An eager, yet patient line of children and their parents would await us bright and early upon our arrival. In Camino Seguro, there were six dental chairs along with one dental hygiene chair set up in a recreational facility. Patients were seen on a first come-first serve basis and would often wait for hours. Midway through the week we relocated our clinic to Mildred’s Elementary School, with a similar setup as Camino Seguro, except this time the dental/dental hygiene chairs and sterilization equipment were divided among four classrooms.
While it may have seemed odd at first that we were the only dental students on the trip, never once did we feel out of place. In fact, Dr. Fisher, the pediatric dentist we primarily worked with during the week was very pleased with our clinical abilities. We asked him towards the end of the trip how he felt about our skills, he immediately replied “Excellent. You both have exceeded my expectations, especially as D2’s, and I think it has to do with your Michigan education.” Go Blue!
Every night after clinic we would have a “Roses and Thorns” session, where everyone took a turn to describe one good thing that happened that day (rose), and a low moment they had to deal with (thorn). A mix of happy and heartfelt emotions circulated around the room as everyone shared their stories.
Raya’s “rose”: I remember dedicating a particularly memorable rose one night to Dr. Fisher and his impressive demonstration of the “Tell-Show-Do,” technique. This technique is generally done before any procedure with a child to familiarize him/her with some instruments about to be used. It also is fun because one explores the air/water syringe, suction, etc with the child to show that it is “Muy facil!” (Very easy!) Performing this technique one afternoon on an adorable 7 year-old girl was an incredible moment. After doing so, she smiled and was ready to sit down and proceed. When it came time to insert the anesthetic needle however, she suddenly panicked. I reassured her that everything would be okay, but, unfortunately, she could not overcome this fear. Dr. Fisher overheard and walked over to act firm. He told her that this needed to be done, and asked if she wanted him or myself to do the injection. She instantly grabbed my arm and shouted, “Solamente ella!!” (Only her!!) What a heartfelt moment! This turning point reassured me that while I initially had trouble convincing her it would be quick and easy, the “Tell-Show-Do” technique at the beginning allowed me to have a one-on-one bonding moment, in order to build good patient rapport and a sense of trust. The rest of the appointment went smoothly, and to top it off, she gave me a big hug and kiss on the cheek at the end. I could not have been more thrilled with this successful experience! Thanks again Dr. Fisher!
There were mostly “roses”, and rarely was there ever a “thorn” to the day. Our most memorable thorn, sadly enough, was dedicated to our last working day when we packed up all the dental supplies and stored them for the next group to take over. Time had gone by so fast and we were sorry that the reasons we came to Guatemala came to an end. Reality had kicked in and we knew break was almost over; and although home will always be home, we did not want to leave this wonderful group of people we had considered family by then!
The good memories we have of the trip are numerous. It is difficult to give our experiences full justice in a way that can be wholly appreciated by others. The trip challenged us in so many ways, but truly was one of the best experiences we could have hoped for. Sharing this experience with like-minded individuals who find the joy of taking time off from their personal lives to dedicate it to treating underserved individuals and impoverished communities was nothing short of incredible. We strongly encourage anyone who is interested to volunteer for DFA, or seek out similar opportunities. The memories, lessons, and friendships we gained will stay with us forever.
To see more pictures of their trip, check out the University of Michigan School of Dentistry’s Flickr site at : http://www.flickr.com/photos/umdent/sets/72157629429145398/
AAPHD Student Run Clinic at the CDC
At the pilot session, students learned other roles besides the provider. D2 Leslie McGarvey worked at the sterilization station under the supervision of CDC staffs
The American Association of Public Health Dentistry-University of Michigan Student Chapter (AAPHD-UofM) was established in January 2010 by a group of first and second year students who were interested in learning more about public health dentistry and public policy. Previously led by public health dentist faculty, Dr. Woosung Sohn, AAPHD-UofM members explore public health issues at local and national levels. The mission of AAPHD-UofM is to create a sustainable relationship with the underserved community in Washtenaw County to promote oral health, prevent disease, and reduce disparities in oral health status, and promote public health science as a vital part of dental education. The group focuses on education, outreach, and interacting with some of the most well respected public health dentists in the world.
D3 student Jody Atzmon and D4 Stephanie Nunez worked together to extract and restore multiple teeth for the patients at AAPHD Student Run Clinic pilot session at the CDC
AAPHD-U of M recognized the potential of collaboration with the Community Dental Center (CDC) from early on due to its proximity and affiliation to the dental school. Inspired by other AAPHD student chapters’ successful Student Run Clinic programs (i.e. AAPHD-UIC: The Goldie’s Place), AAPHD-UofM members brainstormed to create a student-run dental clinic program at the UM-affiliated CDC. The Student-Run clinic would complement the existing Taft Free Clinic sessions which occur 3 times a year at the dental school to provide simple dental procedures to those in need by broadening the spectrum of free care provided by dental students. CDC’s new director Dr. Bonita Neighbors had a similar idea and along with AAPHD-U of M members led by 3rd year student JJ Ubonwan Sae-ung, started the project proposal to materialize the Student Run Clinic program at the CDC last fall.
Approved by the Dean of Clinics, Dr. Stephen Stefanac, the pilot session of the Student Run Clinic at the CDC took place on Saturday, January 14, 2012 in the honor of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Under the supervision of Dr. Neighbors and CDC team, AAPHD-U of M students from first to fourth years volunteered at the CDC from 8am to 3 pm to help the patients with services that included cleanings, restorative treatments (fillings), oral health instruction, and extractions. Pre-dental students and underclassmen (D1-D2’s) participated in reviewing patient’s medical history, assisting, working the sterilization, and helping patients with the survey evaluations. Patients seen at the pilot session were patients of records who are below the poverty line with dental needs so extensive that extractions would have been the only option due to their financial strain. Overall, fifteen patients were treated and student volunteers produced more than $8,000 in dental procedures on that day. Ann Arbor Links Incorporated, Benco Dental, and the MDA kindly sponsored the pilot session. MSU student, Robert Camilletti, participated in the post-session evaluation process to offer an unbiased opinion. D3 student Andrew Horne donated photography talent.
AAPHD- U of M Chapter pledged to fund the future Student-Run Clinic sessions at the CDC. We are still in need of funding. If you are interested in becoming a member or making a donation to AAPHD-UofM to allow us to continue to help others in the community, please contact JJ at ubonwans@umich.edu. Donations to UM student organizations are tax-deductable!
D3 JJ Saeung is a current president of AAPHD-UofM. Please contact her for more information about the group!
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.
