Entering official clinical practice and starting to care for patients presents a whole new set of challenges. The level of stress can be overwhelming for students, faculty and patients alike.
Every gesture helps: Discussing mental health with patients
Eaten up with guilt, shame and fear, I’ll never forget the young teenaged patient who nervously answered “yes” when I asked if she had any eating disorders while filling out her medical history. I had been nervously anticipating the day I’d encounter a patient who would respond affirmatively to this question because I’d been in her situation before.
The art of multitasking
Whether you are on the road to embarking on your dental school journey or already immersed in the rollercoaster ride called “dental school,” one of the most valuable assets you can acquire to enjoy the process of this journey is multitasking.
Dental spas: A new concept of comfort
Despite advances in dentistry, dental anxiety remains a problem for many. Research in the January 2013 British Dental Journal found that roughly 36 percent of the population experiences dental anxiety while 12% experience extreme dental fear.
International Plastic Bag-Free Day: Tips to minimize waste
The public is increasingly aware of the harm that commercial single-use plastic products do to wildlife and the environment. I mean, if getting your grande iced, sugar-free, vanilla latte with soy milk at Starbucks with a paper straw doesn’t scream save the turtles to you, I don’t know what else can
Practicing wellness through birdwatching and photography
I grew up in Heredia, Costa Rica, one of the richest coffee-producing cities in the country. Costa Rica has over 900 bird species, which account for 10% of the earth’s avian population diversity.
The mental effects of ‘gunner’ culture
In dental school, we are often surrounded by ambitious and driven students, who are often called “gunners.” Gunners seek success, can be competitive and may act on self-interest without thinking of their fellow classmates.