Two years ago, I had a choice live in an apartment or a dental school dorm. I did not expect to be making that decision in my mid-twenties. As you start dental school, you may be weighing those same options. Making the decision can be hard. I had not lived in a dorm before.
Dentists do more than fill and whiten teeth, place implants or do extractions. They are at the forefront of oral health. What they do in terms of prevention and treatment affects systemic health in a multitude of ways. For this reason, knowledge in medicine is a foundation for the practice of dentistry.
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is the newest buzzword in dentistry. What can this new formulation do? As an oral health care provider, here’s what you need to know about it.
Although SDF has only recently started making headlines in the U.S., it has been approved for use in Japan for more than 80 years. Currently, it has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration for use in adults 21 and older.
Recently my mentor, Dr. Brittany Seymour, and I were offered a unique opportunity to be a part of an interdisciplinary conference based in Anchorage, Alaska. The conference, Water Innovations for Health Arctic Homes (WIHAH), aimed to integrate national and international stakeholders to evaluate the health benefits, challenges and innovations associated with providing potable running water and sewer in remote northern communities. For many Alaskan communities, WIHAH encourages an interdisciplinary approach to providing running water affordably and sustainably.
For me, ASDA’s Wellness Initiative came at a perfect time. The introduction of Wellness Challenges happened to coincided with my newfound desire to take better care of myself by eating well and exercising more regularly. I wanted to be as healthy as I could so that I could set a good example for my patients as a dentist.
The June Wellness Challenge encouraged participants to “take on a new physical challenge,” and the opportunity presented itself when I was invited to join two friends for a yoga class. I had always been interested in trying out yoga, so I excitedly joined them for the class, borrowed mat in hand.
I believe that every predental student should be an ASDA member because of the many unique benefits that comes with membership. However, what I found to be the one of the most fulfilling experiences of my undergraduate career was the opportunity to serve as an ASDA leader at the national, district and local level as a predental member. I’m here today to share with you some the benefits of taking advantage of these opportunities.
In between the early morning runs to Starbucks, and late nights study sessions, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the fast-paced lifestyle of a dental student. But every now and then, it’s important to remind ourselves that these four years of school form just one chapter in the story of our lives. Here are five tips that will guarantee success not only in dental school, but also throughout your life.
