UC Berkeley Pre-Dental Society
The Pre-Dent Press Letter from the Editors
Volume 8, Issue 4
In this Issue Letter from the Editors
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Prehistoric Ancestors 1 Teaching Us a Thing or Two About Oral Health Members’ Retreat
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PDS Aces “Ace of Cakes”
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2012-2013 Officers and Interns
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Hello Pre-Dents! Spring semester has officially begun and we are right in the midst of midterm season. Good luck on all of your midterms, projects, and papers! This issue features the PDS officers of Fall 2012 - Spring 2013 as well as our newly elected interns. There are also many interesting dental research articles along with a couple of updates on recent PDS events. You may also find a section evaluating the pros and cons of mouthwash and dental floss, which may inspire you to think twice before purchasing a dental product next time! If you would like to submit an article or have any suggestions about the Pre-Dent Press, please contact us at cal.pds.publicity@gmail.com. Sincerely, Corissa Chang and Amy Zhao
Dental School Spotlight: Marquette University
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Dental Crossword
6 - Tanya Varimezova
Prehistoric Ancestors May Teach Us a Thing or Two About Oral Health
With the advent of new dental technologies and improvement in oral health awareness and hygiene over the past decades, it is difficult Nasal Anesthetic Spray 7 to face a new study - Less Painful Trip to the suggesting that our diets Dentist? today may, in fact, be more detrimental to our Pictures: PDS Giving Back 8 oral health than diets 10,000 years ago. to the Community A study recently published in Nature DAT Corner 8 Genetics conducted by from the Upcoming Events researchers University of Adelaide’s 3/23-3/31 ISL Dental Missions Australian Center Trip to Panama for Ancient DNA, the Wellcome Trust Sanger 4/1-4/5 Dental Health Institute in Cambridge, Awareness Week and the University of 4/3 5th General Meeting: Aberdeen’s Department Officer Positions of Archaeology in Scotland, has shown that 4/10 Social: Dental Ethics through the centuries, the human oral cavity has Visit http://pds.berkeley.edu/ calendar to see our calendar and undergone a dramatic keep up to date on our latest change. We have lost meetings and events. valuable bacteria which The Pros and Cons of 7 Mouthwash and Dental Floss
March 13th, 2013
used to contribute to great diversity of microbes in the oral cavity. The proposed reason for this decline is the introduction of processed sugar, flour, and other carbohydraterich foods into our daily diet. As a result, such foods destroy helpful bacteria and increase our chances of developing cavities. It seems that our hunter-gatherer ancestors had better oral and dental hygiene than we do today! Dr. Christina Adler, the main author of the paper, and other scientists involved in the project studied 34 samples of prehistoric human remains. They obtained DNA samples from calcified dental plaque (tartar), which represented a snapshot of oral health and diet
preserved in crystallized saliva, and discovered that the diversity of bacteria once present in the oral cavity is much greater than that of today. This data suggested that the shift from hunter-gatherer groups to farming and agricultural societies of the Neolithic period to the Bronze and Medieval Ages experienced a major shift in dietary customs. Tbe addition of wheat and barley, which are composed of carbohydrate monosaccharides and disaccharides, easily ferment and
create acidic conditions that eat away at the enamel on teeth, resulting some protective bacteria to be eliminated. Only certain harmful bacterial strains were allowed to survive in such conditions, as they outcompeted other less aggressive strains. During the Industrial Revolution of the 1800’s, the introduction of processed sugar, flour, and other complex carbohydrates into daily diets further homogenized bacterial in the oral cavity. As good bacteria were wiped out, acidity was able
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to erode at tooth enamel and promote even more gum disease and tooth decay, to the extent that we face 60 to 90 percent tooth decay and gum disease in children of industrialized countries. Thus, over the past 7,500 years, our natural defenses against foods’ negative effects have been depleted considerably. Dr. Alan Cooper, study leader and ACAD director, states, “The modern mouth basically exists in a permanent disease state.” This is certainly a scary thought and we will hopefully utilize
Volume 8, Issue 4 the knowledge of this study to implement improvements in our daily diets, not only for our oral health, but also overall health. Sources Dallas, Mary E. “Human Teeth Healthier in the Stone Age Than Today: Study.” MedlcinePlus. National Institute of Health, 19 Feb. 2013. Web. 1 Mar. 2013. Draxler, Breanna. “Ancient Tooth Plaque Reveals Dietary Decline.” Discover Magazine. N.p., 19 Feb. 2013. Web. 1 Mar. 2013. Healing Teeth Naturally. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2013. Kankudti, Affirunisa. “7,500 Year Old DNA Shows Rotting Teeth a Result of Modern Food Habits.” Counsel & Heal. N.p., 18 Feb. 2013. Web. 1 Mar. 2013.
Spring 2013 Members’ Retreat - Kenneth Chan
The PDS mini-retreat on Saturday was a great start to the semester where students engaged in various activities. We started the day off by playing multiple interactive icebreakers. After everyone had the chance meet one another, we were all sorted into three families: Brace Yourselves, HWhitening, and MolarStars. The majority of the mini-retreat revolved around a scavenger hunt; families had to race against each Member Reminders
For active PDS membership status, members must complete 5 events: 1 community service event, 1 social, and 3 other events of choice. Active members may miss no more than two general meetings. Any further missed meetings are required to be made up through attending officer meetings Membership fees are curretly $25. New members must submit a membership appplication along with fees.
Contribute to the Pre-Dent Press
The Pre-Dent Press is accepting article submissions for the next issue. Articles may be on anything dental-related, including but not limited to information on dental schools, community outreach opportunities, and PDS events. Please submit materials to cal.pds.publicity@gmail.com. Articles should be approximately one page, double-spaced, and 12 pt font. An article submission counts as 1 credit towards active membership.
Donate DAT Materials
PDS is also currently accepting donations of new and used DAT preparation material. If you would like to make a donation, please email calpredentalsociety@gmail.com. These materials will be made available for active members to rent.
Answers The DAT Corner: 1. A, 2. E, 3. B, 4. B, 5. D Dental Crossoword 4. Mirror 1. Bur 5. Hatchet 2. Retractor 6. Forceps 3. Burnisher
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7. Excavator 8. Plugger 9. Spatula 10. Explorer
The Pre-Dent Press Cal Pre-Dental Society University of California, Berkeley c/o ASUC Office of Student Affairs 400 Eshelman Hall, MC 4500 Berkeley, CA 94720-4500 Contact us at calpredentalsociety@gmail.com, visit us online at http://pds.berkeley.edu/. Publicity Committee: Corissa Chang, Amy Zhao, Mina Arbabaraghi, Sameera Arbabaraghi, Kenneth Chan, Arjun Gupta, Tanya Varimezova
The Pre-Dent Press is an ASUC sponsored publication. Cal Pre-Dental Society general meetings are ASUC sponsored and wheelchair accessible. For information on publications, please contact Wilson and Stephanie at cal.pds.publicity@gmail.com. For information on advertising with Cal PDS, please contact Patrick and Michelle at cal.pds.finance@gmail.com.
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other to solve various prepared riddles. The actions that students had to perform while being captured by camera included a mock interview and even a short race. About two hours into the retreat, lunch was served. We had a sandwich bar, along with salad and fruit, which provided a light and healthy alternative to the students. The scavenger hunt then resumed at Dwinelle Hall with “The Telephone Game” in which families tried to illustrate the phrase they were given without speaking to their family member, until it reached the end of the line. The afternoon ended in front of Haas Pavilion where the students gathered for various serious and goofy photos!
PDS Aces “Ace of Cakes”
- Arjun Gupta As PDS entered the event, the unmistakable aroma of freshly baked cupcakes filled the air. “Ace of Cakes” is an annual competition held by Circle K during which multiple clubs try to decorate the most creative cupcake in style and content. Following the completion, the cupcakes are presented to the audience and then voted by the attendees. The cupcake designs from this year’s competition were some of the most creative I had ever seen. Some groups created Pokemon-themed cupcakes with some favorites such as Pikachu. Others had combined all their cupcakes together to make a massive island with different aspects to it. Because Internal Fairs Officer, Michael Shen said, we were not going to win by making adorable
Volume 8, Issue 4
Previous page: Silly group photo in front of Haas Pavillion This page: MolarStars family photos.
cupcakes, we decided to play on our strengths and made dental-themed cupcakes. Raymond, our Finance Officer and I put together a multi-layered cupcake designating the different layers of teeth: enamel, dentin, and the pulp. Michael spent most of his time perfecting a sculpted molar. We decided to make our cupcake presentation like a dental education workshop and presented our works of art in addition to giving tips on how to keep your teeth clean. In the end, our efforts paid off as PDS took First Place! The event ended with a lot of socializing and photo-taking. New friends were made, fresh bonds were formed, and old ties were strengthened.
Top left: Arjun Gupta, Corissa Chang, Michael Shen at the event Top right: Cupcake entries Bottom left: Presenting cupcake designs Bottom right: PDS cupcake design in action!
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Volume 8, Issue 4
Name: Emily Yang Year: 4th Major: Integrative Biology Position: President Why PDS? PDS inspires me to take on the roles of a dental educator and oral health promoter as a pre-dental student!
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2012-2013 Name: Eric Lin Year: 4th Major: Molecular Cell Biology Position: External Affairs Why PDS? I enjoy interacting with other students who share a passion for dentistry.
Name: Michael Shen Year: 4th Major: Integrative Biology Position: Internal Affairs Why PDS? PDS allows me to form friendships that open my eyes to different perspectives of dentistry, and to help others around me. Name: Corissa Chang Year: 3rd Major: Integrative Biology Position: Publicity Coordinator Why PDS? I enjoy making friends with those who are both interested in and passionate for the field of dentistry.
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Name: Cari Yang Year: 3rd Major: Public Health Position: Secretary Why PDS? I love the welcoming environment. We are a supportive community of scholars and aspiring dentists in the making! Name: Amy Zhao Year: 2nd Major: Integrative Biology Position: Publicity Coordinator Why PDS? I am always excited to meet and learn from other inspiring pre-dental students at Berkeley.
Name: Michelle Khouri Year: 3rd Major: Molecular Cell Biology Position: Finance Coordinator Why PDS? I love the sense of community the club establishes, and the knowledge and resources it has to offer.
Name: Raymond Lee Year: 3rd Major: Integrative Biology and Psychology Position: Finance Coordinator Why PDS? I appreciate the passing down of years of experience from one to another.
The Pre-Dent Press
Volume 8, Issue 4
Officers & Interns
Name: Sharlene Cam Year: 4th Major: Integrative Biology Position: Community Service Why PDS? It’s dynamic; we’re always looking for ways to improve in order to build a better sense of community for pre-dental students at Berkeley. Name: Ivy Vuong Year: 3rd Major: Molecular Cell Biology Position: Community Service Intern Why PDS? I get to meet lots of people, and seeing familiar faces always makes this campus seem much more smaller.
Name: Chloe Tsang Year: 2nd Major: Molecular Environmental Biology Position: Dental Education Outreach Program Why PDS? I am constantly inspired by our commitment to our aspirations in dentistry, our community, and each other.
Name: Katherine Leung Year: 3rd Major: Integrative Biology Position: Community Service Intern Why PDS? I really like the friendly atmosphere of the club there’s always someone there to provide guidance and support for your dental school application process. Name: Stephanie Shimizu Year: 1st Major: Integrative Biology Position: Dental Education Outreach Program Intern Why PDS: I love the people! It’s so nice to get to know great people with common goals and interests.
Name: Steven Ryoo Year: 2nd Major: Integrative Biology Position: Community Service Intern Why PDS? I get to make lasting friendships!
Name: Han Tran Year: 2nd Major: Psychology Position: Internal Affairs Intern Why PDS? I love the supportive community of students who are all striving for a common goal.
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The Pre-Dent Press Dental School Spotlight: Marquette University School of Dentistry
Volume 8, Issue 4
- Mina Arbabaraghi
Biology Requirement 8 semester hours with lab Chemistry Requirements 8 semester hours of general chemistry with lab 8 semester hours of organic chemistry with lab Physics Requirement 8 semester hours with lab English Requirement 6 semester hours Additional Required Courses 3 semester hours of biochemistry Average Class Stats Number of Applicants: 2,582 Number of Seats: 80 4 Year Total Tuition: approximately $208,000 DAT AA: 19.5 DAT PAT: 19.58 Overall GPA: 3.63 Science GPA: 3.57
The only dental school located in Wisconsin, Marquette University School of Dentistry prides itself in its unique curriculum put together by its faculty in order to help its students thrive in dental practice and patient care. The school provides its students with the most developed clinical resources and instructional technology. With the assistance of these resources, Marquette is able to fulfill its vision “to train highly skilled oral health care practitioners to bring top quality dental care to urban and rural communities across the country and around the world.� In order to best prepare its students to enter the world of dentistry after receiving
their degree, Marquette University has designed its curriculum such that it reflects a dental practice. Students spend more time with patients than they spend in classrooms. They take part in university outreach programs, allowing them to gain experience in public health and improve their hand skills. In fact, one fourth of the program involves attending to patients at urban and rural clinical sites associated with Marquette University. This curriculum is based on the Catholic, Jesuit view that the classroom does not depict the real world. The school believes students will obtain their skills by working with actual patients. Beginning with their
first year, students work on patients at urban and rural clinical sites with faculty once a week and take part in small-group learning. To further prepare its dental students for the real world environment of dentistry, Marquette University has also incorporated practice management into the curriculum. Professional dentists discuss the aspects of dentistry related to business and teach students how to be a successful businessperson.
Dental Crossword Puzzle - Sameera Arbabaraghi
Across 3. Used to smooth amalgam 7. Used to take off soft carlous 8. Amalgam condenser 10. Used to probe tooth surfaces for decay Down 1. Used for cutting tooth or bone 2. Can be used to push aside the cheeks, lips, and tongue 4. Used to view oral cavity with indiret vision 5. Used to cut enamel 6. Tool used to extract teeth 9. Used to mix dental cements
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Volume 8, Issue 4 The Pre-Dent Press The Pros and Cons of Mouthwash and Floss - Arjun Gupta Since the turn of the century, there has been an explosion of over-the-counter dental products, which are commonly advertised to significantly improve our oral hygiene and asthetics. Do the effects of these products meet our expectations? Are there any aspects that we should consider when purchasing them? Here, we will examine the pros and cons of two types of products - mouthwash and floss - to evaluate their effectiveness. Mouthwash Pros: o Leaves your mouth with a good, clean feeling and pleasant odor o Kills off various microbes within the biome in your mouth o Can help prevent the emergence of gum disease Cons: o Can irritate sensitive gum tissue o Allows certain foods like coffee to stain your mouth more easily (mainly applies to prescription grade mouthwash) o Might kill off the helpful and necessary bacteria in your mouth that help to protect your teeth and gums, which may lead to increased susceptibility to gum disease Floss ( T - traditional, N - newer kinds i.e. toothpick floss) Pros: o (T) Has worked well in the past and is recommended by dentists and is supplied by dentists o (T) Fairly cheap and easy to get at any store o (N) Allows you to reach in usually difficult-to-clean crevices within your mouth o (N) There are countless types available so you can find something suited to your personal tastes Cons: o (T) Some teeth, which are tightly packed, can shred through floss o (T) Somewhat tedious to use and is disliked by many young children and even adults across the nation o (N) Some of the more popular brands tend to be quite expensive o (N) Many brands come in and are gone within months—some say there is no consistency
Nasal Anesthetic Spray - Less Painful Trip To the Dentist? - Sameera Arbabaraghi
A new anesthetic in the form of a nasal spray, is said to help make trips to the dentist less painful for patients in the near future. Claims have been made that it may potentially replace dental injections used to numb the mouth during a dental treatment. Dentist Mark Kollar first came up with the idea of the nasal spray when he had to get his nose straightened after getting hit in the face by a basketball. The doctor who treated him sprayed the injured part of his nose with the anesthetic Tetracaine. It not only numbed the arch of his nose, but also
his upper teeth. This sensation made Kollar realize its potential use in dental treatment. In order to put his idea into effect, Kollar worked with Steve Merrick, the CEO of St. Renatus. The anesthetic nasal spray is currently in phasethree of FDA Clinical Trials and it seems as though things are going well. St. Renatus hopes to have the drug approved by 2014. Although the drug currently only numbs the upper teeth, it is likely that advances would be made in its design to affect lower teeth as well in the future.
According to Merrick, “Only 50-percent of people presently go to the dentist, and I’m hoping that’s because of their fear of needles and pain. Ultimately what we’re trying to do is break an irrational fear of dentists that we develop at an early age. I’m hoping this drug, if it’s as effective as we believe, will help break that cycle.” Additionally, the nasal anesthetic, unlike oral injections, does not circulate in the body for hours, and hence has less adverse effects on the kidneys, lungs, and liver.
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MEMBER of the ISSUE: ALINA MILLER Year: Sophomore Major: Molecular Toxicology What I like about PDS: PDS provides a great support system, from giving guidance on dental school applications and salient information about the dental field, to being a social platform where you can meet people who can be your mentors or partners in crime!
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The Pre-Dent Press
Volume 8, Issue 4
Corissa Chang, Cari Yang, Sean Sunyoto holding dental education puppets
Lawrence Alvin Jogasuria, g Wong, Chloe Tsan
02/16: DEOP at Rosa
Parks Elementary 02/02: UCSF Give Kids A Smile Day Tanya Varimezova, Chloe Tsang, Alvin Jogasuria with UCSF dental student
PDS Giving Back to the Community Cari Yang, Sharlene Cam with UCSF dental student
Cari Yang face-painting
The DAT Corner
BIOLOGY
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
1. The addition of potassium iodide as a nutritional supplement to common table salt would most directly affect the function of which of these glands?
3. Which of the following compounds is the strongest Bronsted base?
A. Thyroid
B. NH3
Courtesy of predds.net
PERCEPTUAL ABILITY The black dots represent holes that were punched into the paper. What would the paper look like when you unfold it?
A. CH4
B. Sweat glands
C. H2O
C. Adrenal cortex
D. HF
D. Kidneys E. Parathyroid GENERAL CHEMISTRY 2. What is the percentage of oxygen by weight in Zn(H2PO4)2 (259 g/mol)? A. 53.3% B. 24.7% C. 39.5% D. 6.18% E. 49.4%
QUANTITATIVE REASONING 4. $180 is to be shared by Bob and Frank so that Frank gets 25% more than Bob. How much does Bob get? A. $72 B. $80 C. $100 D. $108 E. $144
(See answers on page 2.) PDS is currently accepting donations of new and used DAT preparation material. If you would like to make a donation, please e-mail calpredentalsociety@gmail.com. These materials will be available for active members to rent.
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CONTACT
YOUR OFFICERS
NAME Emily Yang Eric Lin Michael Shen Cari Yang Corissa Chang Any Zhao Michelle Khouri Raymond Lee Sharlene Cam Chloe Tsang
POSITION President External Affairs Internal Affairs Secretary Publicity Coordinator Publicity Coordinator Finance Coordinator Finance Coordinator Community Service Coordinator DEOP Coordinator
CELL PHONE 408-806-3677 650-3802658 650-862-7515 916-307-8063 949-903-9079 510-604-2422 408-506-5083 714-833-4803 909-659-5908 650-307-7666
EMAIIL emilypyang@gmail.com cal.pds.external@gmail.com calpds.internal@gmail.com c.yang@berkeley.edu corissapchang@gmail.com amy.z@berkeley.edu mkhouri@berkeley.edu raymondhlee@berkeley.edu sharlenecam@berkeley.edu cal.pds.deop@gmail.com
Check out our website at pds.berkeley.edu
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