SUMMER 2019 | VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1
THE EXCAVATOR We've Got the Scoop! Bringing You the Latest ASDA and DCG News since 2018
IN THIS ISSUE 2
A Guide to NetworkingÂ
SCHOOL'S... IN... FOR SUMMER!
Tyler Tolbert C'21 5
Events Calendar Briana Amos C'21
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Augusta: Home vs. School Sarah Ozturk C'21
8
Women’s World Cup Andrew Huber C'21
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Pregnant in Dental School Emily Latteri C'21
12
Ultimate Cheese Board Faith Botana C'22
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BBQ Review Emily Williams C'20
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Hobby Spotlight Ashton Leavengood C'21
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Your Path to DDS Clare Connors C'21
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AACD's 81st Fellow Erika Sanders C'22
22 Parking Cartoon Derrick Coleman C'20
Emily Latteri, C'2021 | DCG ASDA Newsletter Co-Editor Sarah Ozturk, C'2021 | DCG ASDA Newsletter Co-Editor It's hot; it's muggy; it's Summer! This time of year used to be what we looked forward to all school year as a blissful, long break, and now it is a time filled with more of the same hectic schedule we subject ourselves to year-round. Remember when summer classes were optional? Or even better, in the form of studying abroad? Most of us got a refreshing break (sorry, c'o 2022), and we look to take on the next few months with fortitude. In May we had to say some hard good-bye's, both to the c'o 2019 and the beloved gravel lot. Additionally, the former newsletter editor, Emily Williams c'o 2020, has turned her focus to her duties as a Contour Contributing Editor. She has entrusted The Excavator to your new editors: Emily Latteri and Sarah Ozturk, both c'o 2021. We hope this latest edition will take your mind off the unbearable heat and provide helpful information, as well as some comic relief to your day!
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Looking Outward to Find Your Inner Dentist Tyler Tolbert, C'21 As dental students well know, life inside the walls of a dental school can at times feel isolating. Though you are always surrounded by your colleagues who share your struggles--as well as instructors who have been through what you’ve been through—even words of comfort and solidarity can become a drone note. Ultimately, the daily milieu of dental school can make you forget why you’re here to begin with.
But if you take a moment to reflect, you will likely recall what got you into dentistry in the first place. Surely, there were many who influenced you into the profession. There were likely several dentists who were shining examples of success, exemplars of your community, or perhaps just people willing to grant you a moment of their time to share with
Tyler on set and being featured on Life
you what dentistry meant for them. Somewhere
and Dentistry Podcast
along the way, there was a sense of purpose and understanding of where you wanted to go. It drove you to take the DAT, do countless hours
and hazy vision we may one day be lucky enough
of community service and shadowing, and put
to see come to fruition. We march along with faith
on your best pair of shoes for interview day.
that at the end of the dental school road, we’ll
Even when you couldn’t do a crown prep or
find ourselves in a more favorable position to
recite the Miller classification system, something
worry about something other than the next test.
drove you. So what happened? But there is a contradiction there. Here we are in a
As anyone reading this is aware, dental school
place meant to equip us with the means through
has a habit of throwing many things at you at
which we can succeed, yet we’ve adapted to it by
once. Those hoping to maintain balance and
becoming so encumbered by the present that
purpose in their lives are often met with a
we’ve forgotten to what end our late nights
predicament, as the most prevalent answer to
studying and working up cases serve. So what is
this challenge is to adopt a culture of
the solution? How do we rediscover what we’re
immediacy. We begin to tackle dental school a
here to do, and set ourselves on the most direct
few weeks (even days) at time, just shuffling
path to our futures? The easiest way to do so is by
from one hurdle to the next and trying our best
using the resources we already possess at our
to hold stride. Over time, what were once steps
fingertips.
in a process that were means to an end become more like an existence unto themselves. In other
Enter the world of virtual dental networking.
words, the short-term obstacles we face in turn
Despite all the novel challenges facing dental
shorten our foresight into our futures. We are so
students today, we live in an auspicious time in
accustomed to the rat race that the notion of
which dental students have access to a wealth of
what happens after school becomes a far-off
information that was unavailable to previous
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generations. Until quite recently, the only way to
almost all of whom make themselves surprisingly
get experience outside of dental school was by
transparent and available to people who seek their
knowing the right people. While that is still the
advice.
case, the routes through which we might come to know others have become manifold. Social media
So, I present to you a challenge. Take a step away
networks like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
from your practicals, books, AxiUm, etc., and write
have become excellent landscapes for finding and
down your goals. Figure out for yourself who you
contacting dentists the world over. Not only can
hope to be not just as a dentist, but as a person.
one find dentists this way, but communicating with
Where do you live? What does your house look like?
them is as simple as sending them a direct
How many days per week do you work, and what
message and telling your story.
sorts of problems are you willing to deal with on a daily basis? Who do you hope to serve? Are you a
In addition to new opportunities for connections,
leader? A partner? What’s your procedure mix like?
there is a wealth of free information out there for
Perhaps you don’t intend on being chairside your
nearly any dental related subject you can imagine,
whole career and want to build your own DSO…The
and it’s available in a medium accessible to
more vivid you can make your vision, the easier you
everyone: podcasts. There are currently over 50
can implement it and choose the steps that best
dental podcasts of various disciplines and
serve your goals.
concepts for everything dentistry—be it clinical, business, or even philosophical. These podcasts will
Once you begin to form your vision, I encourage
often feature the biggest names in dentistry,
you to do some research and find a dentist that most suits your vision. Read books, listen to podcasts, or join private groups on Facebook where dentists are constantly posting about the things they do. I can guarantee you that the dentist you hope to be already exists, and the chances are they would be happy to help you in following the path they paved. Once you’ve found some candidates, reach out to them, tell them your story, and see where it goes! You can even look into some of their projects and offer yourself as an intern with the prospect of learning in exchange for work. That reciprocity can go a long way towards getting yourself into a network of successful dentists.
You will likely be surprised at how quickly dipping your toes in to the world of virtual networking will turn into diving headfirst. You’ll find that dentistry is an ostensibly massive and intimidating world that is truly a cottage-industry of professionals that are more than willing to pay it forward. The returns on your time spent away from the dental school rigmarole are bountiful, and ironically enough, you’ll find that your time in school is better spent when you have a salient idea of the path ahead.This newfound understanding will inform how you partition your time on a daily, weekly, and even annual basis. Dental school has a habit of making you run fast in every direction, while the world of dental networking sets you on the right path and
With mentor Michael Brumm at his office in
grants you a more predictable and enjoyable pace
Clearwater, Florida
towards the rest of your life.
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TYLER'S TOP PICKS
Dental Podcasts: ·
Shared Practices
·
Dentalpreneur
·
The Bulletproof Dental Podcast
·
The Dentist Money Show
·
The Life and Dentistry Podcast
Private Dental Facebook Groups (there are hundreds!): ·
Shared Practices
·
Dental Nachos
·
The Making of a Dental Startup
·
The Business of Dentistry
·
Restorative Implant Practice Excellence: Full Protocol
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Vo V lo ulm um e e1
2 I s sI u ss eu 3 e
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EVENTS CALENDAR BRIANA AMOS, C'21 | DCG ASDA SECRETARY
JULY 7/01
FRESHMAN PICNIC
7/08
D1 &D2 START FALL SEMESTER
GDA CONVENTION IN AMELIA ISLAND
7/26-28
AUGUST D3 & D4 END SUMMER SEMESTER
MCO ROMANIA MISSION TRIP
8/02
8/2-7
8/12
D3 & D4 START FALL SEMESTER
8/23
WHITE COAT CEREMONY
ASDA'S WELCOME BACK RECEPTION
TBD
IF YOU'D LIKE YOU EVENT FEATURED, PLEASE EMAIL BAMOS@AUGUSTA.EDU
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Augusta: Home, School and Definitely not "Disgusta" Sarah Ozturk, C'21 "So are you going home this weekend?" This question often makes me smile and give the answer, "well, yes if you consider driving 25 minutes to Evans." My friends, some finding it odd that I have chosen to stay in Augusta throughout high school, undergrad and dental school, often ask what has kept me here. There is no blame in their wonderment but if I had to guess, perhaps my travel photos on Instagram do not correspond with someone who chose to stay local. So here is the deal as to how my roots spun together and made Augusta my hometown and the city of my education. My mother, a Wisconsin-native of German and Norwegian background and my father, a Turkish immigrant chose this city to start a business and raise a family. Most of my school breaks were spent traveling to visit extended family, as half of them reside overseas and the
Row 5 checking in at Hinman's Night OutÂ
other half in the midwest. From a young girl onwards, traveling was our norm and reminded
Being a small city bumpkin, a trip to Atlanta
me that a home is feeling associated with
keeps my sisters and I googly-eyed and
people, and not just an address. While there is a
starstruck. Skyscapers galore, non-chain coffee
beautiful truth to how Augusta earned a special
shops and an airport with more than three gates;
place in my heart, I will hit the highlights with a
what's not to love? The traffic is my personal
sprinkle of sarcasm.
favorite, I always try to drive in at rush hour especially on my way to the annual Hinman Dental Meeting, just so I can get that big city feel. As an Augustan, I only get to experience true city traffic locally once a year, during Master's, which is ironically when those calling this city "Disgusta" seem to make a 180-turn and dote on this city for hosting such a prestigious tournament. When I cannot wait for next year's local traffic, a drive westbound on I-20 can quench that longing for bumper-to-bumper highway traffic.
A classic favorite of residing in Augusta is frequently running into former teachers, classmates, and friends at grocery stores and parks. The best of those encounters are with those who knew me from the awkward teen
A spring stroll in Evans with my nephews, of
years and when asked, "what's new?" I can
course after we have taken allergy meds.
honestly answer "not much," as my height has
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stayed the exact same and unfortunately a
All in all, being an Augustan has its perks
decade later, my teeth are bonded and banded
while being a dental student in my
in my second round of orthodontic treatment (and
hometown can be a challenge in terms of
yes I did wear my retainer the first time!) My
being on the cusp of family and school. Yet,
dental education has truly given me an authentic
I have a visceral feeling that it's precisely
outlook. For example, meeting up with childhood
where I am meant to be.
friends after taking the orthodontic midterm and revisiting these familiar faces now have me astonished as to what bougie spa treatments have caused their lips to be on the upper range of the orthodontic E-line values.
I am a huge fan of safety. While no one would have thought that Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Michael would render us restricted from the wet lab, and with an unrestricted pile of lab work, I am glad that I was able to evacuate down Washington Road and find shelter in Evans! I have seen no expression as priceless as my mother's or as fearful as my cat's when a blowtorch and a half-festooned set of dentures wound up on our kitchen table when I was simultaneously catching
Above: Wouldn't miss the solar eclipse for anything!
up on projects and taking refuge from the raging
Below: Decorations for the twin's tooth party.
storm. Whoops?!
Having family local is a major perk. A mother and father's love is everything and thankfully my parents were quick to figure out that my love language in dental school is in the form of bringing me home-cooked food. I mean is this not enough of a reason to stay local?
During the first month of school I witnessed the solar eclipse outside of the Harrison Building with both my classmates and my sister, a fourth year medical student at the time. Months later, during
Being anchored has nothing to do with
the five hour waxing final, which happened to be
giving up wings. A person can be rooted
longer than it took my sister to give birth, I found
and travel with the same mindset, it is not a
out that I became an aunt and was able to drive
binary function. What keeps it real is
all of two minutes to the hospital to meet my twin
adopting a global mindset. I've been raised
nephews. To this day, it is my favorite memory of
to wonder, to be curious of cultures and to
dental school and perhaps something I would
find joy in traveling; all of which makes me
have missed had I chosen to attend a different
certain that there is diversity when you look
dental school! When the twins' primary central
for it, no matter the population of your
incisors peaked through their gummy smiles, per
hometown. Moreover, the people with
Turkish traditions, a party was in order. This
which I surround myself are extensions of
tradition celebrates baby development and we
how I see the world. Their stories,
serve a special grain dish to bolster further
backgrounds, and cultures shape me and
growth. I took this task to heart and threw my
keep me turning pages in books, of course
darling nephews a tooth party. Being the dental
in addition to Proffit's Contemporary
student in the family, I stepped away from
Orthodontics and Shillingburg's
studying teeth and instead celebrated them!
Fundamentals of Fixed Prosthodontics.
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Women's World Cup Preview Andrew Huber, C'21 When: June 7th (Opening Game) – July 7th
United States Players to Watch for:
(Finals)
Julie Ertz Also known as the wife of Philadelphia Eagles’
Where: France
tight end Zach Ertz, she is incredibly competitive
Matches played in cities across the country
and tough. Ertz played central defense in the
Cities include Montpellier, Nice, Valenciennes,
previous World Cup and will likely move up to
Paris, Lyon, Reims, Le Havre, Grenoble, and
defensive center midfield for this year. Watch
Rennes
for her to be dangerous on headers from corners and set pieces.
Who: 24 nations represented (9 European, 4 Asian, 3 North American, 3 South American, 3 African, 2 Australia/New Zealand)
What to Watch For: The United States will try to defend their 2015 World Cup title. Although they are the favorites, it will be a tough task as there are many competitive teams in the field. Host nation France is the second favorite, and they are expected to have great support from their home crowd.
Germany, England, Japan, and Netherlands should each have good showings. Sweden
Ertz winding up for a kick. Check out that
will likely be the United States’ toughest
balance and technique!
competition in group play.
Carli Lloyd She had an impressive showing at the previous World Cup, including a hat trick to help the US
United States Game Schedule on FOX:
win the final game against Japan. Lloyd is a smart soccer player who has a knack for finding the ball and scoring. At age 36, she is the oldest player on the roster. She will likely be coming into the game as a strong substitute at forward.
Tuesday, June 11th USA vs. Thailand at 3 PM Sunday, June 16th USA vs. Chile at 12 PM Thursday, June 20th USA vs. Sweden at 3 PM
Lloyd's ball control is unreal and surely helped in her ability to score against Japan.
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5 Reasons to Watch the Women's World Cup for Non-Soccer Fans
The United States has a chance to win back-to-back World Cup titles.
There will be some beautiful shots (no pun intended) of the French countryside and cities.
It's an opportunity to show pride in one's country.
There will not be as much "flopping" as the Men's World Cup (in case you missed Neymar rolling, be sure to look it up.)
You can check out some crazy soccer fans!
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What to Expect When You're Expecting in Dental School Emily Latteri, C'21
On the afternoon of November 8th, I found myself in Fixed class with an almost-debilitating anxious feeling. I know what you are thinking, but I was not about to get a practical sheet back. I had just gotten a call from my doctor saying my hCG levels were through the roof, and we all know what that means. So many questions flew through my head. What is it going to be like being pregnant in dental school? How much time will I have to take off? Will it affect my grades? What the heck is a ferrule? I felt so overwhelmed by the challenges that would accompany this news but, at the same time, overcome with happiness at the thought of my little miracle, then the size of a pomegranate seed.
The first trimester brought more than its fair share of inconveniences. I struggled with morning sickness and fatigue through a tough last month of the semester. Let me tell you, a pregnant woman’s heightened sense of smell
First day of Junior clinic with my built-in
and cadaver lab do not pair well. Also, not
assistant... her pinky transfer technique still
that it's a competition, but I always find it a
needs work.
little funny when other people complain to me about being tired. Building a human really takes a lot out of you, not to mention I am now limiting my caffeine intake to one cup of coffee per day (arguably the hardest part of pregnancy). The first trimester was not all bad though. Sharing the news with my class at our Christmas party is my favorite school memory so far. Responses ranged from the shrill “Oh my gosh, congratulations!” to “Better you than me.” All jokes aside, I have felt nothing but support from everyone at school, which has made this whole ride manageable.
During the second trimester, most of the A blurry picture of the inside of my uterus that I've somehow convinced myself is cute.
annoying symptoms disappeared, and I began to feel like a ‘normal’ dental student again. That was until microbiology lectures,
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which reminded me I am at a greater risk for
When things are feeling unbearably hard, I
literally every infection known to man. My
have to remind myself that I’m not the first
normal schedule resumed, just with a few
woman to brave pregnancy during dental
added excitements. The day after our
school, and I won’t be the last.
prenatal development lecture, I found out my little kumquat was a baby girl. I got to share
Pregnancy in dental school has been just as
my excitement with much of my class at my
crazy as I’d expected but also completely
baby shower. Feeling her kicks, even those in
different than I’d ever imagined. Juggling
the ribs, are welcome during class, because
the craziness of dental school and
they kept me awake. Initially, I feared being
expecting my first child has been
in dental school would take away from the
challenging but so rewarding. This whole
pregnancy experience that I had always
experience puts things into a whole
imagined, but it has
different
actually enhanced it in
perspective and
a lot of ways.
only reinforces my ‘why’, which I think
As I get further into my
everyone can
third trimester, the
relate to. Life
hardest part has been
doesn’t stop for
accepting the
dental school, and
necessity to slow
everyone goes
down. I simply don't
through things
have the energy that I
outside of class
used to. My morning
that makes you
runs are half the speed
step back and look
and distance, my
at the bigger
biking commute is a
picture. It's easy
thing of the past, and I
to get tunnel vision
feel like a full-blown
here, but there is a
ASA IV when I take the
lot of more
stairs to clinic.
important things to
Speaking of clinic, I
keep in mind as
anticipated many
we make our way
challenges with
through these four
transitioning to Junior
years. As my due
clinic, but never did I
date (July 10th)
foresee having to apologize so much for my
approaches, I'm constantly thinking about
belly touching my patient. And chair release is
how things will soon change. I try to imagine
already reminiscent of The Hunger Games,
how it will be returning from maternity
but it gets even more interesting when you
leave, taking care of a newborn, and
have to take into account your anticipated
keeping up with our unforgiving curriculum.
due date and maternity leave. My
But the only conclusion I come to is, "we'll
ergonomics, not that they were very good
just have to wait and see." This will bring the
pre-pregnancy, have gone out the window,
biggest change in my life yet, but just like
and I’m reminded every night by relentless
always, we adapt to change and it
aches. Lastly, I know we are all severely
becomes the new normal. This time, my
inconvenienced by the new parking situation,
normal is just going to get a whole lot cuter.
but I’m pretty sure the walk from Lot 69 is going to send me into preterm labor. *Insert Expectant Mother Parking plug*.
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An Entertainer's Guide to the Ultimate Cheeseboard
Faith Botana, C'22 | HSDA Social Chair For me, a big part of hosting is having a general
Savory Bites
understanding of not only what your guests like but how they interact in a social environment. There is nothing worse than having a potluck where everyone is scared to take the first bite and dig in. I have found that the best way to bridge that is to
I always add something pickled and savory that will pair nicely with my variety of cheeses Here is what I used:
have a visually appealing spread of cheese, fruits,
Pickled okra
nuts, and jams where anything goes!
Roasted red peppers
If you know me you know that I absolutely love
Almonds
hosting small gatherings for my friends and
Salami & Soppressata
classmates here in Augusta. For your next gathering
Olive tapenade *recipe below
I have some key tips to putting together the ultimate cheese board and creating an ambience your guests are going to love!
Faith's quick and easy Olive Tapenade IIngredients:
Cheeses
Capers
When shopping for cheeses, my tip is to have one
Kalamata olives
soft creamy cheese, a hard cheese, and either a
Green pimento olives
rich blue or gouda.
Castelvetrano olives
Here is what I used:
1 Tbsp high quality olive oil
Triple cream Brie
Directions:
Bella Vitano Merlot infused hard cheese
Combine handul of capers, half jar of each
Smoked Cheddar
olive type, and olive oil in food processor
Sweets
Blend until combined, just short of a paste
You can never go wrong with a few slightly sweet items to really make your cheese plate come
Serve in small bowl alongside sliced cucumbers, crackers, or fresh pepper slices Enjoy!
togeher.
Bonus - this recipe is great on a salad the
Here is what I used:
next day
Fig jam (My go to!) Fresh strawberries Dried apricots
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Putting it all together You want things to look aesthetically pleasing and have everything in different sections with a pop of color-I mean who doesn’t take picture of a really good-looking cheese board to post it on their social media page!
I usually pair it with a nice and easy to drink Pinot Noir or even a Malbec. These tend to be a little more fruit forward and pair great as well as being very approachable for guests that may not be big wine drinkers. Flowers and candles create the perfect ambience for your guests.
As always, make the platter your own as I have done it differently almost every time with the
All the supplies for a stellar cheeseboard
cheese, charcuterie, and fruit due to availability and freshness! Â Make this for your next gathering and wow your guests! See you next time! Cheers!
Displayed on a handcrafted reclaimed wooden board from HC Boards in downtown Augusta, whose merchandise can regularly be found at the Augusta market every Saturday 8am - 2pm
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Augusta's BBQ Joints: A Review Emily Williams, C'20 | Contour Contributing Editor When one thinks of Augusta, birdies come to
robbed of the true experience, though they did
mind before piggies. However, our bustling
have some excellent beans and franks instead.
metropolis is home to a myriad of delicious
Foodwise, everything was quite tasty, though
barbeque restaurants. Located at the
nothing really blew me away. Perhaps this was
intersection of Georgia and South Carolina,
due to the missing hash? Their sauces are very
Augusta’s barbeque joints range from
traditional and delicious, and also available for
traditional Georgian to low country
purchase for your fellow aficionados. Sconyers
Carolinian pork products. I have forged
is worth a visit for anyone with even a general
through the CSRA the past few years to
interest in barbeque.
sample as many places as my budget and stomach allow. While it is hard to make truly “bad” barbeque, there are stark differences
Claim to fame: most legendary place in town
between what is good, what is great, and
Sconyers Bar-B-Que, 2250 Sconyers Way
what is just popular. Here I will cover a
Proximity from campus: 6.1 miles (13 min)
sampling of some of Augusta’s best known
BBQ pork plate with 2 sides: $12.55
places, plus some that should be better
Thursday-Saturday 10 AM - 9 PM
known. Disclaimer: these opinions are that of the author, not of DCG or The Excavator. Sconyers is to Augusta barbeque what the Masters is to the Augusta golf establishment. Featured in People Magazine! Served to Jimmy Carter on the White House lawn! Even if the drive to south Augusta is daunting, at the very least visit Sconyers’ website to experience its dirge-like Dixie: “Come taste the legend for yourself” plays automatically on each page, imploring you to cross Gordon Highway and enter what can only be described as the EPCOT for barbeque. This sprawling institution features waitresses dressed in 18th-century garb, ready to attend to whatever your heart desires, as long as you are a carnivore. I do admire Sconyers’ unwavering commitment to meat. On my visit I witnessed a family flat-out demolishing several plates of the Plantation Platter, a “quarter chicken or sliced turkey, two meaty ribs, chopped brisket, and chipped pork,” and was frankly quite jealous. The only
Sconyers' pork plate with beans and franks,
vegetables allowed are pickles, alongside
potato salad, and coleslaw
potato salad, cole slaw, and their famous hash, which may be considered a vegetable here. Note: On my visit they were out of hash! I felt
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Closer to school, at just a hop skip and a
Southbound is a great barbeque restaurant if
jump across Laney Walker, Perry’s Pig is a true
you like pretending you live in suburban New
local gem. This place, tucked off Old
Jersey. Everything is fine, the decor says “I
Savannah Road, serves what might be the
have listened to the Allman Brothers at least
lightest barbeque meal in the CSRA. Nothing
once,” and they actually serve alcohol, a
is greasy--not the pork, not even the mac and
rarity in a barbeque place around here.
cheese. This is necessary due to Perry’s
Though the meat and collards are both tasty
brilliant decision to give diners the choice of
enough, I don’t understand why they keep
topping their pulled pork with cracklins.
winning “Augusta’s best” when there are so
Porkception. I didn’t realize barbeque could
many more flavorful options. Or maybe I’m
be elevated to such heights until trying their
just untrustworthy of any barbeque place that
cracklin-doused sandwich. The crispiness of
also serves taco salad. The mac and cheese
the skins combined with the tenderness of
and sauces are both a bit sweeter than I’d
the meat is unparalleled, giving a new
prefer, and the sauces are more of the
meaning to “hog heaven.” The collards are
gloppy and sticky Kansas City variety, a
flavorful with a light kick of spice, and the
contrast to what I believe is the more refined
mac and cheese is light while still being
local vinegar style. Less is certainly more
irresistibly cheesy. Additionally, they serve
when it comes to both menu and sauce
their hash on what seems to be jasmine rice.
offerings. Southbound is an amalgamation of
This innovation in the field elevates the hash
barbeque, serving up a decent spread
to a fluffiness usually reserved for excellent
bolstered by its close proximity to school, its
red beans and rice. The sauces are complex,
liquor license, and the fun and relaxed
but I do wish their spicy sauce was actually
atmosphere. Southbound is fabulous if you
spicy -- though it is well-rounded, there is
think of it as a fun restaurant that happens to
little heat. Be forewarned, Perry’s Pig is
serve barbeque, rather than a true
majority take-out, with a few places to stand
barbeque-focused place. Additionally, the
and eat outside on a covered porch.
“Famous” wings are hard to beat, especially on Wednesdays when they are half-off and paired with hearty serving of trivia. Of all the
Claim to fame: best sandwich (with the
restaurants on this list, Southbound is by far
cracklins on top)
and away the best option if your top priority
Perry's Pig, 1957 Old Savannah Rd
is going out to eat with your friends at a
Proximity from campus: 2.2 miles (6 min)
bustling and energetic establishment with
BBQ plate with 2 sides: $10.15 (includes drink)
yummy food, barbeque optional.
Thursday-Saturday 10 AM - 7 PM Claim to fame: best atmosphere, best place to go with a group Southbound Smokehouse, 1855 Central Ave Proximity from campus: 1 mile (3 min) BBQ plate with 2 sides: $11.50 Wednesday/Thursday 5 PM - 12 AM Friday - Sunday 11:30 AM - 12 AM
Hawaiian Style BBQ may not fit the usual description of a southern barbeque restaurant but deserves an honorable mention. As the name implies, this place brings a taste of the Pacific to Augusta, featuring “kalua pork:” Hawaiian style, slow roasted and shredded.
Perry's Pig's bbq and cracklin sandwich in a
This restaurant is a great option for anyone
moat of pork that must be conquered first
who has a hard time making up their mind. It
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features a litany of options in addition to
their sauces, sides, and desserts, areas in
pork, from poke bowls to short ribs to shrimp
which most other places fail to shine evenly.
katsu. Plus, the sides include both cucumber
The sides are perfection, featuring a range
and cabbage based kimchi. Pulled pork
wide enough to please any palate without
topped with spicy kimchi may be the polar
going overboard. Here you can find my
opposite of the cracklins noted above, but
favorite collards and mac and cheese in
both have a special place in my bbq-loving
town. Their barbeque chicken is also
heart. The fresh crunch of the kimchi is a
incredible, with the meat about to fall off the
beautiful contrast to the tender pork. This is
bone. Dare I say it’s better than the pork? Or
also your best option for those who eschew
will that get me banned from South
pork as the sides are all vegetarian, and
Carolina? However, the real star of BBQ Barn
there are several seafood options. If you’re
is the sauce. Keep It Simple, Sauces: here we
feeling adventurous, try the spam musubi: a
have Carolina gold and vinegar, both served
treat made popular during WWII that is
in mild and hot variations. All four iterations
basically spam sushi. With all this being said,
are the perfect viscosity to drizzle over your
my favorite thing on the menu here is their
pork while still holding their own substance.
spicy garlic chicken. This chicken tastes like it
The vinegar cuts against the light fattiness of
is coated in cracklins and is tossed in the
the pork, while the mustard brings out a
most delectable sauce. I am salivating just
subtle smokiness. Don’t tell anyone but
thinking about it. I know this is a barbeque
sometimes I mix the two blends together, a
review, but run, don’t walk, to this chicken!
sign that not a single word of this review should be trusted as barbeque canon. In the immortal words of our fellow Georgian Gucci
Claim to fame: best BBQ, most fun sides
Mane, “A man can get lost in the sauce. But
Hawaiian Style BBQ, 1719 Gordon Hwy
the same man can be lost without the
Proximity from campus: 3.5 miles (7 min)
sauce.” If you are looking to get lost in the
Tuesday - Friday 11 AM - 3 PM
sauce, BBQ Barn is your place. And in the
Saturday 11 AM - 9 PM
end, does anything else really matter?
Claim to fame: best overall package and sauce BBQ Barn, 10298 Atomic Rd, North Augusta Proximity from campus: 3.8 mile (10 min) BBQ plate with 2 sides: $9.50 Wednesday 11 AM - 6 PM Thursday-Saturday 11 AM - 8:30 PM
Bonus BBQ Other places worth a gander:
Spicy garlic shrimp, spicy garlic
Riverside Smoke (downtown Augusta)
chicken, cabbage kimchi, cucumber
Pot smoker's (North Augusta)
kimchi, and potato salad
Blue's BBQ (near Perry's Pig) Freeman's (Beech Island) Ray's Smokehouse (south of Sconyer's)
Lastly, BBQ Barn, located across the river in
Mot's
North Augusta, is my gold standard for
Cleve Edmunds
barbeque in the CSRA. The pork itself is
Willie Jewell's Old School Bar-BQ
nothing wildly out of the ordinary but wellflavored and tender. However, the folks here at the Barn have put equal attention into
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Woodworking: Hand-skills Outside of the Clinic Ashton Leavengood C'21 Hi! My name is Ashton Leavengood, and I am currently beginning my third year of dental school. While dental school is busy and time is limited, we all must find time for ourselves outside of dentistry. Woodworking is one of my many hobbies, but in dental school I have really used woodworking as a mental release and time to recharge my batteries. It may seem odd that to take a break and relax actually means doing some more work, but hey, it works for me. I like setting the goal of building a project, taking my time doing everything, and problem solving as I go along. It’s also really satisfying when you're finished and you see the end result of your work.
I know what you're saying: “I don’t have time, the tools, or the 'know-how' to do any woodworking.” Truth is, it doesn’t take much to get started. You don’t have to devote a whole day. Usually on any project I do, I work an hour here and there, or work for an afternoon on the weekend. The tools part can be a little trickier, but you only need a couple tools for most projects. Other tools can make the job easier but are not necessary. I’ve acquired my tools over the years here and there as I needed them for projects. You can always borrow what you need from friends, family, or even rent them from a hardware store for the day. Lastly, the know-how can be difficult, but that’s nothing a little research can’t fix. I usually Youtube or look up the plans for anything I don’t know how to do. You can literally look up anything nowadays. Nothing is hard when you know how to do it! So, get out there and do it!
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The Path Less Taken: Which Major Best Prepares You for Dental School? Clare Connors, C'21
"If you were a betting man (or woman) and had to
D3 Mallory Weaver argues that the path less
guess the college major of any given dental student,
traveled was completely worthwhile:
what would be your best guess? Most people, even if they knew very little about dentistry, would guess
"Looking back, doing a major like biology or
Biology, and they would probably be right. Biology
chemistry would have absolutely better prepared
has historically been the major of choice for
me for the classes to come in dental school, but
incoming dental students, because it provides
at the end of the day, I know I had the most fun
background knowledge that is helpful in the didactic
doing Industrial Engineering because that’s what
courses of dental school. However, in recent years
interests me. My engineering background has
there has been a trend to diverge from this pattern.
taught me to never assume that 'what we‘ve
The Class of 2021, for example, represents
always done' is the best way to do something, so
disciplines such as Industrial Engineering, Economics,
I’m constantly looking for ways to improve
Agricultural Sciences, Art, Spanish, Literature and
methods to better serve my patients and the
Zoology. While these majors may not seem to relate
school.”
to dentistry, this variety is due in part to the university
Recent graduate and Studio Art major, Gabrielle
ideology of the well-rounded student. In fact, some students decided on their major in order to stand out
Going, also followed her interests in undergrad with no regrets:
on their applications amongst a sea of Biology majors. While Underwater Basket Weaving may not
“I only took the basic science courses I needed to
necessarily relate to dentistry, it sure does raise an
get into dental school like Chemistry, Organic,
eyebrow and some intrigue to an admissions
Biochem, and Physics. So courses like development
committee, and it is absolutely a conversation starter in an interview. Could that particular student be
and embryology, microbiology, and neurology in dental school were a lot harder for me then my
successful here, with such little science background?
classmates since it was my first time learning those subjects. However, I would say being an art major
Absolutely! Being a Biology major does not
definitely helped me a lot. It helped me think
automatically make you a successful dental student,
visually in the dental setting, which is very
and being a Shakespearean Literature major does not
important to be able to do in dentistry.... I
automatically make you a bad one. Yes, Bio majors
especially noticed it helped me a lot on the
may have a leg up in some of the didactic courses,
Operative and Fixed 1 and 2 practicals because I
because they are more familiar with the material
visually understood what the professors were
before they even walk through the door. However,
wanting me to do right from the start. Having
everyone starts with the same baseline science
dexterity is important but if you cannot visually
prerequisites: Biology 1 and 2, General Chemistry 1 and
understand what is expected of you, you won’t be
2, Organic Chemistry 1 and 2, Biochemistry, Physics. The difference between the applicants is that the Bio major delved further in these sciences, while the Shakespeare major decided they really enjoyed those college
able to cut a correct prep or create a perfect line angle…I definitely think dentistry is as much of an art as a science. So having a strong background in both is ideal and it will set you up for success in
requirements that everyone else was thankful to finish.
the dental field.”
And hey, it may have been a GPA boost if it was what interested them. In fact, I would argue that the
Embrace the fact that you are different than your
Shakespeare Lit major might be an asset to a dental
peers, and never sell yourself short because of
class. How boring would it be if we were all the same
that. We will all make it out of here with the same
with the same skill sets and the same background
degree. That doesn’t mean we have to enter with
knowledge?
the same one.
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The 81st Accredited Fellow with the AACD Erika Sanders, C'22
In May of 1991, Dr. Kathy Sellers Sanders graduated
of the most renowned cosmetic dentists in the
from the Medical College of Georgia. Her career
world. The organization offers two rigorous
began upon moving to Kingsport, Tennessee with
certification processes: Accreditation and
her husband Brian. After working as an associate
Fellowship. These distinctions set dentists apart
for a short time, Dr. Sanders established her own
from their peers who are also marketing
private practice in 1992, which later took the name
themselves as cosmetic dentists. Accreditation
Tri-Cities Center for Cosmetic Dentistry in the year
requires the submission and acceptance of 5
2000.
clinical cosmetic cases: a huge accomplishment
Why the name change?
in itself! Dr. Sanders achieved this step in 2006.
Dr. Sanders had discovered an incredible passion
Since then, she has been working toward her
for cosmetic dentistry. This name change
Fellowship, which requires 50 clinical cases. The
represented a commitment to herself and her
cases must be carefully documented through
patients to become the best cosmetic dentist she
unedited photography. Dentists are not
could be. In April 2019, this commitment led to the
permitted to filter or edit even the smallest
achievement of her Fellowship with the American
details of the photographs- so getting the right
Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). She is
image is crucial. Dr. Sanders constructed a
the 81st recipient in the world and the 1st recipient
photo studio in her practice, where clinical
in the state of Tennessee to achieve this
photos are taken daily and portrait photographs
distinction.
are taken upon case completion. “Start taking
What is Fellowship with the AACD?
your own photographs as soon as possible!” she
The AACD is made up of dentists across the
urges students and dentists.
globe. Annually, dentists meet to learn from some
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A Personal Case: While Dr. Sanders has achieved an impressive milestone in her career, she certainly did not arrive here by accident. She easily acknowledges all of the friends, family, and peers who have motivated her to keep pursuing her goals. Years of focused learning, interest, peer feedback, passion, and hard work have lead her to this present destination. Her interest in improving the esthetics and function of smiles began early. “Even before I graduated, I saw opportunities to increase people’s self confidence through cosmetic dentistry. My first esthetic patient was my mother. I could not wait to give her a beautiful smile that reflected the beauty I saw within her,” reports Dr. Sanders.
One of Dr. Sander's many magazine features
Her mother had developed a habit of covering her mouth when she smiled genuinely. Dr. Sanders
difficult procedure. “I restored my mother’s anterior
remembers eagerly presenting a treatment plan to
teeth with composite bonding as a student. I was
her professors at the dental college, requesting to do porcelain veneers for her mother (a highly advanced
very proud of the result! My mom slowly adjusted to not covering up her smile when she laughed. It was
procedure for a student to complete at that time!)
so exciting and rewarding,” she beamed as she told
However, due to the technique sensitivity of porcelain veneers, her professors suggested she try a less
the story. Later when Dr. Sanders owned her own practice, she redid her mother’s smile in porcelain veneers like she had dreamed of doing years earlier. “And that was even more satisfying, seeing how far I had come in my techniques and materials,” she says gleefully.
Advice to dental students and dentists: “I have always had a passion for learning through continuing education courses.” She urges dentists and students to take advantage of CE requirements to explore something new. Whatever the course topic- cosmetic dentistry, occlusion, dental sleep medicine, business management, or treatment planning- you are guaranteed to elevate your work as a dentist and increase your personal satisfaction with your work. She also encourages students to get involved in an Esthetics Study Club or venture out to the AACD Annual Session in 2020 to be held in Orlando, Florida from April 22nd – 25th.
Erika at the awards ceremony with her mother
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The Recognition Ceremony: The Awards Ceremony was held in sunny San Diego, California in late April 2019. “The most memorable part of the week was being recognized for my Fellowship in front of thousands of people. The best part, though, was having my family and my team present for the celebration.” Dr. Sanders describes the importance of having people who encourage you and work alongside you in dental practice and at home. “I would not be where I am today without my fabulous team and supportive family,” she says.
New Opportunities: Achievement of her fellowship has lead to other excitements and benefits as well. The Kingsportbased dentist has been mentioned in several press releases, conducted television interviews, and local ceremonies as well. “I think my team and I are relishing the fruits of all of our work over the past decade onwards. We have maintained a treatment acceptance rate of over 90% for the past year.” The office is thriving!
Dr. Sanders with her family, an integral component of her support team
Personal Life: Dr. Sanders grew up in Pembroke, Georgia. She attended Georgia Southern University before attending dental school in Augusta, Georgia. She and her husband Brian are celebrating 30 years of marriage in June. She has two children: Erika (24, dental student at DCG) and Michael (22, Masters in Business Analytics student in Knoxville, TN). Her hobbies include yoga, caring for plants, photography, family gatherings, attending church, traveling, and cooking. She is a role model and friend to many. She loves to be a resource for others and welcomes any questions current students may have.
Dr. Sanders can be reached via her website:
Dr. Sanders' website is teeming with success stories and publications.
https://www.tricitiessmiles.com
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Contact our Editors-in-Chief,
Emily Latteri, C'21Â elatteri@augusta.edu
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