Gator Dentist Times - July 2011 by UF ASDA

Gator Dentist Times July 2011

UFCD ASDA News

6 Dean Dolan Will building new dental schools in Florida improve access to care?

14 Everything You Need to Know to Pass NBDE Part I

13 Dr. Low Licensure and the Examination Process

10 Crossword

A New Way to Evaluate Postdoctoral Dental Applicants with a pass-fail NBDE Part I

Alexandra Best

According to the ADA, there is an average of fifteen applications for every available spot in postdoctoral dental programs, with specialties such as oral and maxillofacial surgery having numbers as high as 36. At the same time, since 2004, there has been a 10 percent increase in applications, with only a 6 percent increase in enrollment, and nearly half of the graduating 2009 class reported applying to an advanced education program.i

With these statistics in mind, the decision to make the National Board Dental Examination Part I a pass-fail exam beginning in 2012 has left many dental students wondering how advanced education programs plan to choose their “best” applicants for acceptance. In the past, NBDE Part I scores, dental school grade point average, and class rank were considered of upmost importance, often determining who was even granted an interview. However, the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations has stated that “there is little measurement error at the minimum passing point [a score of 75], but the error increases slightly as the scores depart from that point. This means for example that there is no guarantee that there is a difference in the knowledge and ability of the candidate who achieves an 89 and the candidate who achieves a 90.”ii At the same time, GPA is difficult to compare between dental schools, and some institutions do not even give letter grades or class rank. Finally, when the ADEA surveyed postdoctoral program directors in April 2010 and asked them to identify what qualities they valued in applicants, it was found that non-cognitive factors such as being a team player, assuming responsibility, and integrity were ranked higher than cognitive factors, yet a further blow to current methods of postgraduate assessment. As a result, students applying to advanced education programs will now be required to submit with their ADEA PASS application Continued on Page 2.

the previously optional Personal Potential Index (PPI), which is “a web-based evaluation system designed to provide a more complete picture of an applicant‟s potential for success in an advanced dental education program- beyond grades, test scores, and recommendation letters.”iii Applicants choose up to five evaluators to rate them on six personal attributes: knowledge and creativity, communication skills, teamwork, resilience, planning and organization, and ethics and integrity. The resulting information is considered more reliable than the optional professional evaluations because it is standardized and incorporates responses from several evaluators, rather than just one. However, some specialty programs are worried that eliminating Boards scores may negatively impact their ability to evaluate applicants. As ADA President Ronald L. Tankersley declared, “Development and maintenance of standards is among the most important things the ADA does, because those standards are necessary for us to remain a selfregulating profession, instead of a trade.”iv Along the same lines, a 2003 study of dual degree oral and maxillofacial surgery/M.D. programs reported that the first-time pass rate of residents on the USMLE Part I was seventyfive times higher for those scoring between 95 to 99 on the NBDE Part I than those scoring below 90. A passing

score on the first attempt of the USMLE has been correlated with successful residency. Thus, to address the concern that the transition to a pass-fail NBDE Part I might jeopardize the postdoctoral application process, even with the requirement of the PPI, several fellows of the American Dental Education Association Leadership Institute, representing various dental schools across the country, have proposed a National Postdoctoral Dental Qualifying Examination (NPDQE). This examination would evaluate both the cognitive qualities currently

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UF ASDA CHAPTER measured by the NBDE Parts I and II, such as clinical knowledge, clinical decision making, and basic science background, as well as noncognitive and personality traits. The theoretical test would support the idea described by Daniel Goleman in Emotional Intelligence, namely that “emotional intelligence, defined as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and the ability to manage relationships, can matter more than IQ.”v In conjunction with the PPI, it would allow advanced dental program directors to assess applicants‟ emotional intelligence, communication skills, empathy, integrity, critical thinking skills, and

selflessness, traits that currently are hard to assess or inadequately assessed during interviews and in recommendation letters. The fellows of the ADEA who developed the suggested criteria for the NPDQE believe that the implementation of one standardized postdoctoral exam would be more effective than allowing specialty-specific assessments such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), as this would increase costs to the applicants and still fail to fulfill the non-cognitive evaluation component. To complement the proposal for a potential postdoctoral entrance examination, the 2009 House of Delegates passed Resolution 56H-2009, a movement that called for the development of a Task Force that would evaluate the examination, referred to as the Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT) for advanced education programs. The Task Force was charged with considering the validity of examination scores and incorporating input from relevant communities, such as dental specialty organizations, graduate school educators, and the American Dental Education Association. Thus far, the Task Force has met twice and has sent a survey to advanced education program directors regarding whether they would use results from the ADAT, and what characteristics they would like to see it incorporate. Overall, qualities such as “ability to interpret data, clinical knowledge, clinical judgment, clinical thinking skills including Continued on Page 20.

Class

Ethics Corner: It’s Not Easy Being Green

of 2014... This means

Angela McNeight

ASDA Ethics Chair

YOU!

“Never let the water run while you are brushing your teeth” is a line that every one of us heard as a small child, whether it was from our parents or from Barney singing it to us on TV. But even now as dental students, can we all truly say that we turn the water off for the entire 2 minutes we are brushing our teeth every day? Conserving water, using sustainable materials, recycling, and reducing energy usage are just a few of the ways humans help the environment, but bringing these practices into the dental environment proves to be challenging and seemingly impossible to some. The Eco-Dentistry Association, created in June 2010, is an international organization that bases eco-dentistry on 4 main areas including waste reduction, pollution prevention, and energy and water conservation. Currently, many dentists are switching to digital radiology and billing, reducing toxic x-ray chemical release and saving paper. Other ways dental offices can go green are by using cloth chair barriers, re-washable patient bibs, motion-detector lighting, and nonchemical steam sterilization. For obvious infection control reasons, many of these suggestions prove controversial. But where do we draw the line between helping protect our environment and helping protect ourselves and our patients? The buzz about dentistry “Going Green” seems to be all around us as dental students. In the May 2011 ASDA News publication, a Harvard dental student highlighted that even ASDA on a national level revised its N-1 Policy to recycle materials at all ASDA meetings and events. And who can forget the wooden USBs that stand was giving out at the ADA Convention vendor fair? It‟s important for us to know the realizations about how much waste our profession produces and the specific ways we can help the environment both in the UF clinics and in our future dental careers. Whether it‟s through lectures or guest speakers, we as 21st century dentists have a responsibility to learn about our impact on the environment and how to keep both our planet and patients healthy for years to come.

Okwuje, Ifie, Anderson, Eugene, Valachovic, Richard W. Annual ADEA Survey of Dental School Seniors: 2009 Graduating Class. J Dent Educ. 2010 74: 1024-1045. ii Hawley, Nate. (2008). NBDE Part I: A Meaningful Score or A Score without Meaning [Powerpoint slides]. Retrieved from http://www.adea.org/. iii American Dental Education Association. Introducing the Personal Potential Index: A New Resource for Presenting and Evaluating Applicants for Advanced Dental Education Programs. Retrieved from http://www.adea.org/. iv Fox, Karen. Postgraduate Exam Under Study. Nov 12 2009. Retrieved from http://www.ada.org/. v Brodie, Abby J., Crow, Heidi C., Eber, Robert M., Handysides, Robert, Holexa, Roy, Kiat-amnuay, Sudarat, Spallek, Heiko. Evaluating Postdoctoral Dental Candidates: Assessing the Need and Recommendations for a National Qualifying Examination. J Dent Educ. 2011 75: 719-725. vi Task Force on Developing an Advanced Dental Admission Test. Reference Committee: Dental Education, Science and Related Matters. Report of the Task Force on an Advanced Dental Admission Test. Rep. Sept. 2010: 4198-4215.

Nicholas Mann ASDA Co-Legislative Liaison At this year‟s Dentists Day on the Hill there were four legislations that were major concerns to students, current, and future dentists. The first, supported by the FDA, addressed the issue of the Florida Dental Licensure Exam. The FDA supported moving Florida‟s dental licensure exam to the American Dental Licensure Examination (ADLEX) developed by the American Board of Dental Examiners Inc. This would provide an acceptable means to reduce costs and maintain the integrity of the Florida licensure exam. This legislation passed in committee, and the amended language would now move the current dental licensure exam to the American Dental Licensing Examination (ADLEX). Another issue of importance pertained to prohibiting maximum allowable charges for noncovered services. This legislation stops insurance companies from dictating allowable charges for services not even covered in their policy. These bills will stop artificial price controls and bring fairness back to the contract negotiation process. This legislation passed unanimously in the Senate Committee on Wednesday, April 13, 2011. The final legislation supported by the FDA aimed to increase access to care with supervision level changes for hygienists. The FDA and the Florida Dental Hygiene Association have joint legislation to improve access to dental care in health access settings. Without dentist

supervision, hygienists will be able to apply fluoride and dental sealants. A medical clearance is needed for hygienists to clean teeth in these settings. This legislation passed Senate Committee and House Committee and then was passed to Senate Floor. The one issue strongly opposed by the FDA was a legislation aiming to bypass supplemental education requirement. This legislation would allow internationally-trained dentists from nonaccredited dental schools to bypass the two-year supplemental education requirement and sit directly for the Florida licensure exam. This legislation, and any attempt to create a “back-door” pathway to licensure, would threaten Florida‟s minimum standard of care for all patients, according to the FDA. This legislation did not pass.

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The Student National Dental Association‟s (SNDA) mission is to promote and encourage the increase of minority enrollment and retention in dental schools in order to improve the delivery of dental health to all people, with an emphasis on minorities and the underserved. The University of Florida Chapter of SNDA hosts and participates in a number of activities throughout the year. The Chapter ran a highly successful Impressions Program in the summer of 2010. Thirty-five undergraduate students from various universities got a view of what dental school is like during the event. Dental students, faculty and staff assisted as the participants learned to take alginate impressions and wax teeth. The participants had a great time and expressed that they would have liked to stay longer at a feedback session at the end of the event! The UF SNDA Chapter also organized an event at a local Boys and Girls Club. Oral hygiene instructions were given to a group of kids at the Club using a gator puppet. Treats such as toothbrushes and toothpaste were provided to every child. Additional SNDA highlights include Relay for Life, dinner at Ronald McDonald house and an annual Christmas fundraiser that is held to benefit children in need. In December 2010, the proceeds from the Chapter‟s Christmas Candy Gram fundraiser were used to purchase Christmas gifts for a child in the Partnership for Strong Families “Wish Upon A Star” program. At the 97th NDA/SNDA Annual Convention held in July 2010, UF SNDA was awarded Chapter of the Year and First Place in the Scrapbook Competition! This year, UF SNDA will continue to work hard to be a benefit to the community. The Chapter is excited to be working on plans for a “Mini” Impressions program that will be provided to introduce high school students to the field of dentistry!

Will building new dental schools in Florida improve access to dental care?

Teresa A. Dolan, DDS, MPH Professor and Dean University of Florida College of Dentistry Florida‟s “F” grade two years in a row from the Pew Foundation report on the “State of Children‟s Dental Health” i has captured the attention of many local and state leaders and has made access to dental care, particularly for children, a front page news story throughout Florida. But will a rapid expansion of dental schools in Florida improve access to care? In order to answer that question, it would be helpful to first understand why Florida received an “F” grade. Second, a quick review of the many factors that influence

someone‟s ability to obtain dental care would probably be helpful. And finally, we can think about how increasing the number of dental schools and students in Florida may or may not be part of the solution. The Pew-funded study used eight policy benchmarks to assess childrens‟ dental health. The benchmarks included having sealant programs in at least 25 percent of high-risk schools; allowing a hygienist to place sealants in a schoolbased program without requiring a dentist‟s exam; providing optimally fluoridated water to at least 75 percent of residents who are served by public systems; meeting or exceeding the 2007 national average of 38.1 percent of Medicaid-enrolled children receiving dental services; paying dentists who serve Medicaid-enrolled children at least the 2008 national average of median retail fees; reimbursing medical care providers for preventive dental health services; authorizing a new type of primary care dental provider; and submitting basic screening data to the national database that tracks oral health conditions. The dentist workforce is a consideration in these “access to care” issues, but expanding the dentist workforce, particularly by enrolling students in a very expensive academic program resulting in large debt loads at graduation, is unlikely to make a dent in Florida‟s “F” grade. Additionally, it is unlikely to impact access to care for adults, older adults, and vulnerable populations such as individuals with disabilities or living in long-term care facilities. What could make a difference? A recent report from the Florida Department of Health ii proposed several excellent recommendations in an effort to allow all persons in Florida access to quality dental care. The Workforce Task Force studied these

issues for more than a year, and concluded that there is a need for innovative approaches in order to deliver appropriate and high quality dental care services to underserved populations. Recommendations included expanding public health education and prevention services, improving the Medicaid dental program, using incentives to attract dentists to work in safety net clinics, and allowing expanded duties and reduced supervision levels for allied dental providers who practice in health access settings. Expanding the number of dental schools was discussed by the committee, who ultimately did not include this in the list of recommendations. Rather, the Task Force recommended the expansion of learning experiences through dental school externship or residency programs in safety net facilities, and the establishment of short-term training programs in pediatric dentistry. UFCD has been a national leader in both of these activities for many years, and is open to the opportunity to expand these programs. High quality, affordable, science- and evidence-based dental education is an important public good, and UFCD is grateful for the public investment in dental education. Rapid expansion of high-cost, and potentially lower quality and non-research intensive dental education in a state that is strapped for cash and is currently having difficulty supporting the higher education programs currently in existence requires much more thoughtful consideration. And adding dental graduates, particularly those with large educational debts, will not

equate to improvements in access to dental care, particularly for vulnerable Floridians. A more thoughtful, comprehensive view of public policy issues affecting access to dental care, and state-wide dentist workforce planning to ensure high quality and affordable dental education in our state will yield a much more positive impact on the oral health in Florida. i http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/uploadedFile

s/The_State_of_Children's_Dental_health.pdf , accessed June 5, 2011. ii http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Family/dental/OralHeal hcareWorkforce/200903Dental_Workforce_Report.pdf, accessed June 5, 2011.

The Future of Dental Education in Florida Phil Bell, ASDA Co-Legislative Liaison UFCD Class of 2014 Dental School University of Florida

Notes

Next Step

Established in 1972

Expand Class Size

Nova Southeastern University

Established in 1997

Lake Erie College of Medicine

Now Accepting AADSAS Applications UCF Board of Trustees Unanimously Approved on May 26th, 2011 Requested but have not yet received state funding

Accept Class of 2016

University of Central Florida

Florida A&M University

Accreditation Seats Tuition and Status Fees Annually Approval Approximately Residentswithout 80 $30,936 Reporting Non-residentsRequirements $57,416 Approval Approximately Residentswithout 120 $48,450 Reporting Non-residentsRequirements $50,950 Initial 100 $48,900 Accreditation

Anticipated Opening -

Fall 2012

Board of Governors

100

Estimated $50,000$60,000

Fall 2014

Board of Governors

Ministry Through Dentistry There are some things that you expect on any dental service trip: you will work very hard in conditions that are far from ideal, you may not have all of the instruments that you are accustom to using, there will likely be more patients than you will be able to treat each day, you will help people. The list goes on. One thing that we did not expect was to leave with the feeling that we were the ones being helped. Every patient we saw made us feel more energized. We came to serve and yet, we were served. For the Christian Dental Society at the University of Florida, taking a trip to Guatemala was about more than learning, it was about more than taking people out of pain, it was about ministering to their needs physically and spiritually. In just four days of work we were able to treat over 500 patients. Our team worked out of a small church in Guatemala City. When we arrived at the church each day there would already be a large line formed. These people would even wait all day if they had to just so they could be seen. In the United States, some people get frustrated when they have to wait more than 15 minutes to see a dentist. It takes a trip like this to realize that visiting the dentist is in fact a luxury that many American‟s take for granted; the strength and patience of the Guatemalan people is something to be greatly admired. With no operatory lights, no suction, and few translators, our dental missionaries became proficient at a few Spanish phrases, namely, “Abre la boca” which means open your mouth and “Escupir por favor” which means spit please. Even though we learned just enough broken Spanish to be able to fail a high school Spanish test, we became fluent in the language of God‟s love. “For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.‟ Then the righteous will answer Him, „Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You,

or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?‟ The King will answer and say to them, „Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.” Matthew 25: 35-40 In this verse, Jesus tells us that when we love (or hate) anyone in this world with our thoughts or actions, it is as if we are loving (or hating) Him. Imagine Jesus Christ sitting down in your dental chair or walking into your place of business. How would you treat Him? (Imagine Jesus walking down the street homeless with nothing to eat, what would you do then?) Our student missionaries tried to treat every patient as it they were treating Jesus Himself. We focused on sharing God‟s love, by loving our patients just as He loves us and putting their needs before our own. Don Dau, a junior student dentist missionary said, “Even the mornings felt different on this trip. In school it takes me about 30 minutes to wake up in the morning. In Guatemala, even though I was more and more exhausted each night, I woke up feeling refreshed and excited about the day.” Dr. Mike Kadera is a dental missionary from America who has lived in Guatemala doing missionary work for thirty years. He

Drew Byrnes, CDS President Class of 2013

said, “I was especially impressed with the peace and calm that existed during the outreach this year. Health outreaches are always a little hectic and sometimes even chaotic because there are so many patients that we try to attend to and the conditions are always very demanding, stretching students and professors to their limits at times. But in the midst of all that [the students] were all very positive, flexible, and interacting with genuine love and compassion for each and every patient.” We would like to give a special Thank You to all of the professors who supported us on this trip, especially Dr. Christopher Spencer, Dr. Stephen Howard, and Dr. Boyd Robinson. In addition, thank you Dr. Cara Clark, Dr. Robert Payne, Dr. Brian Long, and Dr. Mike Kadera. And a big additional Thank You to Lee Mintz, Marilyn Stewart, and the Henry Schein store for also making this trip possible. Thank you to all of our family and friends and everyone else who supported us with love and prayers. Most importantly we thank God for, well…. Everything! The Christian Dental Society will be returning to Guatemala City in the summer of 2012 for their 4th consecutive year of service to the El Verbo Church of Palín. CDS Prayer meetings are every Tuesday in D1-26 during lunch. If you would like to be added to our list serv please email PBell@dental.ufl.edu.

Jad Jaffal, For Answers See Page 15.

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This syndrome is also known as the happy puppet syndrome. The metabolism of this monosaccharide is poorly regulated in hepatic cells. Dr. Shaddox would confirm pregnancy by looking for this disease. This company was the first to mass-produce toothpaste. Sarcoma is cancer of this type of tissue. A word commonly used by Dr. Jackson to emphasize the remarkable size of an organ/nerve/vessel.

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According to Dr. Brown, the MHC-1 molecules looks like this cartoon character. Tuberculus anomalus of Georg _________, is a small cusp of maxillary first molars. The new interim director of the Division of Operative Dentistry. (2 Words) The only muscle innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve. While performing CPR you should compress the chest at least ___ inches deep. In the course of eight months, the class of 2014 has had this many class presidents and vice presidents.

This year I was excited to be a part of the group of pre-dental undergraduates invited to the Florida National Dental Convention held in Orlando, FL at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. As a member and the newly elected president of Pre-Dental ASDA at the University of Florida, it allowed me a sneak preview of what it would be like to partake in an assemblage of Florida dentists to discuss new technologies and innovations, policies and regulations, as well as new developments in the field of dentistry. Of particular interest, we were able to see a machine that generated a 3-D image of a tooth and then shaped a crown within 6 minutes. Our group was able to sit in on the House of Delegates meeting that discussed new

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The “4 P‟s” of a benign mixed tumor include pleomorphic, palate, parotid, and _____. A local anesthetic widely used in dentistry during the 1900s influenced this popular “Eels” song. (4 Words) According to Dr. Winter, apoptosis makes this sound. Submandibular duct is also known as ____. (2 Words) While performing CPR, it is recommended that you follow the pace of this famous song (~103 bpm). (2 Words) A device used to keep an uncooperative person, usually a child, immobilized during dental work. (2 Words). This process prolongs a drug‟s circulatory time (half-life) by reducing renal clearance. A term coined by Dr. Ottenga.

issues that would affect dentistry in Florida. In addition, it was a great experience networking with Florida dental students, as well as, a variety of professionals in the field of dentistry. Overall, it was a great experience and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in dentistry. Our Pre-Dental ASDA group and I had a great time and hope to attend another Florida National Dental Convention in the future.

Kyle J. Losin President, UF Pre-Dental ASDA

Greg Feldman 11

An Update from our ASDA President Dustin Pfundheller

In June, the State Dental Convention was held in Orlando, Florida. The University of Florida encouraged attendance and worked hard to make the conference meaningful for dental students. University of Florida brought over 60

dental students along with Nova bringing another 30 students. In addition, the UF ASDA chapter contacted numerous undergraduate institutions and encouraged the attendance of an additional 100 pre-dental students. University of Florida also hosted an information session specifically for dental students. The meeting simplified and summarized the workings of the complicated house of delegates so that all dental students were able to understand and actively engage in the convention. Also, the most current hot topics were presented along with future events in the state. Dental students contacted the Florida Dental Convention numerous times, gaining permission for dental students to attend meetings of the reference committees, various districts, and councils. As a result, the dental students were able to fully participate with the dentists. Having dental students on the committees was logical since most of the topics were student centered -- such as the dramatic increase of dental schools in the state. At the convention, The Florida Dental

Association House of Delegates passed two resolutions that were written by students. First, Resolution 2010H-092 allows two dental students to be on three sub councils: the Sub Council of a New Dentist, the Council on Membership, and the Council on Education and Licensure. Secondly, 2010H-068 gives money to the Council on Membership and to Sub-council on a new Dentist to provide several educational opportunities such as "Lunch and Learns" and to increase student recruitment to the Florida Dental Association. Previously, there was no student representation on the committees. As a result of the hard work of our UF ASDA, there were many positive results for both the students and the Florida Dental Association.

Jorge del Valle, HSDA Vice President The 2010-2011 school year has been full of events for HSDA. What follows is a small list. Fall semester began with a Spanish teaching session for those students going on mission trips. Some of our members went to Chicago for the national Hispanic Dental Association meeting during October. Thanksgiving dinner was graciously made by our members, and served at one of our own member‟s house. Finally, the Christmas mood was set when we made over 150 pancakes to feed the families staying at Ronald McDonald House. Equally eventful, spring semester began with a celebration of “Dia del dentista” at a local restaurant. Later, many students headed off to the Puerto Rico Dental Convention; the trip was facilitated by the efforts of one of our members. As the semester neared an end, a lot of migrant workers benefitted from the screenings that we performed at a Migrant Fair event—overlooked by Dr. Shaddox and Dr. Sposetti. Also, who can forget the lunch n‟ learns decorated by the many colors found in our delicious Hispanic food. Many events are planned for the coming months. If any of the above sounds interesting and you would like to get involved, we would love your help.

Just when the 4th year dental student sees light at the end of the proverbial dental academic tunnel, a cloud emerges threatening to squash well intended efforts to finally be a dentist. This unavoidable consequence of the journey is noted as the licensure examination.

Samuel Low, DDS, MS Assoc. Dean & Professor Department of Periodontology

Historical documentation demonstrates that the controversy over licensure examinations began in 1905 and had not ceased since. We have regional exams, state exams, PGY-1, the imported Canadian OSCE exam, and the “new kid on the block” California portfolio exam. Debate continues over patient based exams versus non patient exams, third party evaluation versus “in house” evaluations. And is a class II amalgam performed in Washington evaluated to a different standard than one in Nebraska? And why do we have the exam anyway?? If I graduated from an ADA CODA accredited dental school with honors, should that be enough to prove I am worthy? Well yes and no to all! A defined objective of the licensure exam process is to ensure that citizens of each respective state receive competent safe dental care. This is achieved through an independent third party process

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of evaluating prescribed dental procedures on standards of competency. None of the above listed licensure means are perfect but some are the best we have. And dental schools are not accredited for their ability to guarantee competency for individual future practitioners. They are accredited as institutions that provide the process for competency. And until we consider „continued competency” for the dentist, only the regulatory efforts of a state board can judge competency. Recently, in a landmark move, the FDA and State legislature determined that the State of Florida become part of the ADLEX exam process that is recognized in over 27 states. This was not without scrutiny of the process to ensure the exam mission as stated above. ASDA has been a leader in promoting patient welfare in the licensure process while campaigning to ensure a user friendly process for dental students as they pursue licensure. So let‟s suggest some fundamentals and consider the future:  Licensure is a state‟s rights issue but does not preclude moving toward uniformity of a process if the mission can be achieved as above.  Preserving a third party independent evaluation of a candidate is critical to ensure the safety and competency for the public  Developing both a student and patient centered process as competency exams on students‟ assigned patients while in school with third party objectivity satisfies all.



Email us your questions at

UFASDA@gmail.com We will answer them in the next edition of Gator Dentist Times!  Do you have opinions about any of the articles printed in this newsletter? Send us your editorials, and we will print them in the next edition of Gator Dentist Times!

Shaun Young ASDA Licensure Chair

First and foremost, my advice to you would be DO NOT underestimate the boards just because they will be pass/fail for you. Your biggest mistake may be taking them too lightly and not preparing yourself properly. Keep in mind that everyone studies differently and

everyone has different paces for how fast they can learn and understand material. Give yourself a reasonable timeline and set goals for how much material you need to get through by a certain time. At this point in the curriculum, I would take General Pathology, Occlusion, and Immunology very seriously as many board questions relate to these subjects. Although many of the concepts you learn this summer are far more detailed than the majority of the Boards questions, you WILL see many of the important topics and some questions can be VERY specific. With that being said, study hard this summer and when you are reviewing this material for boards, you will be surprised at how much you remember. I can 100% say that there are only three materials you need to successfully pass the Boards: Dental Decks, First Aid, and Old exams. I bought several different materials and used tons of sources and at the end of the day, it‟s impossible to learn it all anyways. My advice to you is this: Go through the Dental Decks first before you pick up First Aid. First Aid has a ton of high-yield facts and charts that are difficult to pick up and comprehend without a base knowledge of the material you are studying. If you go through the Dental Decks first, you will find First Aid to make a lot more sense and it helps to solidify many facts that are stressed in the Decks. Take a lot of practice exams and try and understand the answers: don‟t just memorize them because many questions are similar but worded differently on the real exam. Study hard but don‟t forget to stay balanced. Spring semester with boards studying can obviously get overwhelming. Take it one day at a time, do your best, and you will be fine. Don‟t mess up the 100% pass rate. 

The National Boards will consume almost your entire existence from around Spring Break of your second year to the fateful day when a small, nondescript letter arrives in the mail from the testing service. Look forward to

Charlotte Gleeson-Hill ASDA Corresponding Secretary

late nights and early mornings at the library, caffeine coursing through your veins and, if you are truly dedicated, earning yourself a Gold Starbucks reward card. On a more positive note, you can also truly look forward to passing boards, as UFCD does a stellar job at preparing us for this exam! I was slightly skeptical when other students told me this- not questioning whether UFCD was preparing me, as I knew that I had been taught the information, but concerned about my own retention of facts such as which organism causes Q fever, how much wood could a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood, and other pertinent information. My advice is to really start studying around Spring Break. Feel free to read through material before then, but from Spring Break onwards was plenty of time. Take a practice exam or two early, so you get a feel for what the tests are really like and where you need to focus your time and attention. Also, leave some time towards the end of your studies to review exams. There are so many resources that are available for NBDE and it is easy to get distracted with all the materials at your disposal. Although almost all of the books are very helpful, the sheer volume of material is overwhelming enough without multiplying it by a million different books, flashcards, your old class material and the many released exams that will come your way. In order to make the most of your time, I would suggest picking a couple of resources and really dedicate your time to them, such as First Aid and Dental Decks. Your classes in the spring will be very helpful so it is advisable to ensure you retain this information for the long term. Pharmacology will allow you to review all the systems of the body, and Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine were extremely useful, too. Try

to keep up with the Boards review course, as it is helpful in the long run if you put time into it. I found the Gross Anatomy portion to be an excellent reviewDr. Jackson really emphasized points that were truly reflected on the test. In fact, she may be psychic. Remember to take a night off now and then, support your fellow classmates, and to keep in mind that there is life after boards! Put into your studying what you would like to get out of it when that letter arrives and you all will absolutely succeed!

As rhetorical as this may sound: DO NOT SWEAT IT! You will probably hear this from most of the students in our class because it is true, and you will eventually come to the conclusion that UFCD prepares us very well to pass the

Luke Antonos ASDA Presidential Affairs

boards. Nevertheless, here are my two cents: First, make sure that you do not discount the classes that you will be taking during the spring semester before the boards, especially Oral Medicine and Oral Surgery, which you will find extremely useful. Second, take the board review course seriously as it helps a lot. Third, since your boards are going to pass/fail I feel that if you go through the decks and First Aid once thoroughly, starting at Spring Break, you will be well prepared! For the Gunners- double that! I believe that if you worked hard during your regular classes, then studying for the boards will only be a review versus learning new material for the ones that slacked in classes. Good Luck, and like I said do not sweat it!

Jullia Kinser & Violeta Trenkova The Florida National Dental Convention held in Orlando provided 30 students from the Pre-Dental Society at USF with many opportunities to learn more about their future

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profession. Students interacted with dentists, vendors, and event coordinators to gain experience and exposure to a challenging and rewarding career. Several highlights of the weekend in Orlando included speaking with admissions representatives from the University of Florida CoD and Nova Southeastern CoDM. As students, we were able to hear about the importance of applying early in the cycle firsthand and have our questions addressed. Students were then able to learn about technological advancements in instruments, software, equipment and the need to maintain the desire to learn in order to provide effective and meticulous dental and overall health care to patients. This lifelong learning was well depicted through various workshops scheduled during the days. For example, dental professionals and students could attend a session about implants or on practical knowledge about patient abuse and the role of a dental professional in reporting such cases. Attending the Florida National Dental Convention was of utmost benefit for Pre-Dental Society members because it provided students with a glimpse of the future of organized dentistry and what they can do to be a part of it.

As colleagues, faculty, and alumni gathered to celebrate ASDAâ&#x20AC;&#x;s Spring Synergy weekend, they got a glimpse into the dedication ASDA has for research, academics, and the profession of dentistry. The weekend began with a day devoted to continuing education and a Celebration of Science with research presentations by DMD students, graduate students, and residents. The following Saturday evening, students and faculty were invited to the annual ASDA banquet for a lovely dinner and awards ceremony recognizing outstanding students. To round out the weekend, students, family, and faculty competed in a Golf Tournament to build camaraderie.

Deborah Lowry ASDA Professional Issues Chair

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x;s Invest in Dentistry

Christopher Shannon ASDA Organized Dentistry Chair

Many dental students are now racking up school debts close to 200,000 dollars if not more. We are willing to work hard in school for many years because we know that it is worth it. We look at it as an investment in ourselves so that we can have the career and the lifestyle that we have always wanted. Unfortunately, this same dedication towards supporting organized dentistry in the form of membership in the ADA or other groups

such as the American Academy of General Dentistry is not as high as it should be. I propose that it should be viewed the same way we view the hard work and the mountains of students loans it takes to be a dentist, as an investment. It is an investment in maintaining the quality of the dental profession that we worked so hard to get into. I was privileged to be invited to a meeting held by the American Academy of General Dentistry, AGD, during the recent FNDC convention in Orlando along with Dusty Pfundheller, our UF ASDA president. The AGD represents and protects the interests of general dentists in an effort to promote quality in dentistry. We sat there eating a delicious lunch while exceptional dentists were being presented with awards of achievements in community service and dedication to

continued learning. Although the awards were special the individuals receiving them, they were also an important source of motivation to everyone else in the room, including myself. I came to realize that being a part of general dentistry could also motivate the individual to strive to be the best dentist that they could be while also protecting the profession politically. I feel more strongly than ever that organized dentistry is more than an investment in the preservation of a wonderful career, it is also an investment in the individual so that we can push ourselves to provide the best care possible. I encourage each of us to invest in dentistry while we are in school, but to also continue to invest our time and money into organized dentistry when we graduate. If we don't make the effort to protect our profession, who will?

UFCD Students + Florida National Dental Convention =

“Students brought energy and Intermediate

SUDOKU

excitement to the conference. Over a few days, students were able to realize that we actually do have some control over important matters in dentistry. The FDA embraced dental students, truly respected our opinion, and acted accordingly.” Phil Bell

“As a dental student attending FNDC, I found the convention to be informative and encouraging. The ASDA presentation was edifying as they explained current developments in the politics of dentistry and how they are going to affect individual dental students, in addition to the state of Florida as a whole. I interacted with dentists from all over Florida, gaining insight about what their dental school experiences were like along with how they are involved in dentistry today.” Deborah Lowry

“The Alumni Affairs Coordinator was so appreciative of our help during the event. It was the largest student turnout she had ever had and it really helped pump up the alumni Melissa Alfonso about being Gator dentists. It was really nice to witness how proud all of them were and to be so influential in keeping the alumni events running smoothly.” 18

Miten A. Patel Professional Interest: Dental Public Health Service Site: University of Florida College of Dentistry Partaking in the second session of the Collegiate Health Service Corps was an extraordinary experience! I am amazed by all that I have experienced and learned in a very brief duration of time. Shadowing a dental student, attending a course in the simulation laboratory and performing a restorative procedure, speaking with an admissions committee member, having the opportunity to wax a first molar, and assisting fourth year dental students have reinforced my passion for dental public health. While this program continues to facilitate my understanding of various health disparities along with other service activities, this session enabled me to witness the science and artistry to dentistry firsthand. Consequently, I was able to practice and evaluate my psychomotor abilities by utilizing numerous dental instruments like the high speed drill while examining the intricacy of dental anatomy. I greatly enjoyed interacting with several other dental students along with the student dentists that I shadowed through the cohort nature of the dental classes. Overall, my experiences at the University of Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x;s College of Dentistry

have led me to better understanding of the rigors of a dental education, has allowed me to gain the sense of camaraderie between dental students across all of the classes, and witness the support of faculty members as instructors, colleagues, and representatives of the profession. Participating in various service activities throughout my undergraduate studies coupled with all that I have learned during CHSCâ&#x20AC;&#x;s second session has reinforced my passion of dentistry and the goals which I will strive to attain within the profession. I am fervent of these aims as they correlate with numerous personal qualities. For instance, I greatly enjoy having the ability to interact and converse with individuals, I like to complete tasks enthusiastically and meticulously, and am very fond of exploring various methodologies by which to implement sustainable resources to improve systemic health outcomes amongst members of our community. I have learned that dentistry allows for the unique opportunity to achieve these goals while exploring various other avenues within the field along with private practice. For instance, I observed a graduate dental student questioning whether patients with diabetes would like to participate in a research study. As such, dental research is one of many opportunities which dentists can undertake. Also, I spoke with fourth year dental students who were completing applications for various residencies from general practice to pediatric dentistry and orthodontics. Consequently, I am eager to contribute to the realm of dental public health through public health informatics and by establishing vercome various barriers to care like

more efficient health policies to overcome various barriers to care like inadequate dental insurance coverage. All in all, I greatly enjoyed my time at the University of Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x;s College of Dentistry. I have learned a great deal about dental admissions, the curriculum, and various opportunities within the profession in a brief duration of time. Additionally, I greatly enjoyed interacting with patients and having the ability to practice my psychomotor abilities and manual dexterity. Although I have only caught a glimpse of the dental curriculum, I understand that dentistry requires a lifelong commitment to learning and I am eager to undertake this challenge. I am certain that prayer, working arduously, having the continued support of my family, and guidance from the individuals that I have been privileged to meet will enable me to successfully attain a dental education which will allow me to represent and serve members of our community.

If you are interested in mentoring Pre-Dents and/or creating a bridge between UFCD and Pre-Dent organizations throughout Florida please contact

Haley Freymiller HFreymiller@dental.ufl.edu or Shawn Stottt SStott@dental.ufl.edu. You can also contact Haley and Shawn if you are a Pre-Dent and would like to know more about UFCD.

Continued from page 2. problem solving and ethical reasoningâ&#x20AC;? in addition to basic science knowledge were rated as most important.1 However, there was no consensus on specific content, particularly with eleven characteristics ranking higher than basic science knowledge. As a result, the Task Force still needs to research and discuss content, costs, scoring, feedback, and other such issues before any ADAT is put into practice. In conclusion, for aspiring orthodontists, oral maxillofacial surgeons, endodontists, pedodontists, and other specialists, the switch to a pass-fail NBDE Part I will make non-cognitive personal dimensions

increasingly important. Utilizing the Personal Profession Index and possibly a national postdoctoral entrance examination, program directors hope to enhance their abilities to identify applicants who will be most successful in their given specialty of interest. And with these new forms of evaluation, the most successful candidates will not necessarily be those with the highest IQ, but rather those who prove to be well-rounded, personable, and caring, in addition to clinically and scientifically competent. Whether or not the new forms of evaluation will be effective remains to be seen, but overall, hopes are high in the dental community.

UCF Pre-Dental Carolina Cadavid On June 9 - 11, 2011 the University of Central Florida pre-dental students attended the Florida National Dental Convention, in Orlando. It was an honor to be invited to such a wonderful event where we got the opportunity to learn about dentistry, new technology and dental school. In the exhibition floor we learned about many of the new advancements in dental technology and spoke to the dental schools representatives. Dr. Lippman, Dean of Admissions from Nova Southeastern University Dental School, invited use to Novaâ&#x20AC;&#x;s Alumni Party where we meet many of dental schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x;s professors as well as current dental students. We also attended the ASDA meeting and learned about some of the current issues in dentistry as well as some of the events ASDA does throughout the year.

A Note from the Editor I would like to thank all of the students and professors who contributed to this newsletter. I would also like to congratulate Ali Best- her article in this newsletter will be published in the September national issue of ASDA News. If you are interested in writing for Gator Dentist Times and national ASDA publication opportunities, then you can contact me at CNorton@dental.ufl.edu for more info. Have a great summer semester.

Carolyn A. Norton ASDA Newsletter Editor UFCD Class of 2014 20

At Westgate Lakes Resort we roomed with University of Florida and Nova Southeastern University dental students. The dental students were extremely helpful, giving us important tips on how to prepare for dental school and on how to become a better applicant. The FNDC was a great learning experience for the UCF pre-dental students.

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