Last Leg of the Race

I apologize to those who have followed me regularly and been disappointed by my lack of commitment to this blog over the last few weeks. What's most unfortunate is that I went ahead and thoughtfully put together a post for a total of one hour last weekend, and then accidently deleted it. Computers...sigh*. We are currently on spring break, and when we return there are exactly 6 weeks remaining in the semester then summer commences. It's bittersweet but completely necessary. Only 3 more years left to go....

School

Last time I left off with the fact that I had picked up a couple classes and was already up to my neck in, ironically, Head & Neck Anatomy/Physiology. One of those classes that we began several weeks ago is now complete: Dental Materials. We had 5 total lecture hours and a final that was pretty reasonable. In this class, we covered all the basic materials that we will utilize during lab and when we start practicing in the clinic. Although it has been very useful to understand the properties of each material in order to ensure proper handling, I could have done without the chemical formulas. I've already put them out of mind as quickly as I read them. The other subject that we started around the same time goes hand-in-hand with Dental Materials and is also just about over: Basic Procedure Fixed Prosthetics [BP Fixed]. This was largely a pre-clinic (lab) class where we learned how to properly prepare an abutment for a crown seat, take detailed impressions, and fabricate a provisional (temporary crown) in order to protect the abutment while the patient waits for the crown to come back from the lab. This class was so much fun because we were able to put our ~$3000 Swiss made electric hand pieces to work. This was an introductory course to crown and bridge work where we learned about the fundamentals to long lasting fixed restorative techniques. But these two classes are at their end and there is one more subject to cover in the last month of the semester in order to officially pass over to the second year. That class is Facial Growth and I will update about it when lecture begins. 

The shorter classes I mentioned are supplementary to the meat & potato courses that last the entire extent of the spring semester. Those classes are: ACE: Knowing the Patient, Body As Host, DentSim, Head & Neck Anatomy/Physiology, and Masticatory Dynamics. I'll finish this section by highlighting these classes and avoid getting bogged down with boring details. ACE: Knowing the Patient has been one of the most interesting subjects in my opinion. It's primarily a communications class where we learn how to assess the patient's health/needs. We are also familiarized with all necessary documentation and charting. What's really cool about this class is that we have two simulated patient interviews that are evaluated. We already completed one. It took place in a state of the art simulation center called, Mt Sinai Skills and Simulation Center (http://casemed.case.edu/msssc/. We were given 30 seconds to go over the patient's basic information and then enter the room and complete a full medical evaluation. The patient was an actor with specific instructions and the whole thing was recorded. No pressure, right? The most entertaining aspect was that our course director randomly assigned some patients to display diabetic symptoms. The student was supposed to pick up on these cues and recommend their patient visits a physician to address this concern. Pretty cool approach that tests our recently acquired skills.

Body as Host can be easily described as a class about medically relevant bacteria and viruses. It mainly addresses oral flora and its' specific defense mechanisms against infection and also covers systemic infection/immunology as well.  Head &Neck is exactly as the title alludes too. Medically, this is a dentist's area of expertise and what we are accountable for. If one chooses to pursue a specialty in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, we would be trained to correct a wide spectrum of issues related to this area. For example, surgically correcting cleft palate syndrome, setting broken jaws, cosmetic surgery, etc. Contrary to popular believe it's not just teeth in the mouth. Dentists have the most in depth knowledge on this subject and should know where EVERY nerve, artery, and vein branches to/from and the function of every muscle and ligament in the H&N. Masticatory Dynamics is a complementary class that addresses the physiological aspect of the jaws and all associated structures. We are also still waxing teeth. This semester we are finishing how to wax each individual molar. Wisdom teeth removed, there should be 4 molars in an individuals mouth. All four of these molars have their own identifiable characteristics that we must be able to replicate. Last subject that I've mentioned in the past is DentSim. We have been practicing weekly how to perform the same 2 of 6 cavity preps and our project is to turn in 2 of each prep that we want graded. 

Personal Life

I couldn't be more elated for the summer since I'll be moving back into my parent's home for the first time since 2005. What excites me the most is the invaluable time that I can spend with my 13 year old brother. Since he's now in that awkward age in middle school I figure he could use my help :) 

Recently I turned 25 years old, half a century. So far, so good. No signs of creaking bones, lower back pain, or heart burn. I did notice that for the first time in my life I can nap AND if I drink coffee past a certain hour I can't fall asleep. It's surreal to think of all the time that's passed and as much I cringe at some of the mistakes I've made; I'm happy with where I'm at in my life. They say that wisdom is just a fancy word for lessons learned from mistakes. In that case, I'd say I'm pretty wise whether its for better or worse. Additionally, I have been blessed with this opportunity to become a health care provider at an amazing institution and I'm still alive. 

We had a dental formal recently, the same weekend as my birthday. Attending single seemed like an odd thing to do at first but it wasn't so bad since many of my classmates are in the same situation. I had a blast! There was an open bar and phenomenal food. Hor d'oeuvres served around the clock and steak for dinner. It was nice to get out of scrubs and dress fancy. Most of the school including faculty and administration attended which made it even more fun because you get to see how everyone functions as individuals in the real world outside the confines of some educational building. 

I was very blessed to be elected class president for this year and plan to run again for my second year. This experience has done so much for me in terms of developing as a person. I've learned how to bite the bullet and get down to business (being proactive); how the school & clinic functions in relation to faculty members; and how to communicate more effectively on a professional level. I've also met with and become acquainted with leadership in the Ohio Dental Association and Greater Cleveland Dental Society. One of the biggest upsides to this year is that I've never had the opportunity to establish a comfort zone. This forces me to continue evolving into a better man, my MO. I also joined in lobbying efforts at the statehouse and met with with senators and representatives of OH to discuss subjects such as insurance, midlevel providers, environmental regulations, etc.

With the summer approaching, I've noticed how close I've become with some of my classmates. They have been there for me when I'm down and I'm very thankful to have met such talented, empathetic people. 

But that's enough yapping for me. Its been 2 hours and I need to get on with my life. In two days, I am visiting a few best friends in Charlotte, then traveling with them to Chicago to celebrate a birthday. I'm super excited to be reunited with my friends. I think my soul needs it. Thanks for reading!