2 3 6 7 8 9

WELCOME ADDRESS SUMMER BREAK ASDA GOES INTERNATIONAL GIVE KIDS A SMILE ADA ANNUAL SESSION ASDA LEADERSHIP CONVENTION NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: DR. NELSON

DECEM BER

2012

10 IVY AVANESSIAN FUA 11

NEWSLETTER OF AMERICAN STUDENT D E N TA L A S S O C I AT I O N , U C S F C H A P T E R

Dental Technology in 30 Years

Some (Not So?) Wild Predictions
Devin Bernhardt
In 30 years we will be excellent clinicians practicing in a dental world that will look nothing like what it is today. The dental field has changed dramatically in the last 30 years, from the introduction of wearing gloves to CADCAM technology. There is no way UCSF graduates in 1982 could know what they would be doing today, but its fun to make some guesses as to what the dental profession could look like and some of the technology and services that may be offered to patients. Budding teeth. As we have learned in lecture again and again there is no synthetic material that perfectly mimics the biomechanical characteristics of enamel and dentin. The ideal replacement material is a new natural tooth. And budding natural teeth is not as far fetched as you might think. In 2009 scientists in Tokyo germinated replacement teeth in mice that had the same strength and sensitivity as normal mice teeth. What effects would this have on some of todays technology; if we are able to bud natural teeth, would that replace the need for implants? continued on page 3

ASDA ucsf
Supertooth implant concept. An implant with Bluetooth and sensors to monitor vital signs. Image: Wired

Tiffany Hsu

ASDA and CDA Leaders Discuss Breaking Barriers to Dental Care

weekend of Oct. 5-7. ASDAs District 11 is comprised of Californias six dental schools: Loma Linda, USC, UCLA, UCSF, UOP, and Western. Among the nearly 100 students in attendance, UCSF made a strong presence, bringing 20 ASDA and 7 CDA representatives. Highlights of the meeting included an impressive list of guest speakers, engaging continued on page 3

Delegates from UCSF at the ASDA District 11 meeting at UOP met with delegates from the 5 other California dental schools.

As the Blue Angels roared over the San Francisco skies, dental student leaders from the American Dental Student Association (ASDA) and California Dental Association (CDA) convened at the annual ASDA District 11 Meeting to hear presentations, engage in breakout sessions, and learn about the current state of access to dental care in California. The District 11 meeting was held at UOP Dugoni during the

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WELCOME ADDRESS

The first quarter of another academic year at UCSF School of Dentistry is rapidly coming to an end. A huge welcome and congratulations to our first year students, who by now have overcome one of the hardest challenges we have all had to face: that first quarter of dental school! ASDA is working locally and nationally to protect and advance the rights and interests of dental students like us. It is our hope at ASDA to inspire you to get involved with organized dentistry during and after your education. Nationally ASDA works with other large organizations such as ADA, ADPAC, ADEA and more to let the voices of dental students be heard in topics that aect us now and in the future. The growing student debt crisis has been a top priority for ASDA. During the National Dental Student Lobby Day, students from all over the country advocate for financially sustainable and long-term solutions at the Capitol Hill. The issue of mid-level providers has been another hot topic of discussion throughout the country. ASDAs policy on mid-level providers states only a qualified dentist should perform the following functions: Examination, diagnosis and treatment planning; prescribing work authorizations; performing irreversible dental procedures; prescribing drugs and / or other medications. Other issues that ASDA is involved with nationally include licensure, NBDE, barriers to care and more. To learn more about what ASDA is doing for you, visit www.asdanet.org. Locally, our ASDA chapter has been growing over the past few years thanks to many of our dedicated students who have decided to get involved with organized dentistry. We strive to augment the education our students receive at the school with many extracurricular activities. Our students learn about topics such as business management, insurance, licensure and more through our lunch n learns as well as giving back to the community through our many community service and pre-dental events. We also stay closely involved with dental legislature by sending students to the National Dental Student Lobby Day and interacting with CDA at the state legislature level. Our many new membership benefits aim to help you get more out of your ASDA membership. You can find more about our local chapter activities on our website at www.asdaucsf.com ASDA is the largest national and local dental student organization representing more than 85% of all dental students. Our voice is heard through ASDA, and the more of us who are a part of ASDA, the stronger this voice becomes. Thank you for your continued involvement and support, and I look forward to serving you in the coming year. Sincerely, Shahab Parsa UCSF ASDA Chapter President UCSF School of Dentistry Class of 2014

Your Last Summer, What Did You Do?

The summer after first year is the only full summer dental students have to spend as they like. A look at some of the options students have and of this years class -what they did.
if you want to stay in the city and hospital ship USNS Mercy especially if you are thinking about volunteering as dental assistants specializing. Depending on what in the Philippines, Cambodia Chris Kim (far left), Amy Phorth and kind of research and Vietnam Natalie Chien outside a dental clinic you are doing, it alongside Being on the Mercy was a in Cambodia with Captain Klause of can take a lot of providers and life changing experience, the US Navy and a dentist from the time. volunteers I wouldnt have spent it Cambodian military. And of from other [summer] any other way and Devin Bernhardt course there is it was definitely more fun than countries Summer after your first year; you studying for boards! always the fun around the have choices and taking the National of doing nothing world. ALEXA NAVASERO Dental Board Exam Part 1 is now an related to school And its option. Not all the material on the test is and enjoying your last summer. A not to say you cant do more covered in first year, but since the test lot of the class of 2015 traveled to than one, many people took changed to Pass/No Pass covering the places around the world including: their Boards and then traveled, extra material on your own and taking Europe, Central and South but it is difficult to do summer the test in summer is an attractive option America and Southeast Asia. research and take the big test. that can give you more free time in your A group of five UCSF students Summer for the current first second year. participated in a US Navy Mission, years isnt so far away, what will Summer research is another option Pacific Partnership on board the you do?

Summer

Numbers
60% 38% 21% 36% traveled took boards research

by the

nothing school related

Based on a survey of 47 D2 students.

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Dental Technology
continued from page 1

A microphone in the implant would also No. At least thats my prediction, transmit your voice to a hand-held device because an implant in 30 years will be and you would never have to more than just an artificial tooth. It worry about holding a phone to will have sensors and microchips your head. to monitor basic body indicators The advantage of the implant such as glucose levels, pH and is that its easier to access than temperature. There has been anything placed under the skin. If research to suggest that this type of it ever needed to be upgraded or information can be collected from the battery replaced, perhaps you the oral environment. And specific would just visit the dentist. to dental health, it would be easy to Treatment of carious lesions personally monitor the pH of your will change as well. Research at mouth on a smartphone and make UCSF has demonstrated that a sure it doesnt dip below 5 for too particular laser when focused on long -it would be that much easier enamel can reform the enamel to prevent demineralization. in such a way that it is no longer In addition, the implant susceptible to dental caries. If could serve as a device similar to a lesion was only in bluetooth where sound enamel and treated would be sent from The singing lollipops of the with this laser it would the mouth to the ear 90s, Soundbites may have ensure there would be much like the singing a similar function as dental no recurrent decay. lollipops from the 90s.

Jonathan Hurng

UCSFs ASDA Goes International

Relieved, grateful, well-fed! These were the words expressed as 54 international dentists parted after attending the UCSF American Student Dental Association (ASDA)s 2nd International Pre-Dental Interview Day held on Sunday October 14th, 2012. ASDAs International Pre-Dental day is an event primarily aimed to prepare international dentists for upcoming Fall

ASDA aims to support all dental students, domestic and international alike.
Michael hong

implants in the future.

ASDA and CDA Leaders

continued from page 1 discussion on bill SB 694 (Padilla), and a vendor fair with exciting raffle giveaways. As District 11s first joint ASDA/CDA meeting, there could have been no better time to discuss Senator Padillas dental care bill, SB 694, strongly advocated by the CDA. Daniel Davidson, DMD, President of CDA stated in his presentation that barriers to dental care are complex and multifaceted. An estimated 11 million Californians lack dental insurance, and over 200 dental shortage areas have been identified. SB 694 (Padilla) endeavors to improve access to dental care for children with two components: the creation of an Office of Oral Health/ Dental Director and a workforce study of training registered dental hygienists and advanced registered dental assistants to perform seven procedures outlined in the bill, such as drilling on teeth for fillings, extracting primary teeth, placing stainless steel crowns, and performing therapeutic pulpotomy. With ASDA listed on the bills Oppose list, attendees of the meeting sought to clarify the specific parameters and implications of the study. In August, the bill failed passage in the State Senate because of fiscal concerns. However, according to President Davidson, Sen. Padilla plans to resurrect the bill in the future.

interviews and to provide additional information regarding the application process to international professionals looking to further their dental education. Highlights of the program included presentations conducted by current International Dental Program (IDP) students Stalinjeet Gill and Wint Wint Tun (ID3) on interview day overview, interview etiquette, and tips to achieve a successful interview. Subsequent student Q&A panels, mock interviews, and dinner social

Delegates from all 6 California dental schools met to discuss ramifications of the proposed bill SB 694 that would allow hygienists and certain assistants to perform additional procedures in an effort to combat barriers to dental care. 3

giving smiles to dental students since 1971

ASDA ucsf
4

The American Student Dental Association is a national student-run organization that protects and advances the rights, interests and welfare of dental students. It introduces students to lifelong involvement in organized dentistry and provides services, information, education, representation and advocacy.
ASDA ucsf

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ASDA International
continued from page 3 were provided by the current students of the International Dental Program. It offered an invaluable opportunity for the

My advice for all dental professionals in training

is be confident about your education, be confident about yourself, and it will guarantee your success.
noha oUShY

interviewees to interact with the student body and receive constructive feedback. Although a program dedicated to the international dentist, this event aims to achieve further collaboration between the international and domestic dental students. Due to discrepancies in curriculum, students find little opportunity to interact. Its wonderful that we can all find the time and dedication to create a program that positively influences the community and exemplifies UCSF. Its encouraging to assist students of different backgrounds, as we all have experienced the process of preparing for UCSF interviews, (Tiffany Hsu D2). My advice for all dental

International student applicants participate in mock interviews and receive constructive feedback from the students.
professionals in training is be confident about your education, be confident about yourself, and it will guarantee your success, concluded Noha Oushy (ID3) Michael Hong (D2), current chair of the ASDA Pre-dental Committee added We feel that many outreach programs currently offered are primarily aimed to equip domestic Pre-dental students for the dental school applications and the interview process. Unfortunately, there seems to be a dearth of such opportunities for the international dentists. ASDA aims to support all dental students, domestic and international alike.

Left: The event promoted interaction between UCSFs international and domestic dental students; because of discrepancies in curriculum students normally have little opportunity to interact.

Right: Third and fourth year UCSF international dental students answer questions at a panel discussion with current international applicants. 5

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UCSF ASDA Provides Hand to Give Kids A Smile

Jolie Goodman
On Wednesday, October 17, 2012 members of the UCSF ASDA chapter were excited to show their enthusiasm for childrens oral health prevention at a screening event held at San Francisco General Hospitals Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) site, as part of a three-day Give Kids a Smile event held in San Francisco preceding the ADA Annual Session. The screenings were put on through collaboration between the ADA, Colgates Bright Smiles, Bright Futures, the National Childrens Oral Health Foundation, Sesame Workshop, the San Francisco Department of Public Health, the San Francisco Dental Society, Native American Health Services San Francisco, and the WIC program.

UCSF dental students including D2s Krizia Garcia and Maximillion Jenson assisted volunteer dentists with screenings and fluoride varnish as well as providing families with oral health education and tips on healthy eating.

Nearly 100 families received services, in addition to a backpack full of dental supplies.
Dental students assisted volunteer dentists with screenings and fluoride varnish. They also provided families with oral health education, tips on healthy eating, and assisted with the registration process. Nearly 100 families received services, in addition to a backpack full of dental supplies. The event was a lot of fun for everyone involved, with the highlight of the day for the young children being a surprise visit from the Sesame Street Character, Abby Cadabby, who came to brighten the faces of the children.

UCSF student volunteers helped nearly 100 families receive fluoride varnish and screenings as well as backpacks full of dental supplies. 6

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ADA Annual Session in San Francisco

Neek LaMantia
The 153rd American Dental Association Annual Session was held at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco this past October 18th-21st, 2012. The four day session welcomed dental healthcare providers, dental education professors, research scholars, and vendors from across the world. The collaboration of knowledge is aimed at educating the dental field about new products, services and information to better the treatments they provide. The annual session grows in number each year. The 2012 annual session attracted nearly 10,000 dentists and 1,000 students, with over 600 exhibitions featured, which is an increase from the 2011 Annual Session hosted in Las Vegas. The University of California, San Francisco dental students were fortunate to have such a fantastic opportunity to be exposed to cutting edge technology,

newly approved products, and wide-spread networking hosted locally. Those who were registered members of ASDA were able to attend the convention free of charge. The Opening Ceremony started on Thursday morning, with a performance from Beach Blanket Babylon, and the George Washington High School Choir. After, the ceremony recognized the recent notable accomplishments of ADA members. Distinguished award winners included Dr. Lamb, who received the 2012 ADA Humanitarian Award, and Dr. John S. Greenspan, the winner of the Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Dental Research, and Clinical Professor Emeritus at UCSF. Throughout the weekend, the ADA Session offered over 280 classes to educate and discuss the latest dental topics including Q&A sessions, hands-on courses, live-patient rounds, and more. The ADA offered paid continuing education classes, as well as free courses that included Keys to Jaw-Dropping Patient Service, Evidence-Based Caries Prevention Strategies, Drugs, Bugs and Dental Products, and numerous others. The ADA Annual Session mobile app provided attendees with convenient organized information of classes, demonstrations, and free giveaways that went on throughout the weekend. Post-convention benefits include ADA365, the free online on-demand video coverage of courses that were offered at the 2012 Annual Session. Overall, the 2012 ADA Annual Session was a huge success, and students and faculty look forward to next years convention which will be held at the Ernest N. Memorial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Be a part of it!

The future of dentistry meets here.

Register Today! ADA.org/session

KEEP CALM DRILL ON

AND

Above: First year student Neek LaMantia practices using a handpiece at Mikevendors stand on the main floor Dr. a Wallace ADA member since 2002 Edmond, Oklahoma of the ADA Convention.
I come to the ADA Annual Session for the continuing education. I get to see the people who I read about in publications and interact with them by asking questions about challenges I may be having with my practice.

Scientific Program October 18-21

World Marketplace Exhibition October 18-20

Right: First year dental students before entering the convention Emily Horne (far left), Neek LaMantia, Valentina Zahran, Nathan Palanker, and Ana Rodriguez. 7

House of Delegates October 19-23

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UCSF at ASDAs First-Ever National Leadership Convention

J. Eduardo Molina
This past November 2nd-4th, six of our UCSF ASDA members were fortunate enough to attend the first-ever ASDA National Leadership Conference held in Chicago, IL. Nearly 400 students from all over the nation flew out to the windy city to gain invaluable skills, which often cannot be taught in a classroom or clinical setting. While the main focus was on developing life skills through leadership training this conference also offered training in specific areas of dentistry such as dental ethics, business management, and policies affecting the profession. The National Leadership Convention was comprised of more than 35 breakout sessions allowing students of all levels to choose which sessions best met their needs. Second year dental student Naomi At the ASDA National Leadership Conference in Chicago, J. Eduardo Molina (far left), Kong said, One of the greatest things I learned from this weekend Sarah Adabi, Naomi Kong, Ramina Sarmcanic, Niloo Farahani and Shahab Parsa. was that leadership is not about us was the Tips from the Podium: Public Speaking & getting involved with ASDA, contact any of our as individuals but rather, it is about our rePresenting because as I am getting ready to transiASDA at UCSF representatives and ask for more tion from the lecture hall and simulation laboratory information. One of the greatest things I onto clinic, I believe that it is essential to learn learned from this weekend was how to communicate effectively with my patients that leadership is not about us ASDA has truly done a great and become comfortable with my own style of as individuals but rather, it is job organizing this event into presenting. about our responsibility to do tracks that tailor to the attendees ASDA has truly done a great job organizing something with the gifts we interests and I have learned a this event into tracks that tailor to the attendees inhave. lot of practical tips that will help terests and I have learned a lot of practical tips that me lead my chapter during this naoMi King will help me lead my chapter during this academic academic year. sponsibility to do something with the gifts we year, said third year Shahab Parsa. Next years Shahab ParSa have. Niloo Farahani, another second year National Leadership Conference is anticipated to dental student added, my favorite session be an even bigger success. If you are interested in

Maximillion Jenson

November, Native American Heritage Month

than the whole population. is important to remember because we are future health professionals that may someday As one can see, the oral health disparity among the Native American population is serve patients that come from a Native American community. enormous and has caught the attention of the The Native American people are spread ADA and other associations. The ADA has across the U.S. with a vast recognized the oral health disnumber of tribes (566 feder- It is important to be reminded as parity that exists within Native young dental students that we do American communities and ally recognized) filled with not have to leave the country to taken steps to ameliorate the unique traditions and lanfind populations that suffer from disparity being experienced. guages. Although the Native American population is small poor oral health because domes- In fact the ADA has sponin comparison to other ethnic tic oral health disparities do exist sored the Native American in the U.S. minorities, they have the Oral Health Care Project to address and solve the existing oral health care greatest prevalence of health disparity. For example, early childhood caries (ECC) is a huge issues in Native American communities. problem for this population and the prevalence Since the inception of the Native Amerhas been estimated to be up to 400% greater continued on page 9

The month of November is known to have many festivities such as Dia de Los Muertos, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. All in all, November is a great month to look forward to because of the many celebrations that include delicious foods and sweet desserts, much needed days off from school or work to relax, and quality time spent with family and friends. However, the month of November is much more than just a month filled with one day celebrations it is a month that recognizes a rich and diverse culture that is unique to North America which is the Native American people. Since 1990, November has been celebrated as Native American Heritage Month which

ASDA ucsf

Native American Heritage

continued from page 8 ist. Within the ADA there are initiatives, programs, and policies that are focused ican Oral Health Care Project leaps of on the addressing Native American oral progress is being made among health care in Native American communities. The oral health disparity conjunction with Last year, the ADA urged conamong the Native Amer- other associations gress to appropriate more fundand organizations. ican population is enoring to Indian Health Services I encourage those (IHS), specially the Department mous and has caught the that are interested attention of the ADA and of Oral Health. It is important in learning more to be reminded as young dental other associations. about the policies students that we do not have focused on Native to leave the country to find populations American communities to start their that suffer from poor oral health because search with the ADA sponsored Native domestic oral health disparities do exist American Oral Health Care Project as in the U.S. well as Indian Health Service. For those As students we have many opportuwho would like hands on experience, nities made available for us to pick and check the available externship opportunichoose but we may not hear or know ty with Indian Health Service. about all of the opportunities that do exhttp://www.ihs.gov/medicalprograms/dental/index.cfm?module=extern

Membership Benefits
Karine Lee
ASDA is continuously trying to improve and add benefits for its members. Besides the many intangible benefits, we also try to bring discounts and access to various services and resources. Below is a list of the benefits that exist as well as one that is in progress. 1) Free ADA Life and Disability Insurance a. Life insurance: $50,000 term life + $50,000 accidental death coverage b. Disability Insurance: $2,000/month + up to $150,000 to repay student loans c. d. Coverage doubles to $100,000 on July 1, 2013 Remains free through Dec 2013 (even after gradation)

e. Practically FREE Malpractice insurance from Medical Protective for 1 year after graduation f. g. New dentists receive 75% discount ASDA members get an ADDITIONAL 25% discount

2) Free T-shirt 3) Complimentary Publications: JADA, ADA News, Mouth, E-newsletters a. b. c. Patient Education Material PDF Files Videos

Your ASDA Cabinet

d. Topics: Brushing, flossing, root canal treatment, periodontal disease, etc. Shahab Parsa President Sara Adabi Vice President Ramina Sarmicanic Treasurer

Handy when explaining to patients ASDA members: $30 (60% off) 1 year subscription 3rd year is free when you buy 2 years

e.

Lexi-Dental Drugs App (Retail price: $75) -

4) Free access to ADA resources: a. Dental Practice Hub: A web-based practice management resource
Devin Bernhardt Newsletter Editor Michael Hong Pre-Dental Chair Dongkook (DK) Lim D1 Representative

b. ADA Center for Evidence-Based Dentistry: A database of answers to clinical questions c. Dental Buying Guide: A guide to dental supplies and equipment Project Currently In Progress 1) Beta Endo Teeth Project a. Potential endo tooth for each D4 and ID4 ASDA member for WREB exam

Neha Temhane Secretary

Stallinjeet Gill IDP 3 Representative

Prashant Poplai IDP 4 Representative

If you have any questions about any of these benefits or would like more information please do not hesitate to contact Karina at: Karina.Lee@ucsf.edu

Eddie Molina Jolie Goodman Communications Chair Community Service Co-Chair

Tiffany Hsu Legislative Liason D2 Representative

American Student Dental Association

continued on page 10

Get in the know about all things 9 AS

Member Spotlight, Ivy Avanessian Fua

UCSF, and Sione began another season on the east coast. From the San Fernando Valley of Im not your typical NFL wife, LA, Ivy Avanessian Fua came to UCSF says Ivy. In 2010, VH1 came out with a after discovering her passion for helping series, Football Wives, which shed an others by serving the community as a inaccurate and undesirable light on what dental professionsociety thinks of al. Ivy is currently women married a first year dental to NFL stars. In student, and new fact, the couple member to the doesnt exactly go UCSF ASDA out of their way to chapter. Before tell others about dental school, Siones career. she attended If people come UC-Santa Cruz, up to him and and then UCSFs ask him if hes a post baccalaurefootball player, ate program, and hell say no, or quickly fell in love say he plays water with the UCSF polo instead! campus, commuIvy says one nity, and the city of the more ironic of San Francisco. moments they This 24 year old have had together armenian-columbiwas when they Ivy Avanessian Fua during the an-cali girl found recently visited the her interest in white coat ceremony. dentist. I was so dentistry while sure he was going in high school. It was also in high school to have a cavity. Turns out, Sione was that she met the man of her dreams, caries-free and Ivy actually had a cavity. Sione Fua, when they ran into each other Sione and Ivy have an exciting future at a testing center to take the SAT. ahead of them. Dentistry is a prosperSione Fua is a defensive tackle for ing and flexible profession that can be the Carolina Panthers, and was drafted applied in any part of the country. Its a in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft. possibility that Siones career may lead Before his career in the NFL, Sione him to a new team in the coming seasons, attended and played football for Stanford leaving their future plans up in the air for University, only a short hour away from the time being. Hopefully hell keep Ivy at UCSC. This past summer, Ivy and playing for the Panthers, says Ivy. Sione got married before Ivy started at

ASDA ucsf

Nicole Lamantia

Ivy and her husband, NFL player Sione Fua, If people come up to him and ask him if hes a football player, hell say no, or say he plays water polo instead!

ASDA Cabinet (Continued)

Jonathan Collins Past President

Nicole (Neek) LaMantia Historian

William Kim Licensure and Ethics Chair

Karina Lee Membership Chair

Kaitlin Benchimol Lunch and Learn Committee Chair

Iveta Markova Community Service Co-Chair

Jeffrey Lee D4 Representative

Kulginder Sran D3 Representative

Shanne Sastiel Expo Day Chair

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Dr. Nelson, Faculty Spotlight

We are honored to have Dr. Gerald D Nelson as our faculty spotlight interviewee. Dr. Nelson graduated from UCSF with an orthodontic specialty certificate in 1965. Following that, he served as a captain in the US Air Force for 3 years. He purchased a private practice on his return, where he practiced with a co-owner for 40 years until 2008. He was the co-founder and director of the orthodontic teaching program at La Clinica de la Raza in Oakland from 1972-2003. He joined the UCSF Orthodontic Program in 1994 as an associate clinical professor and has been part of the program ever since as clinical professor, vice-chair, clinic director and most recently as interim chair of the UCSF orthodontic division. He has given many presentations at professional organizations and received multiple awards for his teaching and service.

Shahab Parsa

Thank you very much for taking time out of your busy schedule. You are very welcome. What drew you to the field of orthodontics in the beginning? My family dentist, who as a teenager started talking to me about it was a guy who I really liked. I knew I was confident with my hands. I knew I wanted to work for myself. So he said well dentistry is good, I really enjoyed it, but if I was to do it again, I would be a specialist and orthodontics would be the specialty I would choose. I didnt have braces, so I was kind of ignorant about that. And as a youngster I had a lot of caries and my first dentist was just not a very a good dentist, no preventative care or anything like that. The second dentist who I really liked he said give it a try, so I went to the school counselor and talked with them and set my course. And so by the time I graduated high school I knew where I was going. What do you recommend to the students who are just starting dental school and are trying to decide whether to follow a residency in orthodontics or not? I think if some one who is in dental school who hasnt thought about that, what they need to do is to do some shadowing. I mean thats the first thing to do, learn about what is a day in the life of an orthodontist like and what makes it interesting or difficult. There are orthodontists who would allow young dental students to come in and visit, and I think thats one really important thing to do. What suggestions do you have for students who know they are interested in a career in orthodontics? I think if a person then is pretty serious about orthodontics theyve gotta put the pieces together that make your application to a residency go into interview and that has to do with not only the shadowing but doing the public service and being involved in some kind of research, and to understand orthodontics enough to know that this fits your idea of what you would like to do, and to work with people in the dental school who are willing to give you a good recommendation, because these days, most of our grades are coming back pass and fail which doesnt really help us a lot, so we try to choose our applicants through the interviews and really rely a lot on personal recommendations and the various other achievements that the applicants have made. One of the things that I did when I was in dental school was working in an orthodontic laboratory. That was pretty useful. I learned a lot about making orthodontic appliances, but also the relationship that my boss had with the local orthodontics was interesting. You mentioned most of the scores coming back are pass/fail, and you are looking a lot more closely at recommendations and extracurricular activities, how important are the GRE scores now that boards are pass/fail? That is a number we look at, and it is important. They changed the scoring format on those a few years ago, but yes we do look at them. In private practice, what are the dynamics between orthodontics and the general practitioner (or other specialists) like? Well, those dynamics are all over the map. The orthodontist has a large influence on those dynamics, and I think what the orthodontist needs to do is be a really good communicator with the general dentist, be involved in the local society and to do his or her best to educate the local dentist about orthodontics. I think its important for the orthodontist to sort of take the high-road in terms of doing things as professionally as possible and not getting into lots of advertising, and I think they will have a great relationship with the general practitioner. For example, I teach a couple of classes on Invisalign, and a lot of general practitioners are interested in doing Invisalign, and I think that is appropriate, but some orthodontists dont want to have anything to do with their general dentist doing that, and they get a bit itchy about it. But I really think the best thing we ought to do is to help the general dentist, if they want to do Invisalign, choose the right case, do the right treatment plan and carry it off. The more they collaborate on things like that, the better. Another thing the orthodontist needs to do is inform the general dentist about their patient very carefully from the time they first come in until theyre finished, in terms of sending reports constantly. continued on page 12

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ASDA ucsf

Dr. Nelson

thats a huge upcoming change not in technology, but in business practice. A previous student of mine practicing in Southern Carolina, told me she had 2 pediatric dentists referring to her for a while and things were great. One continued from page 11 signed on with an orthodontist and is not referring to her anymore and the other is about to do the same thing, so she is also thinking of signing on with Do orthodontists mostly get referrals through advertising to the public a pediatric dentist. It used to be that pediatric dentists hire an orthodontist out or general dentists? of school and pay them some percentage of production, but this is different. Most orthodontists after they have been in practice for about 10 years This is forming a business partnership and sharing patients and x-ray equipits about 50/50, and you get more referrals from pediatric dentists than ments and lab, etc. general dentist as a rule. So you get about 50% from your other patients In your years of practicing experience, how have you seen orthodontic and 50% from other dentists. But when you are new in practice, you get procedures be affected by the economy considering their often elective referrals mostly from other dentists, although if you join some community nature? groups, you start seeing patients from community groups too. Both dentists Orthodontics is affected by a change in the economy. When we have and orthodontists have to go through that phase to build a practice, so its boom times, patients are coming in constantly and never a problem, and really nice if you go to a community where people know you already. when the economy is hurting, yeah we feel it. In fact, once I annually tracked How do you see the future of orthodontics as a field with the advent my new patients, around February-April we dont get many new exams of technologies such as Invisalign and more general practitioners perbecause people are doing their taxes and are worried about money, so it is forming orthodontic procedures? quite often a dead time. So yes people feeling the economy definitely affects There are some very interesting things going on. I think in terms of Intheir decision on orthodontics. The other thing about orthodontics is lets say visalign, orthodontics is more and more complicated to do Invisalign than you are a parent and have a 13-year-old with crooked teeth. Okay you dont ever before because we have learned more and more through the research want to do braces because theyre too expensive, so do you do it next year and through Invisalign innovating to do things we didnt think we could when theyre 14? Or 15? And pretty soon you realize that they are going to do before. The whole idea of planning the treatment is developing so that graduate and you better get this done. So there is sort of a time-pressure on treatment planning in Invisalign is really becoming quite an art. So I think parents, so I think when the economy knocks things orthodontists are really qualified for doing bulk of I think what the orthodontist down, it is pretty temporary, and then when it comes the Invisalign treatment. I just think orthodontists needs to do is be a really good com- back, it comes back in gang-buster because there are a and general dentists who do Invisalign should work in teams to figure out where things should be going. municator with the general dentist, lot of patients who really need treatment who have deAnother thing, which is not so much technology be involved in the local society and layed treatment. I dont know if it affects us more than regular dentistry. Things that have changed in orthodonbut business, in southern states particularly, large to do his or her best to educate the tics is that we do more adult orthodontics, orthognathic, corporate dentistry has become a major player. A perio-ortho, etc. so even though sometimes treatment friend of mine in Georgia told me about a corporate local dentist about orthodontics. may sag in one area, we are still working another area. company has bought over 25 pediatric, orthodonThe region where you practice also has a huge effect. I know an orthodontist tic and pediatric vision care practices, and theyre putting them in one who practices in Stockton, where the unemployment rate is really high, and building. So they have a trio of children resources and providing really their new patient exam is down by almost 80%, which is very significant. good service along the lines of Kaiser providing good medical service. Thank you very much again for this very informative interview. That is something that is going to happen all over the United States. So

From the Editor

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