Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Best podcasts for dental students

With thousands of informative and entertaining podcasts available on different streaming services, listening to podcasts has become a normal part of many people’s everyday schedules. Podcasts are free to listen to and can be listened to anywhere — on the drive home, on a bike ride, or while cooking and cleaning. Many of them feel more like conversations than traditional news stories and are perfect for busy people on the go such as dental students.

In honor of International Podcast Day, here are some podcast suggestions for dental students:

  • The Life and Dentistry Podcast: Hear about life as a dental student and from dentists who discuss overcoming personal struggles and the development of their careers.
  • Student Entrepreneurs in Dentistry Podcast: This podcast is great for aspiring dental practice owners and dental entrepreneurs looking to learn about the foundational principles, concepts and strategies of business in dentistry.
  • The Dentist Money Show: An entertaining podcast that also offers straightforward advice about investing, retirement planning, tax reduction, insurance, debt management and personal finance. 
  • The Dentalpreneur Podcast: Dr. Mark Costes hosts this podcast with hopes of passing down valuable advice and lessons from some of the greatest minds in the dental profession.
  • Transition Talk Podcast: National Dental Placements started this podcast to provide guidance, tips and real-life scenarios (good and bad) to encourage and help those navigating the path to ownership.

For a break from dentistry podcasts and to stay informed with current events or to learn about something new, check out these podcasts:

  • Supercharged Podcast: Every week, Supercharged tackles a question about technology, science, psychology and human existence to find out how we can approach life better in a rapidly changing world. 
  • Back to Work Podcast: Back to Work is a talk show discussing productivity, communication, work, barriers, constraints, tools and more.
  • NPR News Now Podcast: A quick way to get the latest news. Each podcast is five minutes long and updated hourly.
  • TED Radio Hour Podcast: In a partnership with TED and NPR, Manoush Zomorodi hosts this podcast, aimed at inspiring us to learn more about the world, our communities and ourselves by exploring the biggest questions of our time. 

~Stephanie Jaipaul, Georgia ’22, ASDA Electronic Editor

Case report: Restoring the high-lip-line gummy smile with porcelain veneers

Dr. Joe Blaes walks readers through the case of a woman who was concerned about the appearance of her smile. Using the right products and ceramist, Blaes was able to deliver a smile that resulted in celebration for both the patient and team. He provides a step-by-step discussion of what was done to achieve that celebration.


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How can CBCT improve endodontic treatments for patients?

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) clearly maps the neurovascular canals and the anatomic variants of patients' upper and lower jaws, facilitating the safe performance of endodontic treatments, according to a case series published on September 15 in the Journal of Endodontics.


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Answering your questions about amalgam, composites, and dental insurance claims

We spoke with Teresa Duncan in this podcast, after reading some of your comments following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's most recent guidance involving dental amalgam. The goal was to get some answers on what really changed, if anything, and to dive into the insurance nuts and bolts regarding amalgam versus other dental materials.


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Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Delayed treatment biggest barrier to rebounding implant market

Dr. Edward Harsini discusses why he is confident that good things are ahead when it comes to the dental implant sector. While he believes implant dentistry will see a comeback after the pandemic, he tells readers it is important that dental practices reach out to patients to tell them to be proactive about their oral health.


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The COVID-19 rebound: How dental practices can thrive

As the colder months quickly approach accompanied by an increased fear of a second wave of the novel coronavirus and a seasonal flu, dentists should consider how they will continue to ensure patient confidence and maintain practice revenues, writes Dan Croft. He gives advice on how practices can thrive during these upcoming times.


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CBCT reveals 1st reported case of premolar with 5 canals

A cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan helped identify a fifth canal in the first premolar of a man who was undergoing a root canal. This is the first reported case of a fifth canal in this type of tooth, according to a case report published on September 10 in BMC Oral Health.


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Monday, September 28, 2020

Slowing down the game

For myself and my fellow third-year dental students, this summer was a time of great transition from the simulation lab to clinic. We donned face shields and nervously stepped into the unknown world of patient care.

Over the past month, I’ve noticed a commonality present in my clinical experiences — the fast pace. It is the fast pace that has contributed to a consistent feeling of being overwhelmed and stressed out. These feelings can cloud my ability to think, work and learn effectively in the clinic. Much of my free time has been occupied with the question of how I can change my circumstances. How can I better adapt to my new environment and optimize my experiences in clinic, as well as improve my mental and physical well-being? For me, I found it helpful to turn to sports.

Tennis legend John McEnroe once said, “I think it’s the mark of a great player to be confident in tough situations. Things slow down, the ball seems a lot bigger and you feel like you have more time. Everything computes — you have options, but you always take the right one.” NBA superstar Stephen Curry is quoted saying, “We overload in our workouts so that the game slows down in real life. It helps you become a smarter basketball player.”

These two professional athletes ascended to the upper echelons of their respective sports, and the thread that weaves them together is pace. The most successful athletes have the ability to “slow the game down.” In their environments they can see, process and react to a situation faster than their opponents and leverage that speed to their advantage. Think of that evasive fly that you continually fail to squish. The fly is able to see and respond to your incoming hand faster than your hand can move. Now you might be asking yourself, what does any of this have to do with dentistry? And how is this going to help me overcome all the stress and anxiety that I’m feeling in clinic?

You need to start treating dentistry as a game. This doesn’t mean to make light of your oral health care delivery. Instead, frame your time in clinic to match the same principles as those of a game; it can help you improve your abilities, performance and overall well-being. To become proficient or competent at any game requires practice and repetition. It is through the practice of one’s craft that skills become solidified and confidence begins to build. When you have confidence in yourself and your abilities, you can see things more clearly — and all that translates into making better decisions and performing at a higher level.

It is through this everyday exposure that you learn more and build upon your knowledge bit by bit. Through this repetitive learning process, you’ll notice your comfort level shifting. The stress and anxiety will start to subside and give way to a more effective and enjoyable learning experience. Through practice and repetition, we’re all working to slow the game down. We’re working to process information faster and more efficiently, giving us the ability to act confidently and decisively with the best possible outcomes.

There isn’t a silver bullet to managing stress and anxiety in clinic, or any stressful environment for that matter. Stress and anxiety and the desire to improve performance comes from process. Now you may have a different process and means of coping and learning, and that’s great. At the end of the day, you have to do what works best for you. For me, I lean on the old adage “practice makes perfect.” While I may not perform my best now, I know if I keep at it, I will perform better in the future and things will start to feel a little easier.

So take a big deep breath and run back to the dispensary for that topical anesthetic you forgot — and know you’ll get everything the first time next time.

~ Benjamin Kruman, Detroit Mercy ’22

Do's and don'ts for strategic planning

COVID-19 has increased the already growing level of competition that practices face. Every practice should complete a five-year strategic plan with monthly reviews and annual updates to the plan: This is how good practices become great and stay there, writes Dr. Roger P. Levin.


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Does teledentistry have a place in practices after COVID-19?

Teledentistry finally may have its moment, and it may help dental practices stay on track with patients in the face of the ongoing pandemic and beyond, according to a recent panel discussion hosted by the ADA's Health Policy Institute.


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Fixing your fall schedule fallout: 4 proven ways to finish 2020 strong

Are you looking at your hygiene schedule for the next month? Curtis Marshall is asking dentists and dental hygienists to look a month ahead and see what holes there are. You may be surprised at the number, but don't be overly concerned: There is still time to make your fourth quarter a strong end to the year.


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Friday, September 25, 2020

Why you need to know about this acronym -- and why your patients will thank you for it

Dr. David Rice, clinical editor for DrBicuspid.com, discusses the importance of computer-controlled local anesthetic delivery (CCLAD). He details why this has become a favorite dental acronym of his, and why he believes CCLAD can be a benefit to your practice and patients.


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A step-by-step guide for dentists starting to use Pinterest for marketing

Pinterest is not your average social media platform because it's a visual search engine, writes Katie Hess, RDH. She believes Pinterest is a great fit for dental practices that blog, take lots of before-and-after pictures, host podcasts, or sell products through their website. In this article, she explains how to get started.


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FDA calls for high-risk patients to avoid dental amalgam

Instead of recommending a complete ban of dental amalgam, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising that high-risk individuals, such as pregnant women, avoid getting these fillings "whenever possible and appropriate."


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Thursday, September 24, 2020

A story and a cause

Last summer on June 22, before COVID-19 flipped our world upside down, 22 members of the Colorado ASDA chapter woke up on “game day.” Jumping out of bed, they stuffed their faces full of oats and protein, laced up their shoes and put on their game faces before making the drive over to the outdoor Hoops Park in Aurora, Colorado. What could have possibly inspired 22 dental students to wake up early on a day off you ask? Well, in this case, Colorado ASDA’s first 3v3 fundraiser for Dental Lifeline Network (DLN).

As a former basketball junkie and our chapter’s associate chair of events, I’d worked hard with fellow classmate Lauren Mendicino, the associate chair of outreach, to pioneer and execute this new idea. I mean, what’s more fun than bringing a bunch of competitive dental students together to scratch and claw their way to a title? Nothing. Yeah, I mean I really can’t think of anything.

Anyway, the stage was set. The bracket was finalized, the basketballs were aired up, and our competitors were ready. The only thing not ready? The court (which had just been roped off and was undergoing construction) and the weather (yikes).

Before I proceed with our story, here are a couple of disclaimers to lighten your judgement of me as a novice associate chair of events. One, the outdoor court was a public space and unable to be reserved (so I’d suggest reserving an indoor space ahead of time for an event like this), and two, Colorado weather is more temperamental than a dental student after a practical they’re convinced they failed (but probably didn’t).

The storm

Abandoning our hopes to play at Hoops Park and hoping we could get our fundraiser in before the ominous clouds in the distance were drawn to the biggest basketball tournament of the century, we packed everything and went to a different park. As our only fan at the new venue, the storm rolled in just as we took the court.

Our parade having officially been rained on, we lost hope — that is until one of our brave ballers offered their church’s gym for one last shot. And we couldn’t throw away our…shot! (Hamilton reference — sorry not sorry, just got Disney+.)

The gym

Finally, we had a court suitable for a stormy day in Aurora. Before any chance lightning bolts could set our last hope ablaze, we hooped for DLN.

First round — done. Second round — done. Third round? Not so fast.

Before we could crown our champions, we were greeted by the wedding party of a couple getting married in the gym later that day. Offering to help set up chairs and tables for the occasion if they let us play for a few more minutes, we accepted our fate. The first true champion wouldn’t be crowned until summer 2020 — or so we thought (thanks, SARS-CoV-2).

The point of the story

I tell you this story not because it was a defining event put on by our chapter, but because it’s not always easy to make a difference. Even though our first court was under construction, our second court got rained on and our third reserved for a wedding, the generosity of individual Colorado ASDA members enabled our chapter to make a $210 donation to DLN, a critical organization that serves those in our community who need it most.

Getting involved at DLN

Living in our new reality of social distancing, I know several ASDA chapters (including Colorado) have been working hard to find new ways to engage members. Here are some things we can do through the national humanitarian organization DLN.

First, as dental students, we can pledge to volunteer once we graduate to join the 16,000 dentists and 3,500 laboratories that volunteer for the DLN DDS Program. We can also follow their social media (@dentallifeline), share a DLN story (like this one about our epic failure to host a 3v3 basketball tournament) in your ASDA chapter newsletter and request a DLN board member dentist to speak (Zoom) at your school.

Most importantly, for charitable organizations such as DLN, money matters! For every dollar donated, DLN provides $9 worth of comprehensive dental care to those who need it most. If you’re looking to fundraise for DLN, consider participating in the Lifeline Heroes Challenge fundraiser, organizing a virtual 5K or making a donation.

I’ll leave you with this: There’s no best way to give back. It’ll take all of us, each of us doing our part, to make a difference. So buckle up and pull out the drawing board. I can’t wait to see what ASDA members like you and your chapter come up with! Stay healthy, my friends.

~Jakob Holtzmann, Colorado ’22

This blog post was sponsored by Dental Lifeline Network.

Understanding the significance of dental practice valuations during COVID-19

Who would acquire a dental practice without some due diligence? During the period of COVID-19's economic effect on all businesses, it is especially important for the review of the dental practice valuation and the significance it plays in the soon-to-be-made purchase, writes Bruce Bryen, CPA, CVA.


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Social responsibility: Dentistry's costly omission

There's a key piece missing to the true mission of dentistry right now, opines Dr. Marc Cooper. In today's world, he believes dentistry has lost sight of its mission to act in the best interest of society as a whole. He shares his thoughts and beliefs on what could turn things around in this article.


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Are patients in your state getting vaccinated?

Support for a COVID-19 vaccine continues to wane even as companies report being closer to bringing one to the public. This may be not be surprising, considering people in many U.S. states don't get inoculated for other diseases such as polio and the flu.


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Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Advice for a modern-day approach to meditation

The practice of meditation in some form has always been a part of my life. Growing up, my father would meditate and often speak to my brothers and I on the importance of the practice for the health of the connective relationship between mind, body and soul. As a child, I could not fathom this, as I was always talkative and a walking stream of consciousness to all who would listen. As I entered college and a whirlwind of responsibilities surrounded me, simply slowing down my mind and thought process became a topic of interest for me. 

My first memory engaging in my newfound interest was reading a book my father gave me: “The Art of Happiness” by the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler, M.D. While I found the book insightful at the time, it wasn’t until much later that I really grasped the concept and started to implement those values in my everyday life. 

After obtaining my master’s degree and entering dental school, my now fast-paced and demanding life quickly showed to be something I needed to address mentally from a different approach. Being present, mindful, concentrating on the task at hand, filtering out anxiety-causing thought loops and winding down to gain a good night’s sleep became my top goals. 

Interestingly, my practice with meditation began by listening to meditation music on Spotify. With this, I first learned that the commitment to a routine was as important as the method used to meditate. Dedicating 15 minutes every morning, I started to see a change in concentration and focus throughout the day. Evolving this method, I moved on to guided meditation through the Calm app, which offers different meditations aligned with happiness, gratitude, self-esteem, anxiety and sleep.

While it was one of my initial goals, sleep meditation has been a recent addition to my routine. I often have a hectic schedule and tend to fall into habits of overthinking events of the day and what is upcoming, sometimes getting into a spiral of what-ifs that cause anxiety and make sleep nearly impossible. This part of the app has been peaceful, calming and always helps me quiet my mind and get a restful night of sleep (it also has a timer in case you nod off during a session). People commonly feel fatigued from all that our minds have to unpack from a long day, and this exhaustion clouds the ability to re-center oneself mentally before starting the next day refreshed.

I also have been listening to “How to Meditate,” a 30-day series by Jeff Warren on Calm. His honest and raw approach uses his personal journey to present the topic of meditation in an engaging and tangible language. I find myself hanging on every word. Meditation is personal and can be a spiritual practice, so when searching for a form of meditation, think about what drives you to be present and will give you the clarity of concentration on the facets of life that are important to you.

My journey with guided meditation has taught me to be present, less anxious and more mindful. It has shifted the way I view many circumstances toward empathy and compassion, seeing the similar internal struggles that others are going through. I needed to exercise this part of my spirituality — being kinder to myself in the now, while working toward achieving my personal and professional goals. 

I hope that you, too, will benefit from meditation as I have. It has given me the clarity, relaxation and focus to maintain better balance. This relationship between the mind and body has also helped me reduce my blood pressure, especially during times of high stress. It’s a centerline and a way to manage your thought process so you don’t become easily overwhelmed. I continue to grow and adapt and learn new forms of meditation as my life changes, keeping an open mind, and continually learning is part of the process. 

~Faith Botana, Georgia ‘22

One consultant's top 3 reports you should be reviewing

A recently posed question started Lynne Leggett, founder and CEO of Victory Dental Management, thinking about which reports can benefit dental practices for the rest of 2020 and beyond. So much data are available. How do you know which reports can help you the most? She offers some advice.


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Create a culture of safety before education to ensure patients' trust

With COVID-19 now a part our society, how are you ensuring that your patients and team members feel safe? Dr. James Anderson offers some advice about what must be done to create a sense of safety for all in the practice, and why that's important for your business.


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Low doses of Botox may help TMJ pain without bone loss

Short-term, low doses of botulinum toxin (Botox) can be used to manage pain related to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) without causing jawbone loss, according to a study published on September 3 in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation.


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Tuesday, September 22, 2020

How 3 dentists remained nimble and resilient during the COVID-19 disruption

Dr. Teresa Yang interviewed three California dentists about how they have personally and professionally navigated the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on their businesses. They also talked about some of the changes they have made in their practices in the postpandemic days.


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Was COVID-19 a 'perfect storm' for bacterial contamination inside dental unit waterlines?

With September being Dental Infection Control Awareness Month, it seems like the perfect time to discuss dental unit waterline (DUWL) safety and what dental practices should know. Did the COVID-19 shutdown create an ideal scenario for bacteria to grow in your DUWLs? Kellie Thimmes of ProEdge Dental Water Labs answers that question.


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Sleep apnea may affect COVID-19 severity

Patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea may be at increased risk for more severe complications from COVID-19, according to a new study published on September 8 in Sleep Medicine Reviews.


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Monday, September 21, 2020

Staying positive in trying times

For all of us, the past six months have brought adjustment after adjustment. Bad news has littered our TV screens, we’ve experienced stress like never before, and life as we know it has changed — possibly forever. It’s been a lot to handle, and for my classmates and I, the start of clinic as DS3 students was thrown into the middle of all it.

As quarantine wore on and our expected clinic start date passed, I could feel the uncertainty and frustration brewing within my class. We’d worked hard to finally have the opportunity to treat patients, and suddenly we had no idea when or how that was going to happen. Would patients come back? What would the future of dentistry look like? I tried to remind myself that there were more important things; I was fortunate to be healthy and to have my family close by me. But uncertainty breeds negativity, and eventually, it got to me, too.

I remember feeling frustrated, scared and tired. Above all, I felt sorry for myself and negative about the current situation. As the details were ironed out, it became clear that our dental school clinical experience was going to look different from what anyone expected. As the start date loomed closer, I longed for a “normal” clinical experience — one without fear of COVID-19, without extra PPE and without limited appointment time. That reality no longer existed.

It dawned on me that I could walk into my first day letting my grievances get to my head, or I could do everything in my power to turn it around. Ultimately, it was my choice. Things were not normal, they never may be again, but it was up to me to choose how I was going to react. And I chose to be positive, even if I had to fake it. I’ve made it my goal to not only be positive for myself but also to spread that positivity to my classmates to help them out of frustrating situations. Below I have listed three things that I think about daily to keep myself positive, focused and excited about this amazing profession.

1. Don’t make assumptions.

This is a big one, and it’s easy to do. All day we make assumptions about others without realizing it. With some introspection, I found that when I felt most frustrated, I was often mistakenly assuming where another person was coming from. Be understanding with your professors, colleagues and patients. It’s likely their decisions are not made to hurt you but rather to benefit them. Although it sometimes feels as such, the world is not out to get you. By being conscious of the assumptions we make about others, we can take their words and actions less personally.

2. Worry less about requirements and focus on experiences.

It’s easy to get bogged down by the long list of requirements needed to graduate from dental school. It’s especially stressful when those requirements seem harder to obtain in the current climate. But it’s important to remember that not all valuable experiences are requirements, and not all requirements are valuable experiences. Just because you did something that wasn’t a graduation requirement, doesn’t mean you didn’t potentially learn something incredibly valuable.

3. Welcome and value criticism.

I once read that when someone corrects you, it’s because they know you are capable of doing better. While some people are better at delivering criticism than others, always remember that it’s hardly ever meant to be taken personally. It’s easy to feel like a failure when you make a mistake, but remember that you are a student and you are here to learn. Just do better next time.

The decision to remain positive during challenging times is a daily one. It’s not always possible, and it’s hardly ever easy. There are only two short years in clinic to glean as much information as possible. Why spend it being negative? By practicing positive thinking, you open yourself up to possibilities, relationships and an all-around better clinical experience. It sounds cliché, but if we can find gratitude —  sometimes in the far corners of our day — we may be able to find peace in this chaotic world.

~Sydney Kerre, Detroit Mercy ’22, Chapter Predental Chair

Do's and don'ts for staying positive

During these challenging times, it can be difficult to remain upbeat. However, if you want to move forward, you must adopt a positive mindset. Without a positive attitude, you will never be able to motivate yourself or your staff to provide excellent care and customer service day in and day out, explains Dr. Roger P. Levin.


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Q&A with Dr. Sam Low on COVID-19 and inflammation, plus personalizing the oral-systemic link

In a one-on-one interview, Dr. Sam Low chatted with DrBicuspid.com Editor-in-Chief Kevin Henry about the importance of the oral-systemic link and personalizing it for each patient, as well as how COVID-19 is showing us why inflammation is one of the biggest issues the dental team must tackle with patients.


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How could COVID-19 change the dental hygiene profession for good?

From workforce shortages to changes in infection control protocols, dental hygienists have taken a one-two punch from the COVID-19 pandemic. But in the long term, it may change their roles in practices and offer them new opportunities.


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