Actions 

Forget my words, 

Forgive my actions, 

I press forwards: 

The law of equal and opposite actions. 

You give what they take, 

They take what you give. 

Don’t act fake; 

It’s hard to forgive. 

In order to love, 

You must hate. 

It can fly like a dove; 

Or remain innate. 

Love, the time spent. 

Hate, the time away. 

Try to be in the present, 

Or harshly you’ll pay. 

It is hard to keep quiet, 

But sometimes it’s hard to speak. 

A few words could spark up a riot, 

And few words can make one weak. 

Plenty of words can mean a lot, 

Yet many words can say nothing. 

Say too much, and words can blot. 

Be wise and mean something. 

Listen to the beat of your drum. 

Ignore the white noise. 

That constant rhythm you always hum. 

That is how you find lives’ joys. 

-JS

My name is Jose Silva, I am a current D3 student with aspirations of making it into a pediatric residency after my time here at CU. I was raised in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Growing up I took a liking in poetry (in Spanish); when I came to the US, I found the inability to express myself in that manner incredibly frustrating, so I doubled down in English class. Now, as a dental student, I have insomnia and sometimes when I can't sleep, I will write. 

[Editor’s Note: This is a republished article from Pre-Dental Advice. Pre-Dental Advice is all about helping pre-dental students optimize their journey to dental school. The original post ran here. Enjoy!]

So now that you have found a dentist that you would like to shadow, what do you do?

First off, you should know that in our experience, most dentists are more than willing to allow you to shadow them, so don't be scared to ask. If the dentist does decline, try another one! There is a high chance the next will be sure to let you.

Asking a Dentist that You Personally Know

If you already know the dentist, you're in luck, it is even easier to ask! It is as simple as giving them a call or asking the next time you see them. We would recommend saying something like this: "Dr. ________. I'm really interested in learning more about what you do. Would it be ok if I came to your office to shadow?" Simple, straight to the point, and easy!

Asking a Dentist you Haven't Met

Here is where some students are a bit more intimidated, but as we said earlier, most dentists would be happy to have you come to their office! You have a couple of options to ask if you can shadow.

1. Go to their office and introduce yourself

2. Give them a call

We would recommend the first option if possible, but either works great. The advantage of asking in person is that it allows the dentist (or at least his front staff) to know who you are before you arrive to shadow. You'll also probably feel a little more comfortable knowing how to get to the office and who you'll interact with when you get there. Another great advantage is that it allows you to show your dedication to come shadow and learn from the dentist. Remember, you might be asking for a letter of recommendation in the future!

What do I Say?

So when you show up in person, what should you say? We would advise saying something along these lines:

"Hi, there! My name is _______ and I am a pre-dental student at _________ university. I am wondering if Dr. ___________ allows students to shadow? I would love the opportunity if she does!"

The front office will then let you know if the doctor allows shadowing. It is likely that the dentist will be busy with patients, but the front office can usually get you scheduled to come back. They will likely ask for some information from you.

1. Your name (they may have forgotten it already).

2. Your contact information

3. What days you would like to come in.

4. How long on those days you would like to shadow.

It is good to know the answers to these questions before you ask to shadow, so be sure to think about it beforehand.

If you are calling to schedule, we would still say the same thing. Be prepared to give the same information to the front office. We would recommend offering to send in your resume/CV via email so that the dentist can know a little about you before you come in.

What to do if the Dentist comes out while I'm there?

This is great! Introduce yourself in the same way mentioned above and ask if it would be ok for you to come shadow. This will form a great first impression and show your dedication to learning from this dentist!

Finals Thoughts

Here are a few things to consider before you call/visit.

1. Know what days and times are best for you to shadow. You'll likely be asked this. Be sure to ask what time and days are best for the dentist, also!

2. Remember to ask what is best to wear. Some offices have different preferences. A future blog post will review this as well!

3. Plan shorter shadowing blocks when you first start. These are long days, and you'll likely want to do just a morning/afternoon at first.

4. Practice what you will say a few times if you feel nervous. Just know, that you'll do great! :) 

How to Find Balance in Dental School

Dental school can be very overwhelming, especially when you’re first starting out. The beast of a didactic course load can feel like it requires 99% of your energy, and more will be demanded of you as you learn to develop your hand-skills. It will still be important to sleep enough, eat a healthy diet, and exercise. In order to succeed you will need to make time to have fun, relax and enjoy your hobbies.

So how the heck are you supposed to do all of that?!?!

Over the last year, I’ve learned a few things that helped me get through the extra challenging weeks.

Identify your priorities

I will preface by saying: your physical and mental health must be on this list. Obviously during weeks where you have 4 exams it won’t always be possible to stick to your workout routine. There will be times where you feel stressed, anxious or down. There is a fine line between the normal stress of dental school and getting to a place where you are not okay. Remember that there are resources available on campus to help you such as the Office of Student Outreach and Support or the Student and Resident Mental Health program.

Once you’ve prioritized your wellness, list the things that are most important to you. Doing well in school, spending time with specific people or enjoying a hobby are some examples. Ranking the things that mean the most to you provides direction when you have five things you’d like to do, but you only have time to do one.

Schedule EVERYTHING, and I mean everything

Undoubtedly, the most valuable thing you have in dental school is your time. One way to make the most out of each hour is to schedule everything out. Not just what courses you need to attend, but schedule blocks of time to study, to practice your hand skills, to cook dinner, etc. I find if I have a massive to-do list but no scheduled blocks to complete tasks, I'll spend way too long on one thing and I'll never get it all done.

Show up for yourself every day

Scheduling was a life-changing hack for me back in undergrad that has served me well in dental school. However, scheduling is no good without self-discipline. Anyone who made it into a doctoral program is already capable of this, but it will feel like someone turned up the heat.

There are a few things you can do to make sure you stick to your plan.

Scheduling breaks will recharge you and keep you focused when you’re in work-mode. I also schedule what I call “flex time.” Flex time is time at the end of the day that allows me to complete tasks that I couldn’t finish during the day. If I was really efficient and got everything done, guess what!? BONUS BREAK TIME!

Take a peek at your screen time. Chances are, you’re spending hours on social media without realizing it. I delete it off of my phone and log in on my laptop when I feel like I want to scroll. This keeps my focus in check, and keeps me mentally healthier.

Lastly, I know you’ve heard it before but getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night really will keep you going stronger, for longer.

Learn to say no

Of course we want to make our families, partners and friends happy by saying “yes” every time they ask us to hang out. If you have time in your schedule and you genuinely want to do something, that’s great. However, dental school will make you tired, you will have to study and sometimes the people you love just won’t get it. It’s hard to feel like you’re disappointing people but as long as you’re doing your best to see them when you can, it's always okay to say no. The people who truly respect and support you will understand.

While I am still learning how to balance dental school with life, I truly believe it is the key to success. Although it might not happen right away, trust that you will get the hang of it.

As always, don’t forget to believe in yourself :)

One of the largest hurdles that pre-dental students

must overcome when putting together their

application, is the personal statement. Choosing

what to write about can be a challenging task, and

it can feel overwhelming to introduce yourself on

paper in 4500 characters or less.

Competing in a pool of thousands of high

achievers can raise the pressure to write an essay

that stands out. However, every student is

extraordinary in their own way and it isn’t

necessary to be somehow different or more

impressive than everyone else. Remember that

you have worked hard to apply in a challenging

and highly sought after field, and to tell your

story with confidence!

A helpful mantra to keep in mind is to “show, not

tell.” For example, instead of stating, “I will

make a good fit for dentistry because I’m

caring.”, try showing the reader how you are caring by describing a time when you helped

someone and explain how that made you feel.

It can be surprisingly easy to lose sight of the prompt, which in a nutshell is, “Why Dentistry?”.

Remember that the personal statement isn’t a resume. A potential trap to fall into when writing,

is to list off your achievements to prove that you are qualified to make a successful dental

student. However, there is another section on the application for you to do just that. In the

experience section, you will categorize all of the things you’ve done and explain why they have

contributed towards applying to dental school. The personal statement is an opportunity to dig

deeper than your accomplishments and explain why you hope to take on the responsibility of

being someone’s dental provider one day.

One way to structure the personal statement is to choose a memory or experience that solidified

that dentistry would be your future career. Take the reader on your journey with you and allow

them to feel what you felt in those moments or hours. This experience doesn’t necessarily have

to be dental-related, but it should somehow tie-in or lead back to answer the prompt.

I found “Your Essential Guide to Dental School Admissions: 30 Successful Application Essays

and Collective Wisdom from Young Dentists” edited by Dr. Helen Yang, to be very helpful in

getting the feel for the format of the personal statement. The authors of these thirty essays are

exceptional at taking a meaningful experience and guiding the reader towards an understanding

of why they are seeking the field of dentistry.

Have as many trustworthy people as possible read your application essay and give you feedback

on content and structure. However, take their suggestions with a grain of salt. This is your

personal statement; welcome their advice without losing your voice. Explain the main points

you are trying to convey, and ask for help on how to best communicate them. Additionally, as a

future doctor, you should do your best to submit an essay that is professional and error-free.

Finally, remember to simplify. You know why you want to be a dentist and why you’ll make a

great one! Invite admissions to follow your thought process so they can see why you’ll be a good

fit for their program and ultimately, chair-side with patients one day.

As always, don’t forget to believe in yourself. :)

Hi there! My name is Lindsey and I am a first year dental student here at the University of

Colorado School of Dental Medicine. When I’m not studying or working on my hand skills, I

enjoy cooking, playing volleyball and I am a committed dog mom and plant mom.

When I was a pre-dental student, I found the process of applying to be very daunting and was

constantly wondering what I could do to improve my chances. Between comparing my stats to

my peers and other pre-dental students online and worrying how my extracurriculars would

measure up, I often wondered if I'd ever make it in.

Having recently survived the application process, I learned that most schools really are viewing

each application holistically and “a competitive applicant” can manifest in so many different

ways.

My aim for this blog will be to offer tips to applicants interested in applying to the CUSDM, or

any program, so that they can strategically put together a strong application that showcases

who they are and all they can contribute to the future of dental medicine and to the dental

community.

Anyone is welcome to reach out to me with questions or application help at

lindsey.m.swenson@cuanschutz.edu.

Research, Research, Research

Buying as many raffle tickets as you can means

you have a better chance of winning, right?

Maybe this works for a raffle, but I don't think it

works for applying to dental school.

A piece of advice I often got when I was applying

was to “apply broadly”. While this is great advice,

I believe it should be done thoughtfully. I think

some pre-dents can fall into a trap of sending

their application to as many schools as possible

hoping that at least one will choose them. This

can be very pricey, and down the line when

acceptances or rejections come in, a student may

be left feeling like they have to go somewhere

they aren’t familiar with. It is still possible to apply

broadly while also choosing schools that will be a

good fit.

Each school has a website with lots of important information, but what I think is a more valuable

tool is the “ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools”. It can be found on the ADEA website for

about $35, and is updated annually. This resource compiles important details about every dental

school in the US as well as Canada.

The best way to group findings from this resource is to create a spreadsheet or chart to record

data on things like cost, location, demographics and GPA and DAT score information from the

prior year’s accepted class. This tool also includes which prerequisites each school requires and

which they recommend. Once as much information is gathered as possible, it is easy to

compare schools side by side and make smart decisions about where to invest your time and

money.

One example of how the gathering of research can help in choosing where to apply, is to take

note of the range of GPAs reported by the “ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools''.

“Is my GPA good enough to get in?” is one of the most frequently asked questions by applicants

on Student Doctor Network and Dental School Admissions Bootcamp. Unfortunately, most only

see the average GPA provided by a school’s website and are disheartened when they don’t

meet it.

When I was applying, I learned that if a school has accepted a wide range of GPAs they are

often a safer investment for folks who may not hit the average. As previously mentioned, many

schools accept an average GPA of around a 3.5 and that is all the information that’s provided on

their website. This can be intimidating to applicants who may have something lower. But in

noting that a school’s range of accepted GPAs is 3.0-3.9 for example, the school certainly took

plenty of students below a 3.5. Conversely, a school which did not accept a wide range, for

example 3.5-4.0 with the average still falling around a 3.5, may be a tougher place to gain an

acceptance.

Doing research on each and every school of interest is a long process, but it can really help an

applicant make optimal decisions about where to apply.

As always, don’t forget to believe in yourself! :)

Mr. Smith told his dentist that his spouse will call to confirm his next appointments. The well-meaning dentist reassured him that his wife can call the office anytime to confirm the appointment. Mr. Smith has been married to his husband for over ten years.

People on the LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and more) spectrum face situations like this almost every day. These interactions can range from awkward assumptions to micro-aggressions, and even full-fledged discrimination. A recent Gallup poll concluded that 7.1% of the population self-identified as being on the LGBT spectrum (Jones, 2022). Yet, there are very few studies that adequately address their barriers to dental care.

Gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals are more likely to rate their oral health as poor (Schwartz, Sanders, Lee, & Divaris, 2019). They are less likely to get routine exams and have an established dental home as it is hard to find LGBT competent dental providers and offices. Most of the dental textbooks, intake forms, and courses are conventionally heteronormative. This directly affects the care our patients receive. Here are a few ways we can start to make dental offices more welcoming and supportive to the LGBT community.

Using a patient’s preferred name and pronouns:

It is imperative to not make assumptions about a person’s gender based on how they may present themselves. By clearly stating your pronouns and asking new patients what their preferred pronouns are, we can start to avoid misgendering them. Practice using pronouns like they/them to refer to a person. Accidentally used the wrong pronoun? Apologize, move on with the conversation and try to do better next time. Call a patient by the name they prefer, rather than what shows up on our electronic health records. Using the name that they don’t use anymore, (referred to as their “dead name”), is problematic as it can out a person’s sex without their consent.

Being gender competent:

Sex is what people are assigned at birth. Gender is how they identify. Many dental practices are moving away from the dated “Sex: Male/ Female/ Other” health history form formats and are asking about a patient’s gender instead. Patients will feel more welcome if we have a space for them to mention their gender identities. People who are transgender or non-binary also have trouble filling out sections which are titled “Female only”. A transman who was assigned female at birth may still go through the menstrual cycle, experience menopause, pregnancy, and breastfeeding, or be on birth control.

Knowing about hormones and their oral effects:

People undergoing gender transitions are usually prescribed hormones to aid in the process. During male-to-female transitions, patients take estrogen and anti-androgens like spironolactone, finasteride, leuprolide, and progestin. In female-to-male transitions, patients take testosterone. Most people are unaware of the side effects these hormones can have on dental care (Macdonald, Grossoehme, Mazzola, Pestian, & Schwartz, 2022). Beyond the systemic risks of osteoporosis, hyperkalemia, liver toxicity, and diabetes, patients on hormone replacement therapies are also at an increased risk of chronic periodontitis and oral infections (Weinstein, 2019). Therefore, we must create a safe space where our patients can disclose this information.

LGBT+ people have experienced stigma and discrimination their whole lives. Creating a dental office where everyone feels safe, accepted, and free from judgment, requires everyone working together and holding each other accountable. Step in when you hear a colleague or friend say something offensive. Hire a team that’s informed about these issues. Representation matters. Incorporate various family configurations on lectures, marketing materials and websites. We need more LGBT+ competent providers who can understand and break down healthcare barriers. Everyone deserves to smile with Pride.

References:

Jones, J. M. (2022). LGBT Identification in U.S. Ticks Up to 7.1%. Retrieved from https://news.gallup.com/poll/389792/lgbt-identification-ticks-up.aspx

Macdonald, D. W., Grossoehme, D. H., Mazzola, A., Pestian, T., & Schwartz, S. B. (2022). Transgender youth and oral health: a qualitative study. Journal of LGBT Youth, 19(1), 92-106.

Schwartz, S. B., Sanders, A. E., Lee, J. Y., & Divaris, K. (2019). Sexual orientation-related oral health disparities in the United States. Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 79(1), 18-24. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/jphd.12290

Weinstein, G. (2019). Dental Care of Transgenders on Long-Termhormone Therapy. J Oral Biol, 6(2), 3.

My path to dental school has definitely been the one “less traveled”. Originally graduating with a degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional management, I never imagined ending up in dental school. After several unfulfilling jobs, my family dentist recommended I pursue dental hygiene. Knowing very little other than what I experienced at his office, it turns out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made.

After graduation, I found employment at two offices, a multi-dentist private practice and a smaller single-dentist practice.  I enjoyed getting to see the improvements in my patient’s oral health, especially after going through the process of scaling and root planing.  After a year of this hectic schedule, I found a full-time position at a National Health Service Corps (NHSC) site. I spent five years caring for a rural, underserved population close to my hometown. During this time, I realized that despite programs such as the NHSC, many underserved areas still struggle to find and KEEP providers. The turnover of dentists was an ongoing problem. I was also shocked by the overwhelming need for care in the community. As I worked with our team to care for our patients, I wished I was capable of doing more for the patients. Their periodontal health is crucial, but I also wanted to be able to treat their restorative needs.

These circumstances convinced me to seriously pursue further education in dentistry. Although I had learned about midlevel providers in dental hygiene school, neither state in which I worked legally allowed midlevel providers. So the long road to dental school began. Fortunately the NHSC payed off my student loans, giving me the financial freedom to take my prerequisite classes for dental school. Furthermore, my office manager was flexible with my schedule so that I could take my prerequisites without having to quit my job which would have been a significant, if not insurmountable, hurdle. It took me several years to finish my prerequisites and then take the DAT as I took one class at a time while working.

This experience has given me a deeper understanding of the barriers to higher education that exist for so many. Even though I was employed and had no student loans, paying for my prerequisites, DAT prep, and application and interview costs was still difficult. Having the financial means to pay for a prep course made a huge difference in my DAT score. This is not an advantage everyone has. Furthermore, I had the financial ability to apply to more schools and attend as many interviews as were offered to me. As many undergraduate programs are making the SAT optional, I believe we as a profession need to innovate as well in order to make this career path more accessible to those from lower socioeconomic statuses. Hopefully then the dental field will better reflect the overall community we serve.

Part 3: Enerel Otgonbayar (Eva)

  1. Introduce yourself, where are you from/ grew up/ hobbies?

My name is Enerel Otgonbayar but I go by Eva. I was born in Khentii and raised in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. I spent majority of my childhood alternating between the city and living a traditional nomadic lifestyle in the countryside of Mongolia. Mongolia is beautiful, and I would highly recommend anyone to travel there, preferably in the summertime unless you enjoy -30°C weather. I then spent four years living in London, England before moving to Colorado at the age of ten. Colorado has been home since.

Hobbies? Hmm dental school keeps me busy but during my spare time I love to spend quality time with family and friends. I also enjoy staying physically active through weight training and outdoor activities. 

2.  When did you know you wanted to go into Prosth?

To me dentistry is a combination of all my passions: art, medicine, engineering, and most importantly; helping others. Coming into dental school I knew I wanted to focus more on cosmetics and the artistic aspect of dentistry but it wasn’t until my second year of dentals school that I started pursuing a residency training in prosthodontics.

During the summer semester of my second year, I got to work very closely with Dr. Nguyen as my instructor for Esthetics and Fixed Prosthodontics Lab.

I still remember this day very vividly; I went up to Dr. Nguyen to grade my #9-11 FDP prep and she took a quick look at my typodont and said:

“Eva, have you ever thought about specializing in prosthodontics?”.

My instant answer was “YES! Without a doubt”

When Dr. Nguyen recommends you become a prosthodontist, you go become a prosthodontist!

Dr. Nguyen paved the path for me to really start looking into residency and expressed to me the challenges and rewards that come with it. She has become a pillar in my journey and one of the incredible mentors that have helped me get to where I am today.

Prosthodontists are the teachers in the field of dentistry, they understand everything to it’s core from biomechanics and materials, to having the skillset to meticulously engineer a treatment plan for any complex case through to help of other specialties to deliver the best outcome to the patient. I am confident residency training will help me achieve this.

3. What was the interview portion like compared to other specialties?

Prosthodontic residency interviews are different from any other specialty interviews in that they like to ascertain the interviewees handskills. In addition to the traditional interview process, there was always a handskills portion at all of my in-person interviews. Some included waxing teeth to prepping an onlay, single crown, and fixed prosthesis.

4. What are you most excited about in residency?

I am most excited to learn and grow as a clinician! I am eager to enhance the skillsets I have developed during my time here at CUSDM. I am also excited to start my residency training with my fellow two classmates. It is rare you get the privilege of training at one of the best prosthodontic residency programs in the nation, let alone with people you have already created a bond and close relationship with during dental school! I think the fact all three of us classmates who applied to prosthodontics this year matched into the same prestigious program speaks volumes of the type of training we receive here at CUSDM and I am forever grateful for that.

5. What advice would you give to dental students interested in residency?

Deciding to commit three more years to residency was not something I decided on overnight. I would recommend anyone to do their research and take the time to shadow a prosthodontist or any specialist they are looking to go into. With persistence and hard work anything is possible, believe in yourself and be confident!