The Fill In Issue 2

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The Fill In

Issue 2, July 3rd 2008

The Official Newsletter of the UWI Dental Students Association

July 2008 Issue 2

LMC AEGD? We’ll tell you exactly what this means In the Director’s Chair with

Professor P.R Murti

Year 2 DDS: The Struggle Within PLUS 0

thefillin@gmail.com TRINIDADIAN LIFE THROUGH THE EYES OF A FOREIGN STUDENT


The Fill In

Issue 2, July 3rd 2008

FIRST VISIT When we sent out our first issue last month, we knew we were reviving an old DSA custom by producing a newsletter. What we didn’t expect was the tremendous feedback we would have gotten from students, staff and graduates (some of whom even comprised the DSA at some point in time). Consequently, increasing expectations of the quality of our publication have arisen. Perhaps this will be a positive driving force in our monthly production, but at least now, most of us know that the forum exists for our expression and communication. That said, we welcome input from the aforementioned recipients in the form of articles, artwork or even the mere suggestion. We also wish to expand our mailing list to facilitate students who may not have received the newsletter, but especially to the past students – local or foreign, general practitioner or specialist. In this issue we feature answers to the questions that many have had about the LMC AEGD program, as well as interview with the current director, Prof. Murti. We also bring the preclinical students into the picture as they provide some insight for the incoming second years. As always, we look forward to your input and encourage our students to join our team- newsletter or otherwise, there’s always something going on. This is your DSA and your school so the person who stands to benefit is you. Get involved!

Corrective Tx In our last issue, we stated the intern salary as being $5000. The salary for the first 6 months is untaxed, with the figure being $6000. That of the subsequent 6 month period is taxed, bringing it to approximately $5300. With respect to the last news bulletin please note carefully that The UWI School of Dentistry, LMC - Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) Post Doctoral Residency Training Programme has received full accreditation by the American Dental Association (ADA), becoming the first ADA - accredited institution outside of the United States and the first International Clinical Training Site for the LMC AEGD programme. However, the DDS programme is currently unaccredited by the ADA. See our LMC AEGD article in this issue for more details.

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The Fill In

Issue 2, July 3rd 2008

The Scene •

The UWI Dental Students Association website is now up and running! Designed and maintained by our very own Dinesh Martin (Class of 2010), it finally puts the DSA online. We’ll feature regular updates as well as photos of what everyone is up to! One may rightly ask, “Where forth shall I direct my web browser so that I may see this for myself?” Do not fear, for the answer is here :

http://www.uwidsa.org •

Soon you’ll be able to walk around wearing your DSA support on your sleeve (or chest rather). That’s right! By the middle of this month, we’ll have our official DSA polo shirts available. Trendy, cool and comfortable (believe us, we’ve tried them), they’ll be available in both black and white for both guys and gals. Keep an eye out for them!

Still in the production lab is the DSA Clinic Needs Survey. When up and running, the data we collect will serve to form policy as we strive to increase clinical efficiency.

The DSA would like to extend our congratulations to the graduating class of 2008! To our new doctors: you’ve done us proud! Give us a few years, we’ll get there too! We know we’ll be seeing you around on clinic in the infamous “intern cubicles”.

To the outgoing interns (Class of 2007), we wish you all the best in your future endeavours. It was truly a pleasure working with you guys and we’re grateful for all the advice and procedures you’ve let us in on. Congratulations on completion of your vocational training, and good luck to you all. Please remember us in a few years when we submit our résumés to your private practices!

-TFI

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Issue 2, July 3rd 2008

THE UWI-LMC CONNECTION Since our inaugural issue there has been a huge buzz on campus concerning the LMC program. The DSA decided to get up close and personal…ok well not that personal but up-close with Dr. W. Smith on this burning topic – the UWI-LMC-AEGD Initiative.

What is the AEGD programme? AEGD stands for Advanced Education in General Dentistry. It is a U.S. Program whereby newly graduating dentists can opt for a year of additional training - very much like our year of vocational training (Internship).

How is this programme structured? The programme is structured to match our current vocational training programme. So basically, a resident will have 2 month rotations in the Polyclinic, Paediactric Clinic, the Arima Health Center, Emergency and Oral Diagnosis clinic and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. In addition, LMC residents will attend teleconferencing sessions 3 times a month where they will participate in interactive lecture sessions with the LMC residents at other US sites. Also, you must report all the clinical procedures you perform on patients through the LMC website and have your patient charts audited.

It is administered by various bodies in the U.S. including universities, dental hospitals etc. The one at UWI is administered by the Lutheran Medical Center, which has headquarters in Brooklyn, New York. It runs parallel to our year of vocational training. The UWI Dental School is their first non-US site. Vocational Trainees enrolled in the AEGD are termed ‘residents.’

What are the benefits of participating in this programme? You obtain a U.S. recognized postdoctoral training certificate in addition to your Degree. Successful completion of the first year makes you eligible for a second year that can be done in Puerto Rico, Colorado, Massachusetts or Arizona. You have access to the LMC Library and all their educational resources and are eligible to participate in online discussion groups and literature discussions that are administered by U.S. specialists. You get a dedicated dental assistant for 4-handed dentistry when seeing your patients and learn how to use US ADA coding for dental procedures - which is important for those who wish to practice in the US.

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What is the full duration of the program? Are there different levels of completion/certification? One year and you must complete the entire year in order to obtain your certificate of completion. There is an optional second year for which you can obtain another certificate.

What is the method of assessment? The LMC follows the stringent ADA guidelines and so the programme has lots of assessments. You are assessed after each clinical procedure by your clinical instructor (called Faculty in the AEGD) very much like what obtains on clinic now. Then you are assessed three times a year by selected Faculty on 49 specific competencies. Most of these assessments take place online through the LMC website. The residents assess the programme, the programme administrators and their supervising staff on clinic.

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Issue 2, July 3rd 2008

What does this certification mean for UWI DDS graduates wishing to practice abroad in the future? In order to practice in the U.S., you must fulfill the requirements of the state. This may include participating in a 2 or 3-year programme of Advanced Standing administered by various Dental Schools, writing of the Parts 1 and 2 ADA National Board Examinations, and writing a State Board Exam. Some states will waive the State Board Examination for graduates of the 2-year AEGD programme.

It was noted that UWI‐AEGD graduates are eligible to undergo a second year of training at the Lutheran Medical Center Training Sites in Puerto Rico, Arizona or Massachusetts in the USA, what are the benefits of this extended participation? You get a year of further additional training and you may then have certain state board examinations waived. The second year has a Public Health Project and a focus on a particular specialty. You are also paid a stipend as a second year resident.

Is it compulsory? No, you may choose to simply do our year of vocational training in order to practice in Trinidad.

Is this program internationally recognized? The AEGD is a U.S. recognized programme. I am not sure if it is recognized outside of the U.S.

Are any other accreditations currently being pursued? If so, please elaborate. Next year, we are due to be accredited by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions. This is a regional body set up to accredit medical sciences educational programmes in the Caribbean. So far, the MBBS programme has been accredited. I believe the Vet School programmes are currently in the process of accreditation. Also, we are in the preliminary stages of working on a joint Jamaica-Trinidad year of vocational training.

When should a UWI DDS graduate enroll?

What does this certification mean for UWI DDS graduates wishing to pursue postgraduate education abroad? It would depend on the school’s requirements for the programme. Having an AEGD may give your application more weight. Some programs in the U.S. will accept you into their postgraduate programmes without an AEGD.

We invite applications immediately after final exam results are released.

What are the registration costs, if any? There are no costs associated with the programme. You must be CPR certified and the cost of that is currently $200 TT. That’s the only fee I am aware of. Also, as most of the LMC administration and learning occurs online, you must have internet access.

What are the prerequisites? At the moment, it is only being offered to graduates who are registered in our year of vocational training. So the only pre-requisite is to be a graduate of UWI and be enrolled in our year of vocational training.

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The Fill In

Issue 2, July 3rd 2008

Any other comments? The AEGD is a year of additional training geared towards U.S. graduates. So the programme is structured to meet U.S. postdoctoral educational programme standards. Therefore residents must really work hard in order to excel in this programme and therefore you must be motivated. You will be compared against U.S. residents who see 12 -16 patients a day. The UWI residents must therefore be prepared to go beyond what is normally expected of our vocational trainees. In addition, there is a voluminous amount of online assessments and reporting that must be done – far greater than you can ever imagine. The programme is a great one and the directors of the programme in the U.S. are lovely people. The LMC’s admirable mandate is to provide quality medical and dental health care to underserved communities in the US especially immigrant and disadvantaged minority populations. The UWI-LMC agreement for the AEGD may form the basis of further partnerships of UWI and the LMC in the future and perhaps we may be the first site for expansion of their specialist residencies in Endodontics, Dental Anaesthesia, and Paediactrics. You may also want to browse their website at www.lmcdental.com for more information.

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Issue 2, July 3rd 2008

Meet The Staff

Name: Murti, P.R. Rank: Director, UWI School Of Dentistry Origin: India Academic Level: Professor His sauntering strut serenades his arrival alongside the echoes of his all too familiar jingle... No it's not the ice cream man, its the sound of keys...the keys to the UWI Dental School. Only one man has the power to wield such a powerful device, the one, the only, The Director of the UWI Dental School, Professor Paluri R. Murti. A side part combed and measured, with surgical precision, a radiant personality and unique character. The Professor resembles not a powerful administrator, but a softspoken father ever eager to help his fledgling protégés along this vital path in their career. Professor Murti has been a member of the dental fraternity longer than most. By no means do we dare call this gentleman old, but we recognize the calibre of true excellence by way of his unparalleled experience in the field. The USA, UK, Sweden and Thailand are just a few of the places the Professor has lectured. His many accolades, qualifications and publications are too numerous to list, but some include: •

Bachelor of Dental Surgery: University of Calcutta, India. 1969

Master of dental Surgery: University of Bombay, India,1973

Fellow of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, UK. (FDSRCS Ed). 2003

Professorship, University of the West Indies, Trinidad 2006

In the next 23 questions we sit one and one to learn a little more about our director. We put him in the chair and get one on one with Prof. Murti as we have to come know him.

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The Fill In

Issue 2, July 3rd 2008

23 Questions with Professor Murti 1) What is your greatest joy? Finding my students doing well in the profession.

9) What is something people don’t know about you? Sensitivities.

2) What is your secret fear? Snakes.

Ability to sense hidden agendas.

3)What is the best advice you have ever received, and from whom? Do not think why there is a problem. Think about the solution first.

10) What’s your favorite food? Chicken Morocco.

Dr. Al-Bayaty.

11) Favorite drinks? (alcoholic/nonalcoholic).

One should lend the shoulder to climb.

Carib –beer.

Prof. J.J. Pindborg.

Red wine.

4)Most embarrassing moment? When I found my tie in a soup bowl after a couple of wines in a high profile dinner party in the US.

Coconut water. 12) People you admire and why? Sir Winston Churchill. He was an outstanding and dogmatic leader who inspired confidence among people in worst situations.

5) What is the happiest moment you can remember? When my daughter finished her higher studies in the US and got placed in a job.

Mahatma Gandhi. An equally dogmatic leader who fought the mighty power with his determination and sacrifice.

6) What do you consider your greatest achievement? Making my parents, my family and friends happy.

Nelson Mandela for his unbelievable perseverance. Ho Chi Min of former North Vietnam for his ability to inspire people to fight the most powerful nation and achieve success.

7) Any interests other than dentistry? Nonprofessional and spiritual reading. Listening to classical music. Dreaming about rain forests, mountains with streams.

Alexander the Great for his military leadership. Field Marshal Erwin von Rommel for the astute modern military leadership.

8) If you could do something other than dentistry, what would it be? As a son of a Professor of Psychiatry, undoubtedly a Psychiatrist. Second alternative is to be a Historian.

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The Fill In

Issue 2, July 6th 2008

13) What were your initial impressions of Trinidad & Tobago when you arrived? Have they changed? Oh lord – it looks just like my country.

training has kept pace with the advent of new materials, teaching methods, and techniques to produce a ‘competent’ dentist as defined in educational parlance.

No. Remains the same, but for the increasing crime in T&T.

Today’s basic training focuses to produce a competent ‘Oral Health Care Specialist’ who can interact with his medical peers as a physician, surgeon and a dentist rolled into one under the term Oral health Care Specialist.

14) Out of all the places you have been which is your favorite? Tobago – any time. Scotland.

21). What are some of the major if any, you would like to see in the way new dentists are trained? Understandably new dentists will be trained again in tune with the advances in materials and techniques of the future and, of course, changing concepts. Judging from the past, the current training will undergo radical unforeseen changes in the next 25 or 50 years. Time and space are the determinants.

15) Where is the one place you would like to visit? Switzerland. 16) Biggest pet peeve? Hypocrisy and hidden agendas. 17) Favorite movie? Fiddler on the Roof.

In my opinion, the dentist of the future should be a globalized specialist, yet retaining the needs of the region.

18) What do you do to unwind? Simply be with the family. Watch war movies, History Channel, Travel Channel, National Geographic Channel, and Food Channel on TV.

Most importantly I feel the modern dentist is becoming highly commercialized and generally and easily not accessible to a common man. The humanitarian aspect is becoming a casualty.

In the worst-case scenario, to have Caribs. One, two, three or more as the situation demands.

The training should inculcate the need to contribute to the very society that pays for their training.

19) If you win the lottery tomorrow, what would you do with the money? I will institute a ‘Trust’ to support homeless people, old people and poor students.

22) What is the one thing in your life you would like to accomplish in the future? After retirement I would like to devote my life to help downtrodden people.

20). How has the training of dentists changed since you were doing your undergrad? I graduated in 1969. Training in dentistry eve in those times has been rigid keeping to that time frame to produce a safe and knowledgeable dentist. However, I am of the view it was relatively more compartmentalized.

23) Is there anything in your life you would like to do over, if you could? No. I am absolutely happy with the events in my life. It could not be any better.

Keeping with the time trends the present day

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Issue 2 July 2008

Student Perspectives The Chronicles of a Second Year Student Vishaal Ranjitsingh & Anushka Moosai-Maharaj To begin with, the second year of dentistry will be one of the most challenging things that you would experience, both mentally and physically. At the end of it, you would feel like your brain would explode with tons of information and you WILL be physically exhausted from lack of sleep. You really cannot compare it to year 1; you get your full dose (overdose?) of dentistry in one shot which would send any slacker into shock. When September comes you will hit the road running. The amount of work to be covered is definitely not plenty, but it is really hard to explain because the work isn’t all that hard either. It’s really not that boring because it is definitely clinically applicable making it probably easier to remember. When you write the respiration exam, you will understand what is said, because a resp. exam defies all logic. During the block exam you would feel that you have adequately covered enough to pass and you would say in your head “How hard can they really bring it?” A series of things run through your head during those one and a half hours which include: • The MCQ’s are laden with answers that either all are correct or all are wrong • Some things weren’t taught (the concept of extra reading applies here.) • Some things were taught in PBL • You can’t even see some of the graphs because they are printed SO SMALL • You don’t understand what the question is really asking • The question seems more like a statement • The question is just too hard And if you experience a combination of all these under exam conditions you have successfully completed a resp. exam.

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Issue 2 July 2008

After resp. CNS follows which is a long never ending line of information. This exam was the hardest for me to study for in the first semester because of the amount of information it contained and the boring-ness of it all. With CNS Block exam finishing, you get a little break…well no…because you have to study during the Christmas vacation for Oral Histology. Semester 2 is purely Dental Studies, a nice break from mundane world of Resp and CNS. Pre-Clinical Operative, Dental Materials, Prosthodontics and Periodontology are introduced in full force, with exams weekly. Oral Physiology is probably one of the more interesting subjects, but it definitely adds to the work load, along with Head and Neck Anatomy. Cramming takes on a whole new meaning…sometimes the only way to survive is to isolate yourself and forget about the outside world…all that exists is DENTISTRY…this will eventually become a Mantra to you. Staying with the Social Ghost type set, you really start to notice that you have less time for your Med School friends…they’ll eventually clue in to the fact that Year 2 Dental Students are no longer available for random liming escapades as was the norm back in Year 1…but that’s ok…We Don’t Have PBL…or so we tell ourselves so that we feel less doomed. When you’ve completed the Semester’s work, Phase comes around. Exams are thrown at you from all sides…Semester 1 comes back to haunt you…and somehow you end up thanking God for Oral Biology…because deep down inside you know that’s the one exam you’re sure to pass. The rest of the exams are a blur…but somehow you manage to come out alive. So even though year 2 may seem like a dark, endless tunnel of work, there are a few secrets to surviving. Firstly, and I’m sure you’ve heard this countless times before, you should read some work everyday…at least that which was covered in class…and for the more adventurous type, a little extra reading always helps. Next…studying in a group is always a good idea…once you don’t get carried away with the ole talk…I swear…the only way I got through Resp was by doing past papers, because even though not much questions repeat, you do get an idea of the way that the exam is set and it’s an excellent way to test what you know and what you still need to revise…also, by doing past papers in a group you are exposed to many ways as to how to go about answering questions, also, if you don’t know something, it is most likely that someone in the group will know it and therefore you can learn from that person. An

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Issue 2 July 2008

important point is that you should always share what you know with those who need help…it’s not about being first in class…it’s about supporting each other and ensuring that the class as a whole succeeds. Probably one of the most important things to do is that you should talk to persons in higher years. They are an endless source of advice and tips…they are more familiar with the lecturers and they’ll be able to tell you what each lecturer likes to see in the essays and short answers. Plus it always helps to know people in the higher years; they’ll be the ones who you’re going to be working with…so it’s a nice idea to get to know them from early. Finally, the last thing that I can think of to make year 2 less stressful, is try to enjoy it…it may seem hard…but there’ll be some good times…like spending time in the lab and the first time you get to drill on the models…and take impressions…and restore the cavity that you made…the super cool Dental Banquet…chilling in the Dental Common Room and feeling really cool because it’s much nicer than the Med Common Room. And at the end of it all…after spending endless hours in the lab and in the classroom with your beloved Lecturers, it dawns upon you that Year 2 is over…and while you sit back and reflect upon it…you realize how close the class has become…how close you now are with all the Lab Technicians…how friendly and approachable the lecturers are…it’s really like a small family within the large, daunting world of Mt Hope. So while you may think the end is near and all hope is gone and your life is all but over…remember this one thing…We don’t have a Comm. Health Research Project!

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Issue 2 July 2008

Trini‐land from a Foreign Perspective Miles away from the shores of my homeland I set off to a tiny island called Trinidad to pursue my tertiary educatoin in the field of dentistry. Here goes a set of random extracts from everyday life that have fascinated and even to some extent captivated me, showing how simple everyday life can be so vast and varied and yet in some ways be identical in two totally different parts of the world. Ketchup - Does it constitute >50% of the colour red in a Trini's blood stream? A riddle that has perplexed me for more than 3 years since having lived here, and will probably fascinate me for years to come is the simple quintessential question "should ketchup be included as a nutrient for the complete balanced diet?" The answer to 99.93% of all Trinis would be an emphatic YES!! No where else in the world have I seen such a psychotic (said affectionately) addiction for a condiment countrywide - and mind you, I have travelled. As disturbing as this was initially, to see fries, chicken, pizza, ice cream (ok fine just kidding…got carried away) almost anything mercilessly drowned in ketchup, nowadays it has become the norm and is a simple normality of everyday life. In fact if I don't see 9 out of 10 people covering their plate in ketchup, it makes me second guess the integrity of the ketchup. Tobago What does the average tourist from abroad coming to experience in the Caribbean? Sunset walks, romance, cuisine, recluse, calm and an inner sense of completion? You would get it all in Tobago buddy and more! A gem of the highest quality sandwiched between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean is basically what Tobago is and I really hope it always stays that way. Its greatest strength is the fact that it remains untarnished from heavy commercialization and developments and I hope that this is preserved, else for it would lose its appeal. From the Atlantic ocean, waves crash on the sandy shores taking surfers on a ride. On the other side of this little island, the Caribbean Sea gives way to calm bays where beach-goers find peace relaxing on the picturesque beaches. Apart from all that, Tobago has another special quality…the food!! Though you may have to dig deep in your pockets, you will not regret it one bit. I know this is one thing I will never get enough of especially when I leave this part of the world.

Doubles Two pieces of flour based dough fried and served with chickpeas and your choice of spicy, sweet and tangy sauces; simple and straightforward, yet one of the most delightful and mouth-watering dishes I have ever tasted. Of course, I was a bit judgemental and cynical when first spotting a doubles stand…the only thoughts flowing across my mind were food borne disease and where the doubles vendor’s hands had

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Issue 2 July 2008

last been prior to slapping my doubles on the makeshift paper/plate. However, with three bites into it, those thoughts all went wayyyyy outta the window. I seriously don't blame people for travelling miles to eat from one particular vendor because I certainly would not settle for anything less than the best and for those of you wondering, it’s the curepe doubles that takes the cake. I know when I leave this country, my biggest regret may be my inability to take home one of those little masters perched on the stand making doubles with robotic efficiency and speed as they respond to my plea of "plenty peppa". One word of advice though, pepper might taste good going down but it feels like sword when it comes out.

UWI As a whole, I personally found initial university life a tough challenge. Adjusting to a completely foreign culture was not made any easier by an ever increasing pile of handouts and exams. But with a little help from the ever accommodating Trinis I first met, I made this my home away from home and I really settled in fast, even before I realized it. Much like most of you, my initial exposure at UWI was focused on medical sciences with barely any emphasis on dental classes. But, even then, as early as I could remember one thing struck me the most when comparing the two, in Dentistry there is far more organization, unity and student-professor interaction both in and out of the class. My first lecturer was Dr. Al as he is affectionately called, a highly knowledgeable student of the profession. He often woke us up during those early morning classes with his witty humour and sarcastic one liners after most of us were suffering the consequences of another Wednesday night dancing away at Zen. Though UWI has a lot to be proud of, I believe that a lot more can be done. There is a need for unification of all the various departments and a consistent hunt for investment and foreign affiliation with other universities from which we can gain invaluable experience and advice in implementing positive changes for the growth of the institution. I personally would like to see more foreign lecturers visiting and presenting various clinical and non clinical experiences. Also, various courses are in a desperate need of restructuring. For instance, prosthodontics which I feel requires a more hands-on approach with a greater focus on the lab aspect. All these changes may not happen in my time but it should not stop us from striving to improve things for the future generations. On that note, I really would like to congratulate the leaving DSA committee who pumped some life into the organization with a wonderfully staged banquet in March 2008. Best of luck to the current committee who are not only exploding with ideas but are determined to get things done. I hope they keep the enthusiasm and encourage our younger colleagues in Years 1 and 2 to get involved in the student community.

With that I'll end this small extract of my initial impressions of the tiny island and its dwellers who I admire and are part of a cultural revolution for me personally. Good luck and best wishes to all of you and hope this academic year to come brings much luck, prosperity and good health.

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Exam Tips ENDODONTICS QUESTION (from the May 2008 Final Exam) A radiograph was given of the lower posterior region (periapical of course), showing teeth, #45, #46, #47. The #46 had an occlusal restoration, and the #45 also had an occlusal restoration. The #46 had caries into pulp (distally). There was no periradicular pathology. Patient in 30’s presenting to your clinic. Medical history –

Rheumatic fever Aortic valve condition

P/C – spontaneous pain from the lower right posterior region. SUGGESTESTED PLAN · Write a radiographic report Well, just describe in detail what you see on the radiograph given. Be thorough and methodical. Don’t try to see something that’s not there and write BS. Make sure to start off with the basics like the type of view (e.g. periapical or a bitewing) and which teeth are shown. Report any restorations, radiolucencies (implying caries) along with the location and extent. Remember, it’s the endo part of the paper, so look for evidence which can help you to arrive at a pulpal and periradicular diagnosis. NB – Remember for a tooth you should try to arrive at both a pulpal AND periradicular diagnosis before determining treatment. (That’s right, learn that lecture #5 inside out!) -What investigations would you do to assess the tooth This is in your hand out folks. State the investigations, why do you do them, and what the results mean in terms of the state of the pulp and supporting structures (PDL etc.)

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-Management of the patient (remember this is just a guide, you need to go into more detail) Now, you have to talk about the patient’s medical history and what this means in terms of your treatment planning. You need to discuss with the various treatment options with the patient. It is important the patient understands what you are going to do and why you are going to do it. This way you can get informed consent before commencing any form of treatment. Treatment for the #46 could be NSRCT under antibiotic coverage. (Know the new antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines!!! Don’t step on the clinic floor without knowing it.) Describe the procedure. Always good to know the success rates and quote and article or two. State the definitive restoration. You should also state that extraction of the tooth is also an option. (NB – for a patient with this medical history the decision to do NSCRT as opposed to XLA is case specific and dependent on many factors. Discuss with your lecturers!!).

Phased Out

Mommy I can’t bother. I stressed out..

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Issue 2 July 2008

Featured Article In this section we continue where we left off on last month’s issue: part 2 of the article on Complete Dentures by Prof McCord. Pending copyright permission to include the piece as part of our newsletter, we provide the external website link from which it was originally found:

Clinical assessment J F McCord and A A Grant In this article, helpful guidelines are given to the assessment of patients and their dentures. A simple assessment sheet is suggested to serve as a record of the initial assessment visit. In this part, we will discuss: •

General assessment of the patientAssessment of (oral and facial) soft tissues

Assessment of (oral) hard tissues

Assessment of current dentures

Possible treatment options.

PDF: http://www.nature.com/bdj/journal/v188/n7/pdf/4800485a.pdf Full Text: http://www.nature.com/bdj/journal/v188/n7/full/4800485a.html

-source: http://www.nature.com/bdj/journal/v188/n7/abs/4800485a.htm

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Issue 2 July 2008

Please feel free to submit any questions, articles and comments to the editors at thefillin@gmail.com. We welcome your suggestions and contributions. Tell us what you would like to see in this newsletter!!

The UWI Dental Students Association can be contacted at

uwidsa@yahoo.com. Lookout for our next issue!

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