It’s almost the end of 2021 and a new year will soon begin. Looking back this past year, there’s so much that has happened. Specifically, in my life, I am very grateful for so much. Dr. Nguyen Dentistry is an interesting career – there are days where you have everything all set, everything seems to be smooth-sailing, and there are other days where Murphy’s law seems to be following you like a shadow chasing your own silhouette. In any event, there is never a dull moment in this profession. During the holidays, I want to give
Category: Dental Care
Signing the new Mouth Cancer Action Charter
Over the last year, 8,772 people in the UK were given the life-changing news that they have mouth cancer – this is one person every hour. These numbers continue to rise while the disease claims more lives than cervical and testicular cancer combined. The more we know about mouth cancer, the better chance we have of beating it. This means knowing how to spot mouth cancer early and knowing where to go when we see something out of the ordinary. It also means reducing our risk by cutting down on the things that cause mouth
Separating tragedy and dentistry: What I miss most about dental school
Dr. Simpson, middle, at her white coat ceremony. Let me start by saying, I hated dental school when I was in it. My father had been having some undetermined health problems, so when I moved to Boston to attend Tufts University School of Dentistry, in the back of my mind there was some ever-present apprehension about what was going on with him. My father was diagnosed with stage IV kidney cancer and initially given four months to live — two months into me starting dental school. So professionally, here I was in my first year
Licensure Reform: The case for eliminating the clinical exam
Some may argue that progress has indeed been made in the administration of the licensure exam over the last 50 years given that regional testing authorities have increased from two in 1971 to the current number of five. Although undoubtedly there has been improvement in the uniformity, the ease of test-taking, and the administration of the examination, the traditional mode of testing essentially remains the same. That is, dentists and dental students in 44 States still have to endure the single-episode/performance-based high-stakes clinical exam, whether it be on patients or manikins. It is striking (and
Is residency worth it?
In my senior year of dental school, I was at a crossroad between pursuing a year of general residency and job opportunities. Dr. Ahmed The opportunities were attractive positions that promised continuing education and a competitive salary. Despite the heavy recruitment efforts, I decided to forgo another year of income to pursue an advanced education in general dentistry program. Like many dental students, I felt my dental school provided a good foundation, but it was ill equipped to provide necessary training to meet the demands of our patients. I knew I needed to see and
Poor glycaemic control results in tooth loss in middle age, study finds
ŌTSU, Japan: In the largest study of its kind, researchers in Japan have analysed glycaemic control and natural tooth retention to investigate the association between the two. They have uncovered evidence that people with higher haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and elevated fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, indices of poor glycaemic control, have poorer tooth retention. Bethany O'Neillwww.kelloggfamilydentalfoundation.com
BDIA Dental Showcase to return with a bang in 2022
LONDON, UK: The past two years have wreaked havoc on physical dental events, yet there remains reason for optimism. On 25 and 26 March 2022, the BDIA Dental Showcase, the largest annual dental trade show in the UK, will be held in an in-person context for the first time since 2019. The event organisers—MA Exhibitions and the British Dental Industry Association (BDIA)—have promised that next year’s iteration of the free dental show will raise the standards of oral care in the country. Bethany O'Neillwww.kelloggfamilydentalfoundation.com
Wearing several hats takes time management
Upon writing this post, I was asked, “What does a typical day look like for you?” I must humbly reply that a typical day does not exist for me. That is one of the reasons that I chose to partake in the profession of dentistry. There are a multitude of factors that can contribute to a day in the dental office. One day, it could be a “ho-hum” day of basic hygiene recall exams. The next day could involve a complex series of restorations with subgingival margins, while the subsequent day could involve researching a
Connecting the dots
Dr. Patel managed to see places on her bucket list, including the Maldives this summer. I remember watching Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement address as a dental school applicant who was hopeful (and a bit scared) about her future. In it, he spoke of three lessons he wanted to impart on the graduating class that year. The first, the one that resonated the most with me then, and continues to echo down the hallways of my life now, was about connecting the dots. In his speech, Steve said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward;
How Does The Epstein-Barr Virus Affect Your Gums?
> In today’s episode, Dr. B answers a listener’s question about whether the Epstein-Barr virus is responsible for her bleeding gums. EBV is a systemic infection with an oral manifestation meaning it acts as a great springboard to talk about the oral-systemic connection as well. EBV is more colloquially known as the ‘kissing disease’ and commonly flares up in patients who have contracted it when they are run down, causing symptoms such as bleeding gums. Dr. B takes us through the signs, symptoms, and manifestations of EBV and also gets into some of the other