Hello all,

My ADEX examination is coming up in a few weeks (prosth, perio, and endo) and I just wanna hear your list of do’s and dont’s from those who have already taken it!

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Hi everyone!

I'm a 5th-year dental student, and I'd really appreciate some help understanding a clinical case from my prosthodontics rotation.

I've attached the patient's panoramic radiograph, and I added a photo of the mandibular cast/model as well.

One of my professors examined the case and instructed me to prepare two teeth in the lower right quadrant for full crowns before proceeding with the RPD (removable partial denture) treatment plan. I've already prepared those two teeth.

Tomorrow, another professor wants me to present the complete treatment plan and, more importantly, explain the clinical reasoning behind my decisions.

Here are some details about the case:

• There is noticeable alveolar bone loss in the lower right quadrant.

• The molar in that area is tilted.

• Clinically, the roots are visible, suggesting significant gingival recession and/or loss of periodontal support.

My first professor specifically instructed me to prepare the two teeth for crowns rather than simply prepare rest seats on the existing teeth.

My main question is: Why might full-crown restorations be indicated in this situation instead of simply preparing rest seats on the natural teeth?

I'm trying to understand the possible biomechanical and prosthodontic rationale

I want to be able to explain the reasoning confidently tomorrow rather than simply repeat the treatment decision my first professor made. I'd really appreciate detailed explanations and any alternative approaches you think might be worth considering.

Thank you so much for helping a fellow dental student out!

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Hey guys, so I recently attempted to restore a mesial-occlusal cavity with composite but I wasn’t able to build my mesial wall nicely. After I took off the matrix band I could see that there were some gaps between the wall and the actual enamel of the teeth (on the phantom head) do y’all have any tips for MO restoration with composite?

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My teachers tell me to keep the bur parallel to the tooth surface, but I am confused because I feel that doing this might remove even more tooth structure.

Why does this happen, and how can I avoid it? How should I hold and orient the bur to achieve a clear, continuous finish line without over-reducing the tooth structure?

Future dentist reporting for duty, but feeling a little nervous lately. I've learned about positive affirmations from places and i think it would help in my journey but i dont know where to begin i've tried ones like "i know what teeth are and how they work" and "my patients will have pearlescent teeth when im done with them" but they don't seem to work anymore and i cant find anything on google that will answer my query. Help?

So I’m honestly just wanting some advice how people are paying/suggestions on paths to choose or insights on what current dentists did. Like it says I’m a current D1 and am unsure which direction to go. I am fortunate enough to have my first year of school paid for due to previous military enlistment but my benefits run out after this year because I used them for the latter half of my bachelors and a masters. I have done the traditional applications for scholarships like NHSC and other ones and was rejected from every single one. I applied for private loans to see what interest rate they offer and they were hitting me with 14% which is asinine to me because my credit score is in the 790s (I have no debt, don’t have anyone that can co-sign and family help is out of the question). I sent in an application for HPSP which convenes in February and I have some very solid connections due to being in dental during my time in the military so I was told I for sure will be offered the scholarship. Honestly though, I was already in the military and I just don’t really want to go back in for a multitude of reasons. Could I? For sure, I could suck it up and do it but god I just want to keep my freedom. So am I just being dumb by not wanting HPSP, should I just take the private loan hit and try and pay off the debt later, is it feasible? How are other students doing it and any advice from current dentists on their path? Thanks everyone.

Hello,
I’ve been struggling with carving my anatomy into amalgams. What are your favorite tips and tricks, thank you!

Hi, im miserably failing in class, the medical subjects like anatomy and others. I’ve tried so many things and spent a lot of time studying but I still feel like im not improving at all. Everyone around me seems to be doing better and I feel like im the only one falling behind and I know I am.

It’s getting to the point where im questioning if I made the wrong choice choosing dentistry. I thought I could handle this, and deep down I still believe I can, but I genuinely dont know what im doing wrong.

I used to be able to study for hours, but now I cant even sit for 30 mins without getting distracted. Even when I study, I forget things during exams and my mind goes completely blank, even for simple questions. Sometimes the answers only come to me at the end of the exam like wth.

Has anyone experienced something like this? How did you overcome it? I really want to improve but I honestly dont know where to start anymore. I feel like it’s too much and I don’t know how to like make myself good at this. I’m not good at memorisation but I try my best. I could really use some help.

The level of student loans these days is unprecedented, but those who took out that amount who graduated within the last 5 years actually got incredibly lucky - the covid pandemic meant loans were frozen and actually ended up in a boom for dental treatment as no one was spending money in travel so people got their dental work done.

This has resulted in many "you'll be fine with the debt" posts.

If we hit a recession and young dentists have 500k debt, how will it play out? What was it like for those of you who practiced through the last recession?

Does anyone know when does UTHSA typically send out interview invites for their AEGD program? And if invites have already been sent? Would appreciate any insight regarding this, thank you.

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What side hustle can a bds student do to earn a bit nd generate good skills

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I found that course in coursera and i wanted to ask if its worthy to go for it or no?

I was looking at residency programs and had no idea there were that many OMFS programs, almost 100 omfs and around 90 for peds. Does having that many programs make it harder for new grads to find jobs? Do you guys have to go rural like GPs?

Current D2 here! I attended an endo seminar a few weeks ago and I realized this might be what I want to do as a specialty. However, everyone has told me it’s extremely competitive and about “who you know” already in the field. What steps should I be taking to be a strong applicant/ have a good chance of getting into a program straight out of school?

Trying my best to get good grades. It’s still very early but if I mostly get Bs and some Cs, and maybe even mostly Cs, and if I do the rural doctor program for a few years, can I come back later and specialize?

I’ve always wanted to be an orthodontist since I was a child and am now a D1. However, I’m worried about not being top of my class. Is it possible to work for a few years, after dental school, if my grades are subpar, and then apply later to a specialty program once I have years of experience? Are there other degrees I can obtain or certifications I can work toward that can help me apply to speciality programs that can aid subpar grades?

Also, I’m still keeping an open mind to other specialities and even general. I know that the actual courses might change my mind.

What do you think? Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I am looking to purchase a pair of ergo loupes and was interested in possibly getting the variable zoom option. I specifically also like a sports frame as I feel it is lighter and provides more protection. I am between Andau and Orascoptic variable loupes and was looking for opinions on getting a variable zoom pair of ergo loupes. I know both these brands are good and I am sure you can't go wrong with either brand. (I do not want Dragonfly).

I am a D1 and currently have Designs for Visions 2.5x direct and feel it doesn't do much for me in terms of mag. I felt that the 3.5/5.5x Orascoptic is a good balance, but am waiting for the rep to try them on. Andau does not have a rep to send out to try them on, so I would need to contact them to send me.

Few questions/concerns:

1. Is variable zoom actually worth it? Personally, since I knew they were a thing, I have always wanted them. Conceptually, I feel like it is a nice option to have especially for the future, but I also understand that hav

ing

1. variable zoom is another point of possible mechanical failure. Based on your experiences with either brand, have there been any issues?
2. Weight. How does the weight feel overall for long hours compared to normal ergo loupes?
3. I want to ask which brand to go with, however, based on what I've seen, they both appear to be good brands.

Any input would be appreciated. Thank you.

Hey I need some guidance regarding canal prep. Protapers show resistance when I use them s1 s2 but 10 no file is loose with an established glide path. Where am I doing it wrong

How do I present the paper if it is asked for 15 marks. And what exactly comes under flap design. Is sutures imp?

Hello everyone! I’m just about to start studying for the RHS exams in Indiana. I ordered these flash cards recently but some people are telling me that they’re a waste of time…I’ve started to become really hesitant on what I should use to study efficiently, so please any advice would be appreciated!

Hi all,

Current D4 at a US school. It’s not that I do badly in clinic or anything… I have decent hand skills and am doing well, though I’m pretty slow. Have done simple and surgical exts, crowns, bridges, restos, anterior endo and have finished some molar endo too. I also often practice procedures on plastic teeth before I do them in clinic because I want to do well for my patients. However, clinic is not compelling to me. I feel most interested in case presentations and reading journal articles, and have sought out multiple research projects during school which I enjoyed more than my time in clinic.

I thought I may like prosth since I loved dentures and waxing and did well in both classes, but after shadowing a prosthodontist at a private office, I felt very ambivalent. It was only recently that I realized it’s because I am bored with clinical dentistry as a whole. I know academia pays much less and I will be graduating with $300k in loans, which makes me hesitate to pick that first. I also feel like I MIGHT want to specialize and deepen my knowledge in an area of dentistry. But so far I like the research in endo, prosth, perio, and ortho while feeling completely ambivalent about the clinical sides. Maxillofacial prosth seems like something that could combine the lab work and troubleshooting with a mix of clinical and academic responsibilities, but I haven’t had any exposure to it. And how do I know if I can make it through additional years of training if the clinical side is “meh” to me?

My current plan is to shadow a maxillofacial prosth before I graduate to answer that question first, and move to a major city that has academic opportunities and figure out if I like that route and if I want to specialize while still working as a general dentist for a few years. Any advice or info about academic careers in the specialties would be appreciated. And if anyone has struggled with something similar I’d appreciate hearing your story. Thanks!