Bench exam ! part 01

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yasi

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After long waiting bench extension has been approved
just want to know how many of you took or will take any course praparaton and if yes which course ucla duggan...
or just practicing yourself
any recommendation....????
 
voice said:
a friend of mine called dbc ...they said that ALL confirmation cards will be sent by march 2nd week or so.
so while someone got their card in jan others will get in march and have little time to prepare really really hard. unless u have that card in hand it is hard to stay focused and motivated to practice for bench.
i don't know why dbc takes so much time just to pick 250 candidates from the applications they already have with them . this is so unfair. 😡

did ur friend get a chance to ask them how the hell are we supp to send the exam fee in by march 1st when they are going to mail the conf. cards 2 weeks after the deadline .. ? freaking psychopathic dinguses ..
 
yes she did , but they said that she will have to call again next week to find out more

i am thinking of going to dbc office and have a live person answer my questions.
 
hi there i got my confirmation card last week but my ref no is not posted on the DBC website...and it is not at all safe to assume that u wont be in the april exam..so keep ur hope high and keep drilling..
txdentist said:
hi all ,

Did anyone receive their confirmation card in the mail even though their Ref Number is NOT POSTED on the DBC website ? there are still only approximately half the number of ref #'s posted on the website.

I was wondering if it is safe to assume that those of us who did not get the conf. card. as of today are not going to get a chance to take the April exam .. Can anyone please shed some light on this ?

thanks and good luck to all those taking the test ...
 
Hi.

I have just come back from the DBC office in Sacramento, and contrary to what some say, the folks over there were courteous and accommodating. I paid my exam fee of $500(they accept personal checks) and was given a Livescan form which I took to the local Sheriff's office to have done. No problems, basically. I asked the kind lady from the exam committee if there are any more slots open for the bench exam in April. The word is that there are APPROXIMATELY 25 more seats, and the Board is not done sending out the confirmation cards. So keep your fingers crossed, and you might receive your confirmation cards in the next couple of weeks, if you haven't already.
Good Luck!

The second item in my posting is regarding the Class II restoration on a mandibular 1st molar which I believe was assigned in the last RT exam. Some people opted to extend the outline form and proximal box to include the distobuccal cusp, and some didn't. Anyway, I dug a little bit into my old textbooks and did not find the design there. If I did include the DB cusp and fail the exam, I cannot cite any textbook🙂 So I am thinking of just sticking to the old design and criteria (0.5 mm clearance), and not cut the DB cusp more than what is needed. After all, I might be having problems condensing amalgam in this prep with the DB cusp gone. Is this a safe presumption? C'mon guys, I'm a little confused here. Mommyr, what did you do for your class II?

Anyways, for some of you who would be interested to find out how a modified Cl II prep on 19/30 is done, I suggest you cut and paste the following link to your address bar:


http://dentistry.ouhsc.edu/intranet-web/Courses/OPDT8451/OpDent1_00-03/slideVarCl2ManMolar.html

Please tell me what you think. Looking forward to hear from you.

Ivorinedust

"Apolonia, relieve my toothache!"
 
i m interested in taking Dr. Duggan's mock board.
www.duggandds.com
this website is not working.
can somebody pls give me his contact number ? or how to register myself for mock boards?
 
ivorinedust said:
Hi.


Some people opted to extend the outline form and proximal box to include the distobuccal cusp, and some didn't. Anyway, I dug a little bit into my old textbooks and did not find the design there. If I did include the DB cusp and fail the exam, I cannot cite any textbook🙂 So I am thinking of just sticking to the old design and criteria (0.5 mm clearance), and not cut the DB cusp more than what is needed. After all, I might be having problems condensing amalgam in this prep with the DB cusp gone. Is this a safe presumption? C'mon guys, I'm a little confused here. Mommyr, what did you do for your class II?

Anyways, for some of you who would be interested to find out how a modified Cl II prep on 19/30 is done, I suggest you cut and paste the following link to your address bar:


http://dentistry.ouhsc.edu/intranet-web/Courses/OPDT8451/OpDent1_00-03/slideVarCl2ManMolar.html

Please tell me what you think. Looking forward to hear from you.

Ivorinedust

"Apolonia, relieve my toothache!"


_ Good Point.
I would stick to traditional GV Black design , and not the modified one. As you said, keeping only 0.5 mm clearance, and not removing DB cusp completely.
Particularly for bench exam it is not good idea to try anything new.
Do you know which day you will be taking exam ? Sat ? Sun ?
Good Luck on preparation.
 
I cut the DB cusp and my score was 87. If when you do your proximal box and you can see you are not undermining the enamel you can do the traditonal class 2, however if you see that there will be unsupported enamel, you must cut the DB cusp...this will be my last post as I am busy preparing for the clinical...
 
hi guys! anyone from out of san francisco taking the bench in april also? i need suggestions on where to stay. do you guys know if UOP allows use of the labs for practise/mock exams prior to the bench? 🙂

good luck everyone!
 
Hey calidentist, I'm taking the bench next April too. Probably we can share the same place together. I didn't look for any place to stay yet. I will call UOP asking if they recommend any places CLOSE TO UOP. any ideas let me know. I'm a cool guy, no problems nothing. I understand that possibly you can have an acces to UOP lab if you're taking their mock exam. 👍 😎

calidentist said:
hi guys! anyone from out of san francisco taking the bench in april also? i need suggestions on where to stay. do you guys know if UOP allows use of the labs for practise/mock exams prior to the bench? 🙂

good luck everyone!
 
Hi everybody,

First of all good luck to everyone here.

I'm looking for an air comprossor and hand piece. Can anyone suggest where can I buy those two from. I'm looking for a used one.

Thx,

:luck: Galaxy
 
Hey galaxy!!!
Home depo is the answer. Getr a middle size compressor. Smaller ones tend to be very noisy. You may have to buy a water trap. The whole thing should cost you between $100 to $150. good luck 👍
galaxy32 said:
Hi everybody,

First of all good luck to everyone here.

I'm looking for an air comprossor and hand piece. Can anyone suggest where can I buy those two from. I'm looking for a used one.

Thx,

:luck: Galaxy
 
theverywiseman said:
Hey galaxy!!!
Home depo is the answer. Getr a middle size compressor. Smaller ones tend to be very noisy. You may have to buy a water trap. The whole thing should cost you between $100 to $150. good luck 👍


Hi if anyone interested in buying a silent compressor u could PM me.... I have one to sell
 
Hi there!

I'm interested. I would like to know how much are you selling it for? Other than silent comprossor do you have hand piece etc...

I live in TX.
Good luck, galaxy
 
Hay guys, I'm taking the UCLA course 28th March. Any one aware of nice hotel close to the UCLA? any ideas?
thanks 👍
 
ivorinedust said:
Hi.


The second item in my posting is regarding the Class II restoration on a mandibular 1st molar which I believe was assigned in the last RT exam. Some people opted to extend the outline form and proximal box to include the distobuccal cusp, and some didn't. Anyway, I dug a little bit into my old textbooks and did not find the design there. If I did include the DB cusp and fail the exam, I cannot cite any textbook🙂 So I am thinking of just sticking to the old design and criteria (0.5 mm clearance), and not cut the DB cusp more than what is needed. After all, I might be having problems condensing amalgam in this prep with the DB cusp gone. Is this a safe presumption? C'mon guys, I'm a little confused here. Mommyr, what did you do for your class II?

Anyways, for some of you who would be interested to find out how a modified Cl II prep on 19/30 is done, I suggest you cut and paste the following link to your address bar:


http://dentistry.ouhsc.edu/intranet-web/Courses/OPDT8451/OpDent1_00-03/slideVarCl2ManMolar.html

Please tell me what you think. Looking forward to hear from you.

Ivorinedust

"Apolonia, relieve my toothache!"

Ivorinedust- I had short conversation with Dr. Duggan regarding # 19 (or # 30) DO amalgam prep.
He said that you can not leave undermine enamel, and then you have to extend proximal extension on buccal more than 0.5 mm, and the extension will depend on enamel, in short- whatever it takes to remove undermine enamel.
well, problem doesn't end here, you got to condense amagam and restore DB cusp.
I am thinking it is not unlikely to get DO on upper or lower molar on bench exam or in clinics.
Better don't stop inhaling that- ivorinedust !!
 
hi! is any body have statastical analysis of various bench courses in terms of passing rate?
i have heard UCLA has highest sucess rate of 80%,
let me know about dr. duggan, UOP, dr.thaw
THANKS
 
Hi Guys

I am selling bench exam mat. a very discounted prices.
Mat. includes:

1.high speed and slow sp. handpieces.
2.Impression gun
3.wax kit
4.cast and die trim burs
5.custom trays
6.rubber dam punch,forceps,clamp
7.amalgam instruments

I live near Dr. Duggans costa mesa office.anybody interested let me know asap and i will let you know the details.
 
Hi.

There is one thing that concerns me with the latest pack of information/instructions that the DBC has sent me...

It is concerning the equipment set up at UOP. The information says that the exam site is equipped with a "locked down, fiber optic light/high speed swivel adaptor" which only accepts the STAR handpiece. Now I don't want to be shelling out more than $600 for a new STAR fiber optic handpiece on top of my current expenses. But I feel obligated to buy this piece of equipment though, just for peace of mind. I don't want to be all prepared and ready to go, only to find out that I can't cut any teeth because I have the wrong handpiece.

However, the information also says that "you will be able to use a Midwest or Star handpiece for the slow speed hook-ups". I know that the slow speed hook ups are standard four hole, right? But why speficify Midwest or Star? Should I be able to use the handpiece I have been practicing on all these months(it is neither Star nor Midwest)? I need to clarify this thing!

One more thing...with the slow speed hook-ups--I might be able to use my standard high speed handpiece on them, but the air pressure might be different to that of the fiber optic hook-up...so what gives?

Hey guys, hurry and help me out. Has anyone on SDN taken the bench at UOP before and encountered this problem? Have any of the current candidates given it some thought?

Thanks.

Ivorinedust

"Apolonia, relieve my toothache!"
 
I know what you mean, I am taking the Part 4 exam there as well. I went 3 days ago to UOP and finally met Meggs, thank you Meggs for showing me around! The 4 holed slow speed connector seems to be a standard one but the staff ( who happened to be a Filipino foreign dental grad too) told me we can only use the Star handpiece. I have yet to secure one myself. Best thing perhaps is for you to call UOP and verify that it need not be those brands for the slow speed.
 
Hello,

I went to duggan and am taking bench in April. Duggan sold me the Bien Air HS hand piece and another brand 4 hole slow speed hand piece.

Do any of you know these stuff work in UOP? Do I have buy new hand pieces? The exam is going to be held in the 3rd of the UOP Laboratory.

Any help is appreciated.

Kay
 
I am looking for accomodation near Duggan institute at colton , california from 5 th april to 12 th april. I am male, non -smoker, peace loving person.
I am taking bench exam at UOP. let me know if u can accomodate me.I am ready to share expenses.
 
I am eager to find out about bench course & mock board at UOP.
pl. let me know if anybody can share experience & knowledge
thanks
 
denzel said:
I am a foreign trained dentist from India and I want to apply for
the Advanced Program for International Dentists that is offered by
California Dental Schools. I would like to apply for the DUGGANS Gateway program to train for the practical test administered by various CA Dental Schools. I would like to know if any one enrolled in the DUGGANS program to prepare for the practical tests administered by USC, UCLA, UCSF, UOP and LLU. Please let me know if anyone found this program useful. The fee is around 8000USD for the Gateway program and I dont mind spending it if it helps in the practical test but I dont want to waste the money if the program is of no use, the DUGGAN website mentions that the Gateway program is useful for students trying to do well in the practical test administered by CA dental schools,
Thank You,
Hi:
I didn't apply DUGGANS Gteway, but I had applied USC last year.
Unfortunately, I had not been selected. I heard that the last one had been selected was over 85 average in Part I and Part II. Before you spend the lot of money, consider all the situations.
Lucky, I passed Part 4 in Feb, 2005.
Good Luck!
 
explorer2010 said:
Ivorinedust- I had short conversation with Dr. Duggan regarding # 19 (or # 30) DO amalgam prep.
He said that you can not leave undermine enamel, and then you have to extend proximal extension on buccal more than 0.5 mm, and the extension will depend on enamel, in short- whatever it takes to remove undermine enamel.
well, problem doesn't end here, you got to condense amagam and restore DB cusp.
I am thinking it is not unlikely to get DO on upper or lower molar on bench exam or in clinics.
Better don't stop inhaling that- ivorinedust !!


Hi:
I did the standard 0.5mm clearance, but I didn't remove the whole distal cusp.
I got three examiners.
 
Hi everybody,

First of all good luck to everyone here.

I just received the bench test assignment letter which is on next week from California dental board. Anyone can tell me what is the typodont requirement for the test. I heard the typodont should be mounted on the back by wax. Anybody has the link for the bench test instrucment or requirement?

By the way, I took the course in UCLA in last year. it was great.

Thanks.
 
what are we looking at here ? how much did you pay overall to cover for all the supplies you used (and instruments) while preparing and for the exam ?
 
ahpin said:
Hi:
I did the standard 0.5mm clearance, but I didn't remove the whole distal cusp.
I got three examiners.

I see. Hope they won't ask that prep again. How you did in class II prep ? (score ?).
It seems examiners approved both approaches, I am not sure what I will do if they ask 19 or 30 DO, I guess it depends on that particular tooth anatomy, as of now I am thinking I won't leave any undermine enamel; at same time, try not to overextend.
 
I will be very grateful if anybody can shed some light on this :
the FAQ section on the RT exam on the dental board of California says this :
"The NBDE scores must be submitted to the dental board no later than July 12, 2004"....."All scores received after July 12, 2004 will be returned and the candidate will be inelligible to take future RT exams"

Does this literally mean what is said ? that even if you passed the NBDE by December 2003 you can't take "any" RT exam if you havn't mailed in your scores by that deadline last year ? is't too late ?
thanks
 
mommyr said:
i think so, why don't you call them to verify
I did 🙁 and it's exactly true,so the bench test is not for me, the only way left is to go through school again... that's kind of sad ya know... I understand the deadline for "passing the NBDE" but why a deadline for sending the score if the plan is to administer the exam until 2008

anyway....good luck to everybody else waiting to take the exam....

and please keep us posted if there any changes to any state license rules that you hear of, missing the CA thing was mainly my mistake for not keeping up-to-date with changes in license regulations 😡
 
hi all.

i hope that all those who gave the april bench exam did well and pass with flying colors :luck: . what preps were asked for this exam. i hope they were not too out of the line.

please let us all know . :scared:
 
Thanks for the well wishes, Voice. Pass with flying colors? I'd be the happiest man on earth if I get 75. The prep assignments were a little bit unusual--on Saturday it was 3/4 on #30--it was a long time since the 3/4 crown was assigned in the exam. Class II was MO on #4--usually they assign DO. Then for the PFM it was the regular #9. I guess I am okay with the preps, but I don't feel well with what I did in the labs.

Everyone who really prepared for the exam all deserve to pass. And I hope WE all do🙂

One tip: Take care of your typodont during the exam. Someone might steal it out of desperation!

Ivorinedust

"Apolonia, relieve my toothache!"
 
thanx ivorinedust for telling us about the saturday bench preps and ur tip.did it really happen during ur exam.

do u know what was asked for sunday?

last time it so happended that the second day preps were harder than first.
if anyone knows ,please reply.
 
voice said:
thanx ivorinedust for telling us about the saturday bench preps and ur tip.did it really happen during ur exam.

I heard it really did! So it won't hurt if you guard your typodont. Don't leave it on your work table when you go to the bathroom. Put it in your tackle box or cabinet. Better yet, put on an adult diaper and don't go to the bathroom at all🙂 Right, Explorer2010?

Ivorinedust

"Apolonia, relieve my toothache!"
 
how can they steal that when your id no is carved in plaster n the typo? also then they'd have to steal the cast models too! :laugh:
 
mommyr said:
how can they steal that when your id no is carved in plaster n the typo? also then they'd have to steal the cast models too! :laugh:

The typodont might have been stolen before any preps were made. The thief might have been in a hurry and prepped a tooth before tick off time. He/she can't submit the typodont for equilibration check. So, s/he stole the typodont. I am not sure if this is what actually happened, but someone told me this is not the first time typodont theft occurred in the exam!

Ivorinedust

"Apolonia, relieve my toothache!"
 
how did your bench go? i accompanied my friend to the bench reg. in UOP and also met her after her test on sunday, she wasn't too happy
 
. Better yet, put on an adult diaper and don't go to the bathroom at all:

Hey Ivorinedust , you are giving some good tips here. :laugh: :laugh:
 
mommyr said:
how did your bench go? i accompanied my friend to the bench reg. in UOP and also met her after her test on sunday, she wasn't too happy
can anybody tell me which preps were asked on 2ND DAY sunday,
bench exam at UOP?
 
AMERICAN said:
can anybody tell me which preps were asked on 2ND DAY sunday,
bench exam at UOP?

#30 3/4 crown -- same as Sat

#12 DO

#8 PFM

almost the same as first day

lucky second day examinees

anyone knows when the results are out?
 
is anyone selling four hole hand piece.i already have a small compressor.please quote the price also
 
mommyr said:
how did your bench go? i accompanied my friend to the bench reg. in UOP and also met her after her test on sunday, she wasn't too happy

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

I saw a lot of good-looking Filipina dentists on registration day, mommyr. I am not sure who you were among them.

I don't think anyone was happy with the way the exam went. It was brutal, to say the least. You can't even have a sip of water in the labs. The stress will drain even the most prepared candidate.

I console myself by saying that I did my best, so I should hope for the best. That is not saying that I am confident that I will pass. Frankly I think I won't. The grade I will receive will be the best for me given the situation, even if it will be a failing one. Everything is in hindsight now. It will be useless to sulk on the things that went wrong for me. I just think of the things that went right.

Good luck, everyone.

Ivorinedust

"Apolonia, relieve my toothache!"
 
are you still thinking of that bench exam !! move on my friend.
I am happy that nightmare is over !!
I packed all the stuff and it is in basement, never going to open it again.



ivorinedust said:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

I saw a lot of good-looking Filipina dentists on registration day, mommyr. I am not sure who you were among them.

I don't think anyone was happy with the way the exam went. It was brutal, to say the least. You can't even have a sip of water in the labs. The stress will drain even the most prepared candidate.

I console myself by saying that I did my best, so I should hope for the best. That is not saying that I am confident that I will pass. Frankly I think I won't. The grade I will receive will be the best for me given the situation, even if it will be a failing one. Everything is in hindsight now. It will be useless to sulk on the things that went wrong for me. I just think of the things that went right.

Good luck, everyone.

Ivorinedust

"Apolonia, relieve my toothache!"
 
Hi ivorine, that's right you were there at the registrattion in UOP. I accompanied my friend in line A had I remembered you were there I would've said hi. I hope you get favorable results. Where are you exactly? I stay in Cupertino and San Bruno going back and forth to attend Dr. Thaw's Part 4 class and looking for patients in the bay area. I still need patients, Perio, Class 2 and Class 3. My exam is June 16-19 at UOP. Maybe you know some Filipinos willing to go for Xray in Westborough in Pacifica please let me know I am desperate for patients. I have radiographed so many and the good cases are hard to come by. Please let me know if you can help.

I will be in LA this week for Dr. Duggan's Perio and Prostho lec. but I will be back in the bay area by Tue.
 
mommyr said:
Maybe you know some Filipinos willing to go for Xray in Westborough in Pacifica please let me know I am desperate for patients. I have radiographed so many and the good cases are hard to come by. Please let me know if you can help.
-------------------------------------------------------------

Hmm...no patients in Adobo country? Try placing an ad on the Pinoy newspapers. Or ask permission to post or distribute flyers by the entrance of Pinoy groceries. Or maybe you can contact some of my friends who are practicing there. Maybe their network can help. Send me a privy message if you want contact numbers. Tell them I sent'ya.

I am posting my messages from Sacramento, where I live. Thanks for the prayers and support, and I will do my best to return the favor.

Ivorinedust

"Apolonia, relieve my toothache!"
 
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