Current topics in dentistry

[teethmonkey]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I am preparing for interview questions and I wanted to ask people about the current events/topics in dentistry and general healtcare I should read up on and become familiar with.

I'm trying to find articles about dentistry and healthcare but I haven't found anything that useful. Does anyone know about sites that discuss dental current events? I'm not too familiar wtih dentistry outside of the clinical aspects --such as the political, economic, and social issues affecting the industry and would like to learn more about these topics.

Can we start this forum to discuss issues that affect dentisty and healtcare today to help myself and others become more familiar with the big issues in dentistry?

Also, I was reading some interview questions on the dental interview feedback page and came across this question and was wondering what people in the past have answered or if anyone came across this question in their interviews and what would be a good answer to this question? -- "If you had a blank check to fix any part of the healthcare system, what would you fix and why?"

 

[2thDk]

I'd be interested in this too...Anyone?

 

[Zurik5]

The Hispanic population is growing by leaps and bound, and they will need Spanish speaking dentists to take care of them. Some rural areas are vastly underserved, and despite what some states do, dentists refuse to practice in these areas. This is slowly becoming an epidemic, and if you aren?t opposed to working in an area like this, there is a ton of money to be made.

Now for the positives, implants are going to be a huge competition within the dental community, IMO in a few years. Everyone wants their hand in the implant game. Also, I think you?re going to see an increase in the amount of group practices, with larger, group based models taking up a great deal of new grads each year. New technologies (Cerec, Invisalign, Diagnodent, waterlase etc?) are all very interesting, but you wouln?t have access to them until you get out of dental school. I?m especially intrigued by what lasers can do to soft tissue/grafts, etc.. All neat stuff?. It?s a great time to get into dentistry.

If either of you are considering applying to UIC, I suggest that you ask them about their financial status during the interview. Tuition has gone up 29% over the last three years, the state has cut the school?s budget considerably each year, and they?re in debt? just something to consider. Best of luck.

Also, check out:
www.dentaltown.com

Sign up for the message board and the O stands for ?occlusal?

 

[2thDk]

I'm absolutely interested in UIC. It the closest school to where I live now (about 30 min. away) and my wife has a career as a Mechanical Engineer here. We are willing to move if we have to, but it would be convienent to stay close to her work and our families. I went out of my way to take two classes in Spanish because I'm aware of this situation. I also read somewhere that if you have 6 credits of Foreign Language that UIC will grant a Bachelor in Dentistry. How does that work?

 

[weiy01]

Now for the positives, implants are going to be a huge competition within the dental community, IMO in a few years. Everyone wants their hand in the implant game.

What is IMO? Please inform me. thx!!

 

[2thDk]

In My Opinion

 

[Zurik5]

2thDk,

I?m not entirely sure how this works, but I know most schools will grant a degree, if you?ve completed all of the pre-requisite courses. Email Ann Shorrock, and try to stay in contact with her. I wouldn?t worry about getting a bachelors degree though, if you?re competitive enough to get in. We a few students in our first year class without bachelors, and all of them are doing well. UIC is a very good school, just be aware that it is going to be considerably more expensive than SIU (I?m assuming you?ll be applying as an Illinois resident). We?ve already been in the clinic (within the first month), and have started work on operative dentistry. We?ll also be going to various grade schools throughout the next few weeks, and working on some community based projects. I?ve enjoyed my experience so far, and most of the 3rd and 4th year students seem very happy. Let me know if I can help in any way. Best of luck.

Ryan

 

[2thDk]

Thanks Ryan,

UIC is my first choice (I know I'm not supposed to say that), and I'm really hoping for an interview! Thanks again for the info!

Mike

 

[msf41]

To the OP:

One of the new topics in dentistry that many dentists (that I know anyway) are talking about is the new CEREC machines. Using an intra-oral camera you take a special 3-D picture of the tooth (like a digital impression). Then the machine can mill crowns, or other reconstructive structures from porcelin in about 10 minutes. Benefits of this machine are: 1) no lab costs (you make it in your office), 2) only one office visit (instead of taking impression, sending out to lab, and having pt come back for fitting), 3) porcelin wears similar to real teeth (where fillings do not).

Downside of this technology:
1) color matching not as accurate as lab, 2) machine costs $100,000 (yeah I didn't accidentally add extra zeros, it's rediculous), 3) operator error (I've seen a dentist design the crown wrong and it didn't fit)

There is a thread in the Dental forum about this:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=148510

 

[Gutta Percha]

Discuss the heliozone and you will seem knowledgable beyond your years.

 

[teethmonkey]

thanks for the input guys..these are really interesting stuff. the cerec seems like it is a really cool machine if used properly...what is the helizone?

 

[msf41]

Hey I think this is a good thread and would like to keep it going. I know you guys are a bunch of know-it-all's, so tell us what you think is the current buzz in dentistry.

 

[JesseBrad3]

I think implants is defintiely something to talk about. Also, insurance issues... insurance companies are slowly trying to work their way more into the dental profession. You can always discuss ethical/hypothetical questions such as "do you think its unethical for a dentist to turn away a patient who has Medicaid/Medicare" . How is the dental profession addressing the needs of the growing elderly population (or is it as senior citizens can sometimes be difficult to work with). Hope some of these ideas help.

 

[Darksunshine]

To the OP:

One of the new topics in dentistry that many dentists (that I know anyway) are talking about is the new CEREC machines. Using an intra-oral camera you take a special 3-D picture of the tooth (like a digital impression). Then the machine can mill crowns, or other reconstructive structures from porcelin in about 10 minutes. Benefits of this machine are: 1) no lab costs (you make it in your office), 2) only one office visit (instead of taking impression, sending out to lab, and having pt come back for fitting), 3) porcelin wears similar to real teeth (where fillings do not).

Downside of this technology:
1) color matching not as accurate as lab, 2) machine costs $100,000 (yeah I didn't accidentally add extra zeros, it's rediculous), 3) operator error (I've seen a dentist design the crown wrong and it didn't fit)

There is a thread in the Dental forum about this:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=148510

I have worked in an office with this machine. The dentist was an almagam free dentist. The machine was really amazing, but it does have a lot of "bugs" that can cause problems with the exact fitting of the crown. I swear the assistant knew how to fix the glitches more than he did half the time. I didn't know how to work it (not my area) so I watched a the dentist and the assistant have to remake an inlay once 3 times.

Overall though once you get past the training phase, it seemed to be a good investment and patients really liked the fact they didn't have to come back for a second appoinment.

 

[Dr.Smiley-OR]

thanks!