Preparing for Dental School

[sangah0lic]

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I'm starting dental school this July at UOP and I was wondering if there was anything I could do to help me prepare for dent school and hopefully make my life a little easier. My friend told me that i should try to get a dental lab tech job/internship because it will be very helpful with the manual dexterity practicals and other lab requirements. What do you think? Is there anything else that would be helpful? Thanks

 

[psiyung]

best tip = learn waxing

 

[DrTacoElf]

best tip = learn waxing

Are there any books you can read on this and/or beginning kits you can buy?

 

[PERFECT3435]

the best thing you can do is to relax and do all the fun things you ever wanted to do. you will get plenty of opportunities to learn waxing etc. just enjoy your time off.

 

[45540]

the best thing you can do is to relax and do all the fun things you ever wanted to do. you will get plenty of opportunities to learn waxing etc. just enjoy your time off.

Agreed ...

 

[toofache32]

the best thing you can do is to relax and do all the fun things you ever wanted to do. you will get plenty of opportunities to learn waxing etc. just enjoy your time off.

I second that. As far as waxing and lab work, it's hard to find a lab that will train you because they know they will lose you in a few months, so it's not worth their time. Just like any business.

 

[Bickle]

Are there any books you can read on this and/or beginning kits you can buy?

I havent heard of any book for wax ups. They pretty much give you a plastic tooth, pkt, ethanol lamp, some wax and tell you to make a wax up. Your best resources for learning how to do a good wax up is trial and error, your professors, and most helpful of all, upperclassmen.

 

[Bickle]

I'm starting dental school this July at UOP and I was wondering if there was anything I could do to help me prepare for dent school and hopefully make my life a little easier. My friend told me that i should try to get a dental lab tech job/internship because it will be very helpful with the manual dexterity practicals and other lab requirements. What do you think? Is there anything else that would be helpful? Thanks

I agree with the others here, chill out and have fun.

 

[PERFECT3435]

you cant blame the guy for being anxious though. LOL. i know i asked those kinda questions all the time when i got accepted last year.

bottom line, just trust us. you will have plenty of studying to do once you start. no need to rush.

 

[gryffindor]

If relaxing isn't your style and you are REALLY bored, you can get your hands on a dental anatomy textbook and try learning some of the stuff in there. Things like names and numbering of teeth, eruption times, how to differentiate between upper and lower teeth, and terminology. Terms like "embrasure" and "marginal ridge" and "mesial" and "distal" in dental anatomy were all new to me my first semester and difficult to remember when I had a ton of gross anatomy and histology to memorize at the same time. Now, although I have forgotten the origin and insertion of the latissimus dorsi muscle from gross anatomy, dental anatomy terminology is something I use everyday. It is somewhat more useful and interesting to learn, if you have too much time on your hands.

 

[psiyung]

If relaxing isn't your style and you are REALLY bored, you can get your hands on a dental anatomy textbook and try learning some of the stuff in there. Things like names and numbering of teeth, eruption times, how to differential between upper and lower teeth, and terminology. Terms like "embrasure" and "marginal ridge" and "mesial" and "distal" in dental anatomy were all new to me my first semester and difficult to remember when I had a ton of gross anatomy and histology to memorize at the same time. Now, although I have forgotten the origin and insertion of the latissimus dorsi muscle from gross anatomy, dental anatomy terminology is something I use everyday. It is somewhat more useful and interesting to learn, if you have too much time on your hands.

👍 👍

 

[toofache32]

I say just sit back and get your drink on.

 

[DrTacoElf]

If relaxing isn't your style and you are REALLY bored, you can get your hands on a dental anatomy textbook and try learning some of the stuff in there. Things like names and numbering of teeth, eruption times, how to differentiate between upper and lower teeth, and terminology. Terms like "embrasure" and "marginal ridge" and "mesial" and "distal" in dental anatomy were all new to me my first semester and difficult to remember when I had a ton of gross anatomy and histology to memorize at the same time. Now, although I have forgotten the origin and insertion of the latissimus dorsi muscle from gross anatomy, dental anatomy terminology is something I use everyday. It is somewhat more useful and interesting to learn, if you have too much time on your hands.

Would these be 2 good introductory books to purchase?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...f=sr_1_2/102-7197312-8443340?v=glance&s=books (It seemed to get better reviews than Wheeler's)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...88495/sr=11-1/ref=sr_11_1/102-7197312-8443340

 

[psiyung]

I have had the priviledge to read two very good DA books during the past year. One is Dental Anatomy and Occlusion by Wheeler, and the other is Dental Anatomy by Fuller. Both are very good books that tackle the points of Dental Anatomy very thuroughly

 

[hemp033]

i've got this book in my DVD about occlusal waxing..."Guide to Occlusal Waxing, 3rd Ed. by Schillingburg" not sure if it helps any...but before dental school i just enjoyed my summer I would suggest you do the same..

 

[psiyung]

I really dont think a "book" will help you out. Waxing is something that is learned "hands on."

Here I found this, it might help

http://www.health.ufl.edu/dental/5404C/waxing_videos.html

Although this is pale in comparison to what many of you guys will be doing in the lab, I would look at a few of these videos to understand whats going on

 

[DrTacoElf]

I really dont think a "book" will help you out. Waxing is something that is learned "hands on."

Here I found this, it might help

http://www.health.ufl.edu/dental/5404C/waxing_videos.html

Although this is pale in comparison to what many of you guys will be doing in the lab, I would look at a few of these videos to understand whats going on

Those are awesome. I just watched the First 2 and they helped a ton 🙂.

 

[45540]

There's a CD put out by Brown and Herbranson Imaging that's very helpful if you're wanting to learn dental anatomy. It's called "Dental Anatomy & 3D Interactive Tooth Atlas."

Going through that and maybe going through a dental school's lectures to hit the high points might help. But there's plenty of time for that later.

Our anatomy courses weren't too difficult, it was the gen science classes that took the majority of the work.

 

[jk5177]

best tip = learn waxing

UCLA Continuing Education offers waxing workshops for pre-dental students. They also have denture setting as well. The instructor, Mark Hunt, has been teaching for their laboratory program for many years. I attende the last two he offered, and they have been, should I say... "mouth opening" (I guess if I was an optometrist I would say eye-opening).

Check out their website with this link:

http://www.dent.ucla.edu/sod/PreDent.html

Good luck, and have fun.

 

[jk5177]

I'm thinking of looking through NBDE test material just to get a feel for what it covers and the type of question it asks so this way when I am in dental school, perhaps I can gear my studies toward the NBDE. I know this is way premature, but I think it may be helpful for me, a sense of goal in my courses. What do you guys think?

Is it helpful to preview NBDE before dental school starts?

 

[psiyung]

I'm thinking of looking through NBDE test material just to get a feel for what it covers and the type of question it asks so this way when I am in dental school, perhaps I can gear my studies toward the NBDE. I know this is way premature, but I think it may be helpful for me, a sense of goal in my courses. What do you guys think?

Is it helpful to preview NBDE before dental school starts?

I think this is useless 👎

 

[PERFECT3435]

going over the NBDE?

wow, you are jumping waaay ahead now. just relax dude and learn some dental anatomy if you must. dont be so anxious to learn. you will have plenty to do once you start.

 

[aphistis]

I'd say, almost categorically, "no." The question format is totally vanilla multiple-choice, and that's about all you'd be able to garner from it. Without knowing of the material being tested, you wouldn't really be benefitting yourself any.