Every piece of media has its lifespan, and the ASDA Blog is no exception. This entry is the final ASDA Blog post. The ASDA Editorial Board will now solely focus on Contour magazine.

When I was in high school, I used to listen to The Bugle podcast hosted by Andy Zalzman and John Oliver. When Oliver’s HBO show Last Week Tonight blew up, episodes of The Bugle grew increasingly scarce, until one day they announced they would discontinue the show. I felt devastated.

But the show survived in reality and in spirit. Years later, Zaltzman revived The Bugle, which he and rotating guests host. The Bugle also exists in spirit on Oliver’s show. The biting satire that made The Bugle so outrageous now permeates throughout the long rants on Last Week Tonight. The shows may have changed, but the people who made them have not.

Which brings me back to ASDA Blog. I’ve been part of the ASDA Editorial Board for three years, starting in 2020. I witnessed transitions ASDA made when the pandemic hit including Contour shifting from print and digital delivery to a digital-only publication. Despite this change, our writers embraced the new Contour and continued to tell the profound stories of dental students. The same will happen with the ASDA Blog transition. While we will no longer update the blog, we will find a home in Contour for all our blog writers. The spirit of the blog will continue to thrive there.

Let’s take this moment to celebrate the stories we have covered in the blog in recent years. Here are some of my favorites:

• “Threads of my white coat” – Ethan Nguyen, Pacific ’24, wrote poetically about what dentistry means to him, using the white coat as a symbol for his life story.
• “The importance of the medical illustrator today” – Alan Booth, Pittsburgh ’22, detailed how traditional illustrations help dental students learn anatomy in ways that remain irreplaceable by photography.
• “Best podcasts for dental students” – Stephanie Jaipaul, Georgia ’22, honored International Podcast Day with a listicle of podcasts to keep dental students informed about their profession.

As my term on the Editorial Board approaches its own conclusion, I look back at my time with incredible fondness. Serving the Editorial Board has been an opportunity of a lifetime. It opened the door in my dental school education to places outside the clinic and classroom that I never would have imagined. We have a great team. I can’t wait to see what the next Editorial Board will bring and what the future of ASDA publications will look like.

~ Ryan Lee, Texas-Houston ’23, ASDA Editor-in-Chief

The post The show goes on appeared first on ASDA Blog.

Whether you’re a political novice or a die-hard political activist, your votes are worth the same. Here is how I research candidates and prepare to cast my vote on or before Nov. 8.

• First, understand your political beliefs and values. Some people have a clear-cut party belonging. Others fall somewhere in between on the political spectrum. The Pew Research Center quiz on determining your political typology is incredibly helpful. In this quiz, pick your stance on critical issues and topics that are politically relevant. With the information from this quiz, you can get your baseline that can broadly guide your electoral selection.
• Find out which candidates you are eligible to vote into office. Use the Sample Ballot Lookup from Ballotpedia. Simply enter your address and the site will construct a sample ballot with the candidates who are running.
• Conduct further research on candidates’ stances, voting histories and brief biographies. I often go beyond the Sample Ballot Lookup tool to study the candidates. I seek input and opinions from people I trust and whose advice I value. It’s essential to research all candidates and not pre-select them without the due diligence of investigation.
• Understand candidates’ views on issues important to dentistry. The legislators we elect have a direct impact on how we practice dentistry today and in the future. Use ASDA Action’s scorecard feature to see how your congressperson has voted on important dental issues such as the Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act or the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act. You can also see if your legislator has co-sponsored or demonstrated their support for various other dental-related bills.
• Construct your voting guide. This guide will list the candidates you choose for each respective office. Come Nov. 8, the guide will serve as your roadmap and provide confidence that you are electing the officials that best suit your political beliefs.
• Cast your ballot. Your options on how to vote and the voting regulation of your state are critical. Consult vote.gov to view your state’s rules. First, make sure you are registered to vote or live in a state that allows for same-day registration. Once registered to vote, you can determine how you want to vote. Depending on your state and your situation you may qualify for absentee balloting. This allows you to submit your ballot prior to the election date via mail. If you choose to vote in person early or on Election Day, vote.gov will provide your polling place location. Polling places are typically located near your permanent address.

The day arrives on which you are eligible to submit your ballot. You now feel confident and well-informed on the decisions you are making. The vote is cast and you participated in one of the greatest honors of living in a democracy. At this moment, you can feel proud that you have done your civic duty.

This November, the theme of Advocacy Month is Midterm Minute. ASDA is focusing on quick and easy ways to get involved with advocacy (sometimes it takes only 60 seconds). I hope this article gives you the framework and guidance to spend a Midterm Minute and make the most of your voting privileges. Check out what else ASDA has planned for the month.

~ Colton Cannon, Minnesota ’23, Immediate Past President

The post Creating your Election Day roadmap appeared first on ASDA Blog.

When I started dental school at the University at Buffalo, my father and I made a pact that we would do an outreach trip together if we got the opportunity. My father, Dr. Michael Romano, is a general dentist in Liverpool, New York, and a 1985 graduate of UBSDM. Toward the end of my third year, my father read an article about the dental clinic at Rosebud Indian Reservation in the American Dental Association monthly newspaper. It seemed like the perfect opportunity since the clinic is run solely by volunteer dentists across the country.

I presented the information to my school administration. They embraced the opportunity to send a group of fourth-year students and granted us financial support. At the beginning of my fourth year, eight students, my father and Dr. Gambacorta from UB Dental school traveled to St. Francis Mission for a week-long trip.

The Lakota people were welcoming and grateful to have us. We worked in the clinic alongside a dental hygienist and assistant who were native to the area and knew the community well. We saw patients of all ages with various complex dental needs. Since we were there for only a week, we had to identify what was most critical for each patient and treat them as efficiently as possible.

This trip gave me a new appreciation for what I can do as a general dentist. It was essential to take a big-picture approach to complex cases and at the same appointment address those needs. We performed extractions, restorations, pulpotomies and even biopsied one patient with a suspicious lesion. This outreach trip emphasized the privilege I have as a dentist to significantly impact a community’s healthcare.

Not only did the Lakota people graciously accept our dental care, they also welcomed us into their homes and spaces. Our first night there we attended an outdoor pow wow where Native Americans from all over the country in full native dress gathered and participated in traditional dances and ceremonies. Later in the week, we joined a sweat lodge ceremony at the home of one of the workers at the clinic. Inside the hot, darkened domed lodge, we sat close together in a circle, listened to singing and prayer, and connected with ancestors. It was a moving experience. I felt honored to have been welcomed into that sacred space.

We also toured a museum next to the dental clinic filled with authentic Lakota art and historical artifacts. The guide taught us about the history of the Lakota people and the surrounding Native American tribes that used to occupy the lands. It was eye-opening to hear stories that happened right on my home soil that I had never learned about in my years of education. I will be forever grateful to the Lakota people for welcoming us into their community and sharing their stories.

I am also grateful for everyone who was on this trip with me: my classmates, Dr. Gambacorta and especially my dad. I’m privileged to have a father who is a dentist. Having this professional and personal experience with my father, learning from him and providing care to this community together was a bonding moment. I was reminded why I chose a career path in dentistry in the first place.

~ Abigail Romano, Buffalo ‘23

Featured image: The University of Buffalo dental team outside St. Francis Mission Dental Clinic. Pictured from left to right: Dr. Gambacorta, Dr. Romano, Abigail Romano, Taryn More, Marty Jones of St. Francis Mission, Drew Hanna, Elisabeth Estep, Brooke Thornhill, Olivia Marziale, Pallavi Mathur and Mike Casab.

The post A dental quest among the Lakota appeared first on ASDA Blog.

But I was there, along with a faculty member, an assistant and five classmates from Buffalo. We left behind our love, hope and positive energies to the locals of Kono.

Why I joined the mission trip
I immigrated to the United States in 2011. I came from a village in China that has some similarities with Kono, where sometimes there isn’t electricity. (Fortunately, water is not a concern in my village). At first, I didn’t know where Sierra Leone was located. I used Google maps to find it. It’s a largely rural, agricultural-focused country rich in minerals, among the top 10 diamond-producing nations. Medical care is not readily accessible throughout the country, with doctors and hospitals out of reach for many villagers. Dr. Emanuel Gambacorta, a faculty member on the trip, visited Sierra Leone before the -COVID-19 pandemic. During this visit, his goal was to educate the staff of a health center in Kono so that after we left the knowledge would stay and continue to benefit the community’s oral health. This idea is what attracted me to participate in the mission trip.

Before our trip, Dr. Gambacorta shared an article (“Good news to the poor”) from a Kono resident who expressed his appreciation of a previous mission trip. I was touched by his words but realized the real meaning of them after my trip.

During the mission trip
After a 16-hour flight, we arrived in Freetown, Sierra Leone. This was followed by a five-hour car ride to the Adama Martha Memorial Community Health Center in Kono. Phebian Abdulai, a refugee who fled to the United States during the 1991-2002 Sierra Leone Civil War, built the health center. She became a nurse in America and returned to Sierra Leone to serve.

We spent our first day getting to know the health center and its staff. We introduced silver diamine fluoride and fluoride so the staff can provide preventive care with limited knowledge and equipment. All staff participated with enthusiasm. You could sense the desire to improve and receive knowledge to help their patients.

During our stay, we mainly served the locals with simple dental procedures and extractions with limited equipment for the rest of the week. There were many heartfelt moments from the trip. One involved my classmate, Lauren. The day after Lauren treated her patient, the patient came back to the health center with her older sister. The patient was quiet, looking at me and Lauren. I asked if she had any needs. She stared at us shyly and finally asked, “Do you want to make friends with us?” Another patient, a young boy, shared his dream of becoming a doctor in the future.

On our way back to the airport, we saw groups of people dressing up to celebrate high school graduation. Dr. Gambacorta said, “Isn’t it amazing we all celebrate the same events no matter where we are?” While Sierra Leone seems so different from the United States, people still celebrate the same joys and occasions.

Back in New York
In the middle of August, violent protests broke out in Sierra Leone, triggered by the soaring costs of living. It was difficult to image just a few weeks back I was walking a dog after dinner in the local streets. Everything seemed peaceful at that time. I wondered about the challenges the health system would face after the protests.

Participating in this mission trip allowed me to learn and grow in my skill. But, most importantly, the trip reshaped my character. If you have a chance to serve in Sierra Leone, go. It’s a country with few dentists. Being there is the “good news to the poor.” The locals have a fighting spirit. The seeds we plant will grow and blossom while delivering love and hope.

~Ting Xue, Buffalo ’23

The post Buffalo delivers ‘good news to the poor’ in Sierra Leone appeared first on ASDA Blog.

My bag is a new addition to my clinic essentials, and it has made a world of a difference. The pockets on the outside and inside of the bag help keep all my supplies in their respective spots so it’s easier to locate.

Although I keep a traditional blood pressure cuff and stethoscope in my bag to ensure an accurate reading, I love using my electronic blood pressure cuff for appropriate patients.

PPE is essential for keeping me and my patients safe. I chose fun colors and patterns to stand out in the sea of blue PPE swarming the clinic.

I always keep my business cards on hand so my patients can refer me to their friends and family.

My black patient binder holds every document related to my patient’s treatment along with my notes so I have a record of everything at the tip of my fingers.

I always have snacks in my bag for a quick break between back-to-back appointments.

Transitioning from didactic lectures to working in clinic on real people is the most rewarding experience. My magical bag of supplies and the support from my friends and faculty have made this experience special. I’m excited to continue the rest of my journey in clinic and see the new tools that join my clinic bag.

~Shafa Nathani, Tufts ’24

The post Success at Tufts clinic: ‘It’s in the bag’ appeared first on ASDA Blog.

What are some developments in the infection control protocol since the start of COVID-19?

Dr. López: We refocused and emphasized what we were already doing. We learned the importance of PPE use such as respirators and face shields when we generate aerosol. We learned the value of air quality in the clinic and educational settings. Air quality is of utmost significance when dealing with airborne infectious agents, not just COVID-19, but also influenza, tuberculosis, etc. We re-learned the meaning of good hand hygiene, masking and social distance in preventing the spread of any disease. We knew this all before COVID-19, we just had to emphasize it.

Dr. Irizarry: In general, infection control protocols have become more rigorous. The use of a face shield, antibacterial rinse and high-velocity suction is now compulsory. We are also more aware of who is properly vaccinated. We try to use the rubber dam in all procedures that allow it. We are aware of the distance dental chairs must have to each other and make sure the air conditioner and air filters are functioning correctly. We now wear N95 masks, which have a protective seal.

Will there be an extra protocol or screening added because of Monkeypox?

Dr. López: Monkeypox is a skin-to-skin transmitted disease, and we must be aware and learn about the signs and symptoms of the disease. It is a public health risk. The WHO defined it as a “multi-country outbreak”, cases are on the rise and it’s very contagious. Monkeypox may be associated with other diseases such as herpes zoster, herpes simplex, measles, zika, dengue and syphilis. We must take a good quality oral medical history every time we see a new or recurring patient and ask for signs and symptoms. Every single time a student seats a patient at the clinic, the medical oral history must be updated.

Monkeypox is a diagnostic challenge. If we see oral lesions or small blisters in the lip, mucosa or periodontal area, we must ask the right questions as we may have been exposed and later expose others. Some questions students may ask the patients are: “Have you recently traveled to an area with a high rate of Monkeypox?” “Have you been in contact with a person that has Monkeypox?” “Have you experienced fever, chills or any other symptoms of Monkeypox?” “Are you vaccinated for measles or Monkeypox?” “Have you seen pimples, blisters, lesions or ulcers around your mouth, lip or face?”

Dr. Irizarry: Monkeypox’s most common symptoms start like any other infectious disease, such as influenza. Patients may have a fever, headache, discomfort, etc., which we already screen for when checking for other diseases such as COVID-19. We could add that if a patient or student sees a suspicious skin lesion, they should reschedule the appointment until the lesion’s diagnosis is confirmed. Apart from that, the current protocols are thorough.

How would you rate infection control at the dental school clinic?

Dr. López: We have a good history of compliance, but we also must work daily on getting better. The health and safety for all is our professional, ethical and social responsibility shared by everyone in the clinic setting. It is not the responsibility of an infection prevention or safety officer. The school and dental practices must follow federal and local laws. The school must follow prevention and infection control protocols to high standards to receive its accreditation by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

Dr. Irizarry: While there is always room for improvement, we constantly educate students on infection control beginning the first year of dental school. We start with the theory and steps to take to protect yourself and everyone around you. Infection control and safety are reiterated in each class. We give examples of what could happen if these protocols aren’t followed. We try to instill in students a sense of ethics regarding infection control. You shouldn’t follow these protocols because the professor is examining you and they will remove points from your evaluation, but because it’ the standard of care your patients deserve, and you should do your best to protect yourself and everyone around you.

As new students join the clinic, they learn to put into practice everything they have learned. They may make mistakes at first, but that is why we guide them and make them constantly repeat the same protocols. We hope this encourages correct habits and will eventually become second nature.

As health professionals, I hope we can all agree achieving effective preventive infection control involves a team effort and constant vigilance. It’s our ethical and professional duty. When starting our health education, we all swore the Hippocratic oath, which among other values states: “I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure. I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings.” As we move forward, I hope we don’t take these principles for granted. emphasized in these trying times when health concerns are on the rise.

~Ana P. López Santa, Puerto Rico ‘25

The post Infection prevention and control advice – Part 2 appeared first on ASDA Blog.

This year’s #DICAM22 theme is “Staying in the Know Together”. Therefore, I’m sharing the knowledge and opinions of Dr. Teresa J. Irizarry and Dr. Ana López Fuentes, members of a committee that oversees infection control protocol at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Science Campus’ dental clinic. I interviewed them because of their rigorous training and experience in Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention, an association for oral health care professionals that focuses on dental infection prevention and patient and provider safety.

What are common infection control mistakes dentists and dental students make?

Dr. López: Wearing their protective personal equipment (PPE) incorrectly, forgetting to give the patients protective eyewear and walking with their disposable gowns from a contaminated to a non-contaminated area are some of the most common mistakes we see dental students and dentists make.

Dr. Irizarry: I have seen students forget to give protective glasses to their patients. While this is not specifically part of the student’s infection control protocol, it is part of the protocol in charge of patient protection. Secondly, many students forget the proper use of PPE, specifically the use of their gloves. Once you have your gloves on and are working on a patient, you are not supposed to touch other surfaces apart from the instruments used in the procedure and barrier-protected surfaces. However, many students forget this and touch and contaminate objects such as their face shield, glasses, coat, drawers, keyboard and computer mouse. This is one of the most common mistakes I see in the dental clinic and in private practices.

What would you like to add or change in the current infection protocol used at school?

Dr. López: I want to change the mindset for compliance in health and safety for all. It’s my dream to create and add an emergency preparedness course to the dental program. I want our students to take the vaccination modules and be prepared to vaccinate like the nursing and medical students. I wish to include emergency basics such as how to put a bone back in place, place a tourniquet, how to treat burns, dehydration, panic attack, asthma attack, and intoxication among others.

I want students to have the fundamental knowledge to know how to react in a medical emergency. This could be an opportunity to include interprofessional education and collaboration from different health professional students and staff such as nurses, EMTs, respiratory therapists, etc. Some of these modules already exist in the CDC, U.S. Department of Public Health, and other institutions. We should organize these modules and prepare practice and certification for dental students.

Every health professional, including oral health professionals, is an essential health practitioner. COVID-19 may not be the only pandemic nor Hurricane Maria the last natural catastrophe we may face. Every oral health professional can be a first-line-of-defense provider during these situations.

It’s also imperative we update and train in infection control annually. As we have all witnessed with COVID-19, infection control can change by the minute. We must talk about infection prevention rather than infection control. It is a matter of health and safety.

Dr. Irizarry: I’m not a fan of using overgloves [gloves worn over other gloves]. It gives the student a false sense of protection. It’s better to simply remove the gloves, clean your hands, get what you need and wear a new set of gloves. However, I do understand the school’s need to save on equipment. I also believe if students effectively organize the instruments they need for the procedure beforehand, it would decrease the need to put on and take off their gloves. Also, in the clinic we do not have individual X-ray machines for each dental chair. Instead, the same clinic’s X-ray machines are shared by all staff and students of the clinic. Therefore, we must all be more vigilant about following correct prevention and infection protocol when taking radiographs.

Dental students are taught to treat everyone as infectious. What are other rules regarding infectious control?

Dr. López: They should follow standard precautions when working at the clinic and after the patients leave, treating every patient and every dental instrument as potentially infectious. I always teach students that they must clean first before disinfecting or sterilizing. Everything that goes in the patient’s mouth must be either sterile or disposable.

Dr. Irizarry: Students should treat everyone the same and visualize how the correct use of infection control protects not only you and your patient but also your staff, friends and family. This would encourage everyone to take precautions and create efficient safety habits.

Stay tuned for part two of this topic next week!

~Ana P. López Santa, Puerto Rico ‘25

The post Infection prevention and control advice – Part 1 appeared first on ASDA Blog.

Each year the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention dedicates this month to providing the dental community with information and materials to stay current with the latest dental infection control guidelines and to ensure every dental visit is safe. This year OSAP is focusing on hand hygiene, dental unit waterlines, PPE and instrument reprocessing.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted what can happen when underestimating the power of microorganisms or protein entities to facilitate the spread of a virus or disease. Patients and the dental team should both feel protected from risks of disease transmission. This comes from adequate knowledge about current infection control and safety practices.

There are different entities and corporations organized to maintain order and keep infections under control such as OSHA, the CDC and others. Manufacturers and manufacturing industries also develop products and new technologies to control the diseases or risks to which we are exposed as providers of medical services. Scientific research, vaccine development and the practice of aseptic techniques are all necessary to understand how emerging or re-emerging infections develop, spread and can be controlled.

Community education is vital to prevent the spread of pathogens and achieve proper management of compounds that can aggravate our health. This education can come from health clinics, vaccinations, educational talks, counseling, supplies or social media promotions. OSAP’s annual campaign provides helpful and engaging education materials.

Dentists are members of the indispensable group that promotes the well-being of all. Through consistent prevention measures and the implementation of protocols, we can better achieve infection control and avoid putting our health and quality of life at risk. As Benjamin Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure”.

~ Kiara Fernandez, Puerto Rico ’25

The post Dental Infection Control Awareness Month: Commitment to safety appeared first on ASDA Blog.

Know the patient’s allergies. Recall last semester’s pain lecture. Cavicide the chair.  Recite procedure protocols. Always remain pleasant and professional.

These are just a few tasks we perform daily. Aside from meeting constant academic and clinical expectations, we also work to maintain our personal lives. Sunrise to sundown is usually set for us, filling all the time slots with the most to the least priorities in our lives. 

We often hear time management is our best friend while in school. The truth is, time isn’t on our side. We battle each day with our inner selves to choose the “most important” item on the to-do list, and what items to keep for the day or push to the next. It’s exhausting. 

No wonder anxiety, depression and stress are prevalent conditions in dental students. Who would be well with so much on their plate? And what does it mean to be well nowadays? Are we the best judges of our own wellness?

Read the rest of this article in the September issue of Contour magazine, focused on wellness.

~ Daniela Garza, Texas Tech ‘25

The post Six ways to wellness appeared first on ASDA Blog.

I spent the first two semesters pregnant and gave birth to my daughter during finals week in the spring of 2020. While my classmates took a physiology final, I was in a labor and delivery room. 

I planned my maternity leave based on the parental leave policy at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry. However, not all schools have a parental leave policy. Without a clear policy, soon-to-be parents don’t know how to proceed.

To continue their studies, students will need to adjust how, when or where they complete their academic work during the perinatal and postpartum period.

University parental leave benefits often don’t apply to student parents since they are not school employees. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) applies to eligible employees at most universities, but there is a gray area for how it applies to students. Thankfully, Title IX of the U.S. Education Amendments of 1972 protects the parental rights of students during their educational programs.

Read the rest of this article in the August issue of Contour magazine, focused on serving vulnerable populations.

~ Katelyn Smith, Nebraska ‘23, ASDA District 8 Editor & Chief

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