LLU School of Dentistry - Dentalgram, August 2000

Student news

Careers in Dentistry Workshop held
by Sylvia Davis, MA

For the sixteenth year, the Careers in Dentistry Workshop was held in the School of Dentistry, July 23 - 25. Directing the program was Duane Wacker, SD'64, associate professor of restorative dentistry, assisted by Patrick Oshita, SD'96, assistant professor. Sandy Webb, assistant director of admissions, coordinated the program in the admissions office.

The goal of the workshop is to give a positive view of the professional roles in oral health care, with emphasis in dentistry and dental hygiene. Participants enroll to learn about these roles and to have an opportunity to shadow a student as they practice as student dentists and dental hygienists. Dr. Ben Grant put the program together in 1984, after a model from Oregon Health Sciences University, and directed it for several years. Dr. Kenneth Pierson also directed the program while he was on the faculty.

The School was pleased to welcome 53 individuals this year. Of the participants, 16 came from out of state. Participants came from the nearby states of Arizona, Oregon, Nevada, and Washington, as well as from Florida, Georgia, Texas, Utah, and Ohio. Nineteen of the enthusiastic learners indicated that they were primarily interested in dental hygiene, while 34 were considering a career in dentistry.

The School arranged for participants to live on campus, which 32 chose to do, giving them an understanding of the environment of LLU outside Prince Hall. Others stayed with family and friends. Only 15 of the participants live in the Inland Empire.

Presentations were made by Mrs. Anita Rockwell Hayden, assistant director of community relations in LLU Medical Center; Louis Venden, PhD, professor of religion, Kenneth Wright, PhD, assistant professor of anatomy; George Lessard, PhD, professor of biochemistry and director of research at LLUSD; and Dennis DeLote, financial aid advisor.

Faculty members of the School of Dentistry who participated included: Drs. Ron Blank, Dave Rynearson, John Peterson, Stan Appleton, Randy Handysides, Klaus Wolfram, Wayne Tanaka, J. Holt, James Dunn, Joseph Kan, and Robert Clement. Nancy Pulliam, LLUSD safety and infection control coordinator, and Sylvia Davis also made presentations.

The participants spent time in the radiology department, in the wax-up laboratory and on the clinic. Those who assisted were: Jackie Myers, Jolene Farwell, Lydia Perez, Carol Sorrells, Noelani Silos, Jennifer Gray, Wendy Leming, and Dr. Floyd Hansen.

The Dental Student Association, under the leadership of Chris Ehrbright, SD'01, gave tours to the participants on Sunday night, and also served breakfast on the last day in the student lounge. After breakfast, Fred Kasischke, DMin, assistant dean for admissions and service learning, introduced service learning opportunities to the participants, which gave them an opportunity to learn more about the mission of our School.

Students helped to make the event interesting and real. Tour guides included: Carlos Moretta, Chris Blount, Heather Calkins, Vu Le, Daniel Duroseau, Rob Wells, Shea Bess, Lisa Bozzetti, Sunil Ilapogu, and Joy Villanueva. On Monday evening, the participants who were interested in dental hygiene spent the evening on the clinic, charting and shadowing the senior dental hygiene students with their patients. On Tuesday afternoon, all of the future dentists and dental hygienists were able to shadow a dental student.

A celebration meal was served on Tuesday evening in Fellowship Hall at the University Church. A panel discussion with the students who had earlier been tour guides shared insights and information about their decisions to enter the dental profession and attend LLU. The success of the event was well documented by the evaluations turned in by the participants.

OUCH!! Hate when that happens!

Junior dental students learn how to give
Akinosi and Gow-Gates injections to each other, in preparation for patient procedures.

Tips for your pets' dental health

Open wide, Fluffy!

Here's an interesting article about dental care for your pets.

http://www.petsmart.com/pet_library/care_guide/ch3/dental.shtml