Dental Technology in 30 Years

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WELCOME ADDRESS
SUMMER BREAK
3
ASDA GOES INTERNATIONAL
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GIVE KIDS A SMILE
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ADA ANNUAL SESSION
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ASDA LEADERSHIP CONVENTION
NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE
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MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
DECEM BER
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:
10 IVY AVANESSIAN FUA
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2012
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT:
DR. NELSON
NEWSLETTER OF AMERICAN STUDENT
D E N TA L A S S O C I AT I O N , U C S F C H A P T E R
Dental Technology
in 30 Years
Some (Not So?) Wild Predictions
Devin Bernhardt
In 30 years we will be excellent clinicians
practicing in a dental world that will look
nothing like what it is today. The dental field
has changed dramatically in the last 30 years,
from the introduction of wearing gloves
to CADCAM technology. There is no way
UCSF graduates in 1982 could know what
they would be doing today, but its fun to make
some guesses as to what the dental profession
could look like and some of the technology
and services that may be offered to patients.
Budding teeth. As we have learned in
lecture again and again there is no synthetic
material that perfectly mimics the biomechanical characteristics of enamel and
dentin. The ideal replacement material
is a new natural tooth. And budding
natural teeth is not as far fetched as you
might think. In 2009 scientists in Tokyo
germinated replacement teeth in mice that
had the same strength and sensitivity as
normal mice teeth. What effects would this
have on some of today’s technology; if we
are able to bud natural teeth, would that
replace the need for implants?
continued on page 3
Supertooth implant concept. An implant
with Bluetooth and sensors to monitor
vital signs. Image: Wired
ASDA and CDA Leaders Discuss
Breaking Barriers to Dental Care
Tiffany Hsu
Delegates from UCSF at the ASDA District
11 meeting at UOP met with delegates from
the 5 other California dental schools.
As the Blue Angels roared over the San
Francisco skies, dental student leaders from
the American Dental Student Association
(ASDA) and California Dental Association
(CDA) convened at the annual ASDA
District 11 Meeting to hear presentations,
engage in breakout sessions, and learn
about the current state of access to dental
care in California. The District 11 meeting
was held at UOP Dugoni during the
weekend of Oct. 5-7. ASDA’s District 11
is comprised of California’s six dental
schools: Loma Linda, USC, UCLA, UCSF,
UOP, and Western. Among the nearly 100
students in attendance, UCSF made a strong
presence, bringing 20 ASDA and 7 CDA
representatives.
Highlights of the meeting included an
impressive list of guest speakers, engaging
continued on page 3
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WELCOME ADDRESS
The first quarter of another academic year at UCSF School of Dentistry is rapidly coming to an end. A huge welcome and congratulations to our first year students, who by now have overcome one of the hardest challenges we have all had to face: that first
quarter of dental school! ASDA is working locally and nationally to protect and advance the rights and interests of dental students
like us. It is our hope at ASDA to inspire you to get involved with organized dentistry during and after your education.
Nationally ASDA works with other large organizations such as ADA, ADPAC, ADEA and more to let the voices of dental students be heard in topics that affect us now and in the future. The growing student debt crisis has been a top priority for ASDA.
During the National Dental Student Lobby Day, students from all over the country advocate for financially sustainable and
long-term solutions at the Capitol Hill. The issue of mid-level providers has been another hot topic of discussion throughout the
country. ASDA’s policy on mid-level providers states only a qualified dentist should perform the following functions: Examination,
diagnosis and treatment planning; prescribing work authorizations; performing irreversible dental procedures; prescribing drugs and / or other medications. Other issues that ASDA is involved with nationally include licensure, NBDE, barriers to care and more. To learn more about what ASDA is doing
for you, visit www.asdanet.org.
Locally, our ASDA chapter has been growing over the past few years thanks to many of our dedicated students who have decided to get involved
with organized dentistry. We strive to augment the education our students receive at the school with many extracurricular activities. Our students
learn about topics such as business management, insurance, licensure and more through our lunch ‘n learns as well as giving back to the community
through our many community service and pre-dental events. We also stay closely involved with dental legislature by sending students to the National
Dental Student Lobby Day and interacting with CDA at the state legislature level. Our many new membership benefits aim to help you get more out of
your ASDA membership. You can find more about our local chapter activities on our website at www.asdaucsf.com
ASDA is the largest national and local dental student organization representing more than 85% of all dental students. Our voice is heard through
ASDA, and the more of us who are a part of ASDA, the stronger this voice becomes. Thank you for your continued involvement and support, and I look
forward to serving you in the coming year.
Sincerely,
Shahab Parsa
UCSF ASDA Chapter President
UCSF School of Dentistry Class of 2014
Your Last Summer,
What Did You Do?
The summer after first year is the only full
summer dental students have to spend
as they like. A look at some of the options
students have and of this year’s class -what
they did.
if you want to stay in the city and
hospital ship USNS Mercy
especially if you are thinking about volunteering as dental assistants
specializing. Depending on what
in the Philippines, Cambodia
Chris Kim (far left), Amy Phorth and kind of research
and Vietnam
Natalie Chien outside a dental clinic you are doing, it
alongside
Being on the Mercy was a
in Cambodia with Captain Klause of can take a lot of
providers and
life changing experience,
the US Navy and a dentist from the
time.
volunteers
I wouldn’t have spent it
Cambodian military.
And of
from other
[summer] any other way and
Devin Bernhardt
course there is
it was definitely more fun than countries
Summer after your first year; you
studying for boards!
always the ‘fun’
around the
have choices and taking the National
of doing nothing
world.
ALEXA NAVASERO
Dental Board Exam Part 1 is now an
related to school
And its
option. Not all the material on the test is
and enjoying your last summer. A not to say you can’t do more
covered in first year, but since the test
lot of the class of 2015 traveled to than one, many people took
changed to Pass/No Pass covering the
places around the world including: their Boards and then traveled,
extra material on your own and taking
Europe, Central and South
but it is difficult to do summer
the test in summer is an attractive option America and Southeast Asia.
research and take the big test.
that can give you more free time in your
A group of five UCSF students Summer for the current first
second year.
participated in a US Navy Mission, years isn’t so far away, what will
Summer research is another option
Pacific Partnership on board the
you do?
“
”
Summer
by the
Numbers
60%
38%
21%
36%
traveled
took boards
research
nothing school
related
Based on a survey of 47 D2 students.
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Dental Technology
continued from page 1
A microphone in the implant would also
No. At least thats my prediction,
transmit your voice to a hand-held device
because an implant in 30 years will be
and you would never have to
more than just an artificial tooth. It
worry about holding a phone to
will have sensors and microchips
your head.
to monitor basic body indicators
The advantage of the implant
such as glucose levels, pH and
is that its easier to access than
temperature. There has been
anything placed under the skin. If
research to suggest that this type of
it ever needed to be upgraded or
information can be collected from
the battery replaced, perhaps you
the oral environment. And specific
would just visit the dentist.
to dental health, it would be easy to
Treatment of carious lesions
personally monitor the pH of your
will change as well. Research at
mouth on a smartphone and make
UCSF has demonstrated that a
sure it doesn’t dip below 5 for too
particular laser when focused on
long -it would be that much easier
enamel can reform the enamel
to prevent demineralization.
in such a way that it is no longer
In addition, the implant
susceptible to dental caries. If
could serve as a device similar to
a lesion was only in
bluetooth where sound
enamel and treated
would be sent from
The singing lollipops of the
with this laser it would
the mouth to the ear
90s, ‘Soundbites’ may have
ensure there would be
much like the singing
a similar function as dental
no recurrent decay.
lollipops from the 90s.
implants in the future.
ASDA and CDA Leaders
continued from page 1
discussion on bill SB 694 (Padilla),
and a vendor fair with exciting raffle
giveaways. As District 11’s first joint
ASDA/CDA meeting, there could
have been no better time to discuss
Senator Padilla’s dental care bill, SB
694, strongly advocated by the CDA.
Daniel Davidson, DMD, President of
CDA stated in his presentation that
barriers to dental care are complex and
multifaceted. An estimated 11 million
Californians lack dental insurance,
and over 200 dental shortage areas
have been identified. SB 694 (Padilla)
endeavors to improve access to dental
care for children with two components:
the creation of an Office of Oral Health/
Dental Director and a workforce
study of training registered dental
hygienists and advanced registered
dental assistants to perform seven
procedures outlined in the bill, such as
drilling on teeth for fillings, extracting
primary teeth, placing stainless steel
crowns, and performing therapeutic
pulpotomy. With ASDA listed on the
bill’s Oppose list, attendees of the
meeting sought to clarify the specific
parameters and implications of the
study. In August, the bill failed passage in
the State Senate because of fiscal concerns.
However, according to President Davidson,
Sen. Padilla plans to resurrect the bill in the
future.
UCSF’s
ASDA Goes
International
Jonathan Hurng
“Relieved, grateful, well-fed!”
These were the words expressed as 54
international dentists parted after attending
the UCSF American Student Dental
Association (ASDA)’s 2nd International
Pre-Dental Interview Day held on Sunday
October 14th, 2012.
ASDA’s International Pre-Dental day
is an event primarily aimed to prepare
international dentists for upcoming Fall
“
ASDA aims to support all
dental students, domestic
and international alike.
Michael Hong
”
interviews and to provide additional
information regarding the application
process to international professionals
looking to further their dental education.
Highlights of the program included
presentations conducted by current
International Dental Program (IDP)
students Stalinjeet Gill and Wint Wint Tun
(ID3) on interview day overview, interview
etiquette, and tips to achieve a successful
interview. Subsequent student Q&A
panels, mock interviews, and dinner social
Delegates from all 6 California dental schools met to discuss ramifications of
the proposed bill SB 694 that would allow hygienists and certain assistants to
perform additional procedures in an effort to combat barriers to dental care.
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giving smiles to dental students since 1971
The American Student Dental Association is a national student-run organization that protects and advances the rights, interests and welfare of dental
students. It introduces students to lifelong involvement in organized dentistry
and provides services, information, education, representation and advocacy.
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ASDA
International
continued from page 3
were provided by the current students
of the International Dental Program. It
offered an invaluable opportunity for the
My advice for all dental
“ professionals
in training
is be confident about your
education, be confident
about yourself, and it will
guarantee your success.
noha oUShY
”
interviewees to interact with the student
body and receive constructive feedback.
Although a program dedicated to the
international dentist, this event aims to
achieve further collaboration between the
international and domestic dental students.
Due to discrepancies in curriculum,
students find little opportunity to interact.
“It’s wonderful that we can all find the
time and dedication to create a program
that positively influences the community
and exemplifies UCSF. It’s encouraging to
assist students of different backgrounds,
as we all have experienced the process of
preparing for UCSF interviews,” (Tiffany
Hsu D2). “My advice for all dental
International student applicants participate in mock interviews and receive
constructive feedback from the students.
professionals in training is be confident about
your education, be confident about yourself, and
it will guarantee your success,” concluded Noha
Oushy (ID3)
Michael Hong (D2), current chair of the
ASDA Pre-dental Committee added “We feel that
many outreach programs currently offered are
primarily aimed to equip domestic Pre-dental
students for the dental school applications and
the interview process. Unfortunately, there
seems to be a dearth of such opportunities
for the international dentists. ASDA aims
to support all dental students, domestic and
international alike.”
Left: The event promoted interaction between
UCSF’s international and domestic dental students;
because of discrepancies in curriculum students normally have little opportunity to interact.
Right: Third and fourth year UCSF international dental
students answer questions at a panel discussion with
current international applicants.
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UCSF dental students including D2s Krizia Garcia and Maximillion Jenson assisted volunteer dentists with screenings and fluoride varnish as well as providing families with oral health education and tips on healthy eating.
UCSF ASDA Provides Hand to Give Kids A Smile
Jolie Goodman
On Wednesday, October 17, 2012 members of
the UCSF ASDA chapter were excited to show their
enthusiasm for children’s oral health prevention at
a screening event held at San Francisco General
Hospital’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
site, as part of a three-day Give Kids a Smile event
held in San Francisco preceding the ADA Annual
Session. The screenings were put on through collaboration between the ADA, Colgate’s Bright Smiles,
Bright Futures, the National Children’s Oral Health
Foundation, Sesame Workshop, the San Francisco
Department of Public Health, the San Francisco
Dental Society, Native American Health Services San
Francisco, and the WIC program.
Nearly 100 families received services, in addition to a backpack full
of dental supplies.
Dental students assisted volunteer dentists with
screenings and fluoride varnish. They also provided
families with oral health education, tips on healthy
eating, and assisted with the registration process.
Nearly 100 families received services, in addition to
a backpack full of dental supplies. The event was a
lot of fun for everyone involved, with the highlight of
the day for the young children being a surprise visit
from the Sesame Street Character, Abby Cadabby,
who came to brighten the faces of the children.
UCSF student volunteers helped nearly 100 families receive fluoride varnish and screenings as well as backpacks full of dental supplies.
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ADA Annual
Session in
San Francisco
newly approved products, and wide-spread
networking hosted locally. Those who were
registered members of ASDA were able to
attend the convention free of charge.
The Opening Ceremony started on
Thursday morning, with a performance from
Beach Blanket Babylon, and the George
Washington High School Choir. After, the
ceremony recognized the recent notable
accomplishments of ADA members. Distinguished award winners included Dr. Lamb,
who received the 2012 ADA Humanitarian
Award, and Dr. John S. Greenspan, the winner of the Gold Medal Award for Excellence
in Dental Research, and Clinical Professor
Emeritus at UCSF. Throughout the weekend,
the ADA Session offered over 280 classes to
educate and discuss the latest dental topics
including Q&A sessions, hands-on courses,
live-patient rounds, and more. The ADA
offered paid continuing education classes,
as well as free courses that included “Keys
to Jaw-Dropping Patient Service”, “Evidence-Based Caries Prevention Strategies”,
“Drugs, Bugs and Dental Products”, and
numerous others.
The ADA Annual Session mobile app
provided attendees with convenient organized information of classes, demonstrations,
and free giveaways that went on throughout the weekend. Post-convention benefits
include ADA365, the free online on-demand
video coverage of courses that were offered
at the 2012 Annual Session. Overall, the
2012 ADA Annual Session was a huge success, and students and faculty look forward
to next year’s convention which will be held
at the Ernest N. Memorial Convention Center
in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Neek LaMantia
The 153rd American Dental
Association Annual Session was held
at the Moscone Convention Center
in San Francisco this past October
18th-21st, 2012. The four day session
welcomed dental healthcare providers,
dental education professors, research
scholars, and vendors from across the
world. The collaboration of knowledge is aimed at educating the dental
field about new products, services and
information to better the treatments
they provide.
The annual session grows in
number each year. The 2012 annual
session attracted nearly 10,000 dentists
and 1,000 students, with over 600
exhibitions featured,
which is an increase
from the 2011 Annual
Session hosted in Las
Vegas.
The University of
California, San Francisco dental students
were fortunate to
have such a fantastic
opportunity to be
exposed to cutting
edge technology,
Be a part of it!
The future of dentistry meets here.
Register Today!
ADA.org/session
KEEP
CALM
Scientific Program
October 18-21
AND
DRILL
ON
Above: First year student Neek LaMantia practices using a handpiece
at
a vendor’s
stand on the main floor
Dr. Mike
Wallace
ADA member since 2002
Edmond,
Oklahoma
of the ADA Convention.
“I come to the ADA Annual Session for the continuing
education. I get to see the people who I read about in
publications and interact with them by asking questions
about challenges I may be having with my practice.”
World Marketplace Exhibition
October 18-20
House of Delegates
October 19-23
Right: First year dental students
before entering the convention Emily
Horne (far left), Neek LaMantia,
Valentina Zahran, Nathan Palanker,
and Ana Rodriguez.
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UCSF at ASDA’s First-Ever National
Leadership Convention
J. Eduardo Molina
This past November 2nd-4th,
six of our UCSF ASDA members
were fortunate enough to attend the
first-ever ASDA National Leadership Conference held in Chicago,
IL. Nearly 400 students from all
over the nation flew out to the
windy city to gain invaluable skills,
which often cannot be taught in a
classroom or clinical setting. While
the main focus was on developing
“life skills” through leadership
training this conference also offered
training in specific areas of dentistry such as dental ethics, business
management, and policies affecting
the profession.
The National Leadership
Convention was comprised of more
than 35 breakout sessions allowing
students of all levels to choose
which sessions best met their needs.
Second year dental student Naomi
At the ASDA National Leadership Conference in Chicago, J. Eduardo Molina (far left),
Kong said, “One of the greatest
things I learned from this weekend Sarah Adabi, Naomi Kong, Ramina Sarmcanic, Niloo Farahani and Shahab Parsa.
was that leadership is not about us
was the Tips from the Podium: Public Speaking &
getting involved with ASDA, contact any of our
as individuals but rather, it is about our rePresenting because as I am getting ready to transiASDA at UCSF representatives and ask for more
tion from the lecture hall and simulation laboratory
information.
One of the greatest things I
onto
clinic,
I
believe
that
it
is
essential
to
learn
learned from this weekend was
how to communicate effectively with my patients
that leadership is not about us
ASDA has truly done a great
and become comfortable with my own style of
as individuals but rather, it is
job organizing this event into
presenting.”
about our responsibility to do
tracks that tailor to the attendees
“ASDA has truly done a great job organizing
something with the gifts we
interests and I have learned a
this event into tracks that tailor to the attendees inhave.
lot of practical tips that will help
terests and I have learned a lot of practical tips that
me lead my chapter during this
Naomi King
will help me lead my chapter during this academic
academic year.
sponsibility to do something with the gifts we year,” said third year Shahab Parsa. Next years
Shahab Parsa
have.” Niloo Farahani, another second year
National Leadership Conference is anticipated to
dental student added, “my favorite session
be an even bigger success. If you are interested in
“
“
”
”
November, Native American Heritage Month
Maximillion Jenson
The month of November is known to have
many festivities such as Dia de Los Muertos,
Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. All in all, November
is a great month to look forward to because of
the many celebrations that include delicious
foods and sweet desserts, much needed days
off from school or work to relax, and quality
time spent with family and friends.
However, the month of November is much
more than just a month filled with one day
celebrations it is a month that recognizes a
rich and diverse culture that is unique to North
America which is the Native American people.
Since 1990, November has been celebrated as Native American Heritage Month which
than the whole population.
is important to remember because we are
future health professionals that may someday
As one can see, the oral health disparity
among the Native American population is
serve patients that come from a Native American community.
enormous and has caught the attention of the
The Native American people are spread
ADA and other associations. The ADA has
across the U.S. with a vast
recognized the oral health disnumber of tribes (566 feder- It is important to be reminded as parity that exists within Native
young dental students that we do American communities and
ally recognized) filled with
not have to leave the country to taken steps to ameliorate the
unique traditions and lanfind
populations that suffer from disparity being experienced.
guages. Although the Native
poor
oral health because domes- In fact the ADA has sponAmerican population is small
in comparison to other ethnic tic oral health disparities do exist sored the “Native American
in the U.S.
minorities, they have the
Oral Health Care Project” to
address and solve the existing oral health care
greatest prevalence of health disparity. For example, early childhood caries (ECC) is a huge
issues in Native American communities.
problem for this population and the prevalence
Since the inception of the Native Amerhas been estimated to be up to 400% greater
continued on page 9
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Membership Benefits
Native American Heritage
Karine Lee
continued from page 8
ist. Within the ADA there are initiatives,
programs, and policies that are focused
ican Oral Health Care Project leaps of
on the addressing Native American oral
progress is being made among
health care in
Native American communities.
The oral health disparity conjunction with
Last year, the ADA urged conamong the Native Amer- other associations
gress to appropriate more fundand organizations.
ican population is enoring to Indian Health Services
I encourage those
(IHS), specially the Department mous and has caught the that are interested
attention of the ADA and
of Oral Health. It is important
in learning more
to be reminded as young dental
other associations.
about the policies
students that we do not have
focused on Native
to leave the country to find populations
American communities to start their
that suffer from poor oral health because
search with the ADA sponsored Native
domestic oral health disparities do exist
American Oral Health Care Project as
in the U.S.
well as Indian Health Service. For those
As students we have many opportuwho would like hands on experience,
nities made available for us to pick and
check the available externship opportunichoose but we may not hear or know
ty with Indian Health Service.
about all of the opportunities that do exhttp://www.ihs.gov/medicalprograms/dental/index.cfm?module=extern
Your ASDA Cabinet
ASDA is continuously trying to improve and add benefits
for its members. Besides the many intangible benefits, we
also try to bring discounts and access to various services and
resources. Below is a list of the benefits that exist as well as
one that is in progress.
1) Free ADA Life and Disability Insurance
a. Life insurance: $50,000 term life + $50,000 accidental
death coverage
b. Disability Insurance: $2,000/month + up to $150,000
to repay student loans
c.
Coverage doubles to $100,000 on July 1, 2013
d.
Remains free through Dec 2013 (even after gradation)
e. Practically FREE Malpractice insurance from Medical Protective for 1 year after graduation
f.
New dentists receive 75% discount
g.
ASDA members get an ADDITIONAL 25% discount
2) Free T-shirt
3) Complimentary Publications: JADA, ADA News, Mouth,
E-newsletters
a.
Patient Education Material
b.
PDF Files
c.
Videos
d. Topics: Brushing, flossing, root canal treatment, periodontal disease, etc.
Shahab Parsa
President
Sara Adabi
Vice President
e.
Ramina Sarmicanic
Treasurer
Handy when explaining to patients
Lexi-Dental Drugs App (Retail price: $75)
-
ASDA members: $30 (60% off)
-
1 year subscription
-
3rd year is free when you buy 2 years
4) Free access to ADA resources:
a. Dental Practice Hub: A web-based practice management resource
Devin Bernhardt
Newsletter Editor
Michael Hong
Pre-Dental Chair
b. ADA Center for Evidence-Based Dentistry™: A database of answers to clinical questions
Dongkook (DK) Lim
D1 Representative
c. Dental Buying Guide: A guide to dental supplies and
equipment
Project Currently In Progress
1) Beta Endo Teeth Project
a. Potential endo tooth for each D4 and ID4 ASDA member for WREB exam
Neha Temhane
Secretary
Stallinjeet Gill
IDP 3 Representative
If you have any questions about any of these benefits or
would like more information please do not hesitate to contact
Karina at:
Prashant Poplai
IDP 4 Representative
[email protected]
Eddie Molina
Jolie Goodman
Communications Chair Community Service
Co-Chair
Tiffany Hsu
Legislative Liason
D2 Representative
American Student Dental Association
Get in the know about all things 9AS
continued on page 10
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Member Spotlight, Ivy Avanessian Fua
Nicole Lamantia
UCSF, and Sione began another season
on the east coast.
From the San Fernando Valley of
“I’m not your typical NFL wife,”
LA, Ivy Avanessian Fua came to UCSF
says Ivy. In 2010, VH1 came out with a
after discovering her passion for helping
series, “Football Wives,” which shed an
others by serving the community as a
inaccurate and undesirable light on what
dental professionsociety thinks of
al. Ivy is currently
women married
a first year dental
to NFL stars. In
student, and new
fact, the couple
member to the
doesn’t exactly go
UCSF ASDA
out of their way to
chapter. Before
tell others about
dental school,
Sione’s career.
she attended
“If people come
UC-Santa Cruz,
up to him and
and then UCSF’s
ask him if he’s a
post baccalaurefootball player,
ate program, and
he’ll say no, or
quickly fell in love
say he plays water
with the UCSF
polo instead!”
campus, commuIvy says one
nity, and the city
of the more ironic
of San Francisco.
moments they
This 24 year old
have had together
armenian-columbiwas when they
Ivy
Avanessian
Fua
during
the
an-cali girl found
recently visited the
her interest in
white coat ceremony.
dentist. “I was so
dentistry while
sure he was going
in high school. It was also in high school
to have a cavity.” Turns out, Sione was
that she met the man of her dreams,
caries-free and Ivy actually had a cavity.
Sione Fua, when they ran into each other
Sione and Ivy have an exciting future
at a testing center to take the SAT.
ahead of them. Dentistry is a prosperSione Fua is a defensive tackle for
ing and flexible profession that can be
the Carolina Panthers, and was drafted
applied in any part of the country. It’s a
in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft.
possibility that Sione’s career may lead
Before his career in the NFL, Sione
him to a new team in the coming seasons,
attended and played football for Stanford
leaving their future plans up in the air for
University, only a short hour away from
the time being. “Hopefully he’ll keep
Ivy at UCSC. This past summer, Ivy and
playing for the Panthers,” says Ivy.
Sione got married before Ivy started at
Ivy and her husband, NFL player Sione Fua, “If people
come up to him and ask him if he’s a football player, he’ll
say no, or say he plays water polo instead!”
ASDA Cabinet (Continued)
Jonathan Collins
Past President
Kaitlin Benchimol
Lunch and Learn
Committee Chair
Nicole (Neek) LaMantia
Historian
Iveta Markova
Community Service Co-Chair
William Kim
Licensure and Ethics Chair
Jeffrey Lee
D4 Representative
Karina Lee
Membership Chair
Kulginder Sran
D3 Representative
Shanne Sastiel
Expo Day Chair
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Dr. Nelson, Faculty Spotlight
We are honored to have Dr. Gerald D Nelson as our faculty spotlight interviewee. Dr. Nelson graduated from
UCSF with an orthodontic specialty certificate in 1965. Following that, he served as a captain in the US Air
Force for 3 years. He purchased a private practice on his return, where he practiced with a co-owner for 40
years until 2008. He was the co-founder and director of the orthodontic teaching program at La Clinica de la
Raza in Oakland from 1972-2003. He joined the UCSF Orthodontic Program in 1994 as an associate clinical
professor and has been part of the program ever since as clinical professor, vice-chair, clinic director and most
recently as interim chair of the UCSF orthodontic division. He has given many presentations at professional
organizations and received multiple awards for his teaching and service.
Shahab Parsa
Thank you very much for taking time out of your busy
schedule.
You are very welcome.
What drew you to the field of orthodontics in the beginning?
My family dentist, who as a teenager started talking to me
about it was a guy who I really liked. I knew I was confident
with my hands. I knew I wanted to work for myself. So he said
well dentistry is good, I really enjoyed it, but if I was to do it
again, I would be a specialist and orthodontics would be the
specialty I would choose. I didn’t have braces, so I was kind of
ignorant about that. And as a youngster I had a lot of caries and
my first dentist was just not a very a good dentist, no preventative care or anything like that. The second dentist who I really
liked he said give it a try, so I went to the school counselor and
talked with them and set my course. And so by the time I graduated high school I knew where I was going.
What do you recommend to the students who are just starting dental school and are trying to decide whether to follow
a residency in orthodontics or not?
I think if some one who is in dental school who hasn’t
thought about that, what they need to do is to do some shadowing. I mean that’s the first thing to do, learn about what is a day
in the life of an orthodontist like and what makes it interesting
or difficult. There are orthodontists who would allow young
dental students to come in and visit, and I think that’s one really
important thing to do.
What suggestions do you have for students who know they
are interested in a career in orthodontics?
I think if a person then is pretty serious about orthodontics
they’ve gotta put the pieces together that make your application
to a residency go into interview and that has to do with not only the shadowing but doing the public service and being involved in some kind of
research, and to understand orthodontics enough to know that this fits your idea of what you would like to do, and to work with people in the
dental school who are willing to give you a good recommendation, because these days, most of our grades are coming back pass and fail which
doesn’t really help us a lot, so we try to choose our applicants through the interviews and really rely a lot on personal recommendations and the
various other achievements that the applicants have made. One of the things that I did when I was in dental school was working in an orthodontic laboratory. That was pretty useful. I learned a lot about making orthodontic appliances, but also the relationship that my boss had with the
local orthodontics was interesting.
You mentioned most of the scores coming back are pass/fail, and you are looking a lot more closely at recommendations and extracurricular activities, how important are the GRE scores now that boards are pass/fail?
That is a number we look at, and it is important. They changed the scoring format on those a few years ago, but yes we do look at them.
In private practice, what are the dynamics between orthodontics and the general practitioner (or other specialists) like?
Well, those dynamics are all over the map. The orthodontist has a large influence on those dynamics, and I think what the orthodontist needs
to do is be a really good communicator with the general dentist, be involved in the local society and to do his or her best to educate the local
dentist about orthodontics. I think it’s important for the orthodontist to sort of take the high-road in terms of doing things as professionally as
possible and not getting into lots of advertising, and I think they will have a great relationship with the general practitioner. For example, I teach
a couple of classes on Invisalign, and a lot of general practitioners are interested in doing Invisalign, and I think that is appropriate, but some
orthodontists don’t want to have anything to do with their general dentist doing that, and they get a bit itchy about it. But I really think the best
thing we ought to do is to help the general dentist, if they want to do Invisalign, choose the right case, do the right treatment plan and carry it
off. The more they collaborate on things like that, the better. Another thing the orthodontist needs to do is inform the general dentist about their
patient very carefully from the time they first come in until they’re finished, in terms of sending reports constantly.
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Dr. Nelson
that’s a huge upcoming change not in technology, but in business practice.
A previous student of mine practicing in Southern Carolina, told me she had
2 pediatric dentists referring to her for a while and things were great. One
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signed on with an orthodontist and is not referring to her anymore and the
other is about to do the same thing, so she is also thinking of signing on with
Do orthodontists mostly get referrals through advertising to the public
a pediatric dentist. It used to be that pediatric dentists hire an orthodontist out
or general dentists?
of school and pay them some percentage of production, but this is different.
Most orthodontists after they have been in practice for about 10 years
This is forming a business partnership and sharing patients and x-ray equipit’s about 50/50, and you get more referrals from pediatric dentists than
ments and lab, etc.
general dentist as a rule. So you get about 50% from your other patients
In your years of practicing experience, how have you seen orthodontic
and 50% from other dentists. But when you are new in practice, you get
procedures be affected by the economy considering their often elective
referrals mostly from other dentists, although if you join some community
nature?
groups, you start seeing patients from community groups too. Both dentists
Orthodontics is affected by a change in the economy. When we have
and orthodontists have to go through that phase to build a practice, so it’s
boom times, patients are coming in constantly and never a problem, and
really nice if you go to a community where people know you already.
when the economy is hurting, yeah we feel it. In fact, once I annually tracked
How do you see the future of orthodontics as a field with the advent
my new patients, around February-April we don’t get many new exams
of technologies such as Invisalign and more general practitioners perbecause people are doing their taxes and are worried about money, so it is
forming orthodontic procedures?
quite often a dead time. So yes people feeling the economy definitely affects
There are some very interesting things going on. I think in terms of Intheir decision on orthodontics. The other thing about orthodontics is let’s say
visalign, orthodontics is more and more complicated to do Invisalign than
you are a parent and have a 13-year-old with crooked teeth. Okay you don’t
ever before because we have learned more and more through the research
want to do braces because they’re too expensive, so do you do it next year
and through Invisalign innovating to do things we didn’t think we could
when they’re 14? Or 15? And pretty soon you realize that they are going to
do before. The whole idea of planning the treatment is developing so that
graduate and you better get this done. So there is sort of a time-pressure on
treatment planning in Invisalign is really becoming quite an art. So I think
parents, so I think when the economy knocks things
orthodontists are really qualified for doing bulk of
I think what the orthodontist
down, it is pretty temporary, and then when it comes
the Invisalign treatment. I just think orthodontists
needs
to
do
is
be
a
really
good
comback, it comes back in gang-buster because there are a
and general dentists who do Invisalign should work
in teams to figure out where things should be going. municator with the general dentist, lot of patients who really need treatment who have deAnother thing, which is not so much technology be involved in the local society and layed treatment. I don’t know if it affects us more than
regular dentistry. Things that have changed in orthodonbut business, in southern states particularly, large
to do his or her best to educate the tics is that we do more adult orthodontics, orthognathic,
corporate dentistry has become a major player. A
perio-ortho, etc. so even though sometimes treatment
friend of mine in Georgia told me about a corporate local dentist about orthodontics.
may sag in one area, we are still working another area.
company has bought over 25 pediatric, orthodonThe region where you practice also has a huge effect. I know an orthodontist
tic and pediatric vision care practices, and they’re putting them in one
who practices in Stockton, where the unemployment rate is really high, and
building. So they have a trio of children resources and providing really
their new patient exam is down by almost 80%, which is very significant.
good service along the lines of Kaiser providing good medical service.
Thank you very much again for this very informative interview.
That is something that is going to happen all over the United States. So
From the Editor
If you have any questions, comments or are interested in writing an article please
contact Devin Bernhardt at [email protected].
From all of us at ASDA we would like to wish you a Happy New Year and we look
forward to upcoming events in winter quarter. You can visit us at www.asdaucsf.com
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