Surgery for Dummies...

Being a dental student means you get to try all sorts of things that you would probably never do in your own private practice. In order to graduate, you must be at least competent in a wide variety of tasks and procedures that go beyond the scope of a normal "day in the life of a dentist." Even though my degree will be D.D.S (Doctor of Dental Surgery), I didn't think it would actually mean I would perform surgery. Well, I was wrong...kinda.

I did my first surgery last week that didn't directly relate to fixing teeth. In fact, instead of fixing teeth at all, we are going to rip them out and make fake ones. But first, in order for the fakes ones to be put in, we need to get rid of stuff that would stop the denturesfrom sliding on - and by "stuff" I mean HUGE lumps of bone that might look a little something like this:

Those bulging bumps with big red arteries in them are just chunks of jaw bone. Lots of people have them, maybe YOU do. Look in the mirror and find out, and then you can gross people out with them.

Step 1: cut up the gums, pull them back to expose the bone.

Step 2: take a drill and grind a channel.

Step 3: crack it with a chisel or pry it off.

Step 4: do the same thing on the opposite side, and sew it up!

This guy's teeth are quite a testament to the old adage: don't do crack. Seriously, DON'T.

Mandibular torus surgery is complete, of course not to be confused with the elusive Slow Loris.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9f-6jygRJk

By the way, here is what his new smile looks like after we
took out all of his teeth and made dentures for him.  

Gold buttons on everything

One of the more interesting things about dentistry is that the lab work is a LOT like a jeweler. Minus the fact that gold looks like gold, it is apparently THE BEST restoration to put into anyone's mouth - for instance, gold crowns that last 70+ years with normal oral hygiene. No, SERIOUSLY. Making your own gold crown goes through the exact same steps as making a ring. First, wax. Second, invest (put it in a stone mold and melt out the wax". Thirdly, cast (throw molten gold into the mold). EASY.
There it is... along with the impression and the bridge prep. For anyone who's interested, it is a 3 unit bridge with a gold 3/4 and gold-to-porcelain pontic and retainer. Interesting, I know.

From Nicaragua with love

It's hard to describe how fantastic it is to go on a mission trip, especially one that is well planned. This is what hopefully started the legacy that is soon to come of a Latin American clinic I want to start. I'm giving myself a thumbs up because I didn't make her cry. Good anesthesia technique - Dr. Carpenter, you are the Jesus of dentistry.

Wax - a man's best friend.

Knowing what teeth look like is kinda important... being able to recreate them is even more so.

First year activities: WAXING.

Long - 1st to publish about C.R. Record

Clinic is fun. It really is. My first two weeks of actual multiple patient appointment was NOT. The only adjective to describe it is, well, tired. There is something about the stresses - not knowing where things are, not knowing who to talk to, not knowing how the process works, not knowing any of my patients, wanting to throw my required laptop in the toilet, and then applying previous lab/class knowledge to HUMANS - that is tiring. Only now can I come home from clinic and not need to collapse. If there was ever a time where TV would be a needed prescription, it was those two weeks of clinic.

Now though, clinic is a different story. Seeing patients is a joy. I struggle with unfamiliarity, and now that the awkward phase of my clinic love story is over, I think the future is looking pretty solid. Of course there are things to work on, but when is there NOT things to work on? thought so...