How to be successful during your D1 and D2 years in dental school.
Within the didactic curriculum, Gross Anatomy is a heavy-hitter. Typically, it’s the D1 course assigned the most credits; therefore, it’s weighed the most heavily in your GPA calculation. Acing Gross Anatomy will significantly benefit your GPA and class ranking, opening opportunities for scholarships and future specialization. My advice to D1’s, above all else, is ace…
While I impatiently wait for my dental license, I’ve delved into audiobooks and CE on entrepreneurship. For the past four years, I’ve been entrenched in the technical aspect of dentistry. So, learning more about the business side has been refreshing! As I dabble in entrepreneurship, I have gained a greater appreciation for my classmates who…
Stab lab is a dental school rite of passage, in which you and a partner give each other local anesthetic injections. Fun stuff (ha)! Usually, stab lab occurs during the end of your D2 year, before entering clinic. Let me tell you, I was NERVOUS, NERVOUS, NERVOUS! My stab lab session was immediately after lunch,…
Purchasing your first pair of loupes can be so exciting! Using loupes means you’re legit, right?! But, you may also be faced with the daunting cost and numerous questions. When should you purchase loupes? Which features are must haves? And, what magnification is best? When should you purchase loupes? You should be comfortable with your…
Dental school is EXPENSIVE! Luckily, there are many scholarship opportunities to offset the cost. Scholarships usually focus on academics, community service, or both. For advice on how to excel academically (without working harder), see my blog post on How to Boost your Class Rank! One of the major obstacles to winning a scholarship is self-doubt! Many…
Ranking at the top of your class will open opportunities for scholarships and help you secure the specialty of your dreams (see my post, How to Win a Dental School Scholarship)! I graduated in the top 10% of my class. Here is my advice to boost your class rank! HINT: It’s all about working SMARTER,…
Spoiler Alert: If you didn’t like waxing during D1, it will come back to haunt you in remo! Oh remo! I can probably count on one hand the number of classmates who actually enjoyed remo. It’s a grueling process. However, my denture cases in clinic were, without a doubt, the most rewarding. Removable prosthodontics replaces…
Fixed Prosthodontics is typically offered during your D2 year. Fixed Prosthodontics involves restoration of the coronal portion of a tooth or the replacement of missing teeth by a non-removable (fixed) restoration. Mostly, you will focus on crowns and bridges. Fixed is a challenging course that requires fine-tuned hand skills. Like operative and endo, your fixed course…
Endodontics is typically offered during the D2 year. In your endo course, you will learn about the etiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and injuries of the pulp and the peri-radicular area. Like operative, your endodontics course will typically entail both a lecture and sim-lab component. In my experience, students either love or hate…
Operative is one of the first clinically relevant courses you will take in dental school (hallelujah)! Although it is offered early in your dental school career, operative is undoubtedly one of the most important courses you will take. Not only will you be required to perform restorative procedures during your board licensure exam, but operative…
