While I still need to do the actual Course Evaluation Surveys, I figured giving my own two cents here would be fun also.
Indirect Restorations I
Super frustrating course for me at first. Crown preparations are extremely specific. We're talking 1/4mm, or a couple degree differences and your restoration fails, specific. And Dr. Kim really drove that point home with the grading as far as I'm concerned. Nonetheless you learn a ton if you seek to. Like most things in dentistry the only way to really improve is a ton of practice. And when it comes to Indirect, not just doing a ton of crown preparations, but also critically evaluating each one afterwards. What really made things clear for me was doing one practice a day, then evaluating each aspect of it according to the criteria sheet given. I was lucky enough to have a tutor and upperclassmen friends who could also take a look and let me know if my self evaluation was correct. Indirect made me realize dentists not only need to have "golden hands" but "golden eyes" as well. Before you can create, you need the vision. I'm not ashamed to say, I definitely came from humble beginnings in that class after the first practical, but after the last practicals and competency I definitely feel competent and able when it comes to crown preparations. We also do some inlay and onlay preps, and go through the whole casting process...but I think we know that's probably never happening outside dental school
Lectures I thought were okay in the beginning, but really interesting toward the end of the semester when we talked about treatment planning and complex prosthodontic cases. Overall, I'm sure there are many complaints about the class, but I think it comes down to how much work you want to put in and the people you trust to help you.
Direct Restorations - Amalgams
The heading pretty much says it all. I personally just love direct restorations. They're quick and fun. There's lots of faculty walking around during lab so help isn't usually far. After the course I'm not really sure if I prefer amalgam over resin, or viceversa. The faculty really make it clear that both have their advantages and indications. I think amalgam is a little more strenuous at first to work with because you really need to condense well, but resin takes work as well. Carving amalgam takes practice. That may have been the only struggle I can think of in this class, but practice and you learn by the end. Direct ruled.
Regional Anesthesia
So this one hour per week class on Friday morning is easily one of the most important in dental school. Dr. Hall is great and stands by his words when he says "he does not lecture, he teaches" and in my case, scares you into learning. Anesthesia is serious business and the complications are potentially fatal if you aren't careful. You also get to give your first injections which is awesome. You receive one as well, which is also..an experience :).
Removable Prosthodontics
I thought this was probably one of the best taught classes we've had. It felt like we learned the same things over and over, but that's really just because Dr. Pusateri really keeps things to the point and makes it clear what's important. The lab periods were really helpful since the faculty again were great, at least in my part of the room. I'd say the one thing that could sneak up on people in this class is the sign off sheet. Since we have graded projects that are due on certain dates you tend to focus on those. But there's also a list of projects you're expected to complete on your own for a sign off. I honestly had some fun making dentures. The afternoon lecture wasn't as well attended as it should have been, but I felt it was useful. You'll probably get burned with wax, or hot instruments, or feel incredibly frustrated setting posterior teeth when you can't get simultaneous bilateral contacts, or passive contacts on the anterior, but you get through, and will look forward to the day you literally create someone's smile.
Oral Sciences
I don't have much to say about this one. Interesting subject matter at points, but I wasn't a huge fan. The long Monday afternoon lectures, then sometimes lab, and sometimes case study after were a little draining. Learned some cool things about the development of teeth though.
Pathology
I liked this class. Dr. Nickerson really cares about the students and finds great lecturers. Dr. Heffner uses case studies a lot to teach diseases so that makes it a little easier to pay attention if you're not a morning person. Not much else to say about this one. The lab section with slide IDing wasn't popular with everyone. I enjoyed it because it was an opportunity to apply what we knew. But in general, just another science course where you study the notes, and memorize everything.
We had a few rotations under "Clinical Dentistry" and "Integrated Dental Practice" and those are usually informative. Some moreso than others. I get the impression UBSDM really wants the students to get as much from their education and time here as they can and I'd say they're doing well. And so goes the Fall Semester, I'll have pictures from the lab up soon. Happy Holidays everyone :)
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