Principal Dies During Root Canal

I was on studentdoctor.net and came across an thread that linked to this article:

Chicago Tribune: Woman Dies at Dental Office

My thoughts on what was reported are these:

"I would think that she had to have some kind of underlying health problem," said Dr. Christopher Wenckus, chief of the department of endodontics at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "Healthy people just don't die from heart attacks."

I find it funny that they would quote the chief of endo here. Right off the bat, this just shows that the reporter either has no clue about anything pertaining to this subject or is lazy. Autopsy reports showed inconclusive results, but we do know a little about what happened and, if a proper expert is consulted, I am sure that an educated guess could be made about what caused the patient to go into cardiac arrest.

I also love this bit from the article:

"Both dentists had their licenses placed on probation for 18 months starting in July after the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation alleged that a "crown and bridge treatment" performed by their office was substandard. They were also cited for poor record keeping."

Is it any real wonder that we never hear about the doctor (dental, medical, etc) that takes meticulous records, proper histories, treatment plans ethically for their patients killing people? Don't get me wrong, even the best of doctors make mistakes and bad things happen to everyone, BUT it usually seems like the morons are the ones creating a scene when things go wrong. Also, if you are providing substandard crown and bridge treatment, what makes you think that you can perform a root canal properly, and on top of that, sedate your patient? These guys show once again, that just because you are a doctor, it doesn't mean you are smart.

"Watson received twilight sedation"

Don't they always? I know that twilight sedation works. I know that hundreds of thousands of procedures are done every year on patients using this method with no complications. In fact, the article states that the same patient received twilight sedation just month earlier with no adverse effects. I do not fault dentists that use this method to help their patients receive the care they need. BUT, why take the chance. I compare this to getting implants placed in a patients mouth without having a CT scan done. Does it work? Yes. Is there minimal risk? Yes. Could that risk be reduced by having a CT scan done? Yes. So why put your patient in a higher risk category? Why put yourself, as the provider, in a position to be second guessed, when there is a better way out there. I know that twilight sedation works, but I also know that there are other alternatives out there that allow the dentist to do what he does best, and the anesthesiologist to do what they do best.

"It was done at the same location, but it's unclear whether it was the same dentists."

One more example of the ineptitude of these two doctors. There should never be any doubt what procedure was done, and by whom.

I feel bad for this woman and her family. I do not know the whole story, but as it is currently unfolding, it does not look good for these two doctors. I hope I will remember what has happened here and make sure that I take the steps in my practice prevent this from happening again.

Gold Onlay Final Project RD III

So, here I am looking through photos of my new son, and I ran across these. Here is the gold onlay that we had to do as a final project in RD III. Overall, I like it, though my polishing wasn't completely perfect, and my lingual margins really suck (the only check I received on the project).

Week Two of Finals

So, week two of finals consisted of three finals. I had Restorative III, Oral Surgery and Microbiology. The stress level for this week was about the same as the previous week mainly due to the fact that I didn't do as well on my Oral Surgery midterm, so I needed a relatively high grade on the final to make sure I reached the level I wanted to. The other finals were pretty much bagged up before they started. I needed really lower scores than normal to end up where I wanted to be, so the stress wasn't there.

The tests ran Tues (restorative), Wed (micro), and Thurs (oral surgery). Restorative was relatively easy, due to, in large part, the fact that we were being tested on information that had been put to use every day in pre-clinic. How can you do well on your practicals if you don't know how deep to make your preps, the materials needed for each product, time requirements, etc.

Micro wasn't too bad either. There was a ton of information on this test. Basically, in years past, there were 5 tests in the micro class. But this year and last (I think), they decided to combine the last two tests into one test. Now, even though there was a lot of information on this test, most of it was actually dental related (what a novel concept, I know. You mean we will actually cover dental topics in dental school. Wow), so it was interesting enough that you were motivated to remember it the first time you read through all the information.

Then was Oral Surgery. I was hoping to pull a B after my low midterm score (67%). Now, there wasn't a ton of information, but knowing that you had to nail the final to get where you wanted to go was stressful. The good news was that the information was very interesting as well. The final covered complications, facial spaces, and infectious diseases. I spent the most time studying for this final. The good news is that unlike most of the other classes I had to spend a significant amount of time on, this information will actually be relevant to me 10 years from now. That made studying for this test a little easier. But just a little.

So, finals came and went, and I am pleased to say that I continue to improve my gpa with every semester and cannot believe that I now have 3 of the 4 horrible semesters over. Just a couple more months til I get to play dentist!

Whoa....long layover....

A lot has happened since my last post...wow, it is crazy to even sit back and think about it. In the last two months, I have finished up all the classes that will be covered on the boards, waded through the first half of my second year of dental school, been lucky enough to receive a huge scholarship and I have become a father. I sit here at 2 am in the morning and really don't believe it all. I do know one thing, after a long day of my new son being awake, he is finally asleep. I know what you are all thinking, "silly rabbit, the kid is sleeping, go get yours" but the extended fam is still up and in the middle of a vigorous game of countdown and youtube'n it, so here I am thinking I may get caught up with the last couple of months of my life.

So, to the catchup.

I have pictures, I really do. I just, uh, forgot them back in Philly. I swear. Really. So this catchup is all words. School first, seeing how that takes up 76.89% of my body, mind, and time (an accurate stat, I had my people verify it this morning). School ended the 14th of December, after 8 finals. As I sit here and look back on this semester, it really wasn't bad. If I absolutely had to re-do a year (knock on wood that it never happens), I would rather re-do this year. It was hectic at times, but overall, the material seemed more straightforward and easier to study.

8 Finals; Path Lab, Ortho, Restorative, Path, Micro, Dental Public Health, Perio, and Oral Surgery. Technically 7, but I split the Path into two separate finals seeing how the classes weren't too related. Finals started out with the dreaded Path final.

I actually went into the Path test feeling very confident in my knowledge of the pathological conditions that would affect the body that might happen to appear on the current investigation of my intricate knowledge....okay, I'll level. My complete lack of knowledge. Thinking of how well I did on the midterm (100% Woohoo!) I kinda coasted a little in my study leading up to this examination and it showed. I received an 80% on the written, and I got a 50% (WHOA!) on the slide portion. It really rocked me, until I looked on blackboard and realized that I scored the class average. So, I am amazing at my midterm, and perfectly average come finals.

The next day was the Ortho final. I studied about 1/2 hour for that class, because, frankly, that class was a joke. All we did was bend a few wires and look at a bunch of pictures of the wonderful work our instructor has done in the past. And the final matched that. So, chalk up an A in Ortho for me.

We then had the weekend, which we really didn't. I spent the whole weekend studying Perio, Dental Public Health and Path. Actually I spent the whole weekend studying Path, seeing how I hadn't touched it since our last test in the class. After a Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Path, I decided that it would be wise to look at the Perio on Monday, the day before the test. Which was wise, because Perio was cake. The general stuff relating to age, smoking, and a little bit of viral. All in all, nothing to worry about.

After Perio, I went home watched some Family Guy, then busted out the DPH. I spent about 3 hours studying for that, which was about 2 hours too much.

Then came Path. I was worried about Path, not due to my grade going into the final, but to the fact that you needed a 74% to pass (which is higher than the other classes) and we had a student in our class that failed it last year and is now class of 2010 instead of 2009. Nobody wants to be that guy. So I basically spent all my time going over Path again and again and again. Over and over and over. Until about 3 am the morning of the test. I took a three hour nap, woke up and began the drilling over again. I traveled to school repeating the differences between AK, SA, basal cell carcinoma, etc hoping that some of the information would stick in my sleep deprived brain. Well, I am glad to say that some did stick, and I passed quite easily.

I was so relieved at having Path done for a couple of months (until I have to get ready for boards at least) that I celebrated by coming home, heating up a Swanson Meatloaf frozen dinner and called it a night. I slept like a rock, and for about a day. And taking my cue from that plan of action, and seeing that it is now almost 3 am, I am off to bed. I shall plan to return on the morrow (or later today, depending on how you look at it) and finish this less than riveting tale of my finals.

Night.

October 30, 2007 - Halloween Eve!

Okay, so it has been awhile since I last posted, and I need to get this thing updated, and I am sick of studying for my Micro test tomorrow that historically has failed most of the class, so here I am. I noticed signing in here, that my last post talked about the 9-11 bridge practical we had 2 Fridays ago. We got the results back the following Tuesday and I got good news and bad news. I did both of the preps in 45 minutes, and as I thought, my 11 was perfect (no checks, woohoo!) and my 9 failed. That bummed me out. That was my first non-A practical this semester, and it always sucks to fail a practical, especially a prep as easy as 9. Oh well, there are some silver linings in that practical. I talked to my teacher and although 9 was clinically acceptable, it sucked as a practical tooth. At least my speed is going well, and if I would of just angled my bur a little buccally, I would of had two beautiful preps. So, with all of that, life has been good. My kid is also due any day now. My wife is hoping that he isn't born tomorrow, because she wants to be home for trick-or-treating, doesn't want him born on Halloween, and wants to paint her belly as a pumpkin. Ha ha. Happy Haunting!

October 19, 2007 - Practical day with no alarm

So, my wonderful day starts out this way. I wake up at 7:30 a.m. to the sun shining on my face, the birds chirping softly in my ears, a nice breeze blowing on my from my fan, and Mike and Mike on the television. Sounds perfect, doesn't it? The only problem is I was supposed to get up at 6:00 am to get ready so I could catch the trolley at 7:00 am to be to school by 8:00 am to take my practical. I jump out of bed realizing that it takes me around an hour to get to school, and my practical starts in 1/2 hour.

Panicking, I grab my poor pregnant wife out of bed so I can drive to school, hoping to save a couple of minutes. We jump in the car, get about 1/2 miles from the house, when I realize that I don't have the keys to my chair at school. So, we turn around and head back home. By the time we get home, get my keys and get back into the car it is now 8:00 am. So, as you can guess I am freaking out right now. I run back into the car and with spinning wheels, tear off down the road headed back to school.

The only problem with this is that two blocks down the road, we hit traffic again. So, I decide that taking the subway is going to be much quicker than trying to drive to school and making my poor Prego wife have to fight traffic home. So, the subway it was.

I finally arrive to school 1 hour late. Remember that this is a timed practical. I get my test teeth from the instructor and rush to my seat and start to prep number 9. Oh man, it was horrible. It was definitely clinically acceptable. I think my 9 was better than most done by practicing dentists with a busy schedule, but it was not pretty. It was a little short, a little wide. I reduced the lingual a little too much. But I got it done.

On to number 11. That prep was magic. I busted it out beautifully. You could have taken my prep, put it next to the example one we get and you wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference. Okay, maybe mine was a little over reduced lingually, but other than that, perfection.

So, I get both preps done in 45 mins. That made me feel great. If I can do two preps for a practical in 45 minutes, then I am doing pretty well (that being said, I’ll have to see what scores I get on these preps. That may take the wind out of my sails a little). It seems like I may be on the right track to being able to open my own practice when I graduate.

Anyways, after I get the practical done and turned in, it became time to turn my attention to the ortho project due that day. We had spent the last two weeks bending wires (oh man, that was quite the adventure) and pouring the acrylic for our beautiful retainers. So I polished it up, went down to the ortho clinic and turned my retainer in.

I am exhausted and have to be at the Hilton in Philly Airport at 8:30 am tomorrow morning, so I am off to bed.

October 18, 2007 - Telemarketing cops

So, I just got off the phone with Philly's Police force and I am amazed at their attitudes. Here they are calling me at 6 pm asking me for money (after I pay around $1,800 a month in taxes anyways). I politely tell them I am not interested, and guess what they come back with. Is it a nice, polite: "well thank you for your time, we hope you'll be able to donate next time?" No. I get this instead:

"Well, don't you want the police to have money to be able to protect you?"

So, not only is this guy implying that I am not doing my duty as an American, but he tries to guilt me into donating by questioning my desire to have police protection. Isn't that technically extortion? Anyways, I say,

"I am sorry, I can't help you right now."

Their reply, "This city is going to the s***-hole because people like you won't donate money to help the police officers fight crime better."

Can you believe that!? This guy is actually accusing me of the 300+ murders that will happen in this city this year because I won't give him 5 bucks. Unreal. Typical east coast attitude. If you don't do it their way, right away....well then...you just aren't American. Pathetic.

So, I respond, "Don't call me again, I will never donate money to you."

Mr. Police Officer responds with a string of profanity and raised voices, so I just hang up. Unreal. Welcome to Philadelphia. There is a lot of good here (the Phillies, what a great story, and we'll get them next year), but you gotta accept the good with the bad.

October 18, 2007 - First post, oral surgery ce thoughts

So, here it is, October 18, 2006 and I am sitting in my living room after mid-terms have finally ended, playing NCAA football (killing the University of Utah, while I am BYU), typing this blog. What a crazy last two weeks. I have endured a ton of tests, and am still standing. I may be absolutely exhausted, but I am done. I now have the weekend to kick back and relax, and as long as my kid doesn't show up, I do believe that I will have quite the good time.

I am sitting here wondering why i am doing this blog. I can think of a couple of reasons: 1 - I am bored. 2 - This can kinda be like a journal type thingy. 3 - The wife doesn't want me blogging on the family website, that is for updates on the family, not my comments on life that nobody cares about. 4 - I want a place where most people don't know who I am, and I can say what I want to say. 5 - I am curious to see if anybody out there actually will read this, and if they do, will they come back? 6 - Well, that ends my list for now.

As I said, I am sitting here playing good old PlayStation 2, as BYU. There is 2:34 remaining in the second quarter, and I have just taken a commanding lead, 42-14. Maybe I have the settings set a little too low for my skill set? I think so too.

This weekend I am starting an 8 month dental implant course here in Philadelphia. I am a little worried/apprehensive and completely excited about it at the same time. I am only in my second year in dental school, and I have only taken 1/2 semester of oral surgery. I am completely confident in my ability to learn and apply the techniques being taught. I, in my own opinion, though my practical grades do back me up, am very, very good at clinical dentistry. I am just a student, and I am still learning, but the procedures I have learned, well I do excel in them. I am worried about how I will be treated by the other doctors attending this course.

It is out of the norm for a dental student to really get into continuing education, especially one with such a strong surgical focus. Implants are a tool in dentistry that really hasn't hit mainstream general practices yet, and even those doctors who do learn to do them, usually don't. Just from talking to other students about taking this course, they almost seem mad that I would try to do this. Oh well.

So, I am little apprehensive about the course.

BYU-Utah update: Halftime BYU 56, Utah 14.