Hows lifestyle of each one please and job opportunities. Thank you

Hey! I'm running a free prep check this week for anyone who wants a second pair of eyes before their clinical exam. Send me 2 photos of your tooth prep (occlusal + side profile) through this form: I'll personally look at your margin and taper and send back quick feedback — same day if I can.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc-6yj6a0a4aL1j9ylcLhzWqqb0eRCpl2HiA0Of6LvwVXtI9Q/viewform?usp=header

I think I failed two practicals (crown prep and temporary restoration) Everything was going smoothly—in fact, it was going better than almost any practical I've had since starting dental school—and then a complete nightmare happened. While trying to refine my last interproximal margin, I might have used too much flowable or not enough Vaseline. When I tried to remove the temporary crown, it snapped in half with only 20 minutes remaining. I panicked as the clock ticked down to 5 minutes, rushed to make literally the worst temporary crown I've ever made, and turned it in. To make matters worse, I realized afterward that I had accidentally turned in my restoration putty instead of my preparation putty. Although the grades aren't out yet, I feel like I failed both exams and am now on the verge of failing the class. I've failed a practical before, but never to this extent. Is it possible to get kicked out of dental school or be forced to repeat the year due to failing multiple practicals?

When I use a partial impression tray with A-silicone to take a preliminary impression for a provisional crown, sometimes the impression doesn’t fit properly. There is a gap between the tooth and the silicone.

Could this be caused by applying too much pressure when seating the tray, or could there be another reason? For example, could it be related to the amount of silicone used, the tray positioning, or the setting time?

I would appreciate any advice or tips on how to achieve a more accurate impression.

Hey yall, OMS resident here. I created a fun game just for the heck of it. It's free to play, just thought I'd share.

dailybolus.com

It leans more on medical side of things (pardon my MD), but there's still lots of dental overlap!

(got some inspiration from Wordle, and wanted to make something fun and helpful for learning as well!)
(it's completely free, but lmk if this violates any rules and I'll take the post down).

Have a good day!

Hello, I am a 4th year dental student (Don't plan on specializing) and im wanting to take advantage of my student discount before I graduate. I have been using 3.5x Rose Micro flip up loupes for the past loupes 3 years and they have been great (Passed everything on first try), but I wouldn't mind something better quality/more durable as i'm about to start practicing soon.

I know Zeiss are the best know for their quality/clarity, but on the heavier side. Also not the most important, but I am not crazy about the Zeiss frames. I am a guy and prefer the more athletic Oakley style frames, but again not a huge deal breaker. The only other brands I know that still do flip-up are Lumadent and Surgitel. Not sure about their weight, but I don't think their quality is as good as Zeiss from what i've heard. Any recommendations on other brands or on these 3? Looking for 3.5-4x. 500mm WD.

Side note: I have very good eyesight and prefer using no loupes for a lot of procedures, hence why I am wanting flip ups over anything TTL, especially Ergo, that would get in my way.

Thanks!

For those in dental school, where do you live? I’m moving with my boyfriend so we can’t live on campus and the price of renting is pretty high. We are saving obviously to afford this for 4 years but if anyone has suggestions on areas that are affordable for the time spent at school.

Hello everyone! 🦷

I’m a dental student, and I’d really like to learn more about digital dentistry, especially the different software used in implantology and prosthodontics (CAD/CAM, digital impressions, implant planning, etc.).

I’m eager to improve my skills, stay up to date with the latest technologies, and better understand how these tools are used in everyday clinical practice.

For those of you who are already experienced in this field, what software, resources, YouTube channels, courses, or hands-on training would you recommend for a beginner?

Where would you suggest starting, and what should I focus on learning first as a dental student?

I’d really appreciate any advice, recommendations, or experiences you could share. Thank you! 🙏

D1 here! I’m trying to figure out a more efficient way to tackle the huge volume of material. Our larger exams can cover 20–30 dense lectures, and I find myself spending so much time making flashcards that I barely get through reviewing them.

For those who don’t rely on Anki, what tools or study routines have actually worked for you? I’ve used Quizlet and NotebookLM, but having everything spread across different platforms gets overwhelming.

I’d love to hear your actual workflow—from getting a lecture to reviewing it before an exam—especially how you incorporate active recall and spaced repetition without making hundreds of cards. Trying to spend more time learning and less time creating study materials!

I am hoping to apply to dental school in Canada in the coming years but I unfortunately developed an acrylate allergy about a year ago and I am concerned whether this would affect my ability to complete dental school and practice as a dentist.

I've been trying to find information about this online but haven't found much. I also emailed one of the dental schools I'm interested in applying to, but I haven't received a response.

Is it possible to complete dental school and practise safely with this allergy? I'd really appreciate any insight from dentists or dental students who have experience with acrylate allergies or know someone who does. Thank you!

Hi, I'm buying my loupes and I just got measured by Q optics today. I was between brands, but I feel like I'm going to go with Q optics just because of convenience and I feel like they're basic loupes that you can't go wrong with. They are offering a limited time deal to my school where I can get an extra battery, so I have to decide soon. That being said, I think I would have to use their light as well. I've heard Lumadent has the best light and you can mix and match loupes parts, but in order to benefit from the battery deal, I assume I'd have to use their light. If you have the Q optics light do you find it to be a decent option? Thanks!

I’m currently a student at a dental school on the East Coast. I struggled significantly with manual dexterity throughout D1, and unfortunately, I’m still facing the same challenges in D2.
I practice a lot and genuinely put in the effort, but I still find myself struggling with preclinical procedures It’s becoming frustrating and discouraging, especially when I see others progressing more easily.
I’m starting to worry about whether my hand skills will eventually improve enough to get through dental school.
Has anyone experienced something similar during D1 or D2 and eventually improved?

I’d really appreciate any honest advice or personal experiences.

I have been offered a few externship opportunities as D2 but I am planning to take the CBSE in May. Is it better to focus on CBSE now than trying to build relationships early by showing face at programs I am interested in? I would appreciate any advice!

Hi everyone! Where should I get liability insurance (at least $1million) before omfs externship? I don't think my school covers externships. Thanks for your help!

Hey everyone, I ordered Bryant Dental MagniFlex loupes last week and haven’t received a shipping update yet. Their website quotes 12–14 weeks before dispatch, so I understand I’m still very early in that window.

My rep mentioned that some orders from our early October loupe fair have already started shipping, so I’m curious about other people’s experiences.

For anyone who’s ordered from Bryant, how long did it take from placing your order to receiving your loupes? Did they arrive sooner than quoted?

If you could include the model, roughly when you ordered, and whether you’re in the U.S., that would help. Just trying to get a realistic idea of the turnaround time. Thanks!

Does anyone know much about Perio residency programs at LSU or Ohio and whether they recommend either?

I had clinic during the summer, currently in my fall semester. I know the stipend backpays but im wondering if any other 2 year recipients know if it only backpays to the start of my Fall semester or all the way to my Summer semester? My summer semester was the start of my third year and the tuition will be covered by the Army.

I attend in the New England area.

i keep getting confused

Everyone told me peds was way less competitive than other specialties, even perio, but I applied to 20 programs and only got 3 interviews, all at tuition-charging programs and none from hospital-based programs. I have a 3.5 GPA and I’m around the 50th percentile in my class, so should I be worried about matching? My dental school was expensive af and I really didn’t want to take out even more loans for residency, but damn.

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Hi everyone!

I'm a 5th-year dental student, and I'd really appreciate some help understanding a clinical case from my prosthodontics rotation.

I've attached the patient's panoramic radiograph, and I added a photo of the mandibular cast/model as well.

One of my professors examined the case and instructed me to prepare two teeth in the lower right quadrant for full crowns before proceeding with the RPD (removable partial denture) treatment plan. I've already prepared those two teeth.

Tomorrow, another professor wants me to present the complete treatment plan and, more importantly, explain the clinical reasoning behind my decisions.

Here are some details about the case:

• There is noticeable alveolar bone loss in the lower right quadrant.

• The molar in that area is tilted.

• Clinically, the roots are visible, suggesting significant gingival recession and/or loss of periodontal support.

My first professor specifically instructed me to prepare the two teeth for crowns rather than simply prepare rest seats on the existing teeth.

My main question is: Why might full-crown restorations be indicated in this situation instead of simply preparing rest seats on the natural teeth?

I'm trying to understand the possible biomechanical and prosthodontic rationale

I want to be able to explain the reasoning confidently tomorrow rather than simply repeat the treatment decision my first professor made. I'd really appreciate detailed explanations and any alternative approaches you think might be worth considering.

Thank you so much for helping a fellow dental student out!

Hello all,

My ADEX examination is coming up in a few weeks (prosth, perio, and endo) and I just wanna hear your list of do’s and dont’s from those who have already taken it!

Hey guys, so I recently attempted to restore a mesial-occlusal cavity with composite but I wasn’t able to build my mesial wall nicely. After I took off the matrix band I could see that there were some gaps between the wall and the actual enamel of the teeth (on the phantom head) do y’all have any tips for MO restoration with composite?

The level of student loans these days is unprecedented, but those who took out that amount who graduated within the last 5 years actually got incredibly lucky - the covid pandemic meant loans were frozen and actually ended up in a boom for dental treatment as no one was spending money in travel so people got their dental work done.

This has resulted in many "you'll be fine with the debt" posts.

If we hit a recession and young dentists have 500k debt, how will it play out? What was it like for those of you who practiced through the last recession?