Blog 23: Senior Project Reflection

(1) Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your block presentation and/or your senior project? Why?

I am most proud of my research content. I managed to talk for forty minutes and was able to get all of my points across to the audience. The information I gave also brought out many good questions so I feel that the audience really learned from what I had to say.

(2) Questions to Consider

a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your block presentation (self-assessment)?

AE       P          AP       CR       NC

b.     What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project (self-assessment)?

AE       P          AP       CR       NC

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?

My PowerPoint seemed to have flowed smoothly, and my activity -- although short -- went better than expected. From past experience with activities like mine, the audience tends to give simple answers but they showed understanding and that they really grasped what I taught.

(4) (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your senior project if you could go back in time?

If I could go back, I would make my activity longer. My activity ran too short so I would make sure there was something more, like meeting with each group instead of waiting for their hands to raise, or having the groups find a group with the same case and confer on their diagnoses and treatment decisions.

(5) Finding Value

How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples.

Senior project has helped me learn how to conduct my research and be resourceful. With so few print sources available, I have had to get most of my data and research from databases and my mentor. Additionally, this project has placed my foot in the door for a career in orthodontics. If I choose to pursue this topic for study, I will have a place to do internship and someone to recommend me for a graduate program. Senior project has opened doors that will help me in the future.

Blog 17: Third Answer

EQ:

What is the most important factor an orthodontist must consider when treating a patient?

My Answers:

To recap...
Answer 1: Orthodontists must understand their patients' needs in order to treat them.
Answer 2: Patient compliance should be taken into account when treating a patient.

And finally...
Answer 3: Timing is key to treating a patient.

3 details to support the answer:

Timing (age-wise) is the difference between planning a one-year treatment and a five-year treatment.

O'Brien, Kevin, PhD. "Effectiveness of Early Orthodontic Treatment with the Twin-block Appliance: A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial. Part 1: Dental and Skeletal Effects." American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics 124.3 (2003): 234-43. Web.

Utilizing the timing of skeletal maturation is an effective means of achieving a desirable outcome.

Kopecky, Geoffrey R., and Leonard S. Fishman. "Timing of Cervical Headgear Treatment Based on Skeletal Maturation." American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics 104.2 (1993): 162-69. Web.

"Optimum treatment timing for Twin-block therapy of Class II disharmony appears to be during or slightly after the onset of the pubertal peak in growth velocity."

Baccetti, Tiziano, Lorenzo Franchi, Linda Ratner Toth, and James A. Mcnamara. "Treatment Timing for Twin-block Therapy." American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics 118.2 (2000): 159-70. Web.

Concluding Sentence:

Without understanding the importance of the age or skeletal maturation of a patient, an orthodontist cannot effectively treat a patient. The entire treatment would be thrown off, as well as the payment plan -- meaning the credibility of the orthodontist would also be at risk since he/she is just judging the patient's occlusion by sight alone.

Answer 2

1. What is your EQ?

What is the most important factor an orthodontist must consider when treating a patient?

2. What is your first answer?

Orthodontists must understand their patients' needs in order to treat them.

3. What is your second answer?

Patient compliance should be taken into account when treating a patient.

4. List three reasons your answer is true with a real-world application for each.

• Compliance can reduce treatment time in some cases, increasing patient satisfaction.
• Not complying (i.e. not wearing rubber bands or appliances when instructed to) prolongs and reverses treatment.
• Compliance is fostered by factors directly and indirectly relating to the orthodontist, such as office environment and doctor-patient dynamic.

5. What printed source best supports your answer?

Pakravan, Darren Cyrus. "Comparison of Adult Patient- and Orthodontist-Reported Compliance and Satisfaction with Treatment Outcome." Order No. 1452688 University of Illinois at Chicago, 2008. Ann Arbor: ProQuest. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.

6. What other source supports your answer?

Hardy, Daniel Kenneth. "Predictors of Orthodontic Patient Compliance." Order No. 1561908 University of California, San Francisco, 2014. Ann Arbor: ProQuest. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.

7. Tie this together with a concluding thought.

Without compliance, there would be no point to regular orthodontic visits or paying for treatment. Something as small as not wearing retainers can take a patient back to square one and waste both time, money, and effort. If an orthodontist can ensure patient compliance, they are likely to be on a steady path to proper treatment.

Blog 13: Lesson 2 Reflection

1. What are you most proud of in your Lesson 2 Presentation and why?

I am most proud of my information and just the PowerPoint as a whole because I think it really came together. On top of that, the class let me know that my presentation was in fact fairly informative and that I seemed to understand my content.

2. a) What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 2 Presentation (self-assessment)?

I would give myself a P.

    b) Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 2 component contract.

I believe I filled all requirements for "P" consideration, made sure to engage my audience when I spoke, used my time effectively, had a decent PowerPoint, and applied my research well.

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 2?

My PowerPoint and visual aid overall was good, in my opinion. Also I feel like my information was presented well.

4. What didn't work? What would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 2?

The main problem I had today that I would fix if I knew how is my shakiness. I came off as nervous to the class so some parts of my presentation may have been difficult to understand. Also, my peers tell me I should work on my activity and create a better one so I would definitely fix that.

5. What do you think your answer #2 is going to be?

My answer two will probably involve either patient compliance or practice setting.

Lesson 1 Reflection

1. What are you most proud of in your Lesson 1 Presentation and why?

I am most proud of the way I presented. People seemed to be very attentive and engaged by my first lesson, and some of my peers have told me that they learned a few new things from what I had to say. It is very rewarding to know that I have effectively informed people about my topic.

2.  Questions to consider:

a. What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 1 Presentation (self-assessment)?

I would give myself a P on this presentation.

b. Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 1 component contract. 

I met all of the requirements for "P" consideration and I believe I had no concerns with Professionalism or Justification of Foundation. It went so well, I can safely say I did a good job.

 3. What worked for you in Lesson 1?

Speaking loudly and clearly worked well. I was supposed to do that, anyway, but it really helped to keep the whole class's attention. Having many visuals was also great, since my audience got to see what I was talking about and hopefully understand it better. Visuals also kept me on track. I also feel it was helpful to be entertaining while trying to be as professional as possible. Getting the audience laughing here and there kept them interested in what I had to say; orthodontics can be pretty boring without jokes thrown in.

 4. If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 1?

Toward the end of my presentation, I started to speak more quickly in the interest of time. Next time (or if I could do it again), I would definitely slow down so I don't lose my audience in my haste.