2014 in Perspective: A Review of Findings

About four months. That's how long I have been researching for my senior project topic. The question I have been trying to answer is, What is the most important factor an orthodontist must consider when treating a patient?

Perhaps my research was merely focused on just one answer, but I find that appliances play a large role in orthodontic treatment. Appliances used by practicing orthodontists include braces, headgear, palatal expanders, and retainers. As I have mentioned in previous posts, such appliances will correct bites and tooth alignment, or do all sorts of other miraculous things to get treatment done. (Proper planning and judgement is necessary to get the right appliance into a patient's mouth, of course, so it isn't as if the orthodontist is being forgotten.)

Basically, orthodontic appliances ARE the treatment and it would be very hard to get much of anything done without them. Combined with an orthodontist's experience and knowledge, appliances are powerful.

I hope that the new year brings forth many other revelations that will help me with my senior project. Happy 2015.

Learning New Things

The more time passes, the more things I get to do around the office. I have been trained to use an autoclave sterilizer, observed the making of molds using alginate (pictured below), and observed the use of many different appliances.

Alginate + water mix

Finished alginate mold. The powder turns purple
when wet and returns to white as it dries.

Two of the appliances I got to see were TADS (temporary anchorage devices) and something called a Powerscope. The Powerscope is a device used to correct class II malocclusion (overbite) and it serves as a semi-permanent rubber band. The appliance attaches to the patient's wires and uses 260 grams of force (using the spring inside) to fix the bite. Supposedly the appliance also reduces treatment time and reduces costs.

So far, the appliances and the amazing things they do are the most interesting thing about orthodontics and there are so many more that I would like to learn about.

EQ

1. I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ.

2. Review the following EQs and tell us if each meets the rule of three and why they do or don't.

a) What is the most important factor in healthy weight loss?

The wording is clear, it provides a framework for studies and research, and the question is not a list of facts. However, this EQ does not completely follow the rule of three; the student should be more specific about the means by which a person would be losing weight. The most important factor could be different for daily exercise 

b) What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?

This EQ does follow the rule of three; it  specific, allows the student to argue for his position, and is not a yes/no question.

c) What is most important in creating a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?

 This EQ does not follow the rule of three. The question is too broad.

d) How can an anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?

This EQ does not follow the rule of three. While the question mentions specific elements such as anesthesiologist and chronic pain, it seems too broad. At the same time it seems like the question limits research to just treatment options for chronic pain (which could be caused by a number of conditions).

3. Working EQ: What is the most important factor an orthodontist must consider when        
    treating a patient?

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.

Wait a minute, I had braces, too!

That's right, ladies and gents. From 2009 to 2011, I was shackled by those pokey little metal brackets and wires. No soda, no chewy or sticky foods, nothing too hard or crunchy... It was difficult being a sugar fiend with braces. Especially when my wires were tightened. No eating took place for days after visits like those.

02.25.2009

Somehow, my experience with braces was not completely terrible. Dr. Banh and his employees (past and current) made the experience much more pleasant. They are friendly, joke with patients, and treat people like family coming in for a friendly visit. There is a warmth that keeps patients like myself coming back. As important and fascinating as the atmosphere is, I must digress.

It's obvious, but people with braces have their own individual reasons for visiting an orthodontist. Some of those reasons are even difficult to see with the naked, untrained eye. In my interview with Dr. Banh, he told me that there are many steps to diagnosing a patient and developing treatment plans. At some point during that process, x-rays are taken to show what is going on in places we can't see. Here is an example of an x-ray from my file.

It's tough to tell, but my maxillary cuspids (canine teeth, top row) in the x-ray are in the roof of my mouth. In order to get those teeth down to their designated positions, I had to have oral surgery to make openings in the roof of my mouth, attach chains to the teeth to pull them, and wear braces in order to keep my teeth straight throughout the process. If I had not gone to the orthodontist to have an exam, my cuspids would have erupted in place of my incisors (front teeth). Orthodontics helps prevent dental abnormalities such as my "vampire teeth."

Blog 8: Research and Working EQ

1. My working Essential Question is as follows:

What is the most important thing an orthodontist must consider so they can help a patient?

2.  After being a patient at my orthodontist's office and volunteering there, I have come up with an answer to my question:

Patients need to understand which treatment options are available to them.

Staff should make patients feel at home and comfortable. 

3. So far, my most important sources that have helped me develop these answers to my Essential Question are experience as a patient and research articles from the ProQuest databases. My experience has shown me that patients that are treated kindly and like family are more likely to return for visits, trust their orthodontist more, and are more willing to keep up their treatment (rubber bands, retainers, avoiding hard/sticky foods..). My research on ProQuest so far consists of many studies on customer satisfaction and how being informed and totally included in the decision making process leaves the patient more content after their treatment is completed.

4. My mentor is Dr. Dan Banh DDS and I do my mentorship at his clinic, Banh Smiles. Right now, what I do at Dr. Banh's office is shadow and observe the staff. This relates to my Essential Question because without actually stepping into an orthodontics office, I cannot fully understand the treatment process, let alone what an orthodontist needs to consider for treatment.

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

For my 30 hours of service learning, I plan to shadow my mentor and learn what types of procedures are done by an orthodontist and assistants on a day-to-day basis. In addition, I would like to study to become an unlicensed dental assistant. The course requirements for unlicensed dental assistants as specified by the Dental Board of California are as follows:

• A board-approved course in the Dental Practice Act
• A board-approved 8 hour course in infection control
• A course in basic life support offered by an instructor approved by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association, or any other course approved by the board as equivalent and that provides the student the opportunity to engage in hands-on simulated clinical scenarios.

I will meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence through pictures, certificates, and/or transcripts for the courses I might take.

I feel it is important to attain some form of certification in the dental field because orthodontists are dentists first. Basic dental training is key. Becoming an unlicensed dental assistant may also allow me to be able to be more hands-on during future shadowing.

My senior project hours log can be accessed here.