ENOUGH!

Christmas has come and gone, New Year's is a day away and I feel like I'm on a year long vacation.

I know I'll get nasty stares for this, maybe a couple neck snaps and a few "uh-Uuhhh's" but...

I miss school!

I really only needed a week off, just to catch up on some sleep, have a little fun, spend time with the family and to be a little carefree. The only other thing that would keep me from not thinking about school would be to have gone to a foreign country with lots of sun and white sand beaches

HEAVENLY!

...which I clearly didn't do since I was up to my knees in snow the other day. I pretty much have a love-hate relationship with NYC. More love than hate though.

So I'm spending another relaxing day at home today (until it's time to ring in the New Year, of course) and can't help but think of all the stuff I'd rather be complaining..err learning about this semester. I've just about had enough of this break. I've had enough of the carefree lifestyle for now. I'm ready to get back to business!

I MEAN BUSINESS!

So Hurry Down the Chimney Tonight!

Santa Baby I've really been an awful good girl this year and I've got good grades to prove it. I finally got the final results from my classes and I couldn't be more proud! But Santa, I remember asking for a 4.0 GPA, did you forget about it? It's okay though you can make up for it with one, two, maybe all of the "little" items on my wishlist...

{CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE}

1. Puff ball scarf - in purple

2. Matiko HALLE black suede boots

3. Milk Glass Bud Vase

4. Yamaha FG720SBL Black Acoustic Guitar

5. Think (+) Positive Wall Fixture

6. "Have Faith In Your Dreams" Juicy Couture bracelet

7. Marc Jacobs Striped Dial Watch

8. Furrific! Trapper Hat

9. Juicy Couture Velour laptop sleeve - in pink

10. Chamberet Mirror - in turqoise 

11. Nikon D3100 Digital SLR camera

12. Vintage Picture frames

I've gone ahead and added links above, just in case you like something and wondering where to grab yourself one - You're welcome!

 Now I know this is a little last minute but I've been so good this year - so hurry on down the chimney, you hear?





It's Beginning to Cost A lot like Christmas

It's that time of year again when chestnuts roast on the open fire, Jack Frost nips at your nose, Yuletide carols are sung by a choir and folks dress up like Eskimos. Yes...everybody knows 'tis the season for family, close friends, snow and lots of spending!

Since I've become a broke Dental Student my Christmas Wishlist or every Wishlist for that matter just seems to be growing longer and longer. Did you know that during the Christmas season the average person anticipates spending $556 in gifts alone?! and I thought the Country was still in a quasi-recession.

Anyhow, I have a dilemma. I have to buy gifts for the family and friends but have a very limited budget. Can you help me out?  Using the numbers 5,5,5,1, and the four basic arithmetic operations, see if you can derive the number 24. See, $24 is the amount of money I'll be spending on gifts for each member of my household. Hey! don't judge me it's the thought that counts :)

And yes, you guessed it - It's Mental Monday! Solve Away!

D1, Semester1: ✔

[Deep sigh of sweet relief] I've successfully completed my first semester of Dental School *throws confetti*

 Dental School has definitely been a new and unique experience. Academically, it is challenging but doable, and with some discipline and tenacity I was able to get through it unscathed. What I've learned: Start strong and keep up! If you allow yourself to slip, you will forever be playing catch up.

As anticipated, dealing with different personalities was also a challenge; however, like everything else, deal with it as it comes and adjust accordingly and if  needs be. What I've learned: You can't please everyone and at the end of the day you can only be you.

I'm now on Christmas break and I have every intention to make it as fun and relaxing as I possibly can albeit the freezing temperatures. Get ready for my holiday randomness!

My First Set of Wax-Ups

Just a couple more days before the end of my first semester in Dental School and I must say Occlusion has been one of the more fun, stress free classes. If you recall I had my "Initiation" into Dentistry through this class when I carved my first tooth out of wax. As the semester went on and we learned more and more about each tooth's anatomy and intricate details we had to do a little bit more than just carve teeth. We had to do what is called a wax-up/wax drop.

Waxing up teeth involves wax, a colored marking pencil, a tooth peg, dentoform/typodont, bunsen burner, specialized instruments, knowledge of dental anatomy, a good eye for detail and nylon :) for the sparkle. The actual waxing skills are developed on the way.




Essentials


 Waxing up is in essence building a tooth from wax. Now this may sound easy but keep in mind that this has to look like an actual tooth and actually be functional, i.e the aim is to reproducibly relate the maxillary (upper) and mandubular (lower) teeth; they must contact each other (not too long, short, thick or thin). This ordeal includes placing and removing wax, making marginal ridges, sealing margins, shaping the tooth, establishing occlusal contacts, and evaluating the final wax-up.

 

Facial View:
Maxillary Right Central Incisor - #8. Also photographed:
Maxillary Right Canine#6 and Left Canine #11

 Lingual/Palatal View:
Maxillary Right Central #8 and Canine #6

Facial/Buccal View:
Maxillary Right Canine #6. also photographed:
Mandibular Right 2nd Premolar #29 and Mandibular 1st Molar #30

Occlusal View:
Mandibular Right 2nd Premolar #29 and 1st Molar #30

BONUS!!

Facial View:
Maxillary Left Canine #11. This is a wax-up of my Final Exam.

  Now if I should say so myself, the pictures do not give these wax-ups justice. They look a lot better in person. Now that this phase of Occlusion is over, I'm looking forward to the next phase which brings more fun and more challenge. Bring it on Second Semester!

**On another note, it's Mental Monday! Go here for today's trivia and to see last week's answer and winner**

I can see the finish line

From classroom to labs to studying and back again...seems like a never ending cycle until you realize it's almost the end of the semester. Christmas is approaching and I've never been more excited to see it come! More important at this time though are finals.
Only two more weeks remain in the first semester of my D1 year as finals approach. Thankfully at this point I am in good standing with all my classes and need not fret whether I'll pass a class or not.
For the next two weeks I'll be down under preparing to turn the B's into A's and  finish off the first leg of my race correct, and with no regrets.I do look forward to the end of this semester and the beginning of the next. I guess one year from now I'll be saying the same thing until my final semester as a D4; until then, I'll continue to keep my eyes on the finish line.

Wish me luck as I complete this part of my journey!

By the way, want an iTunes Gift card? Click here.