DentalStudentAustralia

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in this issueHello from the DPL team! 2Hello from the ADSA 2News from DPL 3This article carries a health warning! 4–5School reports 6–8

Amalgam 9–10Elective in paradise 112010 ADSA Convention Melbourne 12

Support for dentalstudents from Dental ProtectionLimited (DPL)

Look before you leapDPL supports dentiststhroughout their career

Left to rightArunesh Beharee, Amar Beharee,Jasmine Goh, Chieh Chun Gan, AminKolahdouzan. Read about their recentelective in Mauritius on page 11

Hello from theDPL team!

Hello from theADSA

No stressGood luck to everyone who iscurrently taking exams. I know itis a particularly busy time of yearfor everyone. I hope you are notfinding it too stressful and thehard work is paying off. There aresome hints and tips on dealingwith stress in the article on page4–5, which some people may findquite handy.

Starting work?Anyone who is due to graduate,remember to organise yourindemnity insurance beforestarting work. DPL offers a greatgraduate membership whichgives you 18 months insurancefrom when you start work, forjust $55. As a member of DPLyou are able to apply for aProfessional Indemnity InsurancePolicy with $20m of coverunderwritten by MDA NationalInsurance Pty Ltd (MDANI). Ourteam of over 40 dento-legaladvisers is made up ofknowledgeable and experienceddentists with a wide range ofdifferent professionalbackgrounds - so they can readilyempathise with the situations youmay face through different stagesof your career. DPL also operatesin 70 countries, so if you arethinking of working abroad it islikely your membership can travel with you.

Not a member yet?Membership with DPL whilst youare a student is free and youreceive a whole range of benefits.Plus you will be sent the nextedition of this magazine DentalStudent direct to your door.Please visit our website to joinDPL as a free student memberwww.dentalprotection.org

Best wishes and enjoy!

Rebecca LuptonDental Marketing Managerrebecca.lupton@mps.org.uk

Our executive committeerecently attended the NationalHealth Students’ Forum inCanberra to discuss clinicaltraining of all health students. This will see the funding of anadditional 1,196,733 training daysfor all health students and asignificant increase in the numberstudent places for dentistry,dental hygiene and therapy overthe next three years. It was also a unique occasion to discussstudent welfare, rural health,national accreditation and inter-professional education withstudent representatives from arange of health sciences. You canread about the outcomes of thisweekend on our website.

ADSA may only be two years old, but we are growing fast! In Melbourne this year, weintroduced three new positions:Sponsorship Officer, MediaOfficer and Website Officer. Atour next AGM (to be held duringthe Brisbane convention), we will be proposing changes to ourconstitution to increase thenumber of roles on our generalcommittee and increase ourscope. We hope you will comealong to vote on these changes,or nominate yourself to be a partof this exciting committee! Checkout the website for descriptionsof our committee and details onhow to nominate.

We still haven’t worked out howADSA can do your homework foryou, so till then... study hard andtake care of yourselves.

See you in Brisbane next July!

The ADSA Committeewww.adsa.org.au

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Thank you so much to everyonewho has contributed, and helped tomake this another packed edition ofDental Student Australia. Inside thisissue you can find an overview offrom the ADSA conference, topicalarticles and news and photos fromevents that have taken place overthe past few months.

We hope the publication helps youto picture the wide range of eventsand activities that have been takingplace across the country. As youwill see, the committees have allbeen very busy arranging fun socialevents and there are some greatphotos.

Yearbook time againIt’s been a busy time in the DPLoffice too. We have just completedtwo graduation yearbooks forWestern Australia and Adelaide.The yearbook committees haveworked really hard to create twodistinctive and individual bookswhich are a great memento of thefive year course. I am lookingforward to seeing you inNovember, when DPL is hostingyearbook events to hand out thebooks. We will also be holdinggraduate events at other dentalschools during November.

DPL produces eighteen dentalschool yearbooks in the UK andAustralia. We use an online systemto gather the information, whichmakes compiling all the informationmuch simpler. This is the secondyear that we have produced thegraduate yearbooks in Australia andwe hope to extend the amount ofyearbooks we produce next year. Ifyou are due to graduate next yearand you would like us to produceyour university yearbook please getin touch with me for more details.

Welcome to the fourth edition ofDental Student Australia, which isa biannual publication producedby Dental Protection Limited(DPL) in conjunction with theAustralian Dental StudentsAssociation (ADSA).

ADSA is the only national body torepresent all dental students inAustralia. We aim to fostercommunication between theschools, support you through yourcourse and keep all dentalstudents informed of issues thataffect student life and ourprofession. Look out for ourcurrent students, advocacy andforum pages on our website.They will soon be up and running!

Thank you to all who attended theMelbourne Convention this year.We know everyone had a riot andwe were so thrilled to host arecord number of students for anamazing week of intellectualdebate and celebrations! Don’tmiss the convention wrap-uparticle at the end of this magazineand please please don’t forget:what happens on conventionstays on convention (wink)!

For those of you who missed outthis year or are suffering fromconvention withdrawal, fear not!In 2011 the Convention will beheld in sunny Brisbane and yourfriendly ADSA committee isalready starting preparations ischoosing cocktails!

However, ADSA is not just aboutconvention. We are only an emailor phone call away if you needsupport tackling a problem withyour course or faculty, or if youhave a new initiative for Australiandental students. Our details canbe found on the ‘Contact Us’page of the website.

News fromDPL

The ‘Get Festive’photo competitionis back!

About tograduate?

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We’re sure you have lots of funactivities planned in the run upto Christmas, so why notcapture those events and winsome fun prizes?! We’ve got asack full of prizes and we’ll behanding these out in the run upto Christmas.

Simply email your photos(maximum 5) torebecca.lupton@mps.org.ukor get in touch if you have anyquestions.

Good luck and happy snapping! Closing date: 14th of January

Your future startshereCheck out the new ‘YourFuture’ section of our website.It’s packed full of useful articles,top tips on the job applicationprocess, information onworking abroad and other freeeducational resources to helpduring your early years indentistry. Simply visit theYoung Dentist section of ourwebsite.

Graduation may seem someway off but we just wanted toremind you that we offer agreat graduate membership soyou can get your membershipsorted before you start work. 18 months indemnityinsurance is only $55.

This gives you DPLmembership and indemnityinsurance from the time thatyou graduate up until 30thJune 2012. As a member ofDPL you are able to apply for a Professional IndemnityInsurance Policy with $20m ofcover underwritten by MDANational Insurance Pty Ltd(MDANI).

For more information aboutgraduate membership with a difference simply visit the:‘About to graduate’ section of our website.www.dentalprotection.org/au

Dr Annalene WestonDPL dento-legal adviserAnnalene recently joined ourBrisbane team as dento-legaladviser. A Cardiff graduate in1999, Annalene completedvocational training in the UK andthen worked in General Practiceuntil migrating to Australia in2003. Starting out with DentalHealth Service Victoria, bothSchool Dental and adult services,Annalene worked her way up the East Seaboard practising in a mixture of public and privatedental practices adding a Mastersin Health Law to her dentalqualifications. Until recently,Annalene was practising inCentral Queensland and servingon the HCC, however shecurrently resides in Brisbane,working from our new WickhamTerrace Offices.

Dr Yong KhoDPL Young DentistRepresentative

Dr Yong Kho is a recent graduatefrom The University of Adelaide,where he served as President ofthe Adelaide University DentalStudents Society. He also servedas the national dental studentpresident in the lead up to theformal foundation of ADSA. Yonghas won state and national prizesfor excellence in service,leadership and ethics. In the past,he has contributed to thispublication, which is circulated todental students throughoutAustralia.

Since graduation, Yong has beeninvolved in clinical dentistry, dentaleducation and dental research. Heis a board member for the SouthAustralian Foundation for DentalEducation and Research, and is amember of the public relationsand recent graduates committeesof the Australian DentalAssociation South Australia(ADASA) branch.

Yong is a visiting tutor at theAdelaide School of Dentistry anda mentor in the ADASA mentorscheme. He serves as an ArmyReserve Captain with the 3rdHealth Support Battalion atKeswick Barracks, Adelaide. In his‘spare time’, he practises generaland emergency dentistry inprivate practice. His previous jobshave included public dentistry andmanaging facial swellings anddental trauma in a public hospitalenvironment.

At the start of this year, Yongcommenced graduate medicalstudies in Adelaide with a long-term aim of a career in oral andmaxillofacial surgery. He hasdabbled in medical studentsociety committee work, butthinks that the dental studentsocieties are a lot more fun.

Yong is pleased to take on therole of DPL Young DentistRepresentative, where he will use his keen awareness of thechallenges that dental studentsand young dentists face and thedifficult decisions that they mustmake. He is interested inproviding risk management andpersonal development materialtargeted for dental students andyoung dentists in the near future.

We’re pleased to welcome Dr Annalene Weston and Dr Yong Khoas a new additions to the DPL team

Are you a buddingjournalist?Dental Student Australia is abiannual publication and we’dlove you to get involved andsubmit an article. You may liketo write about your elective, orexperiences during yourcourse? If you would like towrite an article for futurepublications please email:rebecca.lupton@mps.org.uk

Dr AnnaleneWeston

Dr Yong Kho

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This article carries a health warning!Ignore it at your peril warns Ros Edlin

Are you ill?Stress itself is not an illness butis, ‘the adverse reaction peoplehave to excessive pressure orother types of demand placedupon them’. This definition whichcomes from the UK’s Health andSafety Executive, ‘makes animportant distinction betweenthe beneficial effects ofreasonable pressure andchallenge (which can bestimulating, motivating and cangive a ‘buzz’) and work- relatedstress, which is the natural butdistressing reaction to demandsor ‘pressures’ that the personperceives they cannot cope withat a given time’. The concept ofindividual perception is particularlyrelevant in that, faced with thesame situation, eg. a difficultprocedure or a demandingpatient, one dentist may relishthe challenge and yet the otherbe trembling in their shoes!

Two other factors which cangenerate stress in dentists arecontrol and change.

Keeping controlIt is clear that we function bestwhen we are in control of ourcircumstances; when we feel weare responsible for our successesor failures due to our ownpersonal attributes. This couldalso include the responsibility ofthe welfare of both patients andstaff. As is often the casehowever, bureaucracy can onoccasion, militate against thisfeeling of control which can thenresult in work-related stress. Italso illustrates the importance ofinvolvement in the process ofchange for the best results to be achieved. ‘Today’s dentalenvironment is not going tochange to accommodate theindividual. It’s the individual whoneeds to learn to accommodateto the environment if s/he doesnot want to pay the price ofchronic stress.’

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AchievementThere is no doubt that we allneed pressures and challengesin our lives to get us up in themorning and to keep us going.These can galvanise us intoachieving great things; to workat our most productive level, but we have to be aware thathaving unrealistic goals orexpectations can possibly resultin the ‘law of diminishingreturns’ ie. the more we pushourselves to reach that elusivegoal, the less well we cansometimes perform. Indeed, ina study examining the sourcesof stress for Australian dentalstudents it was suggested thatthe high levels of stressreported could be explained byan ‘underlying tendencytowards perfectionism’.Typically, students enter dentalschool as high achievers withpowerful expectations ofscholastic excellence. Onceimmersed in an environmentwhere academic excellence isthe norm, their self- concept isadjusted, and a new norm ofcompetitive perfectionism canemerge.’

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This is not to underestimate thethrill of achievement, but it isworth paying heed to thewarning signs, and to ensurewe remain in control.

Reading the signsThese warning signs are liketraffic lights in our lives. Greenmeans that everything (or nearlyeverything) is going well withus. We are enjoying our work;the practice is flourishing; wehave a great team and thepatients are appreciative. Homeand social life is good; and thesun is shining. Then perhapsthings start to go slightly awry -a valued chairside assistantleaves, creating extra work forthe rest of the staff, and leavingyou feeling is if you’ve lost yourright arm. You find yourselfstaying later at the surgery tocatch up and you are aware thatyou are feeling more tired thanusual. At the surgery you feelyour concentration slippingslightly and you are becomingtense and irritable. This situationmay carry on for a while withperhaps other events occurringto add to the mix – a complaintor family illness for example. Athome, your evening glass ofwine is turning into two or

three. You are sleeping badly,relationships are suffering andyou are starting to feel that youcan’t cope. The red light isbeckoning! If the symptomscontinue to intensify to theextent of absolute exhaustion, ill health and the inability to copeit could be advisable to seekhelp.

Running on emptyBurnout is one of the possibleconsequences of chronic workrelated stress, and issometimes described as thegradual erosion of the person. It occurs when the person feelsthey are ‘running on empty’ onan emotional, physical andmental level and can manifestitself by a loss of enthusiasm for work, lateness and irritabilitytowards staff. Othermanifestations such ascynicism, negativity andindifference towards patientsand others are not uncommon.This is known as‘depersonalisation’ or‘dehumanisation’.

Lastly, a tendency develops inthe person which makes themfeel dissatisfied with theirachievements andaccomplishments and to viewthemselves in a negative light.

Burnout tends to occur less inpeople who are cynical anduncaring, but as dentists aremainly dedicated andcompassionate professionals,they can try endlessly andfutilely to improve the situation.

Solutions to burnout include thefollowing strategies: ‘admit theproblem; assume responsibilityfor solving it; decide what canbe changed and what cannot;and take time off to allow moreobjective analysis of theproblems. Burnout can beavoided by taking time offregularly; making time to‘decompress’ after work;keeping work and home lifeseparate; creating a social lifethat is truly satisfying;establishing good personal andprofessional networks; andsearching out people who willactively listen in a non-judgemental manner. Feelingsof burnout can be used asmotivators in changing prioritiesand improving the quality oflife.’

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Putting the title another wayand to totally misquote thatrevered gentleman, Mr. BuzzLightyear, by paying heed tothe information contained inthis article you could ensurethat you avoid the ill effectsof stress throughout yourworking life and beyond

So, whether you are a student,or young graduate inemployment or about to enterone of the most rewarding andchallenging professions, it isworthwhile considering thatdentistry has also beenidentified as one of the moststressful of the healthprofessions.

So why are dentists sosusceptible to stress? Not only are they required towork in an intricate manner in a sensitive and intimate part ofthe body, sitting in the sameposition for long periods of time,but they also have to beresponsible for the smooth andseamless management of theirpatients on their day list. Addedto this may be the ever-increasing demands andexpectations of patients and a constant awareness of notrunning behind schedule. As ifthis wasn’t enough, they haveto ensure that they maintain theclinical excellence expected bytheir patients, colleagues andtheir regulatory body.

Faced with all these factors, andfor the most part, not havingreceived any particular trainingin, for example, people skills orfinancial management, it is littlewonder that dentists can fallvictim to stress relatedillnesses, either mental, physicalor both.

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Which type are you?Personality can also have abearing on the dentist’s ability tocope with stressful situations. A study carried out by ProfessorCary Cooper et al

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that dentists had a tendency toexhibit ‘Type A’ behaviour.People with ‘type A’personalities tend to be driven,highly ambitious, impatient,aggressive and intolerant. Theyhave high expectations ofthemselves and those aroundthem. ‘Type B’ personalitiesalthough they may be equallyambitious and successful, areable to perform in a calmer andmore relaxed manner. Peoplecan fluctuate between thesetwo behaviours which are saidto be on a continuum.

Ideal situationA successful practice is onewhere effective stressmanagement strategies arefirmly in place. This contributesto the atmosphere of well-beingand competence within thepractice. Its positive effectemanates throughout - the stafffeel valued and motivated andthe patients feel more relaxedand welcome. It’s a ‘win-win’situation for all concerned.Achieving this ideal situationdoes not come naturally tomany practitioners who mayrequire guidance. It may benecessary to consider whatyour goals and aspirations are inrelation to both yourself andyour practice. Hopefully someof the coping strategies thatfollow will be of assistance.

Practical stepsIn terms of individual stress, trytaking a step back and assesswhere the stress is comingfrom. Writing a list of causesfrom the most stressful downto the least stressful will helpyou gain some perspective ofthe problem and may inspireyou to tackle some of theissues raised. It is even possiblethat you could be the cause ofthe stress! You may need helpin dealing with some of theseissues. Try not to let pride standin the way of getting the helpyou need.

It could also be useful toemploy this technique with your chairside assistant andreceptionist by asking them toidentify the sources of stress.‘By airing and discussinggrievances, concerns and newstrategies, the various memberswill feel part of the dental teamand provide mutual support intime of stress.’

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Relaxation techniquesAlthough it is often thought thatrelaxation is not compatible withworking in a dental surgery, withorganisation and planning it isfeasible. (Some Europeancountries manage successfully toincorporate this into their workingday.) A prerequisite would have tobe a competent receptionist whowould not fill your appointmentbook so full that you do not havetime to breathe, let alone trysome deep breathing (which isexcellent for calming you down.)Take in a deep breath (don’t holdit) and count one, two three asyou exhale slowly.

In your every day life having aperiod of relaxation is vital. It couldbe as basic as taking breaks in theday or going out at lunchtime tolistening to music or having arelaxing bath. The importance ofrelaxation is that it enables you toswitch off and recharge yourbatteries!

Equally important is physicalexercise. Exercise burns up theexcess adrenaline resulting fromstress, allowing the body to returnto a steady state. It can alsoincrease energy and efficiency.Do find an exercise which youenjoy that will motivate you tocontinue doing it. Exercise alsoreleases endorphins, which giveus the ‘feel good factor’ andmake us nicer to our patients and staff!

Balance your diet. Eat a properbreakfast, drink sensibly andinclude lots of water to rehydratethe system. Include complexcarbohydrates (wholemeal bread,jacket potatoes) in your diet, tocounteract mood swings, andfruit and vegetables to providevitamin C to support yourimmune system.

Manage your time (and yourself)efficiently. Again, taking a stepback and reviewing your workingpractise is essential. Do you havean allotted time for dealing withemergencies and administration?Are you constantly running behindschedule causing your stresslevels to escalate? Developingleadership and organisational skillswill enable you to feel more incontrol of you workingenvironment.

Ensure that your staff have beenproperly trained (and, if not,ensure they are!) and are awareof their individual roles andresponsibilities. Encourage aculture of mutual support,whereby asking for help (say fromyour practice principal or a moreexperienced colleague) is notviewed as weakness. Talking overyour problems with someone youtrust can be such a help! Dentistsoften relish being asked for adviceby their younger colleagues andbeing able to share with themtheir own years of experience inmanaging stressful situations.

As mentioned previously, somedentists may be excellentpractitioners but sadly lacking ininterpersonal skills. An ability tolisten is a gift .If you feel you needsome training in communication,there are a number of coursesand modules available fromDental Protection.

By incorporating at least some ofthese strategies into youreveryday life and your workinglife, you could create anenvironment which is stress freeand an environment in which it isa pleasure to work. It could makethe difference between a goodpractice and an outstanding one.Who wouldn’t want that?

Ros Edlin is a freelance stressmanagement and relaxationtrainer.This article is copyright of theauthor ros@stresswatch.co.uk

References1Mark Hillman, Ph.D, Article. Stress andDentistry: Better Practice ThroughControl2 Sanders et al-Journal of DentalEducation. Volume 63 (9). September19993 Pride J. Journal of the American DentalAssoc. 19914 Sutherland V J, Cooper C L,Understanding stress: A psychologicalperspective for health professionals.London: Chapman & Hall, 19905 R. Freeman et al, Occupational stressand dentistry: theory and practice Part IIAssessment and control, BDJ, 1995;178:218-222.

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School reports

It is my pleasure to offer thiswarm greeting from theAdelaide University DentalStudents’ Society (AUDSS).Here is a little summary of all ofour activities in Semester 2!

EventsThe AUDSS seeks to connectall members through a wide-ranging, all inclusive eventscalendar. Our premiershowcase events in Semester 2 has included the Grand DentalBall, Half-BDS Ball and theGraduation Ball, seeking tocelebrate friendships formed,and consolidates professionalaffinity by providing contacts ina casual setting to variousexternal organisations thatfunction within the dentalprofession. The annual TalentShow connects students andstaff in a unique event thatshowcases the hidden talentsof our fellow colleagues.

In addition, the AUDSS hascontinued its tradition of holdingquarterly Basement Parties,which see approximately 200-250 students party to endlessDJ beats, pizza and obligatorydrinks in the very home of theAdelaide dental and oral-healthstudents-the basement of theAdelaide Dental Hospital.

Student affairsIn 2010 AUDSS has developeda new initiative called theAUDSS Academic andProfessional DevelopmentProgramme and the AUDSSIndustry Talks. The twoprograms have continued insemester 2 with growingpopularity, covering topics inperiodontics, orthodontics,cosmetic restorations,pathways to specialising, riskmanagement, to name a few.

Adelaide: AUDSS

Community aidThe AUDSS has led in actionthrough joint-initiatives with localdentists and the Global HealthGroup of the AdelaideUniversity – Insight. InSeptember 2010 the AUDSSran its inaugural Trivia for Timor,a charity trivia and auction nightto raise funds for the Rotary/Lions East Timor Dental Project.In addition, the AUDSS hassupported the annual InsightAmazing Raise to fundraise forthe Cambodia World FamilyDental Project, providing clinicalservice for orphans andmedically- compromisedchildren in Phnom Penh. As atake on the popular reality TVshow, the annual AUDSS &Insight Amazing Raise invited25 teams of 4 exploring allcorners of Adelaide and thenearby suburbs to see the bestteam arrive first.

MediaWe have continued tosupplement the undergraduatecurricula with various studentservices in Semester 2 via ourprofessionally producedpublications including the annualmagazine, ‘Probe’, monthly printand e-newsletters and event-based e-notices.

For further information on theAUDSS or to contact any of theCommittee visitwww.audss.org

We are encouraged incombined efforts through theADSA to represent the interestsof dental and oral-healthstudents and look forward toour paths crossing in the nearfuture.

Jennie HanAUDSS President

Hi all

Our second year of the CSUdental program was even moresuccessful than the first. We lookforward to welcoming another 40students in the New Year. Oursuccess was not limited toacademia, the inaugural RolandBryant Cup was played betweenSydney Uni Dent and CSU Dent.This is a sporting day designed toget more social interactionbetween the two Dental Faculties.It is named after Prof Bryant, avery influential figure in themodelling of dental student fromboth universities. There werethree sports played mixed touchfootball, girls netball and boysbasketball. Touch was played firstwith a convincing win to CSUhowever the next two sportswere a lot closer. Our girls playextremely well but went down byone goal in extra time. So it camedown to the boys’ basketball. Itwas played at a high level withboth teams not giving an inch butas time ticked down CSUprevailed by only one point. Bothheads of school where presentwhich showed the enormity ofthe event. Prof Bryant made thetrophy presentation and historymade. The events successensures a tradition that willcontinue for many years to come.

There were a number of studentswho attended the annualconference in Melbourne andreturned with glowing reports.Well done to the organisingcommittee for such a good eventand I am sure next years’conference can emulate theefforts in Melbourne.

Hope all your exams go well.

Adam BarrettCSU SDA PresidentPS Sydney Uni we are waiting for you all next year!

Charles SturtUniversity: CSU SDA

Griffith: GUDSA

As expected, 2010 has flown byat Griffith Uni Dental School. Theyear has definitely been a busyone for all year groups, andespecially one to remember.

We kicked off the year with ourannual GUDSA Meet and Greet,to introduce the shiny, new firstyears to the rest of the DentalSchool and hopefully make themfeel welcome! The night was asuccess with plenty of pizza,merriment and friendship-formation. The first years had achance to meet the wholeschool, and you could see theirlittle eyes gleaming up in desireand admiration at our fifth years!If only they knew what was tocome over the next five years!

The next event was a new oneto our calendar, the GUDSA KegParty! As expected, the party wasa triumph and there were plentyof amusing stories and photosthat emerged! I will never forget a point in the night when a firstyear walked up to me and said ‘I thought all you dental studentswould be boring... but you allknow how to party!’ to which Ilooked up, only to see one of ourmost valuable fourth years riding a dining chair as though it was a horse in the middle of thedance floor.

Another new event to ourcalendar was the GUDSA touchtournament. Every year groupsubmitted at least one team andwe played numerous gamesthroughout the day. The semifinals saw a rematch betweenthe third and fourth year teams,and the fifth years take on thesecond years. It then proceededonto a nail-biting final between thefifth and third years. The gamewent into extra time after twohalves of nil-nil score, until the fifthyears finally clinched victory andscored a champion tri.

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Halfway through the year and stillUDSS is going strong throwingthe wackiest events on theuniversity calendar for our belovedstressed out dental kiddos.

First up Netsketball - our mix upevent of basketball and netballwhereby you realise how fat andunfit you’ve become sincestarting dentistry. As always therewere the dodgy few who realisedthis was their prime opportunityto release their anger on the otherstudentsfor pushing in line in lab or forstuffing up that survey crownwhich you’re meant to make adenture on before the end of theyear. It’s fair to say that at the endof the day, everyone’s even.

For all those lovers of the tooththat had nothing better to do on aFriday night (you know it’s thetruth) embarked on a quizicalquest held at the beloved UWAtavern. Teams were dressed up inthemes including the teenmothers, bogans, moustachios,and gym junkies to answerquestions on our famouslecturers, the Miss Universecontest and the Olympics.Needless to say, everyone had anawesome time especiallyonce the amber fluid startedflowing.

On the charitable front, againmost dental students attendedthe famous red party held at theParamount nightclub withthousands of dollars of proceedsgoing to Oxfam’s HIV/AIDS ChildNutrition Project,hopefully the educationalmessage got through to not onlythose in Africa but to a couple ofdental students as well. Also ahuge big shout out has to go toVivian Chin in 2nd year whoshaved her head for Cambodianchildren caught up in the sextrade. She has raised almost$2000 to date, a great effort.

Western Australia: UDSS

Despite the third years being verydisappointed, we thought it wasbest the fifth years got to winsomething before they left. The next event was the annualHalas Cup where we, once againtook on UQ dental in a power-deifying soccer match. Asexpected, Griffith took home thetrophy after a fantastic goal in thelast seconds of the almost threehour match. Better luck next year UQ!

This semester, the girls of secondand third year got together tocreate and sell some deliciousbaked goods. Our GUDSA bakesale was a real hit, and wemanaged to fill the bellies ofplenty of hungry students (andstaff!).

The brand new Trade Show wasa hit this semester. All oursponsors came to the campusand delighted the students andstaff with freebies and plenty ofinformation regarding, not onlybenefits once we have finishedour degree, but how we can lookafter ourselves during our time atuni.

Our last event of the semester isthe Annual GUDSA Ball and weare all eager and excited aboutthe event. It will be a great way torelax just before we have toknuckle down and study for ourend-of-semester exams. Theevent is being held at the GoldCoast Convention Centre and itlooks to be a great night asalways with a great turn out.

Finally, we would like to wishgood luck to all of the graduatingOral Health Therapy, DentalTechnician and Dental Sciencestudents of 2010. All the best.

Victoria SoleGUDSA committee

GV Black’s 174th birthday wasalso celebrated a few weeksago with students and staffgetting together to celebratethis man’s great life and howhe’s made ours a living hell.

Coming up for the rest of theyear are Beach Volleyball - sun,sand, dental babes, leftoverUDSS food that we need to getrid of, what else could you wishfor? And finally we will finish offthe year in style with our Annualdental dinner this year themedCirque du Soleil to be held atthe famous Burswood resort.

Kav Caldera

Melbourne: MDSS

Let me give you an insight intowhat the Melbourne DentalStudents’ Society calendar waslike for 2010. The definitehighlight was the chance tomeet, learn and party with ourcounterparts from aroundAustralia! ADSA worked inconjunction with MDSS toorganise a jam-packed scheduleshowcasing all Melbourne hasto offer. Without a first yeardentistry intake, 2010 was ayear for Melbourne dentalstudents to focus onconsolidating intra-courserelations. The year started withour annual orientation camp andpub-crawl - with dental nerdsterrorising Melbourne’s pubs inclinical gowns and adhering tofull Universal precautions.

We proved to ourselves that wearen’t all nerds, by participatingin sporting competitionsthroughout the year; netball,soccer, basketball andbadminton. MDSS alsoorganised vocational nightswhich focused on themes thataren’t traditionally taught atdental school - such as jobprospects, financialmanagement and resume/interview techniques.

The 3rd years’ organisation skillswere tested when theyorganised their own mid-waycelebratory Cocktail Ball. It wasa successful night filled withfun, laughter, drinks, dancingand hazy memories the nextmorning!

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Melbourne: MDSS Sydney: SUDUA La Trobe University: BOHDS

We have achieved so much thisyear as the student associationfor the University of Sydney,Faculty of Dentistry; cruises,three balls, a table tennistournament, to name just a few.We also held the inauguralRowland Bryant cup whichpinned the dental students fromCharles Sturt University toe totoe with the dental studentsfrom University of Sydney. Itwas an epic battle and when allthe smok cleared Charles Sturttopped us by a single point inthe Basketball match. Thankyou Adam and the studentsfrom CSU for making the trip,and for your profoundsportsmanship in all the days’events.

I would like to thank ADA, OralB, and to Professor C. Peck(Dean of University of Sydney,Faculty of Dentistry) andProfessor D. Wilson (Professorin Dentistry, Charles SturtUniversity) for showing up tooffer support to both sides. Welook forward to this eventsgrowth in the future.

As I prepare to pass the mantleto my successor I would like tothank all the students whocommit their precious time tothe association. I have had sucha profound experience workingwith each and every one of you.To the social and year reps, thecommittee members andchairs, and the executives,thank you. And, to all thesponsors thank you for all thatyou have endowed us with.

To the future success ofSUDUA and all dental studentsAustralia-wide.

Kendall W. JamesPresident

School reports

The highlight event of the year -the Grand Dental Ball was heldat the lavish location ofMelbourne’s Docklands. With a couture/avant-garde/springfashion theme, the students’creativity and panache shonethrough their outfits. The nightwas laced with modelsperforming a fashion show,opulent food, free flowingbeverages and first classentertainment - a memorablenight inded.

2010 has kept the MelbourneDental Students’ Society busywith a wide range of eventscatering to the diverse crowdthat is Melbourne Dentistry. We look forward to moreopportunities for DentalStudents around Australia tomeet! - if you’re lucky, you mayeven snatch a photo withMelbourne’s infamousBackteeth Boys!

Visit our websitewww.mdss.org.au for moreinformation, pictures andupdates!

Leighton PhuMDSS President

During Dental Health Week, we organised a stall to coincidewith dental health weekfocusing on tooth erosion. Thestall was held in the StudentUnion (SU) on campus and ranfor approximately one and a halfhours. The students managedto have many students/lecturersapproach them with some veryinteresting questions andhence, we were able to providesound and practical advicethrough samples and brochures.BOHDS also decided toorganise a dodgeball event forits members. An afternoon filledwith laughter, fun,entertainment, a bit of violence-but most of all a lot of flyingballs.

Behind the scenes, the societyhas continued with the StudentConsultative Committee (SCC)meetings. The SCC involvesexecutive members along withthe year and course studentrepresentatives meeting withsenior lecturers and the facultyco-ordinators to discuss issuesof relevance to the progressionof our newly formed dentistryand oral health courses.Progress made has includeduniform modification, studyresources being made availableto students outside allocatedclass times, and enhancedcommunication about thecourses between students and staff.

BOHDS has made a strong andcontinuing contribution to thelife of the students at La TrobeUniversity and aims to continueproviding such opportunities tohelp further enhance theuniversity experience of ourfuture dentists and oral healththerapists.

Andrew SprollPresident- BOHDS

The Bendigo Oral Health andDentistry Society (BOHDS) is astudent organisation thatmaintains a vision of uniting alldentistry and oral healthstudents through social,academic and communityevents. In semester two,BOHDS represented thestudent body at high speed withenthusiasm and with severalevents. First up was Laser tag.With more than 60 people onthe laser tag battlefield (30during each battle), anexhilarating night was had bythe students from the dentistryand oral health cohort as well asother faculties.

Bows and bow ties... check, red carpet... check, limousines...check. Indeed, the glitz andglamour had reached Bendigo,in the form of ‘The Floscars. Inthe spirit of Dental HealthWeek, BOHDS had organised aweek of festivities and eventsto showcase the importance oforal health; and what better wayto kick-off the week than anexquisite cocktail party. BOHDS‘Floscars’ Cocktail Party 2010provided the perfect opportunityfor students of all year levels ofdentistry and oral health tomingle and socialise. It allowedstudents to exchange adviceand talk about previousexperiences regarding clinicaland pre-clinical work.

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Amalgam has as manyadvocates as it does critics,with countries such as the UKand the USA lobbying for aphase-down approach shoulda ban become enforcedthrough anticipated UNlegislation

1. The Governing

Council of the United NationsEnvironmental Program hasagreed on the need to developa globally legally bindinginstrument on mercury, andhave requested the input ofmany countries in order toaction this

2

In the absence of legislation, thecurrent guidelines can be viewedon www.unep.org

3but these

again are environmental focused,predominantly considering thedisposal of waste amalgam. Theydo however include therecommendation; ‘When possiblefor precautionary reasons, do notuse amalgam fillings with peoplewho have impaired kidneyfunction. It is also recommendedthat amalgam fillings should not beplaced in or removed from theteeth of pregnant women.’

3

One of the cornerstones of beinga practitioner is the principle of ‘dono harm’. Amalgam is still believedto have a valuable place in practiseas the material of choice in manycircumstances, and although itsfuture appears uncertain, none ofthe arguments applied are new. As practitioners, we have a duty tokeep up to date withdevelopments and abide bylegislation governing ourprofession, but at this timeamalgam still has a future.

AmalgamAnnalene Weston looks at thedebate

A dentist’s clinical judgement isthe product of training (bothundergraduate and postgraduate),experience, professionaldevelopment, and influencesfrom both from within andoutside the dental profession.Some dentists experience agradual shift in their views, valuesand clinical orientation, whileothers experience an overnightconversion or step-change as aresult of a specific occurrence orexperience.

When choosing which dentalmaterials to use in a particularclinical situation, a clinician willusually take many factors intoaccount. In addition there maywell be financial considerations totake into account, reflected in thefees charged to patients fordifferent materials and differenttechniques. However, althoughthe law varies from one part ofthe world to another, it is essentialthat any material used in apatient’s treatment is ‘fit for thepurpose for which it is used’.

Whatever material is chosen, theclinician needs to understand theproperties of the material and itsindications, and staff membersneed to be familiar with its properstorage, handling and use.

Many dentists take a consciousdecision to avoid the use ofmercury-containing restorationsand many such dentists believepassionately that this decision is in their patient’s best interests. It is important to understand,however, that this strength ofconviction alone can lead to arange of professional problemsunless the clinician remains awareof the associated dento-legalrisks, and how to manage them.

4 issues arising fromamalgam-free practice • Duty of care• Patient information andconsent• Treatment alternatives• Professional colleagues• Records• The Patients

Duty of careThe dentist has a duty of care toeach and every patient, which onthe one hand requires theexercise of reasonable skill andcare in the recommendation andprovision of treatment, and on theother hand, demands that thedentist’s first priority shouldalways be to act in the bestinterests of the patient.

There needs to be a scientificbasis for the provision of anytreatment, which is accepted by a responsible body of otherclinicians in the field. In the area of amalgam-free dentistry, a rangeof issues can arise including:

a) The appropriateness of thechoice of material for the clinicalsituation.b) The evidence for and againstthe use of mercury-containingrestorations.c) The question of whether therecommendation to avoid the useof mercury containing fillings hasbeen made because of thepatient’s needs and wishes, orsolely because of the dentist’spersonal beliefs and preferences.d) Whether the dentist’spersonal wish to avoid the use ofamalgam over-rides other clinicalconsiderations that a reasonabledentist, acting competently,would have taken into accountwhen planning the treatment.

Each side of the amalgam debatewill point to a number of often-quoted scientific papers fromvarious parts of the world, andthere is no doubt that there is arespected body of scientificopinion on both sides of theargument.

The FDI and the World HealthOrganisation have both issuedpolicy statements over the years,as have most national dentalassociations, and the netoutcome of these respectivepositions is that the body ofinternational scientific opinionprobably still supports thecontinued use of silver amalgamas being safe. In some parts ofthe world, health departmentsand similar bodies have adviseddentists to avoid removing orplacing amalgam fillings forpatients who are pregnant orbreast feeding. In making suchrecommendations, it is oftenstressed that this advice is purelyprecautionary, there being nodefinitive scientific evidence thatusing amalgam in suchcircumstances in inherentlyunsafe.

Patient information andconsentIt is a prerequisite of theconsent process that theclinician should make thepatient aware of all treatmentalternatives, and how theycompare in terms of what theyinvolve, what the advantagesand benefits, risks andlimitations may be, (forexample, in terms of longevityor possible complications) andof course how much thetreatment will cost.

Annalene WestonAnnalene Weston is a dento-legaladviser based in DPLA’s Brisbane office

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Many amalgam-free practicesprovide a variety of printedmaterial to inform their patients,explaining the clinician’sapproach to the choice ofrestorative materials, and thebasis for it. A common pitfall isthat the chosen materialpresents a very one-sidedpicture, rather than presentingthe range of available options tothe patient in an objective andbalanced fashion, and thenleaving the patient to choose.

While it may well be the casethat mercury-containingrestorations are simply notoffered to patients attending thepractice in question, and it isimportant to point this out forthe avoidance of anymisunderstanding, the patientdoes need to be made awarethat such restorations could wellbe available elsewhere, fromother dentists. Unless thisoption is explained to thepatient, the validity of anyconsent obtained will beseverely compromised.

The patient information materialused by a practice can bepivotal in demonstrating themessages that were (and werenot) being conveyed to thepatient before the treatmentwas carried out.

Treatment alternativesMaking the decision to avoidthe use of mercury-containingfillings is one thing; decidingwhat to use instead is anotherissue altogether. Many of theproblems encountered in theamalgam-free practice arisefrom failures associated withthe use of other materials, andin particular, failures of largeposterior composite resinrestorations when placeddirectly.

Many of the available alternativematerials do not have the samelongevity as silver amalgam andthis is another issue that mayneed to be discussed with thepatient as part of the consentprocess.

Amongst the availablealternatives, are some proventechniques involving intra-coronal and extra-coronalrestorations, and there is awealth of scientific evidence tosupport their use. Many ofthese options are, however,considerably more costly than(for example) direct compositerestorations and perhaps for thisvery reason a patient might beled to choose the cheaperoption that is actually more likelyto fail prematurely.

Patients need to appreciate thepossible consequences of eachtreatment choice they makeand in this respect they willunderstandably need to relyupon the clinician to explainthese important differences tothem. Patients are unlikely toappreciate these technicaladvantages and limitations forthemselves.

Many of the cases whichinvolve dentists, who chose topractice in an amalgam-freeenvironment, relate to themanagement of treatmentalternatives. An awareness ofthis fact makes it easy tounderstand that writtentreatment plans, andcorrespondence with patientsexplaining the treatmentalternatives, can become animportant part of the records, if problems arise.

RecordsBecause of the propensity forproblems to arise in an amalgam-free practice, for the reasonsexplained above, the need tokeep meticulous clinical records isparamount. Records should bekept of conversations withpatients, discussions of alternativetreatment options, the patient’sstated preferences and anywarning/limitations the clinicianmay have stressed to the patient.

In an amalgam-free practice, arange of investigations are oftenundertaken which may not takeplace in a ‘conventional’ practice.These investigations, whenevercarried out, either within thepractice or externally by specialistlaboratories, are an integral part ofthe treatment and acomprehensive record of them(including any documentation)should become an integral part ofthe clinical notes.

Where you have reason tobelieve that the patient isexpecting results that may not beachievable and/or where theymay be hearing only what theyare hoping (or choosing) to hear, asensible precaution is to write tothe patient, clearly explainingwhat is being done and why.

Amalgam Any such letter should confirmany explanation, warning or otheradvice that the patient needs tobe aware of and ideally, thepatient should be reminded thatthe treatment you haverecommended is only one way ofapproaching the patient’s care andthat the patient is welcome toseek the opinion of any otherdentist, which may well bedifferent. If the demand for thetreatment has come from thepatient from the outset, this factshould be made very clear in theletter, a copy of which is kept inthe clinical records.

The amalgam-free clinician shouldguard against the allegation thatthey have sought to manipulatepatient demand by means ofmisleading advertisements orpatient information leaflets orsimilar publications that containstatements that are not true, orwhich might not be capable ofsubstantiation.

These simple precautions wouldanticipate and avoid many of thedifficulties that arise from this areaof dentistry. Patients seeking theremoval of their mercury-containing fillings, or other‘alternative’ treatment, have beenknown to have very selectivememories of what they were andwere not told before they wentahead with the treatment.

SummaryIt is perfectly reasonable for aclinician to have strong viewseither for or against the use ofamalgam. However, the fact thatan individual dentist opposes theuse of amalgam in their ownpractice, is no justification fordeprecating the continued use ofthe material by others. It wouldgenerally be considered unethicaland/or unprofessional to criticisecolleagues merely because theyhappen to hold a different clinicalopinion. On the issue of the useof silver amalgam in clinicaldentistry, clinicians and patientseach have the right to choose forthemselves.

References1 Swedish Government report on Dental Amalgam, Maths Berlin,http://www.robertgammal.com/AmalgamDocs2/SwedishGovtReport.html2 www.ada.org/news/4616.aspx3 UNEP Module 4. Mercury use inHealthcare Settings and Dentistry, pg 10.www.unep.org

Elective in paradiseA group of Melbourne dentalstudents* explain how somethingthat started out as a jokeeventually turned out to be one of the best times of their lives

Free indemnityfor your electivewith DPL studentmembership

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One of the benefits of freestudent membership with DPLis that you receive indemnityand support for your elective.DPL is an internationalindemnity organisation,operating in 70 countries. Thisgives us a unique, wideexperience of dental cases.

Electives can be an excitingtime but if you are going abroadyou also have to be prepared for the challenges they canpresent, for example,communication and culturaldifferences, different standardsof risk management, infectioncontrol and adapting to timechallenges. DPL operatesinternationally and so we are ina unique position to supportyou, wherever you go in theworld.

As a student member DPLoffers you: • Full indemnity if your electiveis outside of Australia• 24 hour international dento-legal helpline• Indemnity for ‘GoodSamaritan Acts’

To become a student memberof DPL or to find out moreabout free indemnity for yourelective visits: www.dentalprotection.org.au

We covered half of Mauritiusduring the two-week visit,immersing ourselves in the localfood, language and culture ofthis small yet amazing Africanisland. The fortunate timing ofour visit also gave us theopportunity to experience theholy day called ‘Holi’ or ‘Festivalof Colours’ where we paintedourselves with colouredpowder, flour and water.

To quote something that weread on a bottle of local rum(African Star): ‘You gather the idea thatMauritius was made beforeheaven; and that heaven wascopied after Mauritius – MarkTwain’

Our group of eleven went tothis island as classmates, wecame back as best mates.

*Arunesh Beharee, AmarBeharee, Jasmine Goh, ChiehChun Gan, Amin Kolahdouzan

First up we were invited asspecial presentation speakers to support an oral healthpromotion project at a local highschool around the corner. On most days, we gainedinvaluable clinical experience ina rural setting (compliments toDr Beharee), consisting ofnumerous extractions,emergency treatment,endodontics, prosthodonticsand cosmetic dentistry. We alsospent some time at themaxillofacial department of thelocal Ear, Nose and Throathospital, where we observedsome surgical procedures(including the excision of apleomorphic adenoma underGA) and gained knowledge onoral medicine and surgery.

It was kind of a culture shock tomost of us but good experiencenonetheless. We also had theopportunity to meet theMinister of Health for a casualSunday dinner as ambassadorsfor public health.

Life was simple... life wasperfect. There were endlessadventures to experience,including fishing, visiting oldforts, island hopping,snorkelling, sailing and waterskiing. At night we would have‘amazingly cheap’ (Gan’s ownwords) beer (Phoenix Beer) andenjoyed the moonlight and starson the roof-top.

In Feburary 2010, group 511embarked on an unforgettableadventure to the beautifulisland of Mauritius (IleMaurice) a multicultural islandnation off the southeast coastof the African continent. Theisland is sometimes calledparadise of earth

We were greeted as kings (andqueen) – no.. no.. no.. scrap that– as GODS!! We were lucky inthe sense that two of us areMauritian (and actually brothers)so food and accommodationwas provided throughout our tripby the Beharee family. In fact wewere treated as members oftheir family. Amar and Arun’scousins treated us as one oftheirs and we already had ourown inside jokes by the thirdday! One of them even fell inlove with Jasmine – though hewas only 14!

The trip was hectic from themoment we stepped off theplane. Amin was stopped byimmigration officers! Luckily, itwas all a misunderstanding. Orwas it?! The plan for the twoweeks was packed – no spaceto breathe! A typical day was asfollows: Dentists by day andbeach-combers by night.

© Dental Protection Limited Novem

ber 2010

DPL Australia Pty LtdLevel 887 Wickham TerraceBrisbane QLD 4000T (07) 3831 6800F (07) 3831 7255Freecall 1800 444 542

Membership RepresentativeVicki Biddlevicki.biddle@dpla.com.au

Operation ManagerKen Parkerken.parker@dpla.com.au

Dental Protection Limited (DPL) ispart of the Medical ProtectionSociety (MPS) providing discretionarybenefits for dentists and other dentalcare professionals. These benefitsare set out in the Memorandum andArticles of Association published onour website. Neither DPL nor MPSare insurance companies

2010 ADSAConvention Melbourne

Make the most of yourmembership. Register youremail address atwww.dentalprotection.org/australia

Editordavid.croser@mps.org.uk

With over two hundreddelegates from nine differentdental schools across the nationconverging in cosmopolitanMelbourne, the excitement waspalpable.

The scene was set for acostumed Meet and Greet ofepic proportions. Graceful lionshunting amidst outer spaceinvaders, with Ron Burgandyand his news team remindingeveryone they’re ‘kind of bigdeal’. It wasn’t long before thePugg Mahones dance floor wasset alight and convention hadkicked off with a bang!

With many a little worse forwear the next morning,delegates saw the start of aninteresting academicprogramme that would delveinto dentistry in Israel, life aftergraduation and the link betweenoral cancer and sex!

Following the hugelysuccessful 2009 Perthconvention, we witnessedthe birth of ADSA. New andimproved, the weight ofexpectation was immense.Could ADSA deliver? WouldMelbourne be the perfecthost city? Would dentalstudents congregate oncemore for further celebrations?Yes, yes - good heavensabove - yes!

After an afternoon off to explorethe city of Melbourne, it was timeto get real and dial 000. The 000emergency cruise combined withthe Melbourne dental studentsassociation saw 400 dentalstudents cruising down themagnificent Yarra river. With theDJ’s tearing up the 1 and 2’s allover the boat and the drinksflowing, it was easy to look pastthe bandaged and bloody. Whenthings did start to heat up, wewere glad the firemen wereonboard! One escaped inmatedecided he’d use all means toevade the po-po, even diving in tothe depths of the Yarra River toescape conviction!

Suddenly it was Saturday, wheremuch of the day was spentmentally preparing for thepenultimate event; a cocktail ballat Melbourne’s Aquarium. Thegentlemen were suited and ladiesdressed to the nines andeveryone involved had a night toremember! Tearing up the dancefloor whilst mingling with the fish,this glorious setting was a fittingend to the delicious socialprogramme at this year’sconvention.

As the battered and wearygathered for the AGM on Sundaymorning the new executive waselected and three new positionsadded to the general committee.With ADSA growing, we lookforward to adding a further threenew positions to next year’sgeneral committee and we aresure that if the past two years areanything to go by, next year’sconvention in Brisbane is going tobe huge!

So get involved and remember-stay classy.

When lectures finished in themorning, those more athleticallyinclined took to the sports field forsome friendly inter-schoolcompetition. Luckily, no studentwas too exhausted to be whiskedaway from the safety ofAustralian shores and dumped inthe mix of Tijuana, Mexico. Whatfollowed was a mix ofsombreros, tequila and a strange donkey lurchingamongst the crowds. TheMexicana pub crawl was a greatsuccess and showcased thewide variety of hip barsthroughout Melbourne’sbackstreets. It also afforded asmall crew of Mexican janitorsthe chance to make some extracoin cleaning car windscreensbetween venues.

Waking up on Thursday morningwe were thrown onto buses toventure out to Victoria’s newestregional dental school in Bendigo.Touring through the new school’sfacilities and listening to someinteresting lectures from theschool academics, it was time fora break. The crowds were treatedto some of Victoria’s finest foodand wines.

Thursday night saw delegates gonative, with a tribal themedadventure to Fun City! Herestudents battled it out in laser tag,raced rings around each other onthe go kart track, and as for thesumo suits... let’s not go there.

The academc programmestepped up again on Fridaymorning with an interesting lookinto new techniques inendodontics and a rather graphiclook into maxillofacial surgery(many students were happy theirstomachs had settled after a nightof partying).