We all love our own universities, but we often wonder about other dental schools and how they operate. Here is why Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine is a great school to attend.
Top 10 Reasons to Attend Boston University (BU) Dental
1. Caring faculty
Yes, the professors actually do care for their students here! They try to help you as much as possible, and some of them love to socialize with the students. Comments from our network of students and insiders claim that most dental schools have a cordial environment, however, our reader comments give us a different picture. Rest assured however, that BU Dental has a generally supportive environment! Although it is worth noting that in clinic, a handful of professors are still known to be troublesome.
2. Great exam scheduling
Exams for the basic science years are set up so that one exam is given per week (usually). There are weeks that go by that have no exams, and some weeks that have two exams, but the weeks with two exams are quite rare. This is great for the students as they can focus on each upcoming exam without having to go through cram sessions or having to study for two different subjects at once.
3. It's in Boston
Boston is a great city to live in, especially as a student. See one of our posts on why Boston is great to live in!
4. APEX
Applied professional experience in the first and second years is a rotation in which private practicing dentists have a chance to mentor students. How often do dental students get to learn directly in private dental offices? Not often would be my guess! It provides a completely different experience for the dental student. Our insiders tell us that APEX rotation #2 serves also as a study period for the NBDE Part I. This works great as homework is almost non-existant during APEX, allowing ample study time (approx 2 months) to absorb tiny details for this major examination.
5. Online booking for clinic chairs
It used to be recently that students would have to line up to get chairs early in the morning to treat their patients. Now, the school has taken a great initiative and introduced online booking which allows students to secure operatories from the comfort of their own laptops. The system is fairly new to the school, but is working out extremely well.
6. 10-week externship in the final year
This is an opportunity to leave the school atmosphere and learn in a new environment. Those who know what externships are all about will appreciate how awesome this really is. Opportunities exist to externship both in Boston and in other states and surrounding areas. The best part as of recently is that a lot of the work that dental students accomplish in the externship is now eligible to count towards graduation requirements.
7. Great location, decent facilities
The Simulation Learning Center (SLC) provides a good learning area for the pre-clinical students. BU Dental is located throughout the BU Medical Campus and as such is nicely integrated with Boston Medical Center. Although the facilities aren't perfect, they are decent. Our sources tell us that the facilities are good but that they are beginning to show signs of strain, as students are wearing away on what is available. This is expected (of course) of any school though.
8. Curriculum/structure reorganization
BU Dental historically has had an issue with students not graduating on time. Recent changes such as including the procedures performed during externship towards graduation requirements is beginning to ease that stressful issue. BU in the past has included a mandatory laptop within the tuition, however now, BU Dental allows the new dental student to purchase whatever laptop they feel suits them. Further, BU no longer forces the dental student to purchase all new textbooks, it now allows the dental student to find their own textbooks which can result in great savings for the dental student. These are very recent changes (as of 2008) which sets a good trend in the way the school is approaching students in an effort to reduce their debt loads and correct issues that exist. Keep in mind that BU Dental offers VitalSource Digital textbooks, and that we recommend that dental students never buy this product. Why you may ask? Well, we have a whole post on that.
9. Great fellow students
Most BU Dental (and BU Medical) students are very chillin' people. This goes hand-in-hand with the national reputation that BU has as a laid-back school.
10. B.U. Endodontic Method
With the infamous Dr. Schilder originally chairing the Department of Endodontics, pre-doctoral dentistry students at BU Dental have an edge in learning from the masters of Endodontics. The warm vertical method was improved upon here, and remains a staple in Endodontic education at BU.
Top 10: Reasons to Attend BU Dental
Top 10: Reasons to Live in Boston
Top 10 Reasons to live in Boston
1. The Boston Red Sox... and the Celtics too
With the Red Sox winning the World Series in '04 and in '07, Bostonians and transient students have come to enjoy the Fenway Park experience much more as winning is a more common occurrence these days.
2. Great public Transpotation provided by the MBTA
Subway stations provide convenient connections at multiple points across Boston. A relatively affordable fare, and the CharlieCard system make the "T" easily accessable.
3. A major historical destination, from the Freedom Trail to the USS Constitution
Boston is "America's Athens" with many historical sights and sounds. From the Boston Tea Party to creepy historical cemeteries, Boston will intrigue and entertain any resident or visiting student for years!
4. An awesome nightlife and lots of things to do and check out!
Limitless restaurants to check out, and a wide variety of hotspots. Awesome clubs like Gypsy and Felt, Liquor Store, and more!
5. Access to some of the best hospitals and health-care services
New England Medical Center, Boston Medical Center, Longwood, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Childrens...
6. Access to some of the best universities in the world
Harvard, MIT, Boston University, Northeastern, Boston College, Tufts... the list goes on and on.
7. Fantastic seafood
Legal Seafood serves the famous presidential clam chowder and there are many places to choose from. A personal favorite is the No Name Restaurant. Check it out if you are in town!
8. Near Cape Cod's beaches
So there is an inherent requirement for you to own a boat of your own.
9. One of the safer large cities in America
Ever since the so called "Boston Miracle," crime has been diminshed in this large city. Actually this miracle was due to the street-level communication between Boston Police and the gangs that exist in Boston. Lets hope the Boston Police keeps up their good work!
10. College parties, and many of them!
Boston is one of the largest college oriented destinations in America. This has obvious consequences.
Top 10: Reasons to See a Dentist
Dentists are an important part of our lives. But some people don't think so - here is a small effort on my part to see that belief changed for the better.
Top 10 Reasons to See a Dentist
1. Maintain your teeth and bones
A dentist will help you keep your teeth longer throughout your life. Maintaining the bony ridges that support the teeth are important for the health of your teeth and if you've lost teeth, the possibility of implant placement into the future.
2. Fight cancer
Every hour, someone in the US dies from oral cancer. Only a dentist can do a proper oral exam and catch the signs of oral cancer early. Leave this task to the professionals, and don't forget that physicians don't substitute a dentist in this case.
3. Periodontal diseases can be prevented
Regular cleanings can prevent this serious gum disease from beginning or spreading to other sites.
4. If periodontal or gum diseases start, they can be treated
This is important, because this is time dependent. No one can reverse severely progressed periodontitis. Since this is usually a pain-less process, it's important to see a dentist to determine whether or not these diseases are beginning to affect you. The earlier, the better.
5. Periodontal diseases can be turned around (or reversed) in its early stages
This can provide benefits to your health beyond your oral cavity. Periodontal diseases have been noted clinically to contribute to the development of heart disease, increase the risk of stroke, and increase a woman's risk of having a preterm, low birth weight baby. Additionally, it poses a threat to people who have diabetes, respiratory conditions, and osteoporosis.
6. Your dentist can spot other systemic conditions that you may have earlier than a family doctor including hypertension and diabetes
... This includes a few others as well. A dentist can spot things that a physician that doesn't look into the mouth often can't.
7. Have a whiter and more attractive smile
This is for obvious reasons right? A visit to the dentist can remove more of the common causes of staining. You can take it step further and undergo whitening treatments as well.
8. To save money (by detecting dental problems early)
If decay is detected and treated early, it prevents the need for more costly care later, for example, if decay reaches the tooth pulp it would result in the need for root canal therapy. If that same decay was caught earlier, just a small restoration or filling would have been just fine.
9. To set good standards for your children
Having children visit the dentist early on allows the child to develop a positive view of dentists, prevent future fears from forming, and additionally, these visits can be quite helpful for other reasons. Orthodontic issues can be settled early, sealants can be placed, and early decay can be detected. Note that by the time kids reach grade 3, 50% to 70% of children have at least one cavity.
10. Seeing a dentist regularly will save you lost work time
Surveys have shown that poor dental health results in significant lost productivity! Dental pains can keep people from going to work. Secondary infections can result in serious sicknesses, and dealing with advanced dental diseases means missing more work to get the treatments you now need, because you didn't see the dentist regularly in the first place.
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