Surviving Dentistry 101

Well that’s it, my first year of dental technology is finally done. I can't believe how much fun it was! I have many good memories with some truly amazing people and so many side-splittingly hilarious stories to tell. I have to admit although exams period was difficult, it was the period where all the laughter came from. Staying overnight in the library junked up on caffeine and kebabs did turn us into crazed dental techs.

We are crazy to begin with anyway. Dental technology is different to Dental Science. I learn to make the prosthetic appliances. So I make complete and partial dentures, crowns, bridges, orthodontic appliances, mouthguards, implants, and more. I work with the dentists to create an appliance for the patient to fix their smile and their overall wellbeing. Eventually I want go into the field of implant dentistry. So basically, I like teeth and I can handle blood. Just imagine creating a tooth implant where the dentist has to cut open the gums and place a titanium screw into the bone. Lots of blood. Cool aye!

This year we focussed mainly on producing complete dentures for edentulous (toothless) patients. Some technicians can do it in a couple of hours, me...a week. But it’s a deathly practice! I seriously don’t know how I survived lab! There are dangerous equipment around! The wax knifes and scalpels may be small but they cut pretty deep, as I found out on more than one occasion. I also discovered that molten wax burns and stains.  Also that if you use a flame torch to heat up a small piece of wire, then attempt to pick up that piece of wire. You WILL burn your fingers badly and have to sit under a running tap getting laughed at for 20mins. Experience is the best but most cruel teacher of all.

Eat Street Markets



Isabelle and I making dentures. #ebolasafe

I’m so happy with the amazing friends I’ve made this year. Being the youngest person in the whole of dentistry this year is pretty scary. All of my friends are 20+, in long term relationships, moved out and thinking of kids! Meanwhile I’m like: I wonder what I’ll have for breakfast tomorrow.  They were able to take me under their wing and teach me how to stand on my feet in uni. It’s different to highschool, teachers spoon feed you from a silver platter. Uni lecturers give you material. It’s up to you to make the effort. Together we made a lot of good memories. I participated in the Griffith Uni Dental Students Association (GUDSA) touch tournament where I got MVP and the wooden spoon. I was able to interact with the other dental students in all years and I made more friends.

We would occasionally do group study dates before exams- especially Oral Biology. Dental histology and anatomy made me want to hit my head against a wall...multiple times. The simple acronyms we cause up with for learning the cranial nerve branches actually saved me in the exams. I must say that having friends with such different nationalities is so much fun. I've tried jellyfish sushi, pho, curried fish balls, cronuts, afghan lollies and so much more! I went to a true Taiwanese food festival and I had a proper Vietnamese dinner at a friend's house. It feels so good to learn things from a different perspective; to learn different cultures and languages and political views from various people. I'm so pleased to have shared these wonderful experiences with such amazing people!    

The Mutliple Scoregasms!! We lost every game but won in team spirit!

Juggling uni with triathlons is not easy, especially with the path I’m going down. But for me education has always been one up from sport. I’ve seen many athletes amount to great things then retire to nothing, all because they chose sport over anything else. I finish this degree in 3 years so I’ll be 19. I’ll work for a year then I am able to begin my Masters which runs for 3 years part time. By the time I finish that I’ll be 23. The top female triathletes range between 25-35. Andrea Hewitt is 32, Gwen Jorgenson is 28, Emma Moffat is 30! I have so much time to develop my skills to get to the level I want to. Once I’ve done my degrees and have money under my belt then I can focus solely on triathlons. So by the time I’m ready to call it quits I’ll have a career to fall back to. Only a selected few can live off triathlon- I don’t advising on risking it.  

GUDSA Touch Tournament 2014 Got the Wooden Spoon!

I’m happy with what I am doing. It’s a struggle sometimes but that’s just life. Great things in life don’t come easily. I am so excited for this 3 month break. Not only do I have time for activities but I will be turning 18 in a month! (longest wait of my life). I can also improve on my swimming, catch up with old friends, read a book other than dental textbooks and SLEEP! I can actually take proper naps during the day and not have a single care in the world. #napsshouldbecomplusory  Bring on the holiday celebrations!!!!

Things I learnt in my first year of uni:

1.   Group study is awesome. Only if you are with the right people and in a group no more than 5 or 6.

2.   Nothing is ever straight forward. Question everything...

3.   Don’t fall asleep during lectures. People will take photos and post them online. Even if your friends say they won’t.

4.   Don’t study on bean bags- they are too comfortable and you will fall asleep and again people will take photos and post it online. Look up Sleeping @ Griffith on Facebook for more info.

5.   3 hour lectures at 8am are horrible. Pack a big lunch for those days.

6.   Don’t eat before going into an anatomy lab to look at cadavers.

7.   Sushi is hands down amazing! It’s cheap and healthy- what a bonus!

8.   Iced Macha lattes- iced green tea lattes on almond milk are just to die for. And it’s healthy caffeine! #goorganic

9.   Uni students drink a lot of alcohol – especially at toga parties.

10. Learn to save because you will be poor. Ask yourself: do you really need that shirt? Can you buy it online? Can you wear it multiple times in a row?  

11. If a lecturer mentions something than 3 times then you will most likely be tested on it.    

12.  Pjs, sweatpants, no bra and onesies are totally acceptable at uni. Rock it girlfraand!

13. If you can’t pronounce it- make it up. #sphenoid boing

14.  The cops on the M1 southbound are at Logan (under the bridge after Beenleigh exit), Coomera (just before and just after Dreamworld) and coming off Smith Street motorway on M1 Northbound. Drive safe kiddies.

15.    If you don’t know what to write in an exam long answer question- grossly elaborate on what you do know and curse yourself for skipping it because you thought ‘he won’t put this on the exam.’ Expect the unexpected!

16.  Do whatever you want to do, be whatever you want to be- just don’t be an asshole. (Life lessons from my good friend Isabelle)

 

Volunteering at the colour run is better than running it.

This one time I partied too hard with school friends at another uni. QUT #togaparty 2014. ready for round 2 2015!

Photography skills level: expert. Denture made before trim and polish 

Our entertainment during our 1 hour lunch breaks.

Injection method when processing a denture