Cal PDS Pre-Dent Press 10.1

UC Berkeley Pre-Dental Society The Pre-Dent PressVolume 10, Issue 1 October, 2015

In This Issue:Letter from Editors 1Trick or Cavities? 2Dental Puzzle corner 2Fall Member’s Retreat 3Lake Merrit 3Officer Board Spotlight 4-6Lake Meritt 7CTIP-2 7Dental School Spotlight 8DEOP 9Chews Wisely 9Dental Puzzle answers 10

Letter from The EditorsHello Cal Pre-Dental Society, distinguished dental schools, and the general dental public! We are excit-ed to present the first Pre-Dental Press of the 2014-2015 school year. This newsletter would not have been possible without our hard-working publicity committee and cooperative officers. This Halloween themed issue covers what the society has been up to since the beginning of this semester as well as scientific dental articles and fun activities for those of you in need of a break! Thank you for taking the time to flip through this newsletter and enjoy!Best, PDS Publicity Officers 2014-2015Harpreet Batther and Hanna Kim

Trick or Cavities?By Valerie Lua As Halloween approaches, we see stores stocking up on their supply of candies and sweets of all kinds. Shelves are filled with snickers, kit kats, hershey’s bars, gummy bears, smarties, starburst, and a variety of other sugary treats. Although this may seem like every mother’s and dentist’s worst nightmare, there are ways to avoid the cavities we all expect after the overindulgence of sugary sweets. First, let us debunk a popular myth. Most assume that it is the sugars themselves that cause the tooth decay and plaque build up. However, it is actually the bacteria that are naturally abundant in the mouth that feed on the sugars vehemently and produce acids that

break down our enamel; this is where proper oral hygiene comes into play. The sooner after we eat a sweet treat that we brush away the bacteria accumulating on our teeth and gums, the less likely we are to develop cavities and gum diseases. Now, which candies do the most damage you ask? Well, pretty much any foods containing sugar or starch can cause tooth decay, therefore the spectrum isn’t only limited to the sugary sweets we receive in our trick-or-treat baskets. When asking this question, we need to consider for how long the food will remain on our teeth. For instance, gummy bears and goldfish crackers tend to mash themselves into our molars and create a feeding frenzy for the all-too-eager bacteria to feast on while other treats may not have the same effect. Why are soda and lollipops also taboo indulgences is another question that is frequently asked?

They are unhealthy because they blanket the teeth with sugar and usually remain there for quite sometime, changing the pH levels of the mouth and triggering the bacteria to consume the sugars. We also can’t leave the sour gummy worms out of this discussion. The high acid levels in these sour treats breaks down our enamel quickly. However, saliva works as a neutralizer to balance out the pH levels in our mouths. What we should remember is the advice that Dr. Cindy Flanagan, spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry, offers to the public: “that patients should wait 30 minutes to brush their teeth after consuming acidic foods or drinks, otherwise they will be brushing acid onto more tooth surfaces, increasing

the erosive action”(AGD). Now wait a minute, what about chocolate? It was to my own surprise to find that chocolate may actually prevent tooth decay and plaque build-up. I know, shocking. It turns out that chocolate has been found to inhibit the growth of cavity-causing bacteria. Better yet, dark chocolate

is also good for your heart and for lowering blood pressure as it is found to contain many antioxidants. So, when we open up those bags filled with candy this spooky autumn season, we will

remember that chocolate isn’t as bad as the sour and chewy treats, but that sugar-free alternatives are probably the best choice since these don’t pose the threat of sugar-loving bacteria emitting teeth-eroding acids.

Pre-Dental Press

Dental Puzzle Corner

http://www.knowyourteeth.com/infobites/abc/article/?abc=t&i-id=295&aid=10015http://www.uamshealth.com/?id=5364&sid=1http://smilecreator.net/innews/the-good-news-dark-chocolate-actually-prevents-tooth-decay

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Member’s RetreatBy Zeru Feki The PDS Biannual Members Retreat was held this semester on a sunny Saturday, specifically October 4th, along the outskirts of Sproul Plaza on the UC Berkeley Campus. This is a mandatory social event for all PDS members that is held in the beginning of every semesterThe members retreat is an event of great importance because it builds stronger bonds between all the members and officers, as well as allows students to interact with others who share similar interests and goals. The retreat began with PDS families being revealed! These families are small groups made up of approximately ten members and two family heads that are board members. Families allow members to create long-lasting connections with members of board and also other members in PDS, hence the name “family”.

Then, members of the club gathered together and completed several team-building exercises along with short introductions to allow for everyone to meet each other and begin to form friendships. Examples of some activities that members participated in include the human knot, a speed dance competition, and the

A. Teams had to hold hands and undo the “knots” by shifting through the arms of their teammates.B. Alice Yeh moves her body fast to get the highest steps on the pedometer.C. Mo Al Shimari waits as fellow PDS members stick post-it notes on his clothes that he will later have to shake off within 30 seconds.

The last activity involved all the members spelling out words or shapes with their bodies within a time limit. Beginning with orga-nizing themselves into the shape of a heart and ending with spelling out “PDS” (shown above), the members found this activity exciting and a great way to end the retreat.

creation of different team chants to raise morale! After the tiring activities, all the members enjoyed a lunch of pizza, fruits, and vegetables while sitting on the steps of Zellerbach Playhouse while sharing stories about their professional and personal lives. This event was organized by none other than Alice Chang, our current Internal Affairs officer. Thanks Alice!

The PDS members present at the member’s retreat stand together in front of HAAS Pavillion for a group photograph.

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A. B. C,.

Pre-Dental Press

Spotlight: PDS Officers Board

InternalAlice Chang

Year: JuniorMajor: Public Health + DancePDS Goal for the year: To grow as an individual surrounded by like-minded people who can support, encourage, and motivate one other through this journey to becoming a dentist.

ExternalChloe Tsang

Year: SeniorMajor: Molecular Environmental BiologyPDS Goal for the year: To leave PDS with as much as I can so that it can keep growing year by year.

ExternalSteven Ryoo

Year: SeniorMajor: Integrative BiologyPDS Goal for the year: To connect PDS with dental shadowing opportunities within Berkeley and chances to work with mentors from UCSF.

PresidentHan Tran

Year: SeniorMajor: Integrative BiologyPDS Goal for the year: To promote and support the interest of pre-dental students in the UC Berkeley community!

Vice PresidentAmy Zhao

Year: SeniorMajor: Integrative Biology, French (minor)PDS Goal for the year: To be someone that members of our PDS family can rely on.

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Spotlight: PDS Officers Board

SecretaryChristy Tan

Year: SeniorMajor: Integrative Biology + Public HealthPDS Goal for the year: To help make everyone feel as welcome as I did when I joined and make new friends!

FinanceAlina Miller

Year: SeniorMajor: Molecular ToxicologyPDS Goal for the year: To enable to club to have financial freedom to do the activities and service that it wants.

FinanceEric Pierce

Year: SeniorMajor: Molecular Cell BiologyPDS Goal for the year: To be as helpful to the members now as the previous officers were to me. I hope to do everything I can to guide them in the right direction.

Community Service Sean Sunyoto

Year: SeniorMajor: Integrative BiologyPDS Goal for the year: Continue to foster the positive and welcoming PDS community and instill a dedication to service in members.

Community ServiceArjun Gupta

Year: SeniorMajor: Integrative BiologyPDS Goal for the year: To organize community service events with other pre-health clubs on campus and foster networking and interclub relations.

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Pre-Dental Press

Spotlight: PDS Officers Board

PublicityHanna Kim

Year: SophomoreMajor: Public HealthPDS Goal for the year: To reach out to other pre-dental students at Berkeley and create a strong group that helps and depends on each other.

PublicityHarpreet Batther

Year: JuniorMajor: Molecular Environmental BiologyPDS Goal for the year: To work with my fellow officers to assist pre-dental students reach their goals and get through the Berkeley curriculum!

WebmasterBrian Kim

Year: SophomoreMajor: Integrative BiologyPDS Goal for the year: To improve the website so it can be a useful resource for the PDS members.

DEOPStephanie Shimizu

Year: JuniorMajor: Integrative BiologyPDS Goal for the year: I hope we grow closer as a club because friendship and support are some of the best things that we can give to each other!

DEOPEunjin Kim

Year: SophomoreMajor: Integrative BiologyPDS Goal for the year: To reach out to a lot of children about dental health and have PDS members learn and gain something from the epxerience as well.

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Community Service (Lake Merritt)Interview with Arjun Gupta by Mohammad Shimari Community Service at Lake Merritt was an event where Lake Merritt teamed up with Dentistry from the Heart to provide free dental care to underprivileged Oakland citizens, many of whom could not afford health care. Members of PDS worked with the dentists and surgeons present there to give dental care, that varied from from cleanings to decayed root extractions, to countless patients. It was a very fulfilling event that left the volunteers with unique experiences and a renewed drive to serve and patients with an improved oral health.

Mohammad: What inspired the trip?Arjun: “Both Stephanie and Christy who volunteer at Lake Merritt brought up the opportunity! However, we did want to start service events this year with more of an emphasis on dental related opportunities.”Mo: What was most memorable from that trip?Arjun: “I loved assisting with a multi-root extraction surgery. Since the patient had a lot of other physical ailments (diabetes, hypertension, etc.) all of the steps we took to make sure we gave the best care possible were very educational.”Mo: What would you like to do differently on your next trip?Arjun: “I would ideally want to have more people attend. Rides were an issue since the bus ride and directions were a bit complicated to organize. This was especially true due to multiple shifts extending over a 12-hour volunteering period! I hope we might be able to carpool next time.”Mo: What do you look forward to in your next trip?Arjun: “I really am looking forward to working with more dentists and surgeons. Every time we work together I learn more than I could ever imagine. From pre-op patient care to actual procedural work and post-op instructions, the whole thing is extremely informative. Hands on assisting/experience are amazing as well!”http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Lake_Merritt_Oakland_California_panorama.jpg

CTIP-2By Mohammad Shimari A new breakthrough in scientific research at Oregon State University has allowed researchers to identify the gene that controls the production of enamel. This could potentially be a huge advancement in the field of dentistry. It may one day allow humans to be able to reproduce the enamel of a damaged tooth, as well as give us new tools in treating cavities, and tackling cavity prevention. The gene, called “Ctip2”, is a transcription factor known to control production of enamel, as well as to also control development of skin and nerve tissue. The transcription factor was discovered through a series of experiments conducted on mice in the College of Pharmacy at Oregon State University. In the mice that were stripped of the Ctip2 gene, results showed little to no enamel production of the teeth compared to those mice whose genes were not altered. Chrissa Kioussi, an assistant professor at Oregon State University was among the researchers leading this project. In an interview about her team’s findings, Kioussi stated that, “Enamel is one of the hardest coatings found in nature, it evolved to give carnivores the tough and long-lasting teeth they needed to survive”. Understanding the genetic code of the production of enamel is the first step in working towards the stimulation of stem cells that are able to reproduce enamel in the human body. Researchers used laboratory mice for the study, noting that the mice whose Ctip2 gene was removed lacked basic biological systems and cannot live after birth. In order for this research to develop, further testing must be done to allow for the control of the enamel growth component of the Ctip2 gene without hindering other components of the body such as the nervous system. In the progressed form of this research, humans may very well be able to use stem cell growth to regrow the enamel of eroded teeth, and lead to a breakthrough in enamel treatment. This research was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science journal, and was funded by the National Institute of Health.http://www.intelligentdental.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/phototake_rm_photo_of_tooth_illustration.http://www.mesadentalsd.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/phototake_rm_photo_of_tooth_illustration.jpg jpg

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DENTAL SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT- Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental MedicineBy Valerie Lua In light of the Pre-Dental Society’s spring break trip to Boston, Tufts, and Harvard dental schools, the Hen-ry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine at Boston University is under the spotlight this month. They offer a traditional DMD program; a seven-year program that combines a baccalaureate with the DMD, an MSD, and for those interested in advanced research expertise, a Doctor of Science in Dentistry(DScD), a Doctor of Science in Oral Biology(DSc), and a Doctor of Philosophy in Oral Biology(PhD).The Henry M. Goldman School is known for its rigorous programs in providing its students with a solid theoret-ical foundation combined with experience with patient care and clinical exposure. An important element to this institution is their community outreach, for instance, the Chelsea Comprehensive School-Based Dental Program. This program increased dental health awareness and access to dental care for public school children in the area. By starting its students off with service learning in the first year of its dental school curriculum, Boston students acquire a socially aware perspective that encourages community involvement in the future as well. This school is also known for its preclinical simulations that provide students with experience with patient care alongside its coursework. When it comes to patient care, its state-of-the-art facilities are known especially known for their preventative and restorative dentistry. They are known as a leader in dental research and offer programs in dental medicine, dental public health, endodontics, general dentistry, operative dentistry, oral biology, oral and maxillofacial sur-gery, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, pediatric dentistry, periodontology, and prosthodontics. With an abundance of programs, Henry M. Goldman School deserves the spotlight in this issue.

Statistics-Private School-Setting: Urban-52% female, 48% male-818 total students-tuition for both in-state and out-of-state: $43, 970-Fall application deadline: December 1-Acceptance rate: 7%-Amount of degrees offered: 31-No GPA or DAT cutoffsbut average GPA: 3.3 or aboveaverage DAT: 18 or above

CourseRequirements-3 semesters of Biology with lab-2 semesters of General Chemistry with lab-2 semesters of Organic Chemistry with lab-2 semesters of Physics with lab-2 semesters of Math including calculus-2 semesters of English or Compositionhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Goldman_School_of_Den-tal_Medicine,_Boston_MA.jpghttp://www.bu.edu/dental/files/2011/12/BU-SDM-building1.jpg

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DEOPBy So Hee Kim On October 6 and 7th, a group of trained and eager PDS members went to Lakeview Preschool in Oakland to educate children on the importance of oral health. PDS’ Dental Education Outreach Program (DEOP) is a fun and interactive community service program designed to teach young children lifelong ways to maintain healthy teeth. The mission is to provide sufficient information about dental care and to convey proper techniques to the children, because proper maintenance of dental/oral hygiene should be fulfilled during childhood. On both days, PDS members held stimulating and interactive activities for the young students to engage in. In one of the activities, the members taped brown paper, representing food, onto the children and instructed them to brush the paper off with their toothbrushes, demonstrating the importance of brushing their teeth after meals. Members also brought out a human teeth and gums model to provide cleaning instructions and to demonstrate how to properly brush teeth. The children were also given a chance to demonstrate their own brushing skills. Brushing up, down, and all around, the children showed what they learned from the members, keeping their model teeth neat and clean! After spending both mornings with the children of Lakeview Preschool, the members and the children waved goodbye, leaving both groups in high spirits. With such a positive response from the children, the DEOP team hopes to expand the program to have more successful trips through which PDS members can reach out to more children in the local community!

Exercise vs Tooth Quality: “Chews Wisely”By Zeru Feki Many different reputable sources in the medical field, including the University Hospital in Germany and the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Sports, have concluded that exercising increases the amount of tooth decay and plaque. They have found these results through several tests and experiments performed during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Although they found this correlation, doctors could not identify what was contributing to this relationship between tooth decay and exercise. This left many of us to assume that their poor oral hygiene was related to the consumption of sugary energy drinks, or their lack of proper dental hygiene. These myths were dispelled after the University Hospital Heidelberg in Germany collected two groups of athletes and performed saliva tests on each one. The first group had their saliva tested while being in a calm and non-strenuous environment, while the other group had their saliva taken in the process of an extraneous run. The results revealed that there were higher Alkaline levels in the group that completed the run. Alkaline metals are thought by the dental world to contribute more plaque and tartar in an individual’s mouth. The doctors involved in the experiment were satisfied with the results, yet warned that the small-scale experiment would have to be followed by many more trials with the athletes before coming to a definite conclusion. The official statement concluding the experiment is “prolonged endurance training might be a risk factor for oral health.”http://www.personalendo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/running.jpghttp://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/09/24/is-exercise-bad-for-your-teeth/http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/09/how-exercise-could-erode-teeth/380851/

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THE PRE-DENT PRESS

Cal Pre-Dental SocietyUniversity of California, Berkeley

c/o ASUC Office of Student Affairs102 Hearst Gym

Berkeley, CA 94720-4500

Contact us at [email protected] us online at http://pds.berkeley.edu/

Publicity Committee: Harpreet Batther, Hanna Kim, Valerie Lua, SoHee Kim, Zeru Fuki, and Mohammad Shimari.

The Pre-Dent Press is an ASUC sponsored publication. Cal Pre-Dental Society General Meetings are ASUC sponsored and wheelchair accessible. For information on publications, please contact Harpreet and Hanna at [email protected]. For information on advertising with Cal PDS, please contact Alina and Eric at

[email protected].

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