First Impression Spring 2022

ECU School of Dental Medicine

Our School

The East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine educates North Carolinians to be tomorrow’s solution
to the oral healthcare shortfall in our state. We prepare students who are inclined to serve rural and underserved
populations, and we teach them using a national model that includes the most modern technology, intensive
classroom instruction and hands-on experience at our statewide community service learning centers.
Faculty, students, and residents strive to meet patients where they are, to provide access to care close to their
home communities. Our clinics at ECU and centers across the state offer solutions to patients who might other-
wise not have access to dental care.

The State of North Carolina has funded the ECU School of Dental Medicine in building stand-alone dental
facilities called community service learning centers (CSLCs) in eight rural and underserved locations, including
Ahoskie, Brunswick County, Elizabeth City, Davidson County, Lillington, Robeson County, Spruce Pine, and
Sylva.
The centers are staffed by full-time and part-time faculty, residents, fourth-year students, dental hygienists, den-
tal assistants, and business staff. The centers provide hands-on experience for advanced students and residents
while also providing access to oral health care for more North Carolinians.

2 ECU ASDA Adapted from https://dental.ecu.edu/

NINTH EDITION

Table of

Contents

04 05

Message from the First Delegate Letter from the Editors

Greetings from First Delgate, Meet the dental duo
Joel Anil
08
06
ASDA Leadership
Editorial Board
Meet the ECU ASDA Leadership Team
Meet the First Impression team
18
12
Service
Wellness
ECU HSDA hosts the Sonrie
Dental Doggos and Eye Care Clinic

20 24

Events FEATURE: Dental Crypto

White Coat and Impressions Day New Ways to Pay

26 28

FEATURE: VELScope FEATURE: Schweitzer Op-Ed

Oral Cancer Detection Climate Change on Community
Health
30
32
FEATURE: CAD/CAM
FEATURE: Biomaterials
Technology in the Dental Field
Remineralizing the Demineralized
34

Spotlights

Faculty and Class Spotlights

SPRING 2022 FIRST IMPRESSION 3

Joel Anil

Hello ECU ASDA Family!
From the Week of Welcome, to the wellness events, to the conferences, and to the amazing events like the
Burnisher’s Ball, ECU ASDA has been such an influential part of my dental school experience. It all started
my D1 year when I had the opportunity to go to Chicago for the 2019 National Leadership Conference (now
rebranded as the Summit). It was an amazing experience to be around so many like-minded individuals
who were all going to be the next generation of dentists. The conference really showed me what the field
of dentistry has to offer and how specifically ASDA can help me become a great dentist. Upon this realiza-
tion I dove deep into ECU ASDA leadership by being a part of the executive board for the past three years
as Treasurer, 2nd Delegate, and now 1st Delegate. My time on the executive board has helped me grow as
a leader, and it has been a joy serving my ECU SoDM community through this role. I’m also thankful for the
leaders that have come before me to serve ECU ASDA: Jordan Brunson ’20, Amir Taha ’21, and Victoria Hardy
’22, I have learned so much from all three of them. This year has already started off strong with events such
as our Pet Bracket Challenge and a great pre-dental event with the ECU Pre-Dental Honor Society, and I
can’t wait to show you all the great events our leadership board is planning for the rest of the year. The First
Impression Magazine is one of the greatest hallmarks of our ASDA chapter, and through these pages it shows
all the great things that our fellow colleagues are doing to help advance the mission of this school, and I
hope you all enjoy it!
Joel Anil, Class of 2023
ASDA First Delegate

4 ECU ASDA NINTH EDITION

Abby Callahan and Yifei Wu

Greetings, SoDM!
We are thrilled to share the ninth
edition of ASDA’s First Impression
Magazine with you all. We have
had the best time working with our
committee, faculty, and contribu-
tors to make this edition unique.
We had big shoes to fill following
Cody as Editor-in-Chief but we are
so grateful to have been given the
opportunity to learn from him for so
long before taking it over. As always,
First Impression aims to highlight
the amazing things our students
are doing around the school and in
our community. We are thankful
for all the hard work that goes into
planning and putting on all these
events and service activities. This is
what makes ECU SoDM so special,
and we love getting to brag about
all of you. Specifically, this edition’s
articles focus on the bright future of
dentistry and how our ever-evolving
field is growing in all directions. This
edition has everything from cutting
edge technology to dogs in den-
tal offices. We hope you enjoy the
magazine and we are already looking
forward to the next one!
 
Abigail Callahan & Yifei Wu
Class of 2024
ECU ASDA First Impression,
Editors-in-Chief

SPRING 2022 FIRST IMPRESSION 5

Editiorial
Board

Kendall Bodah is from New Clinton is currently a D1 Will is from Pinehurst, Lydia comes to Greenville
Hanover county and ma- Student at ECU SoDM NC and double majored in from Rowan County, NC.
jored in Chemistry at UNC from Durham, North Exercise and Sport Science She attended North Car-
Wilmington. She loves Carolina. He attended NC and Anthropology. He was olina State University and
lacrosse and used to coach State where he received previously the Presdient of completed her degree in
at her local middle and his Bachelors in Biology the Dental School Govern- Polymer and Color Chemis-
high school. During her and Masters in Physiology. ment and is active in a lot try concentrated in Medical
free time, Kendall enjoys He worked in the private of organizations. He enjoys Sciences. Before attending
playing with her golden- industry at Biogen and JMC playing golf and tutoring dental school, Lydia worked
doodle Jovi, cheering on the Pharmaceuticals as a tech- at Sandhills Community as a biomedical engineer for
Buffalo Bills, and listen- nical chemist associate for College. Will will be grad- a medical textiles company.
ing to Taylor Swift. She is a few years. His experience uating this May and will She also spent time working
currently the social chair with volunteering at the be going on to complete in various dental and oral
for the Women in Dentistry Missions of Mercy dental his Endodontic Residency surgery practices. Lydia
Club and a member of a few clinics has encouraged his at Ohio State. He will be has three dogs (Chester,
other organizations. Kend- passion to serve the com- greatly missed on the First Winston, and Leo), three
all is excited to be a part of munity through dentistry. Impression Committee. cats, four fainting goats, and
the magazine committee to He is excited to be on the various farm animals. Her
help showcase the school ASD First Impression team favorite hobby is traveling,
and explore new dentist- and to continue learning at and she has a goal to set
ry-related topics. ECU SoDM. foot on every continent by
the time she is 30! Lydia
loves being a part of the
magazine because it gives
her an opportunity to
facilitate connections and
learning within the School
of Dental Medicine.

6 ECU ASDA NINTH EDITION

Brianna Horne is from Cody is from Durham, NC Pari Prahalad is originally Jarod is originally from An-
Martin County which is and graduated from UNC from India, but has called chorage, Alaska, but moved
located in Williamston, NC. – Chapel Hill with a degree Cary, NC home since 2013. to Greenville in 2016 where
She went to undergradu- in Chemistry. Before dental She graduated from Mer- he eventually studied Mo-
ate school at East Carolina school, Cody was plan- edith College in Raleigh, lecular and Cellular Biology
University and majored ning to become a science majoring in Biology. She at ECU. During his summer
in Nursing (Team “Pirate teacher or an astronaut, has also been a Registered before dental school, he
Nurse”). Before dental but those aspirations didn’t Dental Hygienist since worked on a halibut fish-
school, she worked as an pan out, because his sci- 2016. Pari loves to dance ing charter in Alaska and
operating room circulating ence GPA wasn’t too good and holds a masters’ degree traveled throughout the
nurse and dental assistant. (allegedly). These days, he in one of the Indian classi- US. His hobbies include
In her spare time, she en- spends his time focused on cal dance forms. Recently, fishing, rock climbing, and
joys doing hair and make- community oral health and Pari and her classmates bike-riding. A fun fact
up. As a current D2 student, deciphering the radiolu- conducted a Bollywood about Jarod is that he was
she is interested in general cencies depicted on dental Dance show through which a two-time state champion
dentistry and quickly gain- radiographs. He had a pet they raised over $3700 for wrestler. Jarod is excited
ing interest in oral medi- turtle named Leona for IOMSC for Cancer patients. about being a part of the
cine because of her nursing about 10 years but released In her spare time, she loves magazine team because he
background. She is excited it at a wonderful small pond to travel with her family. likes to share perspectives
for the magazine committee behind Duke Gardens, be- Pari has visited over 15 and collaborate with others
to give her an opportunity cause she got too big for her countries and is thrilled to to showcase the events and
to break out of her shell and enclosure and needed to be explore more. She is look- students at ECU SoDM.
keep the ECU SoDM family free. In his free time, Cody ing forward to being a part
informed about aspects of likes to read books, try out of the magazine committee
the holistic dentistry pro- new recipes, and travel the because she loves to collab-
fession. world. His favorite part orate with others and keep
about being on the maga- everyone up-to-date about
zine committee is working dentistry news.
with others, making cool
stuff, and drawing.

SPRING 2022 FIRST IMPRESSION 7

The American Student Dental Association is a na-
tional student-run organization that protects and
advances the rights, interests and welfare of dental
students. It introduces students to lifelong involve-
ment in organized dentistry and provides services,
information, education, representation and advocacy.

Executive Board

Joel Anil Joshua Walker Bradley Schmidt Dalia Nashed

First Delegate Second Delegate Treasurer Secretary

Team Coordinators

Alec Whyte Omar Taha Jarod Ruffing Hannah Moore

Pre-Dental ADPAC Professional Development Social Media

Alex Betancourt Cameron Smith Abby Callahan Yifei Wu

Fundraising/ Marketing Wellness Magazine Magazine

Class Representatives

Allison Tempel Kayla Kinard Rebecca Agner Victoria Hardy

Class of 2025 Class of 2024 Class of 2023 Class of 2022
NINTH EDITION
8 ECU ASDA

An Event Recap :

Jarod Ruffing, ‘25

The American Student Dental Association- one may think this is simply an opportunity to have fun and talk about dental school

curriculums, however, there is so much more that takes place through this wonderful organization. One of the most exciting events

through ASDA that took place was the Annual Session Summit in Chicago, Illinois. This event had roughly 600 dental students and pre-

dental students attend. Most of these students were in their later years of school and looking to find the next step in their journey.

With confidence, the students that attended the Summit learned

something that would better themselves as future practitioners. Whether

this was how to enhance patient care, specifically treating patients from

diverse backgrounds, how to land a residency, or even how to communi-
cate with staff within the office, there were many educational lessons to be
learned at this event. One of the biggest takeaways from all of these lessons

is that there is a large network of dental students and current dentists that

are there to support one another in any way possible.

During the Summit Event, there were many phenomenal speakers,
with the opening speaker being perhaps the most special. The speaker goes
by the name of Aron Ralston, who had one of the most amazing stories to

be told at this event. Aron was exploring a remote Canyon in Utah, where he

soon became trapped underneath a boulder. Over the course of five days,

he reflected on his life, leading him to a very brave decision to amputate his

arm so that he could free himself. This decision was fostered by his idea of

starting a family, being there for his parents, and he soon wrote the book, The District 4 event this year took place in Charles-
“Between a Rock and a Hard Place”. This presentation that he gave the stu-
dents made all of the attendee’s realize that difficult situations may evoke ton, South Carolina. The schools that were able to attend
realizations with underlying purposes in their life. For Aron, this was to raise were: Dental College of Georgia (GA), East Carolina Universi-
ty: School of Dental Medicine (NC), University of North Caroli-
a family, and be there for his family.
na, Chapel Hill: Adams School of Dentistry (NC), Medical Uni-

versity of South Carolina, James B. Edwards College of Dental

Medicine (SC), Meharry Medical College: School of Dentistry

(TN), University of Tennessee Health Science Center: College

of Dentistry (TN), and Virginia Commonwealth University:
School of Dentistry (VA). At this event, the students within the

District were able to connect and learn about each other, their

programs, and what each other’s stories were. During this

event, there were several guest lecturers that spoke on how

to run a successful practice, how to find a practice that suits
one’s mission, and how to treat patients with respect and

dignity. There were also informational sessions on self care,

the psychology of dental anxiety, and other self improvement

topics. This event gave the representatives opportunities to

get to know district members as well.

All in all, the 2021-2022 year allowed the students in the American Student Dental Association to better themselves, connect
with others, and have fun. One of the quotes that resonated with me that I think many can attribute to their mission as a future dentist
was, “The two most important days in your life; the day you were born, and the reason you find out why”. For many of us, this reason was

to serve the underserved, and we are so fortunate to be at an institution that supports that through thick and thin. We hope to see more

East Carolina University Students at ASDA events in the future. Go Pirates! FIRST IMPRESSION 9

SPRING 2022

Warmest greetings! Annual Session

On behalf of Joshua Walker, Joel Anil, and Omar Taha, we thank you for entrusting them with your voice
at the ASDA annual session in Louisville, Kentucky. They had a productive weekend developing policy and
voting for the newest leadership within our district and national ASDA association. Joel and Joshua also
helped write history within ASDA by electing the first black, female national President, Justina Anigbo.

With the aid of ASDA delegates from schools across the nation they created policy within ASDA to en-
hance dental school transparency for student demographic status among accepted students, improve
accessibility to students that have a disrupted education (such as virtual alternatives to classes), encour-
age application equity at dental schools for all students regardless of background, advocate for increase
access to dental care for minority populations, redefine policy to capture the timelessness of cultural
changes, and much more.

Some of the most contentious conversations that they participated in included the development of Post-
graduate year one (PGY-1) residency programs as a path to licensure. To protect our students, they voted
to create a special board to research whether or not residency programs produce competent dentists in a
valid and reliable way. We believe that this path to licensure could create a system where North Carolina
follows Delaware and New York in requiring new dentists to complete a residency prior to practicing in
their states and that system may not produce dentists that are competent. We look forward to reconven-
ing next year at the 2023 ASDA Annual Session to discuss this matter further and continue to advocate
for the students of our school.
Thank you,
ASDA Executive Board

10 ECU ASDA NINTH EDITION

SPRING 2022 11

Dental Doggos

Kendall Bodah, ‘24

A new addition to the dental office is on the rise, and it’s not some-
thing you might expect. Facility dogs are becoming more and more popular
in the dental office to help combat dental anxiety. Now this doesn’t mean
you can bring your own pup from home to sit in the dental chair with you
during your next visit. These dogs typically belong to the dentist and they
have both put in hours of training to be able to give you the most relaxing
dental experience possible.
Dental offices around the country are turning to facility dog training
organizations for these new employees. Just like any other staff member
in the office, these dogs need plenty of training and practice before they can
get to work. Facility dogs are similar to service dogs in terms of the intense
training they receive, but the tasks they learn aren’t specific to just one
person. They’re taught to lay in the patient’s lap and stay still during proce-
dures, and are even acclimated to the sound of our hand pieces! They can
also be taught to model behavior for pediatric patients. This could include
sitting in the chair, wearing a patient napkin, and opening their mouths for
an “exam.”
Rules and regulations on facility
dogs vary between states so make sure
to do your research before you decide to
adopt one of these four-legged friends.
Fortunately for us, North Carolina allows
facility dogs in dental offices as long as the
dog and the handler have been trained by
an accredited assistance dog organization.
According to the CDC, service animals do
not pose any more threat than humans
when it comes to disease control so no
specific infection prevention measures
need to be taken. It may be useful to use
a barrier between the pup and the patient
to prevent dog hair from shedding though!
What better way to ease anxiety than hav-
ing a dog snuggled on your lap? Consider
adding these furry friends to your practice

to make appointments a little less “ruff!”

12 ECU ASDA NINTH EDITION

Eye Health from a
Dental Student Perspective

Brianna Horne, ‘24

Frequent headaches, development of dry eye syndrome, and changes in vision are just
some of the most reported symptoms that dental students and the rest of the dental care team
have reported. It is thought that these symptoms are due to eye strain and lack of sleep encoun-
tered by these health care professionals.

For a long time, the health of the eyes in the dental profession have been overlooked
when compared to the development of musculoskeletal disorders that may limit the dentist’s
ability to provide adequate care to patients. An increased risk of developing eye strain in the den-
tal office and in dental school is becoming one of the 3rd most common health problems that are
faced by not only dentists, but also by dental students, dental hygienists, and dental assistants.

Fortunately, there are some effective ways to preserve the health of your eyes to add to
the longevity of your future career as a dentist! According to The Journal of Professional Excel-
lence Dimensions of Dental Hygiene, some of these include:
• Using proper eye protection when using any type of dental device that utilizes laser beams
• Use sunglasses and blue light filters outside of clinical care to reduce eye strain and fatigue
• Visit your eye doctor regularly and inform them of any unusual changes in your vision
• Make sure you are using the right dental magnification to eliminate eye strain, improve pos-

ture and reduce headaches.
• Take incremental breaks when you feel your eyes are getting tired
• Try to get at least 6-7 hours of sleep each night (* I know this may seem impossible in

dental school but sleep is very important to eye health !)
• Use artificial tears as needed
• When studying or reading, place the screen lower than the eye level to prevent the need

for the eyes to lift up toward the screen
• Use anti-glare screen covers

Always remember, the proper functioning of the dental team holds golden value when it
comes to providing quality care to patients. Taking care of the eyes is just as important as taking
care of other parts of our body. Preventing eye strain is imperative to the longevity and success in
the dental profession.

SPRING 2022 FIRST IMPRESSION 13

Quick Asian Noodle Bowl Ingredients:
1 package uncooked instant ramen
This recipe is so cheap, easy, and delicious and you can always 1 C frozen mixed veggies
have these ingredients on hand for a quick dinner! It’s also very Dash of sesame oil
customizable, so feel free to get creative with the sauce ingredi- 3 Tb soy sauce
ents or add a protein to really make it your own. 1 Tb hoisin (or ½ Tb honey)
1 Tb rice vinegar (or white vinegar)
1-2 tsp minced garlic
Chili oil or sriracha to taste

Olivia Manning, ‘24

Steps:
1. Bring a small pot of water to boil. Once boiling, drop in the noodles. Cook for 3-4 minutes, until
soft.
2. While the noodles are cooking, microwave frozen veggies for 2-3 minutes, until heated through.
3. Drain the noodles and set aside.
4. Combine sauce ingredients in the pot and stir.
5. Add the noodles and veggies back to the pot and toss until coated with the sauce. Enjoy!

14 ECU ASDA NINTH EDITION

Ingredients:
1 can (14 oz) chickpeas
½ C greek yogurt
1 Tb minced garlic
1.5 Tb smoked paprika
Juice of ½ a lemon
Sriracha or chili oil to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
4 tortillas or other wraps
Any toppings you want

Chickpea Wraps

This is one of my go-to lunch recipes when I’m craving something fresh and light
that will still fill me up and pack a lot of flavor. It’s so easy to mix up the chick-
peas at the beginning of the week, and then just assemble the wrap each day. You
can also switch up the toppings each day so you don’t feel like you’re eating the
same thing all week! (4 servings)

Steps:
1. Drain and rinse chickpeas.
2. Add to a food processor with the Greek yogurt, garlic, and lemon juice, pulse until desired consistency
is reached (or mash together with a fork).
3. Add smoked paprika, sriracha/chili oil, salt, and pepper and stir together.
4. Spread down the middle of a tortilla. The mixture is good on its own, but the wrap will really shine with
some toppings. I like pickles, pickled red onions, romaine lettuce, and goat or feta cheese, but you can get
creative!

SPRING 2022 FIRST IMPRESSION 15

CLUB SPOTLIGHT:
ECU Women in Dentistry

Laura Folk, ‘24

ECU’s Women in Dentistry (WID) is a club open to all female-identifying dental stu-
dents within the ECU School of Dental Medicine. The mission of the organization is to pro-
vide a supportive environment for the advancement and professional development of the
female dental students at our school through mentorship, collaboration, and service. One
question that has repeatedly arisen is, “Why is there a need for Women in Dentistry?” Is there
truly a reason to maintain a gender-exclusive club when our school does not have a major
gender disparity in enrollment?
It is easy to look at the progress of females within the dental field, and to at first feel
satisfied with the current situation within the pre-doctoral dental education gender break-
down. According to the ADA Health Policy Institute, the number of female dental school grad-
uates was 50.6% of the student population in 2019, up from 46% in 2009. However, the num-
bers in the workforce differ, with only 34.5% of dentists in the US workforce being female (2).
Gender parity within the dental field is not predicted until the year 2040. The next 18 years
are critical in pushing for this statistic to come into fruition.

1. Women in dentistry. FDI World Dental Federation. https://www.fdiworlddental.org/women-dentistry
2. Versaci, M. HPI: Women make up growing percentage of dental workforce. American Dental Association. 2017. https://www.ada.org/publications/ada-news/2021/march/wom-
en-make-up-growing-percentage-of-dental-workforce
16 3. Vujicic. M. Time to talk about the gender gap in dentist earnings. JADA. 2027; 148(4): 204-206. https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(17)30099-5/pdf

ECU ASDA NINTH EDITION

What does the field look like for female dentists now? Firstly, female dentists are subject
to blatant sexism and harassment. It is estimated that 50% of all female practitioners and den-
tal students have experienced harassment from other dentists or patients (1. Underrepresen-
tation is persistent not only in private practice, but also in positions of leadership. According
to the FDI World Dental Federation, women hold just 18% of dean positions at dental schools
and only 14.8% of major dental editorial board member positions. The implications of the
uneven sex ratio are immense. Women are paid less than their male counterparts, even when
specialty, experience, and work hours are considered1. A 2017 ADA Health Policy Institute study
found female dentists who are 5-9 years post-graduation make 37% less in earnings compared
to male dentists of the same experience and 25% less even after 20 years of experience (3).

These statistics paint a picture of a still very unequal profession in both opportunity and
compensation. A 50:50 gender ratio in dental school is an excellent start, but there is a long
way to go before equality in practice, representation, and pay is the standard in the dental
field. ECU Women in Dentistry plays a part in addressing these issues by cultivating import-
ant skills necessary for female dentists to navigate the academic and post-graduate working
environment. ECU WID accomplishes this by holding professional development sessions that
provide a space for female dentists to share personal past experiences and to discuss unique
challenges associated with practicing as a woman. WID has hosted two sessions since August
with Dr. Nikki Tucker and Dr. Sarah Kinsley who have provided insight on advocating for one-
self, one’s abilities, and one’s compensation in the dental field. Additionally, ECU WID believes
strongly in inter-year collaboration. Thus, WID has held student led talks focused on CSLCs
and D3 Clinic to give insight into these experiences and provide advice for navigating these
clinical scenarios. By fostering a strong connection between students of all years, members are
even more prepared to take on the new challenges presented in each year of school due to the
knowledge gained from these meetings and the networks of mentors and contacts they can
reach out to for help. The women of the ECU School of Dental Medicine are being prepared
to take on our field with confidence, compassion, and composure and will surely be important
vehicles in the push for true gender equality in the dental field.

SPRING 2022 FIRST IMPRESSION 17

SERVICE Annual Sonríe Clinic
at ECU SoDM

Brianna Horne, ‘24

“Serving the underserved” is a phrase that is not foreign here at ECU SoDM. One of the
main qualities that sets dentists apart is the willingness to have empathy, leadership,
and to serve the community. As we all know, ECU SoDM stays true to their mission
statement. Community service is emphasized in all that we do and it is an important
aspect of what makes ECU so unique. Although there are many community service
projects that dental students and faculty participate in, the Annual Sonríe Clinic has
been a mainstay in providing oral health care to the underserved.

18 ECU ASDA NINTH EDITION

SERVICE

The Sonríe Clinic was created by the dental students of the Hispanic Student Dental
Association (HSDA). This event is held annually with the main goal of providing oral
health care to migrant farmworkers. On Saturday February 26th, dental students, resi-
dents, faculty, staff and community members collaborated to achieve the goal of provid-
ing service to 23 patients. Some of the many services rendered included routine dental
cleanings, extractions, and restorative dental treatment. There were about 80 volunteers
and the clinic ran from 7am until 5pm. The annual Sonríe Clinic has been more than
valuable with not only providing care to the underserved but also bridging the gap in
oral health education and reducing barriers in accessing adequate oral health care.

SPRING 2022 FIRST IMPRESSION 19

Events Class

of 2024

White Coat

Ceremony

On March 3rd, 2022, the class of 2024 finally
received their white coats! The white coat
ceremony is a tradition at ECU SoDM that
signifies the students’ transition from the pre-
clinical to clinical setting.

This exciting milestone took place at the Greenville Convention Center where they were
able to celebrate with family, friends, and fellow classmates. The ceremony included a warm
welcome from several faculty members including Dr. Chadwick, Dr. Alves, and Dr. Thomp-
son. The class of 2024 chose Dr. Geraldeli and Dr. Lindauer for this year’s coaters because
of their dedication to the class during their preclinical courses. The ceremony concluded with
Dr. Elgendy leading the students through their class pledge which marked their commitment
to the dental profession. Congratulations to the class of 2024!

20 ECU ASDA NINTH EDITION

5th Annual Impressions Day Events

ECU SNDA hosted their 5th annual Im-
pressions Day on March 26th, 2022.
50 predental students came to Ross
Hall to learn all about what it takes to
be a member of the SoDM. Attendees
learned how to take impressions and
pour up their models, how to drill and re-
store some basic preparations, and even
got their very own headshots.

They also learned plenty of tips
and tricks for getting into dental
school! Members of SNDA led
the pre-dents through mock in-
terviews, DAT prep, and personal
statement review. Thank you to
the members of SNDA for host-
ing this and congrats on another
successful Impressions Day!

SPRING 2022 FIRST IMPRESSION 21

Chicago, The

Windy City

Cody Phen, ‘23

Between seeing patients in clinic and studying for the integrated den-
tal board exams, there was no time for me to rest and relax. Although
Greenville is great, it’s always nice to sneak a getaway and enjoy a much
needed break. For me, I finally got a chance to go to Chicago, Illinois and
attend ASDA’s Spring Council Meeting. This meeting is for dental students
who are national leaders and hold a position on one of ASDA’s councils.

As a member of the ASDA Editorial Board, I got
a chance to attend business meetings, leader-
ship seminars, and network with other dental
students across the nation. Some important
leadership topics we talked about include cul-
tural competency, communication styles, and
key writing skills. Of course, it was not all se-
rious business. Luckily, we also found time to
explore Chicago, the windy city.

One of the most popular and famous sights in
Chicago is called The Cloud Gate also known as
The Bean, found downtown in Millennium Park.
What makes it so unique is how this public
piece of artwork reflects the city’s skylines and
everything around it on its polished surface.
Pretty symbolic if you ask me.

22 ECU ASDA NINTH EDITION

After walking around all day, my stomach started growl-
ing at me. So the next stop was food. I decided to get
some pizza. I was looking to try the famous Chicago
deep-dish pizza, but it was tough finding a good restau-
rant that served it. Instead, I stopped by a local pizza
shop and got some New York-style cheese pizza instead.
Pretty ironic if you ask me.

Fun fact: Chicago is also the headquarters for the Ameri-
can Dental Association.

Overall, it was great exploring Chicago and meeting oth-
er like-minded students who are passionate about lead-
ership and dentistry. I highly recommend visiting Chica-
go as there’s much to experience from the awe-inspiring
sights to the delicious foods they offer. Just make sure
to bring a jacket, because it was quite cold and windy!

SPRING 2022 FIRST IMPRESSION 23

Crypto in dentistry
Crypto in dentistry

Clinton Cherry, ‘25

The world of cryptocurrency is becoming the forefront of new financial payments. Sta-
ble coins that are tied to the US dollar like USDT, USDC, and GUSD should be the first crypto-
currencies everyone should start with in order to gain exposure to the crypto market without
taking on any risk. For example, on the Gemini Exchange you can find the Gemini Dollar
(GUSD) which is held in bank accounts that are insured under the FDIC for up to $250,000.00.

The concept of owning a coin that is equal to a dollar doesn’t make much sense at first,
however, one benefit of owning Cryptocurrency is passive income interest. On that account
you are given the option to put it into an interest earnings account which yields a 6.9% interest
rate annually. When you are in need of money, you may request it out of your main bank ac-
count in a process that takes around one to two days. If you’re interested in being risky with
your investments there is a greater potential of extreme change in any direction. Although
there is a wide variety of cryptocurrencies on the market, one way to research which coins
are worthy of an investment are their overall market caps. This feature of the coin will give
some insight to how many people are invested in the coin as well as the circulating supply of
the coin and just like anything in life, when there’s less of a supply and more of a demand the
value of the coin becomes higher. There are so many functions that each coin has, for ex-
ample in the virtual universe such as video games, data information storage, logistics, value
storage and so much more.

24 ECU ASDA NINTH EDITION

Another way to access the crypto market is through crypto mining. This is an extreme-
ly complex process to explain, but can be accomplished by using crypto mining machines.
These machines essentially take data from the internet and turn it into alphanumeric code.
This alphanumeric code is then rewarded in the form of a coin. The aspect that makes coins
like bitcoin so valuable is that there are only so many codes that can be written, which means
the total number of bitcoin in circulation is capped. In many ways, bitcoin draws comparison
to gold because both of these assets have a finite supply ultimately making it more valuable.
This can be a possible source of passive income once your initial expenses, of buying the unit
and the cost of electricity, are paid off. For example, traditional miners for bitcoin used a lot
of electricity to run their machines but the price of bitcoin today has paid handsomely to the
early crypto miners.

Other coins like the Helium Radio network use very little energy by using radio waves
to mine, creating cryptocurrency. Overall there are many ways to access and benefit finan-
cially from this new and exciting market, however, as the market continues to grow govern-
ment regulation will undoubtedly become inevitable. This government regulation may pres-
ent a negative aspect for future investors, but for now the market remains in the near infant
stages which may one day be looked back upon as the wild wild west and a time to have
made a fortune.

Interestingly, cryptocurrency is becoming more popular in dentistry as well. There is a
cryptocurrency called DENT coin. DENT coin is for the sole purpose of making dental related
payments. Many credit card companies will charge convenience fees of around 1-4% that the
dentist has to pay when a patient pays for a procedure. Cryptocurrencies typically have none
or minimal transaction fees with transfers.

NFTs are also growing in popularity in the world of dentistry. NFTs are unique cryp-
tographic tokens that exist on the blockchain (same technology as cryptocurrency) and can-
not be replicated. Since it is a one-of-a-kind token address, no other can be made like it. For
example, “David after Dentist,” a viral YouTube video of the 2000s, was sold as a non-fungible
token (NFT) for $11,500.00 worth of cryptocurrency paid in ETH. Right now, there are so many
opportunities out there with many people creating unique NFT marketplaces even for dentist-
ry alone. Many of them have sold for a high dollar and the demand seems to keep growing.

The world of Cryptocurrency is gaining popularity, and it’s only a matter of time before
it becomes more mainstream. Having a general understanding of how it works could benefit
many dentists and dental offices in the near future.

SPRING 2022 FIRST IMPRESSION 25

An
Aid
for
Oral
Cancer

VELscopeDetection

1. https://velscope.com/
2. https://naenaedentalclinic.co.nz/blog/what-is-velscope-a-look-at-diagnosing-oral-surgeries/
3. Leuci S, Coppola N, Turkina A, et al. May VelScope Be Deemed an Opportunistic Oral Cancer Screening by General Dentists? A Pilot Study. J Clin Med. 2020;9(6):1754. Pub-
lished 2020 Jun 5. doi:10.3390/jcm9061754
4. Vibhute NA, Jagtap SV, Patil SV. Velscope guided oral cancer screening: A ray of hope in early oral cancer diagnosis. J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2021;25(3):548-549. doi:10.4103/
jomfp.JOMFP_315_20
5. Lima IFP, Brand LM, de Figueiredo JAP, Steier L, Lamers ML. Use of autofluorescence and fluorescent probes as a potential diagnostic tool for oral cancer: A systematic review.
Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2021 Mar;33:102073. doi: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2020.102073. Epub 2020 Nov 21. PMID: 33232819.

26 ECU ASDA NINTH EDITION

Lydia Hartung, ‘25

In a world where cancer rates seem to be rapidly rising, the detec-
tion of oral cancer is arguably one of the most imperative and time sensi-
tive tasks assigned to dental professionals. In some cases, early diagno-
sis and treatment can be the deciding factor in a “life or death” situation.
Making its debut in 2006, with the support of $50 Million in research and
development, VELscope was introduced as an alternative diagnostic tool
for early detection of oral cancers and abnormal tissues (1).

LED Dental, an Atlanta based dental lighting company, has continued to par-
take in research to improve upon and further develop the VELscope. The VELscope
is a wireless, handheld device that detects oral tissue abnormalities using natu-
ral tissue fluorescence. Traditionally, a comprehensive oral exam is completed to
identify potential oral abnormalities. Oftentimes, these abnormalities are diffi-
cult to see with the naked eye, especially when completed by someone with a lack
of experience.

According to VELscope professionals, the new technology uses a deep blue light
to excite the deep tissues of the oral cavity. These excited tissues will then emit
back their own light in shades of green, yellow, and red. The specialized filter of the
VELscope is supposed to, in turn, block the blue light and further intensifies any con-
trast between normal and abnormal tissues (2).

The company behind VELscope claims to offer a myriad of different practical
advantages. These advantages include its potential for combination with digital
photography, the ability for the device to detect both cancerous and precancerous
lesions, as well as being a quick and painless option that is approved by the FDA, tak-
ing only 2-3 minutes to perform (1).

Though there seems to be several benefits to the use of this product, it is im-
portant to remember that VELscope is a very new technology and has much to im-
prove until the dental field can exclusively use it as a diagnostic tool. According to
multiple studies done within the past 5 years, VELscope cannot improve a dentist’s
ability to identify malignancies (3), rather, it may work as a potential complemen-
tary diagnostic aid in the surveillance of high risk patients (4). A thorough head and
neck exam along with intraoral examination is still paramount for detecting signs
and symptoms or oral cancer.

The development of this technology has a lot of potential to transform the way
dentists screen for oral cancer. As time continues and new models emerge, more
research will need to be done before a definitive stance can be taken. It is of great
hope that as time progresses, so do the abilities of the VELscope, but for now it can-
not be suggested that it may replace the histopathological exam (5).

SPRING 2022 FIRST IMPRESSION 27

Going green
promotes
good health

Cody Phen, '23

It seems like every year the weather is becoming more extreme:
ranging from severe heat that can melt power cables to ma-
jor rainfalls that wash away homes to severe winter snow
that disables entire power grids. When we think of climate
change, we often neglect to consider the significant impact it
has on community health.

According to the U.S. National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences, climate change such as reduction of air qual-
ity due to greenhouse gasses, make many existing health con-
ditions worse for everyone, but specifically for the vulnera-
ble populations in our community – children, elderly, and the
poor. These negative health effects include increased risk fac-
tors for lung and heart disease, premature deaths from inju-
ries from extreme weather, and even poses a risk to our mental
health.

One great example of how climate change poses a risk to our
health is extreme heat and poor air quality. Greenhouse gas-
ses, such as carbon dioxide and methane, create a layer in our
atmosphere that traps the heat from sunlight preventing it
from escaping Earth, much like the windows of a greenhouse
that traps heat inside the house. In this case, Earth is the

house.

28 ECU ASDA NINTH EDITION

Extreme heat and poor air quality can worsen asthma, affect
the kidneys, and cause heat-related injuries such as dehydra-
tion and death. According to the EPA, burning fossil fuel for
transportation accounts for 29% of the greenhouse gasses,
electricity production at 23%, and residential heating and
handling of waste at 13%. This shows that households are ac-
countable for over 65% of the greenhouse gas emissions. Fur-
thermore, this demonstrates that we are the ones responsible
for negatively contributing to climate change and in turn, our
health.

Well, you must be thinking, I'm just a single person, what can I
do to help fight climate change and make my community a lit-
tle bit greener? There are several things we can do at an indi-
vidual level that can promote positive change in our commu-
nity and for the climate. Some examples include reducing food
waste. Americans throw about 40% of the food they buy. It
takes 95% less energy to create products from recycled alu-
minum products than from new aluminum sources. buying less
leads to reduction in landfall waste, and going electric using
hybrid or electric vehicles will help reduce carbon emissions.

A small change can have a big impact. For example, reducing
food waste and eating healthier means we prevent the early
onset of diabetes and hypertension. Recycling reduces waste
that ends up landfills and less waste means less pollution.
Buying less saves you money, always a good thing. And going
electric means less reliance on burning fossil fuels and pro-
duction of greenhouse gasses.

The main point is that consuming less and living sustainably
will not only improve and reverse climate change, but also
have positive effects on us and our community's health. Go
green by making one change today. And don't forget to reduce,
reuse, and recycle!

Cody Phen is a student at East Carolina University School of Dental
Medicine and a 2021-22 North Carolina Schweitzer Fellow. He is from
durham, nc.

SPRING 2022 FIRST IMPRESSION 29

CAD/CAM
Technology In The

Dental Field

Jarod Ruffing, ‘25

Computer-aided design,(CAD, and computer-aided manu-
facturing,(CAM, has been an advancement to the dental pro-
fession since 1985. This innovative technology has allowed
dentistry to construct dental restorations and prostheses.
The students at the East Carolina University School of Den-
tal Medicine are very fortunate to have access to this keen
technology.
Complex restorations can be rather time consuming,
and CAD/CAM technology has allowed dentists to cut the
overall working time down immensely, and in many cases with
more accuracy. Not only do dentists use this technology,
but dental laboratories do as well. The products that are
produced via CAD/CAM are inlays, crowns, onlays, veneers,
bridges, dentures, and implant-supported restorations from
high-strength ceramic.
The process to use CAD/CAM takes anywhere from 45 min-
utes to two hours, depending on what is being performed. On
average, this is 10-29% more efficient with regards to tradi-
tional methods. The following steps briefly illustrate what
this technology is capable of: Tooth Preparation, intraoral
scanning, restoration design, milling, sintering and polishing,
and lastly, cementation. This step by step process allows the
patient to receive care often on the same day, when typical-
ly there is a rather large lapse in time in between the initial
visit and the implementation of the dental treatment.

30 ECU ASDA NINTH EDITION

Furthermore, the benefits of CAD/CAM also include the
ability to take digital impressions, and allow the provider to
have a lower fee per treatment. Digital impressions reduce the
amount of waste that is generated, and allow for a more com-
fortable experience for the patient. Often, impressions have
voids, prolonging the treatment time. With CAD/CAM, this is not
a problem. This technology is certainly an investment, ranging
from $40,000-$112,000. The return on investment is roughly 2-3
years, depending on the amount of work that is being complet-
ed, as well as the amount of machinery that is being operated.
It seems that there needs to be a rather large amount of pro-
duction to make this investment worth it financially. This can be
visualized in the figure below.


Aside from saving money and being more efficient, this
product will allow patients to be more comfortable as well.
For anyone that has ever had an impression, they are rather
uncomfortable and can cause distress in some patients. Patient
care is the highest priority, and keeping them comfortable is
at the top of the list. Using CAD/CAM technology will allow a
patient to remain more comfortable without having any loose
alginate in the oral cavity. Lastly, the research supports that
there is no significant difference between the product longev-
ity of the CAD/CAM printed dental supplies when compared to
traditional lab methods. This is a plus in the regards that the
patient won't have to come in any more often compared to tra-
ditional methods.
In conclusion, CAD/CAM technology is certainly something
to consider as a future dentist. There are many pros to this
technology, but the attributes may not be worth the invest-
ment for everyone. Evaluating one's patient base and expected
treatment plans may help one decide if this technology is best
for them. It is certainly exciting to see this technology come as
far as it has, and in the future there will be even greater cut-
ting edge machinery to add to the CAD/CAM mechanics.

https://www.aegisdentalnetwork.com/idt/2013/08/return-on-investment-for-cad-cam FIRST IMPRESSION 31

SPRING 2022https://www.speareducation.com/spear-review/2012/07/return-on-investment

Remineralizing the
Demineralized

Dalia Nashed, ‘24 Pari Prahalad, ‘24

Every Friday morning at 7:30 am right before NINTH EDITION
operative lab, Dr. Geraldeli hosted the Den-
tal Biomaterial Study Club meetings for the
class of 2024. We explored topics in dental
materials from an evidence-based point of
view. Reading research papers whether they
are in vitro studies or clinical trials got me
really interested in doing research myself.

My research project focuses on exploring
the capacity of different bioactive glasses
to mineralize synthetic collagen. Bioactive
glass is a class of materials that is able to
form hydroxyapatite-like crystals when
placed in simulated body fluid. The first bio-
active glass was discovered by Larry Hench
in 1969 and it was named 45S5 Bioglass®.
45S5 binds very strongly to bone and stim-
ulates bone growth, but the particle size of
45S5 is too large to fit in between collagen
fibrils to allow for mineralization of colla-
gen. Even if 45S5 was a successful material
for scaffolds, it is not suitable for treating
diseases like caries that involves deminer-
alized collagen that needs to be remineral-
ized. Therefore, other bioactive glasses with
smaller size particles are hypothesized to be
more successful at mineralizing collagen.

32 ECU ASDA

40S5 is another bioactive glass particle that differ from the original 45S5 Bio-
glass® in size and in the method of synthesis. 40S5 has smaller particle size and
therefore are called nanoparticles. There are many factors that affect the ability
of a material to mineralize collagen besides the size of the particle. Crystallinity,
which is the degree of organization and order of a solid matter, is another import-
ant property of a material. On the crystallinity spectrum, synthetic hydroxyapatite
is on one end of the spectrum as being very crystalized. Amorphous calcium phos-
phate is on the other end of the spectrum as being completely amorphous (not
crystalized at all). Both 40S5 and 45S5 are semi-amorphous. They lie in the middle
of the spectrum as they are not completely crystalized, and they are not com-
pletely amorphous either.

When it comes to mineralizing synthetic collagen, hydroxyapatite and amorphous
calcium phosphate and everything in between are able to cause mineralization.
But the quality of that mineralization is the deal breaker. Hydroxyapatite is ther-
modynamically stable, and it takes a long period of time to mineralize collagen.
On the other hand, amorphous calcium phosphate is not very stable, and the rapid
ion release does not sustain mineralization. Thus, the kinetically driven miner-
alization by semi-amorphous particles such as 40S5 and 45S5 Bioglass® forms
crystals that become more stable over time leading to better mineralization.

Although mineralization is achieved by both 40S5 and 45S5 Bioglass®, 40S5 leads
to intrafibrillar mineralization, while 45S5 Bioglass® leads to extrafibrillar min-
eralization. That is because of the small particle size of 40S5 allowing it to fit in
between the collagen fibrils. But 45S5 Bioglass® has larger particle size that only
binds to the outer surface of collagen. Again, the focus is on the quality of miner-
alization, and it has been shown that intrafibrillar mineralization leads to more
favorable mechanical characteristics when compared to extrafibrillar mineraliza-
tion.

In my experiment, synthetic collagen was submerged in simulated body fluid,
and mineralization by synthetic hydroxyapatite, 40S5 and 45S5 was assessed. I
tested different concentrations (0.5 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL and 2 mg/mL) and different
mineralization periods (1h, 2h, and 3h). Results showed that changing concentra-
tion and time did not really affect mineralization, but more mineralization was
archived by 40S5 as hypothesized due to its small semi-amorphous particles. FTIR
shows the most intense peak is from mineralization by 40S5 (figure below) and
this peak at about 1050 cm-1 corresponds to the formation of orthophosphate
crystals, which is a strong indication of mineralization.

The next step for this project is to evaluate the quality of mineralization achieved
by analyzing the mineralized collagen using transmission electron microscopy
to see if intrafibrillar mineralization in fact was achieved. Also, taking this model
and applying it to a biological system will give us more insight on how 40S5 will
behave if compared to other materials that are currently being used.

SPRING 2022 FIRST IMPRESSION 33

D1 Student Spotlight Jesus
Torrealba

What has been your favorite part of dental school so
far?
My favorite part of Dental School has been the expo-
sure to the abundance of knowledge that the field has
to offer. From learning all the intricacies of the human
mouth and how that relates to the rest of the body has
been eye opening. Having the opportunity to work on
technique in Sim lab early on coupled with the inter-
actions with colleagues and professors have made for
an incredible experience.

What are some organizations you are a part of?
I am involved with the Hispanic Student Dental Asso-
ciation, but I have also been a part of ADEA’s Dental
School recruitment on behalf of ECU SoDM.

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a dental student?
My biggest challenge has been trying to balance life in and out of the classroom and the lab. With time I
have been able to figure out a system that seems to be working but it is always a work in progress.

What is your ultimate goal as a future dentist?
My biggest goal in Dentistry is opening a practice alongside my father (who is a Nurse Practitioner) in order
to provide both dental and primary care to the Statesville community and the surrounding area. We also
plan on outfitting a bus with everything we need to provide ambulatory care to people in our community
who don’t have transportation or have other barriers to care.

What did you do prior to dental school?
Before starting school I managed a clinical lab in Huntersville responsible for acquiring, prepping, and
running patient samples from different locations in the piedmont area. I was also the office translator, and if
needed to be a medical assistant.

What is some advice you would give to future dental students?
There will be good days and there will be bad days. The road is tough, but the reward is worth it; work
hard, don’t give up, and stay the course.

What are some things you enjoy doing in your free time?
In my free time I like to stay active playing pick-up/intramural sports. I also enjoy traveling to new places
around the country.

34 ECU ASDA NINTH EDITION

Cherina D2 Student Spotlight
McKnight

What has been your favorite part of dental school so
far?
Looking back at how far I have come in developing
hand skills has been my favorite part of dental school
so far. I have always loved the hands-on part of dental
school because I felt that I was naturally good at it, but
I love looking back at how I used to stress over doing
Class II preps, to now knocking them out in 15 minutes.
I also love my class. We are truly a family and being
able to go through ups and downs with my classmates
has been amazing.

What organizations have you been involved in?
I am involved in SNDA and Art & Aesthetic Dentistry
Club and have participated in several Women in
Dentistry events.

What has been your biggest challenge as a second year?
My biggest challenge so far has been Axium and balancing clinic with the biweekly exams. Axium and I have a
love-hate relationship. I learn something new daily and still find myself getting confused on things in Axium that
I thought I knew. As far as the biweekly exams, my mindset has been so patient and clinic driven that it has
been hard trying to find the motivation and time to try to study for lectures that are indeed very important, but
not the first thing I would prefer to do if I had to. I cannot wait to transition into clinic three days a week.

What’s your future goal with dentistry?
I am interested in being a general dentist. I hope to one day open my own practice in North Carolina where I
can host free dental clinics and events for the community. I hope that my office is one where patients are
excited to be at.

What did you do before you came to dental school?
Before attending dental school, I was a high school Earth and Environmental Science teacher for 3 years. I
taught at my old high school and absolutely loved my students but did not have a passion for teaching like I
do dentistry, so I had to follow my dreams. I studied for the DAT while working full time and saved up as much
money as I could for the dental school application process. I can say that it was all worth it.

What advice would you have given yourself on the first day of dental school?
I would tell myself to trust the journey. Everyone is different. And although it may be hard to not compare your-
self to others, don’t because we all have our own strengths and weaknesses. Lastly, I had to keep telling my-
self that it’s already written, so the extra stressing and worrying will do nothing. Everything will work out exactly
how it is supposed to and if it doesn’t, well that just means that it was never in your plan.

What are some things you enjoy doing in your free time?
During my free time I love hanging out with my significant other and my dog. We love trying new restaurants
and recipes. I am not much of an outside person, so Netflix and napping are definitely a huge part of my free
time. Whenever I get the chance, I love traveling and am truly looking forward to that once I graduate
from dental school.

SPRING 2022 FIRST IMPRESSION 35

D3 Student Spotlight Brianna
Ingram

What has been your favorite part of dental school so far?
My favorite part of dental school so far was our Oral Med-
icine course. Oral Medicine was not an area of dentistry I
was familiar with until I got to dental school. I thought the
material was very fascinating and loved learning about the
systemic body connection to the oral cavity. As an exten-
sion, I loved the case seminars taught by Dr. Hasan. and
the investigative nature of the crou
What did you do before you came to dental school?
I came to dental school directly from my undergraduate
education, so before dental school, I was at North Caroli-
na State University gaining a degree in Human Biology. n

What’s your future goal with dentistry?
My future goal in dentistry upon graduation would be the
beginning of an Oral Medicine residency. As I previously
mentioned, this is an area of dentistry I find fascinating,
would love to continue to learn about, and eventually cre-
ate a career within.

What has been your biggest challenge as a third-year dental student?
The biggest challenge of my third year has been my transition into clinic, but it has also been one of the most
rewarding. I personally struggled with finding my confidence in clinic, which made the transition difficult. I
think it is important to remember that even as we are in clinic, we are still students, and we will always be
learning. After some time/experience in clinic and great faculty mentorship, I have worked hard to overcome
that issue and provide the oral healthcare services my patients need. Clinic can be challenging, especially in
the transition period, but it is always worth it when you get a great result for your patient. ght

What organizations have you been involved in?
The main organization I have been a part of within the ECU School of Dental Medicine, is the Interdisciplin-
ary Oral Medicine Study Club. For the past year, I have served as Co-President, and we have been a part
of many activities. We host monthly interdisciplinary speakers to speak on various topics within healthcare,
some of which come from various areas of the world. We also got the opportunity to host some fundraising
events such as the Bollywood dancing event and the first annual Med Gala. Within ECU SODM I have also
been a part of the SCDA, Women in Dentistry, and the DMD organization.

What advice would you have given yourself on the first day of dental school?
I think some advice I heard on my own first day of dental school, but I would have loved to emphasize more
to myself would be “to put your blinders on.” It is so easy to compare yourself to your classmates and peers,
but in dental school everyone is on their own journey. To try to make your life easier, you will need to learn
early on that you must focus on your education and your journey, and not to focus so much on others.

What are some things you enjoy doing in your free time?
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my friends and family. I also adopted a dog during undergrad, who
I brought to dental school with me, so I enjoy hanging out with him. I also have a love for coffee and a new
espresso machine, so I am often trying out new recipes and different coffee creations.

36 ECU ASDA NINTH EDITION

Ryan D4 Student Spotlight
Mayberry

What are some of your hobbies outside of dental
school?
I used to be really into sports. I played baseball most of
my life and when that ended, I became rather seden-
tary other than the occasional 5-on-5 at the student
rec, or intramural softball leagues. I’ve inserted golf
as my activity of choice these days, which is always a
good time. I’m not good by any means, I just love being
out there with the homies. Otherwise, my time is spent
like most other 20-somethings. Movies, concerts,
video games, sporting events, exploring new cities,
finding new restaurants and coffee shops, shopping
and putting together fits, etc.

What are your plans post-graduation?
I’m getting married a month after we graduate! Then in
June I’ll be settling into an associateship with a prac-
tice outside of uptown Charlotte.

What is your favorite dental procedure?
I really like restorative. I enjoy placing fillings and doing crowns. I’d love to get into the esthetic driven stuff
eventually. A lot of times you’re restoring to or achieving a proper function that may not have been there
before. It’s a win-win for both the patient and provider when things are both functional and beautiful.

What advice would you give yourself on the first day of dental school?
Strap in, it’s going to be a long ride…
On a serious note, I would tell myself to try and enjoy certain aspects of the journey that I feel like I over-
looked because I was always on to the next thing. I suppose that’s the nature of being in such a fast-
paced training program. We sometimes get too caught up in the tasks in front of us to properly celebrate
the successes. Now that our time is ending, it’s easier to reflect on the past four years. We’ve learned a
lot, seen a lot, done a lot. We did the thing! It has been a pleasure to be part of the journey and watch the
entire class blossom into professionals.

What has been your favorite aspect of going to ECU SoDM?
Maybe the real treasure was the friends we made along the way. Getting through this journey is tolerable
only because of the support system you gather along the way. I’ve been fortunate to create some amazing
friendships here that I know will last a lifetime like my best buddy Will. It’s a lot easier to get through the
hard times when you have people to suffer through them with you. Most importantly, however, it makes the
celebration that much sweeter when you can all celebrate!

If you could be one person’s celebrity dentist who would you choose?
This is a loaded question. Sure, it would be awesome to meet your idol and have the pleasure of being
their dentist, but that’s a lot of pressure! Imagine having a veneer pop off on the red carpet. You’d be fin-
ished! Give me Steve Buscemi.

SPRING 2022 FIRST IMPRESSION 37

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT Dr. Wenjian

Zhang, DDS,

MS, PhD

Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Unit
Chief and Associate
Professor

]

Where are you from? Where did you attend dental school?
I came from China, and obtained my dental degree from the
School of Dentistry, Xian Jiaotong University in China.

Why did you decide to specialize in dentistry, specifically
radiology?
I was fascinated by dentistry because it is a skillful art that
restores the strength, stability and beauty of our teeth. Ra-
diology is a unique disciple of dentistry, which depends more
on our brain instead of the hand to uncover the mystery of
dental & maxillofacial pathoses.

What is some advice you would like to give to students who
are graduating and starting their career?
Be proud of yourself and have fun!

How do you spend your free time?
I exercise with my kids and watch them compete in tennis
tournaments.

What do you love most about dentistry?
The feeling of serenity when the mind and the hand focus on
drilling a tooth.

What is something you would like to see change in dentistry

or look forward to over the next few years?

Digital dentistry and advanced 3D dental imaging will revo-

lutionize how we perform dental work.

38 ECU ASDA NINTH EDITION

A special thanks to... Contributors

Kendall Bodah
Clinton Cherry

Will Grine
Lydia Hartung
Brianna Horne

Cody Phen
Pari Prahalad
Jarod Ruffing

along with...

Dr. Zhang
Joel Anil
Joshua Walker
Olivia Manning
Laura Folk
Brianna Smith
John Winslow
Dalia Nashed
Jesus Torrealba
Cherina McKnight
Brianna Ingram
Ryan Mayberry

for helping publish
another great edition!

If you’re interested in contributing to the next Dont forget to follow our socials to stay up-to-date
issue, please reach out to:
Abby Callahan ([email protected]) on all things ASDA!
Yifei Wu ([email protected])
@ecuasda ecuasda.org

SPRING 2022 FIRST IMPRESSION 39