The Diastema News

Volume 6, Issue 2 bridging the information gap Winter 2008

Inside
This Issue
Give Kids A Smile 1
Legislative Update 2
Exhibitor’s Fair 2
Western Regional 3
Second Year 4
PPID Program 4
Ask a Dental Student 5
Dean Park’s Dinner 5
BDP Update 6
ASB Camping Trip 6
Pedo Club 7
HDA Update 7
Faculty Interview 8
Dental Diversions 12

SAVE THE DATE!!

1st Annual
ASDA GOLF
TOURNAMENT UCLA Smile Makers pose outside the Toothfairy Cottage in Inglewood, CA.
Brookside GC
Pasadena
May 24 @ 10 AM
4-man scramble format,
UCLA ASDA Gives Kids A Smile
Thuy Tran Hoang, 2009
Long Drive Contest,
& more!
In the spirit of National Children’s Dental Health Month, UCLA dental students came out to Inglewood
Info: mrharvey@ucla.edu
Children’s Dental Center (CDC) for “Give Kids a Smile Day” on February 2, 2008. On this seemingly
quiet Saturday, over 50 enthusiastic UCLA dental students, residents, faculty and community members
Editor in Chief
came together to give children screenings, dental treatment, oral hygiene instructions and nutritional
Kristen Lowe
counseling.
Section Editors Created six years ago by the American Dental
Nancy Chen Association (ADA), “Give Kids a Smile” is part of a
Sherry Darabi nationwide effort to raise children’s dental health
Tamar Sardarian
Grant Stucki awareness. The ADA describes this program as a
William Trevor “national model” for oral health care access in
which dental professionals and corporate sponsors
Photo Editor work as a team to increase access to dental care.
Melissa Bailey
Inglewood’s “Give Kids a Smile Day” was
Submissions organized by UCLA ASDA Community Service and
If you would like to Clinical Director, Dr. Steven Uranga McKane, and
submit an article for Outreach Manager, Tara Bultema, of The Children’s
The Diastema News or Dental Center of Greater Los Angeles.
have a suggestion for
us, please email the Reflecting on the success of the event, Nancy
editor at: Chen, ASDA community service chair, said, “It was the collaborative efforts and enthusiasm of all the
Diastema.News@gmail.com participants that made the event a success. Collectively, we outreached to the underserved children
Editorial Disclaimer: The in the community by providing oral health education and treatment.”
opinions contained herein do
not necessarily reflect those of Formerly a residential home, the Inglewood CDC was converted into the Toothfairy Cottage and
UCLA or of the UCLA School of
Dentistry in particular.
the Smile Store. During this particular event, an estimated 170 kids came through the Toothfairy
Cottage where they were met by first and second year dental students. Children enjoyed an array of
see GKAS, page 10
 ASDA News
Legislative Liaison Update
Melissa Bailey, 2010

One of the American of significant legislative and political developments and to help you
StudentDental express your concerns through letter-writing campaigns, political
Association’s most action committee fundraising, and other political activities. To this
important duties is to end, you have probably noticed a number of email messages from
maintain an active me alerting you to recent developments in current legislative issues.
presence in the nation’s In addition to these emails, our local ASDA Legislative Committee
capitol by monitoring organizes a number of events on campus for student involvement.
and influencing the During fall quarter, we hosted the very popular “Sushi & Politics”
legislation and regulations that affect
the dental profession. The ASDA
Legislative Grassroots Network (LGN) is
dedicated to increasing the
understanding and involvement of
dental students in the political process
by working to inform legislators how
proposed legislation will affect dental
students, dentists, and patients. At the
same time, LGN Legislative Liaisons at
each dental school provide dental
students with the information they need
to form opinions on political issues
concerning dentistry, such as amalgam
bans, dental health aid therapists,
medical malpractice reform, and
funding for residency and specialty
programs.
As the ASDA Legislative Liaison for
UCLA, it is my job to keep you informed
Tal Masserman and Gil Ivry, 2010, listen intently at our fall Sushi and Politics event.

event, in which attendees enjoyed a free lunch from Sushi Mac and
learned about the importance of political activity from a
representative of the ADA Legislative Department. Later, we held a
fundraising drive for the American Dental Political Action
Committee (ADPAC), a bipartisan organization that works to elect
candidates who understand the importance of dentistry and the
nation’s oral health. We raised nearly $500.
In March, UCLA sent six delegates to Washington D.C. for the
annual ASDA Student Lobby Day. The purpose of Lobby Day is for
dental students to inform lawmakers about critical legislation and
petition personally for their support. This is one of the most
important legislative events of the year for ASDA.
The leadership of ASDA recognizes that legislative issues can have
a dramatic impact on the practice and profession of dentistry.
Therefore, it is critical that practitioners (and future practitioners)
play a substantial role in shaping legislation, both for the benefit of
patients and the profession as a whole. For this purpose, it is my
hope that the ASDA Legislative Committee will continue to provide
our students opportunities to be involved with various legislative,
regulatory, and public policy initiatives.
Sushi!

Diastema News 2
Exhibitor’s Fair A Success ASDA News

David Avenetti, 2010

On the evening of
November 7th, 2007, ASDA
hosted its 13 th annual
Exhibitor’s Fair. The
Exhibitor’s Fair is an event
that allows attendees to
interact with colleagues and
other dental professionals
while they learn about the
latest dental products.
Nearly fifty vendors as well
as three hundred students,
alumni, and faculty filled the
Ackerman Grand Ballroom
located on North campus in
support of the event. Even
some members of the
undergraduate pre-dental
club took the time to make
an appearance! Chris Chau, Amy Yen, Melissa Bailey and Aldrich Sy recruit new ASDA members at the Exhibitor’s Fair.
At the fair, visitors had the opportunity to place orders available. During the fair, Chanel was able to engage in
for merchandise at discounted rates and obtain a few dialogue and make connections with vendors that she
promotional items along the way. In the meantime, the hopes will serve as resources in her future.
event served the local chapter of ASDA by raising funds At the end of the night, many students happily walked
to support other activities throughout the year. away with their hands full of valuable raffle prizes
Chanel McCreedy, a 2nd year student, noted that she donated by ASDA and various vendors. Such prizes
found the event to be a particularly rewarding, as she is included handpieces, iPods, LED headlights, gift cards, and
beginning to spend more time in clinic and can exam preparation courses.
appreciate the clinical relevance of the resources

Western Regional Meeting - Chicago

Jelson Yalung, 2009
My phone buzzed to indicate a text message
that read, “We are sorry to inform you that your
flight to Chicago has been canceled.” This began
a string of delays that resulted in our cross
country journey stretching into the early morning
hours of the next day. While the winter snow
threatened to damper the Annual ASDA Western
Regional Meeting, there was no stopping UCLA
ASDA members from gaining an experience that
was both inspiring and motivational.
The purposes of the ASDA Western Regional
Meeting are to discuss dental issues that are
pertinent to dental students in the Western region
and to train newly elected local chapter leaders
for the Annual Session. UCLA ASDA’s leaders
participated in a mock House of Delegates
session, District Caucus meetings, and
Eddie Surger, Kristi Shamburg, Kristen Lowe and Jelson Yalung in Chicago.

see Chicago, page 10

Diastema News 3
 Campus Life
A Night with Dean Park
Jane Refela, 2009
As the sun began to set, Dr. Park proposed a deal: any
On August 17th 2007, Dean Park hosted a dinner party student willing to sing would win a ticket to a UCLA home
for the Class of 2009 at football game. Leedia
his home in Brentwood. Riman was the first
The night included a brave soul and sang the
lovely outdoor dinner well-known “Take Me
overlooking Los Angeles. Out to the Ball Game.”
Throughout the night, Two students impressed
Dean Park shared stories the crowd with foreign
and photographs from songs. Ryan Hodges
his last trip to China, his sang a beautiful Korean
favorite getaway country. song that he learned
Dr. Carol Bibb was also while living in Korea,
present and spoke of her and Juan Carlos
trips to Japan with the Mendoza showed off his
UCLA-Asahi-Meikai professional vocals
Exchange Program. Mrs. during his rendition of a
Park took the students on romantic Spanish song.
a tour of her beautiful After sunset, the
garden. Several admiring Class of 2009 members dine at the Parks’ Brentwood residence. students took
students received fresh cut flowers from Mrs. Park. spectacular photos with the city lights on the horizon.
The Parks’ home also includes many spectacular The night was so clear that Dodger’s Stadium was visible.
paintings, several of which Dean Park painted himself! Mrs. Park explained that during summer, fireworks from
He noted that inspiration for the paintings is derived from the stadium can be seen.
nature, famous paintings, and scenic views from his world At the end of the night, the students were grateful to
travels. Throughout the night, students viewed and Dean and Mrs. Park for the charming evening of
admired Dean Park’s artistic talent. fellowship.

Portrait of a Second Year Student

Will Second Year, 2010
Every dental student reaches
a point when it becomes
apparent there is no turning
back – a moment of anxious
terror at the realization you’ve
stepped into tar and let yourself
sink. All that can be said in
response to this epiphany is:
Welcome to the second year of
dental school.
Of course, the most
redeeming aspect of Second Year
is that it’s only one year in length. Anything more would
kill the average person and ensure insanity among the
survivors. That being said, the second year of dental
school still exacts a bitter mental toll.
As first years, we had, at the very least, an
acquaintanceship with reason. However, with the passing
of the academic year, my acquaintance has reverted to a
long, lost friend. Undoubtedly, fumes of colored
compounds and particulate plastic clouds have weathered
my sanity (and consequently, devastated my respiratory
system beyond repair). But like most around me, my
last marble was lost to the maddening resemblance of left
and right Pilkington-Turner premolars, many of which
were also lost beneath the benches of the fourth floor
lab.
In short, the second year of dental school has rendered
me more or less insane. I know this because the average
person thinks about wax once every two months or less.
I am above average. By all normal standards, I have
developed an unnatural obsession. Whether it’s boxing,
utility, or the base plate variety, I am up to my ears in
wax, and no tip has enough Q to cleanse the stickiness
of my situation. I am immersed.
Such is the course of Second Year. Everything is
coming at you, but nothing seems to be going your way.
You’re stuck coping with coping, and soldiering on. And,
when you feel you might lose your mind, you simply find
sanctuary in working all the harder. These are irrational
times, indeed. But I suppose we’ll survive, and with the
stability and support of our families and friends, just
maybe we’ll manage the retention of a little reason along
the way.

Diastema News 4
The PPID Experience
Michael Oladubu, 2009
Campus Life

For the uninitiated, the acronym Ask a Dental Student

Nancy Chen, 2010
PPID may not mean much, but to a
certain group of students in the UCLA
School of Dentistry, it is an identity that Who did you vote for in the
is borne proudly. PPID, or the California primaries?
Professional Program for International
Dentists, is a UCLA initiative aimed at
foreign-trained dentists with the dual
purpose of enhancing the training they
already possess and enabling them to obtain U.S.
licensure. The program was established in 2002 and has Jason May ‘10
thus far graduated a total of 39 foreign-trained dentists. “I’m totally for Obama! His optimism
The reputation of UCLA as a center for academic inspires me, and I think he’d do a good
excellence is one of the many reasons dentists from job.”
different corners of the globe come to receive instruction
from its renowned faculty and researchers. The journey
to become a PPID student at UCLA is often quite
challenging. Over 300 candidates apply to the program
per year, 36 of those are interviewed, while only 12 are
offered positions. The nature of the admissions process JennaMcDonald ‘11
is very competitive, and applicants often possess
“I voted for Hillary because after watching a
advanced degrees and/or specialty training. Most have
few of the debates, I’m convinced she has
contributed to their respective communities through
the experience and moral values needed in
volunteer work or to academia through research.
our next president.”
For those candidates who are accepted, UCLA is a
favored choice over similar programs at other institutions
because students are integrated into the classes and
clinics of the traditional dental program. Members of PPID
attend the same didactic lectures, are incorporated into
existing CPC teams and earn the same DDS degrees as
regular students. After completing a very rigorous
summer curriculum (which may be viewed as a Robert Sharobiem ‘09
condensation of the first 2 years of dental school), PPID “I voted for Hillary Clinton in the primary
students are considered part of the 3rd year class and are because Bill Clinton was the first female
held to identical standards and requirements as the president, and she did a wonderful job, so
traditional students. I expect her husband to do the same.”
There is another aspect of the integration process that
is perhaps more complex: social integration. Like many
transfer students who attend a school after social bonds
and contracts have been formed and negotiated, the PPID
students welcome friendly overtures that suggest that
they are a core part of the larger whole. With time, the
PPID students come to know their classmates, instructors Konita Wilks ‘11
and other administrative staff. From the PPID student’s “Veering outside my party lines, I voted for
perspective, it may be regarded as a process of McCain; he offers something that our
acculturation, overcoming language and cultural barriers country desperately longs for – a renewed
and forming lasting relationships. Perhaps one of the faith and trust in our nation’s political
greatest resources for the PPID student in his/her bid to leadership. He makes decisions based on his
learn how to practice dentistry the UCLA way, is the fellow beliefs in what is right, even if it does not
traditional student who is able to provide answers to a align with his party or popular opinion at
myriad of questions from SOE related issues to the the time.”
idiosyncrasies of the clinical instructors.
see PPID, page 10
Diastema News 5
Clubs & Community
Basic Dental Principles
Kristen Lowe, 2009
laboratory portion of the course, organizing and
The Basic Dental Principles (BDP) recruiting volunteers for the largest laboratory section
course was founded by UCLA dental in BDP history. They enlisted over thirty volunteers for
students as an innovative approach the first lab session, during which pre-dental students had
to addressing the imminent faculty personal tutors guide them through their very first Class
shortage facing the I preparation.
nation’s dental schools. The course has
It is a weekly course taught to undergraduates proven to be extremely
by third year dental students during winter rewarding for both the
and spring quarters. The objectives of the pre-dental and dental
course are to train D.D.S. students to become students involved. The
effective educators through guided undergraduates often
workshops and to provide pre-dental students go on to be some of the
an overview of the profession through lecture most prepared and
and laboratory experiences. enthusiastic dental
The course is led this year by Edward students, and dental
Surger and Kristen Lowe (2009) under the students are
mentorship of Drs. Karen Lefever and Carol confidently able to
Bibb. Currently in its fourth cycle, the course meet the oft daunting
has expanded to include nearly one hundred Daniel Jun, ‘10 walks a pre-dent through his first prep. challenge of lecturing
students in the lecture series and thirty students in the in front of a large audience. D3 lecturer Adrienne Hecht
laboratory series. Lectures cover a wide variety of dental noted that she, “has gained a great deal of respect for
topics, including seminars on the dental admissions faculty” from her experiences thus far in the program.
process, dental anatomy and dental specialties.
Second years Lindsay Constantino and Chanel see BDP, page 10
McCreedy have done outstanding work to coordinate the

ASB Big Bear Camping Trip

Israel Trujillo, 2009
Oktoberfest and later went for a walk at the local
We departed for our adventure at 8:30 P.M. Two hours boardwalk.
into our drive, we stopped at a local gas station to refill As the sun began to show signs of the days’ end, we
our tank and buy a few snacks. Cynthia Morford departed discussed the cold night ahead of us and ultimately
from the gas station with a new cowboy hat ready to decided to rent a cabin. We packed up the campsite and
finish the trek to our destination. settled in at our newly rented cabin. The night consisted
After another hour, we reached 3,000 feet and pulled of us eating “ketchup and beer” marinated steak,
over to admire the scenery from a lookout spot. The sky cooking s’mores, and drinking beer and Irish Carbombs
was very clear, and the stars were just as bright as the see ASB, page 11
city below. We opened the doors of the van to step outside,
and we realized that it was going to be a very cold night.
We got to the camping spot and set up the tents at
around 12:30 A.M. All of us had a rough night; the cold
woke us up often, but we made it through. The next
morning, Dan Nelson prepared a vegetarian sausage and
egg breakfast feast with his portable gas stove. We
discussed the long night over breakfast while Raquel and
her husband, Greg, made hot chocolate and coffee.
The sun started to rise, and we started our activities.
Dan, Cynthia, and Katherine (2008) went for a nature
walk and were lucky enough to see a coyote dash by.
We were all famished by lunch, so we headed to Big
Bear Lake for a picnic. Afterward, we visited the local
Chilly campers warm up wtih some coffee and breakfast.

Diastema News 6
Pediatric Dentistry Club
Marissa Faeldan and Anne Reeves, 2009
The fireworks have popped, the ball has dropped, 2008
has officially made its way around, and the Student
Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
(SCAAPD) has kicked into full gear. By expanding your
minds to research and service, we
strive to enhance your pre-doctoral
experience with children in order to
better equip you with the skills to
successfully overcome the
challenges that practicing dentistry
beyond dental school entails.
This year, SCAAPD will offer
article reviews and informal lunch
and learns on topics including
health literacy, motivational
interviewing techniques, risk
assessment methods, and oral
health disparities. If there’s something specific you want
to learn more about, please let us know, and we will gladly
add it to the list! Outreach events include the UCLA/Venice
Give Kids A Smile Day held on February 23 and the Special
Olympics this spring. We will also sponsor an
Hispanic Dental Association
Michelle Alvarez, 2011
With over seventy members, the Hispanic Dental
Association (HDA) chapter at UCLA has rapidly expanded
since its establishment at UCLA in 2004. Its growth is
probably due to the chapter’s dedication to promoting
and improving oral health care in underserved and low-
income communities. Upon asking Geraldine Hidalgo, a
new member and HDA Class of 2011 Liaison, why she
joined, she responded: “It’s heartbreaking to go into many
L.A. areas and see people who need oral health care but
can’t afford it. It was natural for me to join an
organization that steps in to treat and educate those who
need it.”
HDA in action!
Clubs & Community
informative event in the spring quarter for those
interested in pediatric externship programs that will
allow you to interact with pediatric dentists and residents
and find out more about the ins and outs of applying for
an externship program suited for you. In February, a joint
event was held by SCAAPD and
the Student Chapter of General
Dentistry featuring Dr. Armenian,
a general dentist and graduate of
UCLA who has focused her
practice serving the population
she loves best – kids! She
eloquently shared how she built
a successful private practice
doing what she loves most while
still giving back to the
community.
If you have been looking for a
way to get involved and to get to know students who hold
the same interest for children’s oral health as you, we urge
you to come to any of our events. We believe children’s
oral health issues cut across all disciplines, so everybody
is encouraged to be a part of our growing family!
This school year, HDA visited both Proyecto Pastoral
afterschool program in Boyle Heights and Dickison
Elementary School in Compton. K-8 students were
instructed in proper flossing and brushing techniques
and were given both toothbrushes and toothpastes to
practice their newly refined skill. Similarly, HDA
participated in the Placita Olvera Health Fair last
November; the organization provided dental screenings,
toothbrushes, toothpastes, and bilingual oral health
brochures to children and adults. One of HDA’s proudest
accomplishments was organizing a Spanish oral health
parent seminar at Centro Alegria Child Care Center in East
Los Angeles. The parents learned about baby bottle caries,
the importance of oral
hygiene and proper
brushing techniques.
During the 2007
holiday season, HDA
members participated
in Project Santa Claus,
an annual event that
gives children from
c o m m u n i t i e s
surrounding King/
see HDA, page 11
Diastema News 7
Faculty Interview
Concerning his undergraduate
time at UC Berkeley, Dr. Beumer said
the following, “I had a wonderful
time. In those days, [the early 1960’s]
it was a wonderful place to be.” Dr.
Beumer attended UCSF School of
Dentistry and noted, “That was the
perfect school for me, just like
Berkeley. It was a very strong clinical
school. It was not as strong in
research in those days. Now it’s kind
of the opposite; it’s a very strong
research school but a weak clinical
school. It was perfect for me because
we obtained a lot of clinical
experience, and we had many
dedicated clinical faculty who were
wonderful role models.”
Interestingly enough, Dr. Beumer
did not go into prosthodontic
training immediately after dental
school. Upon graduation, he
completed an oral medicine
residency program, obtained an M.S.
in oral biology, and then served for 2
years on the UCSF faculty before
coming to UCLA in 1972 to run the
Maxillofacial Clinic. He then enrolled
in the postgraduate training program
in prosthodontics directed by Dr. F. J.
Kratochvil. Dr. Beumer was one of
Diastema News 8
“If you can find something that you enjoy
and have a passion for it, it doesn’t matter
how much money you make, you’re going
to enjoy your professional life, and an
enjoyable and rewarding professional life
will spill over into your personal life.”
Dr. John Beumer
Dr. John Beumer has contributed countless hours of effort mentoring and
teaching students and residents at the UCLA School of Dentistry. He was
recently interviewed by The Diastema News’ Grant Stucki to spotlight his
personal history and asked for his advice for the students at the UCLA
School of Dentistry.
the first two residents enrolled in this Last December, I was in India
new program. In both oral medicine basically doing the same thing at a
and prosthodontics, Dr. Beumer felt major cancer hospital in India (Tata
like he had, “two of the best mentors Memorial in Mumbai). This has been
anyone could possibly have,” for Dr. interesting, exciting and rewarding
F. J. Kratochvil (prosthodontics) and work. I have had the opportunity to
Dr. Sol Silverman (oral medicine) work with many talented and
were giants in their respective accomplished people over the years
disciplines. “I was pretty lucky. I like and have developed friendships with
to call that a Beumer bounce.” colleagues in every part of the world.”
Nowadays, one of Dr. Beumer’s When asked for words of wisdom
favorite pastimes is the international for dental students who are trying to
outreach program he conducts. “For figure out what specialty to go into,
the last thirty years, I have had the Dr. Beumer responded with the
opportunity to go all over the world following, “First, don’t worry about
and set up programs devoted to the the financial return. You’ve got to find
rehabilitation of head and neck something that you enjoy. You’re not
cancer patients. It all started in 1978 going to be good at anything unless
in Egypt. “I went on an outreach you really like it. If you can find
mission on behalf of a charitable something that you enjoy and have a
group called Project passion for it, it doesn’t matter how
Hope. I spent three
months at the Faculty
of Dentistry at the “ Dentistry is a wonderful profession.
University of
Alexandria in Egypt
You can make a very good living,
and set up a provide valuable services for people
Maxillofacial Clinic and dramatically impact the quality
and trained their
faculty. I’ve been of their lives. I highly recommend it. I
doing that ever since. have no regrets. ”
 Faculty Interview

much money you make, you’re going wake of the recent negative publicity Although the actions of a few have
to enjoy your professional life, and that the school has received. As chair disappointed Dr. Beumer, he has a
an enjoyable and rewarding of the Faculty Executive Committee, positive message for students. “I
professional life will spill over into Dr. Beumer was involved in the wouldn’t be disheartened. These
your personal life. That’s the advice controversy concerning the things are part of the human
my father gave me when I was a orthodontics program last fall. We condition. Our profession is not
young man, and that’s the advice that asked him for his comments. “My immune to such incidents. What is
I give to young people. If you’re not resignation letter as chair of the FEC most important is to maintain a high
sure whether to pursue specialty speaks for itself. In my view, such level of professional and personal
training or are undecided about practices are quite inappropriate for integrity and stand up for those basic
which specialty to pursue, spend a any university, let alone a public principles in which we believe. When
couple of years in practice. However, university, such as UCLA. Since The these facts were brought to my
I would definitely recommend [Daily] Bruin article, several attention, I was disappointed, angry
specialty training because I think in additional people have come forward and ashamed. However, appropriate
today’s environment you can have a to corroborate the allegations. The corrections have been made, and in
more fulfilling career. continued denials by the the long term, the institution will be
“In addition, dental specialties are orthodontics faculty, as recently better off because of this experience.
much more developed and advanced published in The Bruin Orthodontist, I am confident such things will never
than when I got out of school. are disingenuous and happen again.”
Periodontics is a good example. Perio counterproductive and further Dr. Beumer has a strong
wasn’t much of a specialty when I damage the credibility of the section conviction that UCLA dental
graduated, but today it has a
much wider range: you’re
placing implants, extracting
teeth, doing dentoalveolar
surgery in preparation for
implant placement, and
conducting bone grafts.
You’re doing a lot of
interesting things that were
a not a part of the practice of
periodontics 35 or 40 years
ago.
“Prosthodontics is much
more interesting than when
I started... Besides
c o n v e n t i o n a l
prosthodontics, there is now
implant prosthodontics,
maxillofacial prosthodontics,
and those who wish can be
trained to perform implant
surgery. So, my advice is find
something that you enjoy. If
you enjoy it, you’re going to Dr. Beumer and the UCLA Prosthodontics Group.
be good at it. When you find a of orthodontics and the School of graduates are the cream of the crop.
specialty that blends your talents Dentistry. I believe the FEC He believes in their abilities and
with your desires, dentistry can be a addressed the problem very encourages them to work hard and
very fulfilling career. Otherwise, it effectively. They developed a very maintain the excellent reputation
can be pure drudgery.” specific conflict of interest statement that former UCLA students have
Along with this helpful advice that clearly delineates what is created for the school. “The best way
about choosing a specialty, Dr. appropriate what is inappropriate for UCLA students to represent the
Beumer also has encouraging words with regards to the evaluation and school is to continue to do the
for the students and faculty in the selection of potential residents.” excellent job that our students have
see Beumer, page 11

Diastema News 9
 GKAS - continued from page 1
activities including oral hygiene instructions, monster
teeth art projects and toothfairy puppet shows. Over 60
children were screened by third and fourth year dental
students.
The Smile Store was a bustling clinic, and 44 children
were treated in one day. Third and fourth year students
provided pediatric treatment, which included sealants,
extractions, composite fillings, fluoride and stainless steel
crowns.
“Give Kids a Smile Day was an excellent way to give
back to the community,” said third year Jennifer Egli.
“There was an excellent turnout for the event. We were
able to provide many children with the oral
health care that they needed in order for them to continue
to grow up healthy and strong.”
Chicago - continued from page 3
Shamburg & Lowe with ASDA national leaders at Giordano’s.
networking luncheons with the national ASDA leaders.
The meeting also provided an avenue for dental students
to voice their concerns regarding issues such as
licensure, access to care and professional ethics. It was
also interesting to learn about the successes of each
participating chapter. UCLA ASDA continues to carry the
reputation as one of the nation’s strongest chapters.
While the majority of the meetings were held in big
conference rooms, the Chicago nightlife provided an
excellent backdrop for dental students to socialize.
Chicago’s small town, big city feel made everyone feel
comfortable. From local bars to trendy lounges, students
found themselves enjoying the best of what Chicago had
to offer. Many ASDA members also found that true
Chicago pizza was no joke. A local hotspot, Giordano’s
Pizza, proved to be a favorite as many of us indulged in
giant thick-crusted Chicago style pizza. The snowy
weather also helped add some winter-y fun as some
members ice-skated in an outdoor ice-skating rink.
Overall, the trip was a great way to learn about
organized dentistry and become an active leader in the
profession. Many lasting friendships were made and will
continue. I encourage you who are interested to contact
your class ASDA rep and become involved at our local
chapter.
Diastema News 10
Nini Chaichanasakul ‘09 poses with a happy patient at GKAS 2008.
PPID - continued from page 5
For many PPID students, the reason for undertaking
another 2 years of dental school transcends a desire to
live the American dream and its attendant promises of
opportunity and prosperity. There is often a compelling
personal story to be told. From a desire to be with a loved
one here in the United States to fleeing religious
persecution for freedom of worship and/or speech to
pursuits of economic security, advanced training and
career satisfaction, the motivation to leave their home
countries and forge a new life in America are as real and
as diverse as the PPID students themselves.
It is not a difficult task to identify a PPID student. They
often have front row seats in every class, speak English
with more than a hint of a foreign accent and have a
deferential mien towards their instructors. The
demographics of the PPID class tend toward being female
and married. By virtue of the fact that most are already
experienced dentists in their home countries, they tend
to be older than the average age of the regular class.
Perhaps because of this, they are more acutely aware of
their own limitations than the traditional students and
therefore embrace the opportunity to (re)learn the
didactic and clinical lessons that can be translated to
success after dental school. Beyond these, however, there
is a commonality of purpose, drive, and hard work that
characterizes the PPID students as a whole.
BDP - continued from page 6
The course directors are
always open to passionate
people interested in
contributing to the course. If
you would like more information
about the course or how to
become involved, please visit our
website: http://
www.uclabdp.blogspot.com or
email Eddie and Kristen at:
uclabdp@gmail.com. Chanel and Lindsay rock.
ASB - continued from page 6
while playing a came called “Mafia.” The night was fun,
and we were all glad that we didn’t have to freeze. The
fire kept us warm all night and erased the stresses of
dental school from our minds. The next morning, we
packed up and headed back home relaxed and ready for
another year of dental school.
HDA - continued from page 7
Drew Medical Center an opportunity to meet Santa, play
games, and receive a toy. Additionally, HDA fundraised
over $400 for the HDA Sponsor a Family event; HDA
members hand delivered toys and shared dinner with a
grateful family of six.
Furthermore, HDA organized both recreational and
educational events for dental students this year. In
January, they hosted an exhilarating Salsa Night at
Monsoon’s in Santa Monica. HDA also hosted a successful
“operative dentistry tutorial” for first year members. In
the upcoming months, HDA plans to continue its
dedication to serving the community and students. If you
are interested in joining HDA at UCLA or would like more
information, please contact UCLA_HDA@yahoo.com.
HDA OHI school visit.
Beumer - continued from page 9
done in the past when they go off into residency and
practice.
“When you look at our students, 50-60% of them go
into residency training programs. UCLA graduates are
highly sought after - much more so than, for example,
students from my old school. At my old school, UCSF, only
about 25-30% of their kids gain entrance into specialty
programs. I’m sure a lot of them do fine, but UCLA kids
have a big advantage because the people who have
preceded them have done so well.
“One of the challenges we face as a faculty is to
maintain the balance we have been able to achieve among
our three missions – education, research and service. I
am particularly proud of the balance we have been able
to strike in our division. With the creation of the
Weintraub Center and the addition of Ichiro Nishimura,
Neal Garrett and Tak Ogawa, we have created the best
research group in prosthodontics in the world today
without compromising the quality of our educational
programs. Indeed, with the continued development of
our implant curriculum and the addition of Drs. Kumar
Shah, Niki Moghami and Bhavani Venkatachalam to our
clinical faculty, I believe our predoctoral curriculum is
stronger than it has ever been. In addition, I am very
confident in its future because of the excellent leadership
being provided by Drs. Eleni Roumanas and Ting-Ling
Chang.”
According to Dr. Beumer, real satisfaction in life comes
from being the best you can be in your profession. In
prosthodontics, he has found an element of flexibility and
forgiveness that is satisfying. “I know the sleepless nights
I have had in my life were when I screwed up- when I’ve
made mistakes on patients that have impacted their form
and function. One of the things I love about
prosthodontics is that you can go back and fix your
mistakes. If you’re a surgeon or a periodontist or even
an orthodontist, many of the mistakes you make are
irreversible. I think that’s tough to live with. You know,
mistakes happen; nobody’s perfect. We all make
mistakes, or sometimes outcomes of our therapies are
not what we expect. Particularly in the surgical
disciplines, you can execute a perfect surgical procedure,
but the outcome isn’t what you expect because there are
so many variables that come in to play. In prosthodontics,
most of the things we do are reversible. You can say to
yourself, ‘You know, this isn’t quite done at the level that
I would like it to be done; I’m going to go back and do it
over again.’ I know when I was in school, I had this phobia
about doing things over again. Once I got over that
barrier, and I was working on human beings, these
decisions were easy. I’d think, ‘Well, this isn’t quite right.
Let’s just scrap it and start over again, or let’s go back to
the previous step and do it over again.’ And then you go
home, and you sleep at night, and you feel good about
yourself. Dentistry is a wonderful profession. You can
make a very good living, provide valuable services for
people and dramatically impact the quality of their lives.
I highly recommend it. I have no regrets.”
If you’re wondering if you’re cut out for pros, Dr.
Beumer mentions a few skills you should have. “You have
to enjoy making things and not be bothered by the
tedium of laboratory work. Even now, I sometimes sit
down in the lab and do some work. All good
prosthodontists I know are artistically inclined. They are
very creative and have an excellent sense of color and
shape. If you have an artistic flare, you should consider
maxillofacial prosthodontics. It presents the clinician
with some terrific challenges, and every patient is
different. I’m going to have a tough time giving it up
because I enjoy it so much, but I realize retirement for
me is just around the corner.”
When it comes to relaxing, Dr. Beumer doesn’t give
fluffy suggestions. “Dentistry by nature is a stressful
profession...The things that have precipitated stress in
my life are making mistakes and having unfinished
business. If I don’t have all my work done, I become
stressed. If I’ve done something on a patient that doesn’t
go as well as I like – that causes stress. That’s what I like
about pros: you can re-do it.”
Diastema News 11
 Dental Diversions

Fun Dental Facts

Tamar Sardarian, 2010
· The most valuable tooth was one a
nobleman purchased - belonging to
the famous scientist Isaac Newton -
for $4,560. It was set in a ring.
· George Washington’s dentures were
made from walrus, hippopotamus,
and cows’ teeth, as well as elephant
tusks.
· The Mexican version of the Tooth
Fairy is known as the Tooth Mouse,
which takes the tooth and leaves
treasures in its place.
· A snail can have about 25,000 teeth.
· Queen Elizabeth I’s teeth were
noticeably discolored. A German
traveler, Paul Henter, speculated that
the discoloration was due to the
Queen’s excessive consumption of
sugar, making the first recorded
association between sugar and tooth
decay.

Dental Crossword Puzzle Mania!

Will Grella, Chanel McCreedy, Will Trevor, 2010 Jonathan Hsu, 2010
Across
4 Congenital condition in which some teeth are
missing (not starting with the letter H) (1 word) 1
7 Fit for a king or his cracked tooth (3 words)
10 Superlative Cement (2 words)
12 Quarter-turn... (1 word)
13 I wouldn’t classify him as obtuse (2 words) 2
15 There’s one in endodontics and one in
radiology (2 words)
16 Structure-Saver of the Sigmoid Sort
(1 letter and 1 word)
3
Down
1 A fluoride avoided with porcelain (2 words)
2 If ______ were red (1 word)
3 The Original Golden Boy (2 letters and 1 word)
5 Slanting or inclined in direction or position
(1 word) 4
6 As an example, polyacrylic acid or cream rinse
(1 word)
8 Can be found between 8 and 9 (1 word)
9 It’s just a temporary alternative, honest!
(1 word)
11 An obtuse margin (1 word) 5
14 Our brand is Jet, but it’s too slow to set
(1 word) 1 Dentistry, 2 Amalgam, 3 Lidocaine, 4 Full gold crown, 5 Periodontics