In this article I will outline how to position yourself to gain admission into dental school. If you adhere to these simple steps, not only will you get into dental school and become a cool dentist, the editor of this magazine may even consider replacing me with you (although that would not take much).

Consider admission into dental school as a battle between you, the other applicants and the schools admission committee. Any successful battle must have an entry and exit strategy. I will approach this topic in the same manner. We will divide our strategy into 3 sections: Academic approach, Personality building and interview skills.

The battle of Academia
In order to apply to dental school one has to have a college degree, so get into college preferably a good one. While in college between the frat parties and bhangra competitions it is important that you find time to study. Ask friends, dentists and professors which is the best dental school in the country that you intend to attend and visit their website. This school will now be the benchmark against which you position yourself. Complete their courses and excel at them.
When applying to dental school it is not always necessary to complete a science degree, so long as you fulfill the admission requirements feel free to pursue other interests. These elective courses will help raise your grade point average and will allow you open your mind to other aspects of life. Academically, admissions committees are concerned not only with how well you did in basic sciences but what differentiates you from the other 1200 applicants who have completed the exact same courses as you did. Do not be afraid to be different, in fact differentiation is what will get their attention. In a room full of little black dresses it’s the girl in the red one who gets noticed (hopefully it’s because she looks hot)…

By Amit Ganglani

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Everything you wanted to know about dentistry but were too cool to ask

By Amit Ganglani

Considering my last article about gum disease and its effects scared most readers into believing they were going to lose their teeth, I wanted to address a lighter topic this time around. Over the course of my one and half years in practice I have come across some strange questions and even stranger home remedies, like the patient who placed chewing gum into their cavity or the one who kept a piece of cotton soaked in vodka on her painful tooth. Patients often ask me about differences between electric and manual toothbrushes, the ideal kind of mouthwash to use, how to trick their dentist into thinking that they floss (you can’t, we know everything). So to those of you who have held back from asking the questions, consider this the equivalent of your aunty sharing her secret mango barfi recipe with you.

Toothbrushes

(Wo)mankind has come a long way from using animal bones and bird feathers to clean their teeth. Not exactly ideal for vegetarians, the first mass produced toothbrush was created in 1780 by an Englishman who took an animal bone and drilled holes through which he ran bristles. The Dupont Company solved that problem in 1938 with the introduction of nylon bristles on a plastic handle. Now with advances in toothbrush technology and the rise of the electric toothbrush in its many forms, patients are confused and frustrated by the choices.

Before you buy any toothbrush ensure that the bristles are soft! Not medium or hard as these bristles can cause damage by ripping away precious enamel off of the tooth surface leading to tooth ledges and sensitivity. As you have noticed there are many different types of electric toothbrushes on the market, some oscillate, others rotate. Some dispense toothpaste yet others have funky attachments better suited for cleaning your car. The bottom line is this (in my opinion of course): All electric toothbrushes effectively do the same thing which is to clean the plaque off your teeth. You should pick one that you find comfortable and can afford.

Electric toothbrushes are ideal for people with limited mobility as they do not require the user to do anything other than hold it in place. Most have timers that ensure you are brushing for the proper amount of time (remember, sing the Indian national anthem 3 times). If you are wearing braces or have had extensive dental work, an electric one with the different shaped attachments is ideal to get under your bridge and in-between your braces.

So dear readers of the Indus valley civilization, manual or electric, just get a soft toothbrush and brush your teeth! Your dentist will thank you and you will look hotter in your shaadi.com profile photo.

Toothpaste

So now you’ve dropped $150 for the ultimate toothbrush that cleans, scrubs and even picks up your “curry in hurry” take out, what kind of toothpaste do you dispense on this magic instrument?

Once again the bottom line is this: Most modern toothpastes consist of a variety of ingredients ranging from preservatives, detergents and fluoride. There once was a time when toothpaste was simple; it fought cavities and freshened your breath. Today it can whiten your teeth, rebuild enamel and reduce sensitivity. Your basic criteria for toothpaste selection should consist of this: does it contain fluoride? Check. Does it come in bubblegum flavor? Check. That’s it. Now if you have more specific needs then look for the following.

Sensitive teeth:  This is caused by the exposure of the dentin to air, saliva etc. Dentin sits under the tough enamel layer. As enamel wears away, from brushing too hard, bleaching too frequently your teeth feel weak and when exposed to….

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