It's official, my final year of dental school has begun!
Thinking back, it seems like I started dental school forever ago. But going off of feelings alone, it seems like just yesterday that this journey began. I can clearly remember different semesters specifically, but dental school has, overall, been one big massive blob of a journey that seems to alter and change as time goes on.
Looking back, it's almost comical how much I thought I knew and really didn't when I first started dental school. This helps me have that same perspective now when I think "Oh, I know exactly what I'm doing". That isn't to say I don't have full confidence in what I do because I do. But thinking I have it all together would be a terrible mistake to make at this point. This is really the start of a huge journey and the ending of a smaller one. Dental school has taught me a lot but if it's taught me anything above all else, it's taught me that I'm going to be learning for the rest of my life. It's more than just the tooth (and the supporting cortical bone!) but it's a patient. Even more than that, it's a life and a perspective on life that I'm treating each day. Each person comes from a different place in life with a different past, a different life view, a different outlook on the future, a different set of financial circumstances, a different set of wants, and a different set of needs. In the end, I've just got to constantly absorb as much as possible so that I can learn from each person and provide even better care the next time.
Last year, our school started the Comprehensive Care clinic. It's where 4th year students work with a general dentist on all procedures (except root canals and complex extractions) so we can do mulitple disciplines in 1 appointment. It is so awesome.
1 more year!!!
On the Air Force front, I finally have some exciting news! I got my AEGD application via email the other day so it's time to rank bases and get a plan together with my wife. Right now our top 3 are Travis, AF Academy, and Eglin. 4-10 aren't set in stone yet but seeing as we will likely not get a top selection (mostly because a lot of people want those bases) we want to make sure we put the rest in a good solid order that we are happy with. I was also informed that I would need to do an interview, either at an AEGD base or by phone. I want to try to make it out and do mine at the AF Academy (the closest to me) but I'll get in touch with the commander there soon and figure out exactly what I should do.
I hope to post more frequently over the next year because things are REALLY heating up. I should know in a couple months (Oct) where I'm headed, and then it will be time to find a place to live.
Keep reading! It's about to get more exciting than ever!
And don't forget to follow me on twitter (@usafdds)
P.S. I'm thrilled to announce that May was the most successful month in the history of this blog with just under 2,000 hits (about 65-70 per day!). I've had 35,000 hits since this began several years ago and have fielded hundreds of emails. Keep them coming!
