A Successful Pre-Dental 101 Program

Over 250 college students from Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and other southern states participated in the LSU School of Dentistry 3rd Annual Pre-Dental 101: A Brush Up on Dentistry, on Saturday, January 26. The event aims to assist college students in making informed decisions about whether to pursue a career in the dental field.

Jointly hosted by the LSU Pre-Dental Society and Dr. Toby Cheramie, LSUSD Director of Admissions, the day included presentations by administrators, faculty members and students. Attendees had the opportunity to participate in one of two tracks---dentistry or dental hygiene.

Students interested in the doctor of dental surgery program learned about the admissions and interview process. "Navigating the AADSAS Admissions Process" by Brent Benoit, second-year dental student, was followed by an "Admissions Q & A" session with Dr. Cheramie and LSU Pre-Dental Society officers. A panel of students from each of the four dental classes also described the challenges and realities of dental school. Lunch, sponsored by the US Army, was combined with tours of the school, which were led by dental students designated as admission ambassadors.

LSU Pre-Dental Society officers: (from left) Chris Chisholm, Paige Muse, Emily Arceneaux, Morgan Mains, Caleb Blackburn, Caroline Cazayoux, Courtney Tremmel (president) and Kristen Self

During the afternoon, in each of three time slots, students could select from among six faculty presentations, including demonstrations of chalk carving and dental waxing. Other faculty presentations included overviews of the various dental specialties, future trends in dentistry, community outreach, forensic dentistry, CAD/CAM and research opportunities. Additional question and answer sessions with Dr. Cheramie were also available in the afternoon.

A new session this year was "Beyond Books: Your Life, Your Application" with LSU alumnus Dr. Nick Rauber and counselor Mary Kathryn Rodrigue, PhD. They discussed how applicants can emphasize their life experiences in their personal essay, enhancing their credentials beyond their grade-point average and Dental Aptitude Test scores.

Dr. Cheramie helps Morgan Mains and Chris Chisholm with the chalk-carving exercise.

The approximately 40 students who participated in the dental hygiene track learned about the curriculum and the application and interview process. They then visited multiple stations in the clinic, learning about the clinical aspects of the dental hygiene profession, including instrumentation, anesthesia, oral hygiene, x-rays and imaging, study models and bleaching trays. They wrapped up the morning with a seminar on patient communication, the responsibilities of the dental hygienist in the dental office, and the benefits of becoming involved in the Student Dental Hygiene Association. Lunch and a tour of the dental school rounded out the experience. Carrie Mason, RDH, MEd, director of the dental hygiene program, along with five other dental hygiene faculty members, instructed the students.

At the end of the program, the feedback was extremely positive. Dr. Cheramie said, "The event couldn't have happened without the hard work of the officers and members of the LSU Pre-Dental Society and the enthusiastic hospitality of the LSUSD Admissions Ambassadors and faculty members." Courtney Tremmel, LSU Pre-Dental Society President, explained, "LSUSD is one of the few schools that helps to inform and guide students through all aspects of choosing a dental school. Pre-Dental 101 is another example of how the LSU dental program strives to remain one of the top dental programs across the country."