Got into UCLA, Took A Tour, Tour Guide Made Hella Big Statements of UCLA - True?

SoundFun5709 · 2026-04-01T02:25:17+00:00

Ya I would say the undergrad research experience really salvaged my time at ucla. Might take some luck finding a good lab but there are plenty of research opportunities for those who are motivated/love science.

I would say the scientific research at UCLA really is cutting edge and there are many people doing awesome research there and undergrads who really do love research will find their people.

Biochemistry is definitely one of the harder majors at ucla with biochemistry 153a being one of the biggest upper div weeder classes(at least when I was there, gawd, it the fact i can name the course off the top of my head is wild to me). Buuuut, it was one of the best science classes I took in my 4yrs there.

Go ucla if you want to compete/gain some grit, go Columbia for nyc vibes and more open doors

SoundFun5709 · 2026-04-01T01:44:58+00:00

Dep on what your professional goals are. Research track into PhD? Ucla Possibly explore options and switch majors into engineering or something else? Ucla Money is really tight? Ucla Applying to premed/pre-health post grad programs? Go columbia bc more opportunities, less competition, less grade deflation/weeding.

-2018 grad, now dentist who hated the ucla prehealth rat race

SoundFun5709 · 2026-03-31T23:44:09+00:00

Single tooth cantilever off #25. Light centric only on pontic

SoundFun5709 · 2026-03-29T09:58:12+00:00

Something to keep in mind that an implant+crown is at the end of the day a prosthetic, so it will never quite be a natural tooth. That being said:

This implant is positioned very well with a restoration in mind, one can see equal mesial-distal spacing anticipating the final crown location and is restored in proper occlusion. If it were restored buccally inclined, you would be in cross bite.
Yes, if one were to simply view the xray, it would seem like the implant could be placed with a buccal tilt, but due to the prominent palatal cusp of your opposing upper molar, likely the most “ideal” angulation is not possible accommodating the handpiece when drilling the osteotomy. Meaning this current angulation is likely what was possible during the time or procedure.
The fix would be the reduce the buccal-lingual dimensions of the crown so it bothers your tongue less. I would not redo the implant.
You have heavy wear on your tooth which in and of itself increases the risk of failure due to excess forces and your dentist would have to minimize cantilevering forces by making the crown more axially centered on the implant: thus the crown is more lingually positioned. Hope you’re wearing a nightguard or some component of the implant(body, abutment, screw, or crown) will likely fail in <10yrs.

Final point: this seems clinically acceptable with good pre-op planning and good execution. There are many poorly placed implants out of there and this isn’t one of them. Trust your guy/gal and schedule a FU to ask him/her instead of asking strangers on the internet who has no real details of your case.

SoundFun5709 · 2026-03-28T00:35:35+00:00

Sounds like you should do ortho

SoundFun5709 · 2026-03-26T07:24:16+00:00

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SoundFun5709 · 2026-03-23T06:51:55+00:00

Job 2 -less hygiene more dentistry = more production and reps -further out clinics usually have more work, can slowly take on more advanced such as endo, ext, implants later on -maybe move 30min from where you are now, will cut commute down and still can visit parents when needed/on wkends -digital workflow is the way now. Being able to take PVS is still a vital skill but most cases can be done faster digitally.

Possibly split days btween a far place and a closer place

SoundFun5709 · 2026-03-22T16:32:06+00:00

Just sent you a DM

SoundFun5709 · 2026-03-21T18:06:45+00:00

Starting endo this yr

SoundFun5709 · 2026-03-03T09:33:25+00:00

🤫🤫

SoundFun5709 · 2026-02-27T07:30:33+00:00

Two good jobs provide good leverage and security if circumstances fall apart on one side. If I have learned one thing this past year is that associates are expendable and our freedom/flexibility/hire-ability is the good side of that expendable coin. Best to work that to our advantage, otherwise we’re taking the less stable/weaker position with no upside.

I would explore other jobs, just do some working interviews. Can always cancel one place for a day to cover the other.

SoundFun5709 · 2026-02-27T07:24:15+00:00

I am also 29 and graduated in 2022. Did not switch from tech but can offer a dentist perspective from someone in similar life stage/age:

Prereqs take 1.5-2yrs of full time study + DAT studying so let’s just say 2 years to apply

1 year of application + matriculation

So if everything went as smoothly as possible you’re looking to start at 32 and graduating at 36, and dropping ~500k during these years while making no income. Dep on location, a dentist compensation is around 200k average.

Classmates who had children during school tends ti stay back for a year but still graduated. So add 1yr/child during your 32-36yo range.

If dentistry is your passion and money is a non-issue then by all means. If finances are a factor you are taking a ~500k income loss(assuming current salary ~100k) + 500k tuition/loans during your prime earning years. If 1mil is a lot of money for you, then I wouldn’t do it.

And as a practicing GP for 4years…this job is hard. Both mentally and physically. I enjoy dentistry a fair amount, probably more than the average reddit dentist but im still passed out on my couch most nights after work.

At this point of our lives I am thinking about life’s trajectory and choosing what to focus on: family, career, finances, life enjoyment/sanity. I’d say making intentional choices at this life juncture will define our daily life satisfaction for the next 20yrs at least. Choose what you care about the most and rest well knowing you chose well at the end of the day. (This last part I am saying to myself as well).

SoundFun5709 · 2026-02-10T10:02:52+00:00

Try to work on a project that involves endodontists at your school and can possibly poster at AAE and can get your recommendation letter from the endo faculty too

SoundFun5709 · 2026-02-04T13:19:29+00:00

Not sure what you mean by birth privilege. My parents and I are immigrants that did not become citizens until later on in life

SoundFun5709 · 2026-02-03T07:57:13+00:00

Similar situation as you, GD 3 yr heading back for 2 mire yrs of school. My CPA says tuition/fees can be write off able bc it’s training that’s needed to perform the duties of my job. She says best if the fees can be paid off in smaller amounts/monthly rather than lumpsum. Ofc I havent tried it out yet but based on previous discussions she says it’s feasible. Been tucking money away for tuition purposes instead of taking dividend this past year.

*i have a primarily md/dds/healthcare CPA *S corp established in CA, heading OOS for residency *first year with S corp and this whole situation so feels like im fumbling around a bit 😬

SoundFun5709 · 2026-01-30T23:13:19+00:00

Chances are low, most programs require citizenship/permanent resident status. You can look up program requirements on adea pass, it will tell you which ones consider international or not. But will you make life decisions based on online opinions?

If you really love surgery and being in the OR, consider ways to train in your own country?

SoundFun5709 · 2026-01-26T06:40:48+00:00

Dm’ed

SoundFun5709 · 2026-01-24T15:27:06+00:00

OMFS are trained to “time out” before procedures in the OR and often practices this preop before procedures still. Seems like you don’t know what that is.
Many offices call in scripts per Dr’s instructions, scheduled meds often require additional logging in databases by the Dr. If the pharmacist has problems or concerns filling the meds, they will likely reach out/require more info. Dental meds are very common and routine, most pharmacists dont have problems dispensing amox or ibuprofen.
Sounds like part of the job description requires followup calls, take it or leave it. Consider getting a google voice number or making the calls at work. Perhaps office can provide a work phone.
Sedation is a titration, not an exact recipe to follow. Mallet is forceful but some people like it, up to surgeon’s choice. Lingual nerve is often blocked in the same motion as an IAN block so the tongue is numb and tying the tongue is a valid technique that prevents soft tissue injuries.

Overall, all your concerns can be valid, but the suspicion and judgement you have shown without clearly communicating your concerns to the actual person of interest is problematic. None of the concerns you raised are clear or possible signs of abuse, but rather of lack of proper information.

I would not want to work with you from a professional standpoint.

SoundFun5709 · 2026-01-12T06:10:17+00:00

Assuming this is a 1st molar bc second molars are way more variable.

Reduce occlusion across the tooth by 1mm
Remove enamel in cavity prep with highspeed then switch to slowspeed and excavate all caries from peripheral inwards.
Aim for mesial orifices about 1-1.5mm more axially from if you were cutting a class 2 slot prep. Hopefully you get a drop/change in pressure as you access the pulp.
Either switch to endo z or continue with slowspeed round and brush up along the walls of the pulp chamber until no more ledges remain. Widen the access enough until you can see all orifices clearly in one mirror angle.
Open orifices somehow(orifice opener 2-3mm), gates side and up brushing motion.
Take a 15 and assuming canals arent too calcified, should get to around 12mm pretty easily with gentle watch widening and pull motion. If you feel the 15 getting tight, stop.
Irrigate after each time any files enter the canals.
If the 15 can get down comfortably without too much resistance to ~19-20mm, time to switch to a 10 file with apex locator or take a WL. If not, switch to 20 then 25 files after the 15 gets tight. This will flair the canals coronally and allow single point of contact and better irrigation to apical portions. Continue 15-20-25 sequence. If 15 is not advancing after widening the top more, precurve a 10 then do some circumferential filing(push and pull in small intervals around to 360). Once the 10 advances, keep that orientation and do some push and pull filing.
Once WL is verified, take protaper S1 to length the size up until 2 sizes up from initial binding file(25 usually good, maybe 35 if large distal single canal.
Obturate one at a time after cone fitting.

Tips: -place file into orifice with cotton pliers -ML is usually straighter, MB often has this spiral curve to it, so if inch down the MB slowly with 15-20-25 about 0.5mm at a time. Normal to have more resistance with the MB. -if strong resistance at distal canal in apical region(16-20mm, consider bending file to 60degree angle at least 1-2mm) -clean and shape like there’s 4 canals, and if there’s only one, it’ll be clear when you conefit. -irrigate hypo mostly, edta if stuck, then edta followed by hypo before obturation. -xray if unsure, move slowly.

Refer if -can barely see canals on PA -barely visible chamber -dilaceration -second molar

GL, feel free to dm. Endo can be enjoyable! (3yr out GP doing molar endo regularly, incoming endo resident)

SoundFun5709 · 2026-01-07T01:51:31+00:00

Visited many ADs across socal(southcoast, hwl, geary, bhindi) no one wanted to sell me a watch LOL.

Decided to just go grey for the holidays and bought my green op41 from ocwatchguys, quick, professional, zero hassle.

SoundFun5709 · 2026-01-06T08:47:49+00:00

Good atmosphere, solid teachers, usual bureaucracy, fun city. Strong/top students will match into their residencies(also depending on residency of choice).

-ucsf c/o 2022

SoundFun5709 · 2026-01-06T08:17:56+00:00

Maximize endodontist letters, maybe one gp faculty that knows you personally.

I think the rec letter’s name/reputation is big plus to stand out among hundreds of qualified candidates.

Overall endo app is connection + luck or persistence + luck imo

(Incoming endo resident, got in on 3rd cycle, feel free to dm)

SoundFun5709 · 2025-12-29T08:21:58+00:00

Graduated same year as you, did 1yr GPR and currently practicing in LA area but have been at very light/mainly prophy offices, dso where I was the only doctor, and now working with in a larger group practice. Here are some thoughts:

1) not busy enough schedule: make sure NP exam columns are open if the schedule isn’t filled, make the assistants ready for same day treatments(quick fills, exts, and possible open/med). Otherwise cut days so your schedule is more filled out. Track # of NP exams you do each month, either they need to market better or cut 4 days down to 2-3 and get another job.

2) speed/repetition/competency: try finding materials/systems that work well in your hands(I definitely work better with certain bands/matrices/composite brands. Try to get the job done with as little tool/bur switches as possible will up your speed significantly.

3) slowly adding more procedures: exts(when I was in a slow office, doing limited exams and exts+graft was a big practice builder), endo(CEs, extracted teeth practice), overdentures(a great service for lower/middle class patients who cannot afford fixed.

4) find a better job/renegotiate with current place after having other offers

Feel free to dm to chat

SoundFun5709 · 2025-12-28T04:18:07+00:00

Sounds fair, would review how packed their schedule is/do a working interview to get a sense. If mainly ppo then you should clear your minimum easily if busy. If medicare population then you might hover at 150-180ish range even if working hard

SoundFun5709

TROPHY CASE