Committee Corner 

Ethics and Professionalism: 
​Yankee Dental Congress:First Impressions

    ​Every year, dental students in the Boston area are lucky enough to get free registration to the annual Yankee Dental Congress. Last year, the appeal of free toothpaste and a $5 lunch voucher was not enough to make me spend a free Saturday at Boston Convention Center. However, this year, after much convincing by the Yankee Boss himself (Dr. Mcmanama), I decided to check out the more than 450 companies that would be showcasing their products on the exhibition floor. Here’s what I learned.

   As a student, the experience at Yankee should be stress-free but can also be kind of intimidating. Of course, I tried to collect as many free samples as I could! It is safe to say that I now have enough toothpaste and mouthwash to last me till next year’s YDC. I listened to countless sales pitches and was nearly convinced, after a theatrical 10 minute presentation, that brushing with Colgate is the solution to eradicating periodontal disease.
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   As much fun as is was to spin prize wheels and try on new Dansko’s, I felt like my current level of dental experience was not enough to appreciate the other 70% of the vendors at YDC. Sure, it was great to see the unlimited options for probes and scalers and burs that would be available to me as a new dentist. But at the moment, the thousands of dollars’ worth of instruments in my SLC locker will suffice. At least 3 companies claimed to have the BEST composites and cements on the market but for now I think I’ll stick to the partially hardened syringe of A2 body shade that’s survived the last 2 years of operative. I left with plenty of brochures and an eagerness to graduate and try out all these new technologies, once I know what they are actually used for!

   My first impression of Yankee Dental? Definitely take advantage of the free registration and free classes! It can’t hurt to see what learning is like after dental school. Some advice from a Class of 2008 graduate who I met at Yankee: the grass is always greener on the other side. Don’t rush to be finished dental school and start a private practice because you’ll only wish you still had the wisdom of seasoned professors to guide you. Take advantage of their knowledge and ask them tons of questions now so you will know how to expertly navigate the world of dentistry; so things like Yankee don’t seem so intimidating.
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P.S. The highlight of the day? Meeting the Red Sox great, Kevin Youkilis! The promise of a photo-op was the only way to convince my fiancé that his day would be well-spent. 

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Julia Hadley, DMD 2018