www.DMDstudent.com

I went to a talent show when I was younger and watched this man attempt to eat a Big Mac. That seems easy enough, until you hear how he was trying to eat the Big Mac. He opened his mouth bigger than anything I have ever seen and tried to swallow the whole thing. Whole. Without chewing. He got half way and almost puked all over the front row. I’m not sure if it is even physiologically possible to swallow a whole big mac, but it somewhat brings me to todays subject: Physiology in the summer is like trying to eat a Big Mac whole. It’s probably easier but you still have to cram it down your throat.

After a short 4 day break from spring semester we have started our summer I session with dental physiology. Physiology is one of our two classes this summer. Our other class is a continuation of Restorative II which we started in January. Restorative is a 6 month long class where we learn all of our major operative procedures. After that, the next time we do them will be on patients…a very scary idea but a challenge I am up to nonetheless. Our dental physiology class will be taught in about 8 weeks. We meet 3 hours a day, 5 days a week during this time and we get physiology crammed down our throats. Hopefully my love of undergraduate physiology will carry over to dental school and it won’t feel like cramming. The book we are using is called Physiology Third Edition by Costanzo. It looks like a decent book and was not too expensive when compared to our periodontology book.

We have a test just about every week (6 total + a comprehensive final) and 6 quizzes along the way to make sure you are keeping up. In a sense I will like this schedule because I only have two classes to juggle around and will have a little more free time. On the other hand it is only 8 weeks and there is a lot of information. Many upperclassman have told me that it isn’t really hard, but we shall see because everyone is different. We have a couple of lab days for this class as well. I am not quite sure what goes on during labs, but my guess is something like testing respiration rates or pulses. My only motivation to survive this semester is knowing that a nice two month vacation is awaiting me which will consist of some golfing, swimming, traveling, family time, and who knows maybe I’ll go get a Big Mac and enjoy it with small bites.