Pain Control Exercise Prepares Students for Work in Treatment Center

Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) students entering their third year of dental school participated in a pain control exercise as part of their clinical orientation on July 9. The exercise required each student to act as patient and dentist as they practiced administering local anesthesia on one another. The groups of students were closely supervised by members of the faculty and Clinical Associate Professor and Director of the Predoctoral Oral Surgery Clinic Dr. Richard D’Innocenzo oversaw the entire exercise.

Faculty demonstrated, sharing tips and techniques, and then coached the students through the process on their own. The students were in good spirits and showed confidence in their classmates’ abilities when it was their turn to act as the patient.

This exercise was added to the clinical orientation last year to expose students to the process earlier than they had been in previous years, so they would be more comfortable when they began treating patients.

"This year we have included more treatment center faculty members providing the students an opportunity to get to know the faculty that they will be working with when they administer their first injections on patients," said Clinical Associate Professor and Assistant Dean for Patient Services Dr. John Guarente. "Of course we are appreciative of the efforts of Dr. D’Innocenzo, who once again made this an outstanding educational experience."

Photos from the exercise are available on GSDM’s flickr account and also on the GSDM Facebook page. You must have full web access to view the photos.