After all is said and done (and all is a lot), I feel 100% better going into Complete Dentures II with my second try-in denture. Starting over from scratch and redoing an entire semester of labwork independently in two weeks proved to be a major undertaking, and I encountered a few roadblocks along the way. It took me four complete set-ups, a considerable amount of guidance from David, and two helpful evaluations from Professor Sena to get my teeth in order.

(A few nights at the kitchen table in front of my butane Bunson burner until dawn didn’t hurt, either.)

The results are far from perfect, but I am pleased. My goal was to complete everything from start to finish in time to enter my second semester with a significantly improved, festooned try-in denture… I accomplished all but the festooning. I will no doubt have some occlusal tweeking to do, but I’m sure everyone in my class will find themselves in that position.

What matters: I have gained a higher level of competence and comfort with the process of constructing a try-in denture from the experience. I can confidently say that I am in far better shape starting Complete Dentures II with my present try-in denture – unfestooned and all – than I would have been with what I had at the close of Complete Dentures I.

Try-in denture (bulk wax only) – anterior view.

Try-in denture (bulk wax only) – left-buccal view.

Try-in denture (bulk wax only) – right-buccal view.

Try-in denture (bulk wax only) – centric occlusion, left side.

Try-in denture (bulk wax only) – centric occlusion, right side.

Kitchen table – 2:28 am, 22 January 2013.

Thank you David and Professor Sena, for your help, your time, and your support.

I am now one full semester into the Restorative Dentistry program here at City Tech, and I feel very lucky to be where I am. Returning to school as an adult student is an endeavor I embarked on with my share of admitted trepidation…

I am happy to say that my apprehension was undue, and has been undone – by the guidance of the indispensable RESD faculty as well as the encouraging atmosphere that permeates the department. I truly feel as though I have a whole team behind me, wanting me to succeed and offering me the resources to excel. I am getting so much more than I expected or hoped for.

• • •

At the end of the semester our College Lab Tech David Barthold overheard me lamenting with friends in the hallway; we were concerned about losing ground from our new skills as a result of the upcoming month outside the lab. He generously offered that he would be in the lab all month, and we were free to be there too. Much to my surprise, I was the only taker.

David opened the door to an invaluable opportunity: an empty lab full of resources, complete with an accomplished technician willing and able to offer guidance as needed. I am deeply grateful to him for giving me this advantage.

I knew what I had to do.

Dentures, start to finish, a second time around…