Jonathan Yeung DMD 09 Presents Thought-Provoking Grand Rounds Case

Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) fourth-year DMD student Jonathan Yeung presented a case study titled, "A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Restoring Functional Occlusion," on April 2 as part of Grand Rounds.

Yeung’s case study was based on a patient he treated during his externship at the South End Community Health Center while working with preceptor Dr. Jason Arandia. Yeung’s patient was a male in his early 30’s who had not visited the dentist in ten years, mainly for financial reasons. The patient had state-sponsored dental care, which did not cover many of the dental procedures he needed as part of his treatment plan. As a result the patient decided to have a tooth extracted rather than paying out of pocket to have it restored. This decision frustrated many of the faculty and students who attended Yeung’s presentation.

"Jonathan’s case is an unfortunate illustration of the current state of dental healthcare for many in Massachusetts and across the nation," said Dean Jeffrey Hutter. "By restoring and keeping the tooth in question this patient would have been much better off in the long run. As frustrating as it is, this is also a harsh reality that many of our students will encounter over the course of their careers as dentists and Jonathan did an excellent job of presenting his ideal treatment plan for this patient."

During the question and answer session the group also discussed the need for preventative care and how good oral hygiene needs to be emphasized to patients before the situation becomes as dire as what this patient encountered.

Professor and moderator Dr. Carl McManama added, "Jonathan’s case is an excellent example of the need for developing strong patient relationships. Encouraging patients to take control of their oral health through the practice of good dental hygiene is paramount to executing a successful treatment plan.”