On the cusp of surpassing an all-time snowfall record of 107.6 inches set in 1995-1996, Boston encourages its great healthcare thinkers to break through barriers to knowledge and challenge the status quo.

Students at Boston-based Tufts University School of Dental Medicine spent March 4 showcasing research they had prepared under the guidance of talented mentors.

Tufts School of Dental Medicine third year international student Kunal Dani presented “Comparison of Two Different Delivery Techniques for the Placement of Bulk Fill Composites” during Bates-Andrews Day 2015 in Boston.

Invading oral cancer cells, delivery techniques for bulk fill composites, LED headlamp use, fluoride content in green tea — just four of an impressive 72 topics tackled through their initiatives. During Bates-Andrews Day 2015,  predoctoral and postgraduate students showcased their research with poster presentations.

Great dental minds are nourished in an environment that encourages and supports student participation in research, and the mentors, administrators and educators at Tufts graciously provide those necessary factors. Dean Huw F. Thomas, B.D.S., M.S., Ph.D. offered a shout out to Eileen Doherty’s guidance as director of predoctoral student research and Dr. Gerard Kugel’s leadership as Associate Dean for Research.

Onetime Bates-Andrews Day presenter  (2001), Ancy Verdier, DMD, returned to campus from his flourishing practice at Worcester Periodontics to share his unique insight with “The Complete Clinician: Evidence Based Research in the Dental Office.”

In between presentations, students visited with commercial exhibitors and contributors on campus. Their quest for answers continued in this forum. “What makes a PRO-SYS toothbrush innovative?” queried several students of the Benco Dental team’s private label offering.

The answer they received: DuPont bristles, a rubber-free (thus gunk-free) handle and a one toothbrush donation to global charities for every toothbrush purchased.

Satisfied with this, they moved on the other questions: How are dentists selected for Incisal Edge 40 Under 40? Will this cell phone screen cleaning cloth work on dental loupes?

Inquiring minds never rest.

Tufts third year dental student Christina Penn congratulates #LucyHobbsProject award recipient Dr. Esther M. Wilkins.

Tufts students, faculty and visitors learn this from the best examples in their midst, including Professor Emeritus Esther Wilkins, D49, DG66, who recently received notification that she will be honored as an Industry Icon by Benco Dental’s Lucy Hobbs Project during the program’s annual celebration to honor exemplary women in dentistry, slated to take place June 4-5 in Baltimore.

Passersby at the Benco Dental table participated in photo ops to congratulate Dr. Wilkins, one of three women who started at Tufts with the class of 1949.