This is the second video in the LLU bench test preparation series. In the first video, I covered the challenges of Loma Linda’s testing environment and why in-person bench tests aren’t enough given the time you have until test day.
I’m Dr. Alyssa with International Dental Central, and I’ve been helping dentists from all over the world pass their bench tests online for over a decade.
I’m going to keep this short. Here are three past clients I personally helped pass Loma Linda’s bench test. The before and after preps you’ll see are their first and third feedback submissions — not the finished product, just how much they improved in three rounds of personalized coaching.
Graduated from dental school and moved to the United States right after her internship. She had experience treating patients but not in the “real world.” She was driven and very dedicated. Her first submission looked tentative — by her third, the improvement was striking.
Five years of clinical experience in his home country before moving to the US. But it had been seven years since he’d had actual hands-on handpiece experience. He was understandably nervous about that long gap. By his third submission, he had found his rhythm again — clean margins, proper contour, steady hand control.
From India, worked with patients for two years, then moved to the US three years prior. Her before and after show the same pattern: significant, measurable progress in just three rounds of feedback.
As you can see, while their baselines and rates of improvement are different, each one showed significant growth. And that’s just three rounds. When you join the LLU cohort, you can send in your work once a day, every business day — that’s five preps a week of rapid, guided improvement.
With each of these candidates, I also held one-on-one meetings where we discussed their personal challenges, areas they were stuck on, and how to overcome them. Those meetings are a great opportunity to work on your unique weaknesses (everybody has them).
The official cohort lasts six weeks. Those interviewing in late August will stay with me for continued Q&A and support sessions until their test day.
This is critical. It doesn’t come overnight. Train your brain to feel comfortable working through the mirror — the nuances, the hand-eye coordination, and how to stop moving the bur in the wrong direction.
If your hands are wobbly and unsteady, you can’t produce clean, smooth preps predictably. Build the steady hand foundation every good prep depends on.
Secrets to making a prep look gorgeous. Loma Linda graders are picky — we’ll learn the tweaks that please their eyes.
At Loma Linda, you can’t turn the patient’s head left to right. We’ll discuss exactly where to place your mirror to do your best work.
The hand instrument situation at Loma Linda is tricky — different instruments, some dull, some large. Learn to make the best of any situation.
How to smoothen things for the best-looking prep without widening or nicking. The finishing touches that separate a pass from a fail.
Each week we meet together as a group. I share the secrets and know-how I’ve gathered over 10+ years of working with candidates. Each week comes with assignments — you send them to me, I give you a detailed evaluation with personalized recommendations. Each week builds upon the previous. By the end of six weeks, if you follow my instructions, you’ll be ready for your LLU bench test.
I’ll also be sharing an FAQ video about the LLU cohort from questions received from the first video and this one.
If you received an invite from Loma Linda and you’re interested in meeting me to discuss whether this cohort would be a good fit for you, feel free to DM me. The cohort is starting soon and I’d love for you to be part of it.
