Investigating correlations between the PAT and three hand-skill exercises to performance in preclinical laboratory courses.

Objectives: Perceptual ability test (PAT) is a valid determinant for spatial perceptions. However, proven psychomotor skill tests for dentistry do not currently exist. This study aimed to determine whether performance on the PAT, Operation game, mirror tracing, and wax carving exercises correlate to preclinical laboratory performance in Dental Anatomy and Restorative Dentistry courses.

Microshear bond strength of resin luting agents to monolithic zirconia.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different surface treatments on the microshear bond strength (μSBS) of resin cements to zirconia. Twenty-four zirconia wafers measuring 2.0 × 9.

Wax carving exercises predict performance on practical examinations for first-year dental students.

Unlabelled: Perceptual ability test (PAT) is a valid determinant for spatial perceptions. However, a validated psychomotor skill test for dentistry does not currently exist.

Purpose/objectives: This study aimed to determine whether the results of two wax carving exercises (E1 and E2), PAT, quantitative reasoning (QR), and academic average (AA) tests predict students' performance on dental anatomy practical examinations.

An evaluation of factors affecting dental shade matching in first-year dental students.

Statement Of Problem: Shade selection has become more important and challenging as it becomes more emphasized in esthetic dentistry. It would be beneficial to screen dental students early in their predoctoral education for any deficiencies in color discrimination. Specific tests that reliably predict dental shade-matching ability have not been fully established.

Effectiveness of CAD/CAM technology: A self-assessment tool for preclinical waxing exercise.

Introduction: This study assessed the utility of CAD/CAM technology as a self-assessment tool for preclinical waxing compared to traditional student self-assessment to evaluate preclinical work.

Material And Methods: Thirty-seven students completed the wax-up of the maxillary left central incisor with the goal of recreating original anatomy and completed a traditional self-assessment. The original, unreduced cast and waxings were scanned with an intraoral scanner (E4D, Planmeca).

Dental Shade Matching and Value Discernment Abilities of First-Year Dental Students.

Purpose: To determine if Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test, Perceptual Ability Test, gender, age, ethnicity, and time predict dental shade matching and value discernment in first-year dental students.

Materials And Methods: Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test was administered to 95 first-year-dental students beneath a Judge II booth (color temperature of 6500°K, and color rendering index of 90). Students also arranged 16 masked shade tabs from a Vita Classic shade guide by value (lightest to darkest) and matched together 16 pairs of masked shade tabs from two Vita Classic shade guides.

Predicting Performance in Technical Preclinical Dental Courses Using Advanced Simulation.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether advanced simulation parameters, such as simulation exam scores, number of student self-evaluations, time to complete the simulation, and time to complete self-evaluations, served as predictors of dental students' preclinical performance. Students from three consecutive classes (n=282) at one U.S.

Quality of Impressions and Work Authorizations Submitted by Dental Students Supervised by Prosthodontists and General Dentists.

Preclinical fixed prosthodontics is taught by Department of Prosthodontics faculty members at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry; however, 86% of all clinical cases in academic year 2012 were staffed by faculty members from the Department of General Practice. The aims of this retrospective study were to quantify the quality of impressions, accuracy of laboratory work authorizations, and most common errors and to determine if there were differences between the rate of errors in cases supervised by the prosthodontists and the general dentists. A total of 346 Fixed Prosthodontic Laboratory Tracking Sheets for the 2012 academic year were reviewed.

Quantifying Appointments, Treatment Time, Impressions, and Diagnostic Data of Cases Staffed by General Dentists and Prosthodontists in a Dental School Clinic.

The aim of this retrospective study was to quantify differences between general dentists and prosthodontists regarding appointments, treatment time, impressions, and preoperative diagnostic data in teaching predoctoral clinical fixed prosthodontics. Electronic dental records (n=356) of patients treated at one dental school in academic year 2012 were randomly selected for review to obtain the following data: faculty and student demographics, number of appointments and treatment time from preparation to cementation, number of impressions made, completion of oral disease control treatment (ODCT), and presence of preoperative periapical radiographs and diagnostic casts. The results showed that ODCT was completed in 78%, preoperative radiographs were present in 76%, and diagnostic casts made in 53% of the cases reviewed.

The Use of Telemedicine in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Purpose: To determine the perceived utility and demand for the application of telemedicine for improved patient care between nonsurgical dental practitioners (GPs) and oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMS).

Materials And Methods: Two distinct questionnaires were made, one for GPs and one for OMSs. The GP questionnaire was sent to practicing Virginia Dental Association members on an e-mail list (approximately 2,200).

Telemedicine Consultations in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: A Follow-Up Study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to follow up on the previous study in evaluating the efficiency and reliability of telemedicine consultations for preoperative assessment of patients.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study of 335 patients over a 6-year period was performed to evaluate success rates of telemedicine consultations in adequately assessing patients for surgical treatment under anesthesia. Success or failure of the telemedicine consultation was measured by the ability to triage patients appropriately for the hospital operating room versus the clinic, to provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan, and to provide a sufficient medical and physical assessment for planned anesthesia.

Effect of restoration volume on stresses in a mandibular molar: a finite element study.

Statement Of Problem: There can be significant disagreement among dentists when planning treatment for a tooth with a failing medium-to-large--sized restoration. The clinician must determine whether the restoration should be replaced or treated with a crown, which covers and protects the remaining weakened tooth structure during function.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stresses generated in different sized amalgam restorations via a computational modeling approach and reveal whether a predictable pattern emerges.

Hand-washing knowledge and practices among dentists and dental specialists.

Objective: Hand washing is the most important way to prevent the spread of infection. However, studies have shown that there is a lack of knowledge among physicians about proper hand hygiene. The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge of general dentists and dental specialists regarding the correct agents to use and the appropriate times to wash hands.

Evaluating EDTA as a substitute for phosphoric acid-etching of enamel and dentin.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes released when dentin is acid-etched. The enzymes are capable of destroying unprotected collagen fibrils that are not encapsulated by the dentin adhesive. Chlorhexidine applied after etching inhibits the activation of released MMPs, whereas neutral ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) prevents the release of MMPs.

The role of volume of multi-surface restorations in posterior teeth: Treatment options.

Teeth containing large defective restorations are frequently indicated to receive crowns to prevent catastrophic fracture. There is a considerable lack of consensus as to when the size of an existing restoration needing retreatment is sufficiently large to warrant a crown. In addition, the treating dentist's gender, age, and location also have been found to influence this decision.

Accuracy and dimensional stability of extended-pour and conventional alginate impression materials.

Background: The authors conducted a study to determine if two irreversible hydrocolloid impression materials (Cavex ColorChange, Cavex Holland BV, Haarlem, Netherlands; Jeltrate Plus Antimicrobial Dustless Alginate Impression Material, Dentsply Caulk, Milford, Del.) stored for five days were dimensionally accurate.

Methods: The authors modified Ivorine teeth (Columbia Dentoform, Long Island City, N.

An evaluation of dentin conditioners for resin-modified glass ionomer cements.

This study sought to test the null hypothesis that there was no difference between three dentin conditioners in terms of how they affected the shear bond strength to dentin of three resin-modified glass ionomer (RMGI) cements. One hundred twenty caries-free third molars were mounted in acrylic resin and their occlusal surfaces were reduced to within 2 mm of their cemento-enamel junction (CEJ). Of the three cements tested, Rely-X Plus (22.

Rural and urban differences in prosthodontic care provided by Virginia general dentists.

Virginia dentists were surveyed to reveal how changes in practice activities affected rural and urban practices in terms of prosthodontics and to assess the impact these changes may have on dentists, continuing education courses, and school curricula. Six hundred licensed dentists were selected at random and were mailed a survey containing questions about their demographics and the types of prosthodontic treatment they performed. Of the 333 respondents, 195 were considered eligible to represent general dentists.

Survey of prosthodontic service provided by general dentists in Virginia.

Statement Of Problem: Activities in prosthodontic treatment may be changing due to prevalence of disease and new treatment options. Studies cite conflicting evidence in regard to prosthodontic services, particularly removable prosthodontics.

Purpose: This project was designed to describe the amount of prosthodontic services provided by general dentists in Virginia.

Survival analysis of complete veneer crowns vs. multisurface restorations: a dental school patient population.

The purpose of this study was to compare the longevity of crowns versus large multisurface restorations in posterior teeth. The investigation used the treatment database at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. The inclusion criteria for the final data set used for analysis were: only one restored tooth per patient, premolars with three or more restored surfaces, molars with four or more restored surfaces, molars and premolars restored with complete veneer metal crowns, or crowns veneered with metal and porcelain.