Evaluating meaningful learning using concept mapping in dental hygiene education: a pilot study.

Purpose: Concept mapping, as a teaching strategy, has been shown to promote critical thinking and problem solving in educational settings. Dental clinicians must distinguish between critical and irrelevant characteristics in the delivery of care, thus necessitating reasoning skills to do so. One of the aims of the American Dental Education Association Commission on Change and Innovation (ADEA-CCI) is to identify deficiencies in curriculum which were meant to improve critical thinking and problem solving skills necessary in clinical practice.

Preliminary findings on the correlation of saliva pH, buffering capacity, flow, Consistency and Streptococcus mutans in relation to cigarette smoking.

Purpose: The purpose of this preliminary study was to examine the relationship of caries risk, salivary buffering capacity, salivary pH, salivary quality (flow, consistency) and levels of Streptococcus mutans in relation to cigarette smoking.

Methods: This clinical trial consisted of 53 volunteer patients receiving care in a university based dental hygiene clinic. Participants completed a questionnaire specific to their social history in regards to tobacco use, oral health and dietary history.

Evaluation of social interaction, task management, and trust among dental hygiene students in a collaborative learning environment.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of collaborative learning on the development of social interaction, task management, and trust in dental hygiene students. These three traits were assessed with the Teamwork Assessment Scale in two different learning environments (traditional lecture/lab and collaborative learning environment). A convenience sample of fifty-six entry-level dental hygiene students taking an introductory/preclinic course at two metropolitan area dental hygiene programs provided comparable experimental and control groups.

Microtensile dentin adhesive bond strength under different positive pulpal pressures.

Purpose: To measure the in vitro dentin microtensile bond strength of established adhesives under different hydrostatic pulpal pressures.

Methods: After IRB approval, 24 human extracted third molars were randomly distributed into four adhesive treatment groups: Clearfil-SE (self-etch, water-based), One-Step Plus (total-etch, acetone-based), Peak-SE (self-etch, ethanol-based) and PQ1 (total-etch, ethanol-based, Ultradent). Additionally each group was assigned to be restored under 0.

Use of cone-beam computed tomography to identify root canal systems in vitro.

This study investigated the use of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) as a diagnostic tool for identifying root canal systems (RCSs) when compared with images obtained by using charged coupled device (CCD) and photostimulable phosphor plate (PSP) digital radiography in vitro. Seventy-two extracted teeth were exposed with CCD, PSP, and CBCT radiography. Specimens included 24 maxillary molars, mandibular premolars, and mandibular incisors each.

Prediction of maxillary canine impaction using sectors and angular measurement.

Maxillary canine impaction has an incidence of 1 in 100 in the general population and has been reported as much higher in an individual orthodontic practice. Because patients with canine impactions generally have longer treatment times, depending on the location of the impacted tooth, early identification of impaction is of critical interest to the orthodontist. Sector location and angulation of the unerupted tooth have been analyzed previously as predictors of canine eruption after deciduous extraction.

Ethnic and racial minority students in U.S. entry-level dental hygiene programs: a national survey.

Purpose: The United States is rapidly becoming a more multicultural society. Although minority groups are the fastest growing segment of the U.S.