Relationship Between Dental Hygiene Students' Performance in an Oral Radiology Course and the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination: A Retrospective Study.

Dental hygiene students' performance in oral radiology courses may give an early indication of their readiness prior to taking the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE). The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between dental hygiene students' performance in an oral radiology lecture course and their performance on the NBDHE. Data were collected for all 117 dental hygiene students at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry from 2006 to 2009 who took the NBDHE during their second year of the program.

Dentist shortage: an analysis of dentists, practices, and populations in the underserved areas.

Objectives: The objectives of this study are to identify and describe the characteristics of dental underserved geographic areas. Understanding these characteristics is an important step in addressing access to dental care barriers.

Methods: Dental underserved areas were identified from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) database and converted to census tracts for analysis.

Practice Location Characteristics of Non-Traditional Dental Practices.

Current and future dental school graduates are increasingly likely to choose a non-traditional dental practice-a group practice managed by a dental service organization or a corporate practice with employed dentists-for their initial practice experience. In addition, the growth of non-traditional practices, which are located primarily in major urban areas, could accelerate the movement of dentists to those areas and contribute to geographic disparities in the distribution of dental services. To help the profession understand the implications of these developments, the aim of this study was to compare the location characteristics of non-traditional practices and traditional dental practices.

Texas First Dental Home: A Snapshot after Five Years.

Background: Early caries is still the most prevalent disease of childhood. Its incidence continues to be high, despite recent progress in the amount of untreated caries. The disease is more prevalent in low socio-economic and minority groups.

The past and future evolution of the dental workforce team.

This article looks at changes in the number and mix of providers in the dental workforce over the past sixty years. First, enrollment trends in dental education programs are investigated. These educational programs feed directly into the dental workforce.

The ethics of live patient use in dental hygiene clinical licensure examinations: a national survey.

A national survey of dental hygienists was conducted to explore ethical issues arising from the use of live patients for dental hygiene clinical licensure examinations. Data were collected regarding respondents' demographics, additional costs they incurred associated with their examination beyond the examination fees, delays in patients' treatment resulting from the examination, unethical candidate and/or patient behaviors they experienced, and provisions they made for patients' follow-up care related to the examination. Five hundred surveys were mailed to dental hygienists from two states in each of the five licensure examination regions.

A comparative study of root defect coverage using an acellular dermal matrix with and without a recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor.

Background: The objective of this case series is to compare root defect coverage results and healing responses of bilateral recession defects treated with acellular dermal matrix (ADM) with and without recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor (rhPDGF).

Methods: Seventeen patients with 40 bilateral gingival recession defects were compared. Each defect was ≥2 mm and treated with ADM and a coronally advanced flap.

Assessment of hemostatic efficacy and osseous wound healing using HemCon dental dressing.

Introduction: Obtaining hemostasis in the surgical crypt during periradicular surgery is essential. It allows for improved visibility and contributes to a dry environment suitable for the placement of moisture-sensitive root-end filling material. Although current materials may not be moisture sensitive during setting, hemostasis is important for proper placement of root-end filling materials during apical surgery.

Magnification's effect on endodontic fine motor skills.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to quantitatively investigate the effect of magnification on fine motor skills used in endodontics.

Methods: This study used a novel manual dexterity test that was performed with and without magnification. An 8x operating microscope and 2.

A comparison of the periodontal status in patients with mucous membrane pemphigoid: a 5-year follow-up.

Background: Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is a heterogeneous group of blistering autoimmune disorders of unknown etiology. Intraoral manifestations of MMP feature the formation of vesiculobullous lesions that eventually rupture, leading to pseudomembrane-covered, irregularly-shaped ulcerations. The presence of these often painful oral lesions may hinder oral hygiene efforts resulting in increased plaque accumulation and may increase the risk of developing periodontal disease.

Use of the Cross-Cultural Adaptability Inventory to measure cultural competence in a dental hygiene program.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine changes in students' cross-cultural effectiveness using the Cross-Cultural Adaptability Inventory (CCAI). The inventory assessed strengths and weaknesses in 4 skill areas: Emotional Resilience, Flexibility/Openness, Perceptual Acuity, and Personal Autonomy.

Methods: The CCAI was administered to 30 dental hygiene students during Orientation.

Dental workforce.

The dental workforce refers to the number, distribution, and characteristics of dentists, dental auxiliaries, and other support staff involved in the provision of oral health care. This article reviews the changes in the dental workforce that have taken place, especially during the last 50 years, the present status of the workforce, and projections about the adequacy and composition of the dental workforce in the coming years.

What victims of domestic violence need from the dental profession.

Most dental schools teach students about domestic abuse, but it is unknown if this information is ever applied in practice. This study was conducted to determine whether domestic violence victims 1) visited dental offices when signs of abuse were present; 2) were asked about their injuries; 3) were given referrals or assistance; and 4) want the abuse recognized by and discussed with the dental professional. A survey was developed and mailed to fifteen shelters.

Demographic characteristics of orthodontic practice sites in the United States.

Few studies have addressed the demographic characteristics of dental-practice sites, including orthodontic practice sites. In this study, we investigated the demographic characteristics of orthodontic practice sites in the United States. Demographic data and orthodontic practices were organized by zip codes and analyzed with discriminant analysis.

Demographic characteristics of general dental practice sites.

This study investigates the demographic characteristics of general dental practice sites in the United States and develops a model that identifies practice site characteristics commonly associated with general dental practices. Demographic data and general dental practices were organized by zip codes and analyzed using Discriminant Analysis. The demographic characteristics associated with zip codes that contained a general dental practice were determined.

Analysis of the demographic characteristics of pediatric dental practice sites.

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to: (1) investigate the demographic characteristics of pediatric dental practice sites in the United States; and (2) develop a model that identifies practice site characteristics commonly associated with pediatric dental practices.

Methods: Demographic data and pediatric dental practices were organized by zip codes and analyzed using discriminant analysis. The demographic characteristics associated with zip codes that contained a pediatric dental practice were determined.

Demographic characteristics of endodontic practice sites in the United States.

Few studies have addressed the demographic characteristics of dental practice sites including endodontic practice sites. This study investigated the demographic characteristics of endodontic practice sites in the United States. Demographic data and endodontic practices were organized by zip codes and analyzed using discriminant analysis.

Comparative evaluation of endodontic irrigants against Enterococcus faecalis biofilms.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of root canal irrigants against E. faecalis biofilms using a novel in vitro testing system. Biofilms grown in a flow cell system were submerged in test irrigants for either 1 or 5 minutes.

Grading dental students in a "nongraded" clinical assessment program.

This article details how Baylor College of Dentistry (BCD) merges graded and nongraded aspects of student assessments into grade point averages (GPAs); explains the use of its assessment tools to evaluate students, faculty, and curriculum simultaneously; and calls for continuous progress and quality improvement toward educational excellence among all levels of the oral health education community. "Nongraded" student assessments at BCD are only applicable to preclinical and chairside activities that involve direct patient care. We further summarize how we have attempted to improve the accuracy of grading while providing objective numeric grades to measure student performance and generate a class rank.