A standardized protocol for the comprehensive assessment of dental hygiene work.

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are prevalent in dental hygienists. Although engineering controls and ergonomic training is available, it is unclear why this intransigent problem continues. One possible barrier is that a comprehensive, standardized protocol for evaluating dental hygiene work does not exist.

An umbrella review of systematic reviews examining the relationship between type 2 diabetes and periodontitis: Position paper from the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association.

Unlabelled: Previous research has confirmed strong associations between periodontitis and diabetes mellitus (DM), supporting DM as a risk factor for periodontal disease and suggesting a bidirectional relationship. Causal relationships have not been confirmed.

Aim: The aim of this paper is to review the most current evidence of the nature of this relationship and examine whether non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) significantly lowers glycemic (HbA1c) control.

An umbrella review of systematic reviews of the evidence of a causal relationship between periodontal microbes and respiratory diseases: Position paper from the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association.

Unlabelled: Previous position papers have confirmed to varying degrees associations between periodontal microbes and respiratory tract infections such as nosocomial or hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). Causal relationships have not been confirmed and have been the source of much confusion for the medical and oral health professions.

Aim: To investigate whether sufficient evidence exists for a causal relationship between periodontal microbes and respiratory diseases, with a focus on HAP and VAP.

An umbrella review of systematic reviews of the evidence of a causal relationship between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes: A position paper from the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association.

Unlabelled: Previous position papers have confirmed associations between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Causal associations have not been confirmed and have been the source of much confusion for the profession and public.

Aim: To investigate whether sufficient evidence exists for a causal relationship between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

An umbrella review of systematic reviews of the evidence of a causal relationship between periodontal disease and cardiovascular diseases: Position paper from the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association.

Unlabelled: Previous position papers have confirmed associations between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease. Causal associations have not been confirmed and have been the source of much confusion for oral health professionals and the public.

Aim: To investigate whether sufficient evidence exists for a causal relationship between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease.

Characterization of Tasks and Time Efficiency of Dental Hygiene Students During Clinical Training.

Dental hygiene graduates often experience significant psychological stress while transitioning from the educational setting to clinical practice environments. The purpose of this study was to characterize the duration of dental hygiene activities and tasks and explore efficiency within appointments, by students in educational programs. Right-handed female dental hygiene students were recruited from two dental hygiene education programs.

Identifying an Optimal Sampling Method to Estimate Postural Risk in a Dynamic Work Task.

Introduction: The Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) is an ergonomic assessment tool used to screen for risk of musculoskeletal injury due to working posture. The RULA is traditionally applied once during a work task to approximate overall risk. No method exists for estimating a RULA score for work requiring frequent shifts in posture across an extended period of time.

Prevention and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal disorders in oral health care professionals: A systematic review.

Background: The authors' objective in this systematic review was to describe the evidence for preventive and rehabilitative interventions for musculoskeletal disorders in oral health care.

Types Of Studies Reviewed: The authors conducted systematic search, screening, and eligibility processes to identify experimental, quasiexperimental, observational, and survey research studies in which the investigators either directly evaluated or predicted the effects of preventive or rehabilitative interventions on the reduction of musculoskeletal symptoms in oral health care professionals.

Results: The authors identified and screened 3,571 unique abstracts, assessed 256 full-text articles for eligibility, and included 34 articles in the review.

Evidence-based clinical practice guideline on the nonsurgical treatment of chronic periodontitis by means of scaling and root planing with or without adjuncts.

Background: A panel of experts convened by the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs presents an evidence-based clinical practice guideline on nonsurgical treatment of patients with chronic periodontitis by means of scaling and root planing (SRP) with or without adjuncts.

Methods: The authors developed this clinical practice guideline according to the American Dental Association's evidence-based guideline development methodology. This guideline is founded on a systematic review of the evidence that included 72 research articles providing clinical attachment level data on trials of at least 6 months' duration and published in English through July 2014.

Systematic review and meta-analysis on the nonsurgical treatment of chronic periodontitis by means of scaling and root planing with or without adjuncts.

Background: Conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on nonsurgical treatment of patients with chronic periodontitis by means of scaling and root planing (SRP) with or without adjuncts.

Methods: A panel of experts convened by the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs conducted a search of PubMed (MEDLINE) and Embase for randomized controlled trials of SRP with or without the use of adjuncts with clinical attachment level (CAL) outcomes in trials at least 6 months in duration and published in English through July 2014. The authors assessed individual study bias by using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and conducted meta-analyses to obtain the summary effect estimates and their precision and to assess heterogeneity.

Critical thinking in patient centered care.

Unlabelled: Health care providers can enhance their critical thinking skills, essential to providing patient centered care, by use of motivational interviewing and evidence-based decision making techniques.

Background And Purpose: The need for critical thinking skills to foster optimal patient centered care is being emphasized in educational curricula for health care professions. The theme of this paper is that evidence-based decision making (EBDM) and motivational interviewing (MI) are tools that when taught in health professions educational programs can aid in the development of critical thinking skills.

Keeping current: a commitment to patient care excellence through evidence based practice.

The desire to improve the oral health of clients begins with the hygienist's commitment to keeping current with useful scientific knowledge. The challenge is mastering the skills to discriminate between the many claims and what actually has been shown to be effective. One approach is through evidence-based decision-making (EBDM), which helps practitioners find relevant clinical evidence when it is needed for treatment decisions and for answering client questions.

Translating evidence-based decision making into practice: appraising and applying the evidence.

This is the second of 2 articles that focus on strategies to integrate an evidence-based decision-making (EBDM) approach into your practice. The previous article provided an overview of EBDM concepts and identified strategies for finding evidence to answer clinical questions, the first 2 steps in the evidence-based process. The next steps are to determine the credibility and usefulness of the evidence and to apply the evidence to patient care.

Introduction to the basics of evidence-based dentistry: concepts and skills.

The purpose of this section of the ADA Champions Pre-Conference is to review the basics of Evidence-based dentistry (EBD), research designs and levels of evidence, and identify the skills necessary for clinicians to efficiently use an evidence-based approach in practice. This session of the pre-conference preceded the session on the skills needed to define a clinical question and search for the evidence to answer that question.

Translating evidence-based decision making into practice: EBDM concepts and finding the evidence.

This is the first of 2 articles that focuses on strategies that can be used to integrate an evidence-based decision making [EBDM] approach into practice. The articles will focus on EBDM methodology and enhancing skills, including how to find valid evidence to answer clinical questions, critically appraise the evidence found and determine if it applies. In addition, online resources will be identified to supplement information presented in each article.

A Delphi study to update the American Dental Hygienists' National Dental Hygiene Research Agenda.

Objective: The American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) National Dental Hygiene Research Agenda (NDHRA) is a working document that guides research efforts of the dental hygiene profession. The purpose of this study was to update the NDHRA to reflect current research priorities aimed at meeting national health objectives and to systematically advance dental hygiene's unique body of knowledge.

Methods: Forty-nine dental hygiene experts and key opinion leaders representing all domains of the profession, participated in the Delphi study to update and gain consensus on the NDHRA.