A pilot study of local anesthesia training using a mixed-reality haptic fidelity model.

Purpose/objectives: One of the most difficult local anesthetic blocks to master in dentistry is the inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB). Historically, dental students have practiced local anesthesia on one another. At the University of Colorado, these practice sessions have been limited to one required laboratory session.

Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic for improving outpatient neuropalliative care: A qualitative study of patient and caregiver perspectives.

Background: COVID-19 has impacted persons with serious illness, including those with chronic, neurodegenerative conditions. While there are several reports on COVID-19's impact on inpatient palliative care, literature is limited about the impact on outpatient care which may be more relevant for these patients.

Aim: To generate a person-centered description of the impact of COVID-19 from the perspectives of patients living with neurodegenerative disease and caregivers to improve outpatient palliative care delivery.

Evaluating the Relationship Between Olfactory Function and Loneliness in Community-Dwelling Individuals: A Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) has been reported to impact social interactions. However, the relationship between OD and loneliness has received little attention. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between OD and loneliness, controlling for patient factors.

A Community-Based Study on the Prevalence of Olfactory Dysfunction.

Background: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is common, affecting an estimated 13 million adults in the United States. Prior studies may underestimate OD prevalence due to use of brief smell identification tests or age-adjusted cutoff values, which concede that it is acceptable for older people to have a decreased sense of smell.

Objective: To determine OD prevalence in the healthy community when the goal and expectation is ideal olfactory function, rather than age-based population norms.

Respiratory outcomes with the use of a lower custom fit genioglossal-effecting oral appliance.

Objective: Sleep apnea research cites that an oral appliance, which places the mandible in a more forward position and the genioglossus (tongue muscle) on the floor of the mouth, improves aspects of the pharyngeal opening. Exercise science research has cited improvements in airway dynamics and physiological variables with oral appliance use during exercise. Thus, the purpose of this study was to design an oral appliance that would act on the genioglossus and determine if there were effects on respiratory parameters while exercising.

Olfactory cleft mucus proteins associated with olfactory dysfunction in a cohort without chronic rhinosinusitis.

Background: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is a common problem, affecting up to 20% of the general population. Previous studies identified olfactory cleft mucus proteins associated with OD in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) but not in a healthy population. In this study we aimed to identify olfactory cleft mucus proteins associated with olfaction in individuals without sinus disease.