Mental health curricula in predoctoral dental school programs: A content analysis.

Background: Given the prevalence of mental health concerns, dentists have an opportunity to provide mental health screenings to enhance overall patient care. The purpose of this study is to summarize and discuss the characteristics of mental health curricula related to patient care in accredited dental schools.

Methods: We identified accredited predoctoral dental programs incorporating mental health training related to patient care into their curriculum.

Mental health screenings in dental settings: Feasibility and outcomes from a study by The National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

Background: With the rising importance of mental health screenings in nontraditional settings, dental offices offer an important opportunity to provide these services. This feasibility study examined mental health screenings and referral to treatment procedures in dental practices.

Methods: A total of 17 dentists, dental hygienists, and dental office staff members (dental office personnel [DOP]) from 5 dental practices enrolled 36 patients in the study.

Elevated Smooth Pursuit Gain in Collegiate Athletes with Sport-related Concussion Immediately Following Injury.

Purpose: Although there is evidence that sport-related concussion (SRC) affects oculomotor function and perceptual ability, experiments are often poorly controlled and are not replicable. This study aims to test the hypothesis that there are decreased values when assessing oculomotor impairment indicating poorer performance in SRC patients.

Methods: Fifteen DI athletes presenting with SRC (7 females, 8 males) and 15 student volunteers (CON) (12 females, 3 males) completed a dynamic visual acuity (DVA) task that involved answering the direction of a moving stimulus (Landolt C) while wearing a head-mounted binocular eye tracker.

Perceptions of mental health screening and referral to treatment in National Dental-Practice Based Research Network practices: A qualitative study.

Objectives: Dental practices can have additional positive impacts on public health by implementing mental health screening and referral to treatment in dental care workflows. In this study, we examined how dental practices identify and address adult patient mental health concerns, attitudes about implementing mental health screening and referral, and potential barriers and facilitators to treatment.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured focus groups with 17 dentists, 10 dental hygienists, and 5 dental assistants/office staff in the South-Central region of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.