Dental Hygienists' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Comfort Level in Treating Patients with Dental Anxiety.

Fear of dental treatment is a significant problem in the United States, impacting patients as well as oral health care providers. The purpose of this study was to identify the already-acquired knowledge, attitudes, and level of confidence of practicing dental hygienists with respect to the treatment of patients with dental anxiety. A paper survey was developed, pilot tested, and administered at a state-wide annual dental hygiene continuing education (CE) course in North Carolina.

Parent-Reported Family Functioning Among Children With Cleft Lip/Palate.

Objective: To examine family functioning related to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics in youth with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P).

Design: Cross-sectional, multi-site investigation.

Setting: Six U.

The impact of community-based dental education on students.

Community-based dental education (CBDE) shifts a substantial portion of dental clinical education from dental school clinics to mainly public health settings. For dental students to learn effectively in community settings they need preparatory education in cultural awareness, communication skills, and the social and behavioral sciences. The effective integration of CBDE into a dental curriculum requires reflective components, evaluation, and highly organized community-based experiences.