Diagnostic approach used by US general dental practitioners following discovery of oral lesions suspicious for malignancy/premalignancy: findings from the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

Objective: Oral cancer examinations seek to clinically identify early oral cancers and discover premalignancies prior to their progression to invasive cancer.

Method And Materials: A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and August 2017 to explore and quantify the diagnostic approach used by United States (US) general dental practitioners following discovery of an oral lesion suspicious for malignancy/premalignancy. US licensed general dental practitioners who were clinically active members of the US National Dental Practice-Based Research Network were eligible to participate.

Recruitment strategies and retention rates for five National Dental PBRN studies.

Background: We describe a retrospective assessment of practitioner and patient recruitment strategies, patient retention strategies, and rates for five clinical studies conducted in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network between 2012 and 2019, and practitioner and patient characteristics associated with retention.

Methods: Similar recruitment strategies were adopted in the studies. The characteristics of the practitioners and patients are described.

Pragmatic Return to Effective Dental Infection Control through Triage and Testing (PREDICT): an observational, feasibility study to improve dental office safety.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a substantial interruption of care, with patients and workers fearful to return to the dental office. As dental practice creates a highly aerosolized environment, the potential for spread of airborne illness is magnified. As a means to increase safety and mitigate risk, pre-visit testing for SARS-CoV-2 has the potential to minimize disease transmission in dental offices.

Pragmatic Return to Effective Dental Infection Control through Triage and Testing (PREDICT): A feasibility study to improve dental office safety.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need for practitioners to enhance workflows to increase safety and mitigate risk. As dental practice creates a highly aerosolized environment, pre-visit testing for SARS-CoV-2 has the potential to be an effective mitigation strategy to minimize disease transmission in dental offices. The Pragmatic Return to Effective Dental Infection Control through Testing (PREDICT) Feasibility Study examined the potential, logistics, and impact related to laboratory-based PCR viral testing and point-of-care (POC) antigen testing.

Acceptance and Usability of an Innovative mDentistry eHygiene Model Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic Within the US National Dental Practice-Based Research Network: Mixed Methods Study.

Background: Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and other possible future infectious disease pandemics, dentistry needs to consider modified dental examination regimens that render quality care and ensure the safety of patients and dental health care personnel (DHCP).

Objective: This study aims to assess the acceptance and usability of an innovative mDentistry eHygiene model amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This pilot study used a 2-stage implementation design to assess 2 critical components of an innovative mDentistry eHygiene model: virtual hygiene examination (eHygiene) and patient self-taken intraoral images (SELFIE), within the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

Characteristics of dentists in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

Objectives: Our aims are to describe the characteristics of dentists, members of the US National Dental practice-based research network (PBRN) in the United States, and determine how often these dentists provide specific dental procedures.

Methods: Dentists completed a questionnaire when they enrolled in the Network about their demographic and training characteristics and characteristics of their practices and patients. Dentists also reported the frequency of providing specific dental procedures.

Structure, function, and productivity from the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

Introduction: Following inception in 2005 as a multiregional practice-based research network (PBRN), the "National Dental PBRN" expanded nationwide in 2012, and in 2019 implemented additional organizational changes. The objectives are to: (1) describe the new structure and function of the network; and (2) quantify its scientific productivity since 2005.

Methods: A national Administrative and Resource Center is based in Alabama; regional and specialty nodes are based in Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Oregon, New York, and Texas.

The Pragmatic Return to Effective Dental Infection Control Through Triage and Testing (PREDICT) Study: Protocol for a Prospective Clinical Study in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

Background: Dental practice has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. As SARS-CoV-2 infection is transmitted by respiratory fluids, dental practice techniques, which include aerosol-generating procedures, can increase the risk of transmission causing heightened safety concerns for both dental health care workers (DHCWs) and patients. These concerns have resulted in the reduction in patient volume and the available workforce within dental practices across the United States.

Onset and resolution of pain among treated and untreated posterior teeth with a visible crack: Three-year findings from the national dental practice-based research network.

Objective: Cracked teeth may be associated with pain, especially biting pain, and to a lesser degree cold and spontaneous pain.  Described are how commonly these pains remain constant, develop, or resolve over time, none of which have been well-described, especially among untreated cracked teeth.

Methods: Cracked teeth from the Cracked Tooth Registry (CTR) study were followed for 3 years.

Assessment of an Innovative Mobile Dentistry eHygiene Model Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network: Protocol for Design, Implementation, and Usability Testing.

Background: Amid COVID-19, and other possible future infectious disease pandemics, dentistry needs to consider modified dental examination regimens that render quality care, are cost effective, and ensure the safety of patients and dental health care personnel (DHCP). Traditional dental examinations, which number more than 300 million per year in the United States, rely on person-to-person tactile examinations, pose challenges to infection control, and consume large quantities of advanced-level personal protective equipment (PPE). Therefore, our long-term goal is to develop an innovative mobile dentistry (mDent) model that takes these issues into account.

Practitioner Engagement in Activities of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN): 7-Year Results.

Purpose: To 1) quantify practitioner activities of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (Network) for which Continuing Education (CE) credits were received (study training, videos, webinars, meetings, and symposia); 2) quantify practitioner coauthoring Network publications and presentations; and 3) test whether practitioner characteristics were associated with participation in these activities.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 4361 practitioners who enrolled in the Network between April 12, 2012 and October 12, 2018.

Results: Overall, 59% (n = 2586) of practitioners earned CE credit from the Network; among these, 68% (n = 1757) from a video, 38% (n = 993) attended an annual Network meeting, 31% (n = 798) due to training for a Network clinical study, 9% (n = 226) attended a national symposium, and 7% (n = 170) participated in a Network webinar.

Cues used by dentists in the early detection of oral cancer and oral potentially malignant lesions: findings from the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of clinical cues on risk assessment of cancer-associated mucosal abnormalities.

Study Design: We differentiated lesions with a low risk from those with a high risk for premalignancy or malignancy by using 4 cues: (1) color, (2) location, (3) induration, and (4) pain on exploration. Combinations of color and location were presented through 8 photographs, with induration and pain status variably presented in the standardized history and physical findings.

Prescription Drug Abuse Among Patients in Rural Dental Practices Reported by Members of the National Dental PBRN.

Purpose: This study compared rural to nonrural dentists with respect to opioid prescribing practices, perceptions about prescription drug abuse among patients, and training relevant to pain management and addictions.

Methods: A web-based, cross-sectional questionnaire was administered to practicing dentist members of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN; N = 822) and linked with network enrollment questionnaire data regarding practitioner demographics and practice characteristics. Pain management prescribing practices and perceptions regarding relevance and scope of addiction and drug diversion among patients were assessed.

Concordance between practitioner questionnaire responses and observed clinical treatment recommendations for treatment of dentin hypersensitivity: findings from the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

Background: Few published reports have presented concordance between treatment choices selected by dentists in hypothetical clinical scenarios and treatment choices made by the same dentists in actual clinical practice. The aim of the current cross-sectional study, conducted within the Management of Dental Hypersensitivity (MDH) study, was to assess the potential value of practitioners' questionnaire responses regarding their typical treatment provided for management of dentin hypersensitivity (DH), by evaluating agreement between these responses and subsequently-observed recommendations recorded during actual clinical examinations.

Methods: A total of 171 practitioners enrolled in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network completed both a questionnaire and a clinical study regarding methods they use to treat dental hypersensitivity.

Electronic and paper mode of data capture when assessing patient-reported outcomes in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

Aim: Our objectives were to describe the approach used in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network to capture patient-reported outcomes and to compare electronic and paper modes of data capture in a specific network study.

Methods: This was a prospective, multicenter cohort study of 1862 patients with dentin hypersensitivity. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed based on patients' perception of pain using Visual Analog Scales and Labeled Magnitude scales at baseline and at 1, 4 and 8 weeks post-baseline.

Oral cancer examinations and lesion discovery as reported by U.S. general dentists: Findings from the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

General dentists (GDs) have the opportunity to examine their patients for oral premalignancy/malignancy. We estimated the annualized per dentist number of oral lesions suspicious for premalignancy/malignancy discovered by United States (U.S.

Leadership in practice-based research: The National Dental PBRN.

Practice-based research networks with strong leadership can be effective venues for the translation of research findings. Coordinating all the efforts across a Network composed of individuals with a broad range of expertise, goals, and expectations can, however, be cumbersome, posing many different leadership challenges.

Training experiences regarding pain management, addiction, and drug diversion of dentists enrolled in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

The purpose of this study was to describe dentists' training experiences relevant to pain management, addiction, and prescription opioid drug diversion and examine associations between these training experiences and dentists' opioid prescribing practices. A Web-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted among practicing dentist members of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN;  = 822). The survey assessed pain management prescribing practices and training experiences related to pain management and assessment for addiction and drug diversion.