Partial-mouth periodontal examination protocol for estimating periodontitis extent and severity in a US population.

We have previously demonstrated that half-mouth four-site periodontal examination protocol performed well in estimating periodontitis prevalence. This study aimed to assess biases associated with this same protocol in estimating periodontitis extent and severity in a United States population. Periodontitis extent as determined by percentage of sites with clinical attachment loss (CAL) ≥3, and ≥5 mm and severity as determined by mean CAL were calculated for full-mouth examination and half-mouth four-site protocol based on 3734 adults sampled from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2010.

Assessment of partial-mouth periodontal examination protocols for periodontitis surveillance.

Objective: To evaluate bias associated with nine identified partial-mouth periodontal examination (PMPE) protocols in estimating periodontitis prevalence using the periodontitis case definition given by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and American Academy of Periodontology (CDC/AAP).

Material And Methods: Prevalence from full-mouth examination was determined in a sample of 3667 adults ≥30 years old from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009-2010. Prevalence, absolute bias, relative bias, sensitivity and inflation factor were derived for these protocols according to the CDC/AAP definition and half-reduced CDC/AAP definition as ≤50% of sites were measured.

Assessing periodontitis in populations: a systematic review of the validity of partial-mouth examination protocols.

Objective: To estimate bias associated with partial-mouth periodontal examination (PMPE) protocols regarding estimates of prevalence, severity and extent of clinical attachment loss (CAL), pocket depth (PD) and gingival recession (REC).

Material And Methods: A search was made for articles published in English, from 1946 to 2012, which compared PMPE versus full-mouth periodontal examination protocols for CAL or PD ≥ 4 mm or REC ≥3 mm thresholds. PMPE protocols were evaluated for sensitivity of estimates of periodontitis prevalence, relative biases for severity and extent estimates.

The journey beyond silos. Teaching and learning interprofessional ethics at UTHealth.

Interprofessional education and ethics education are two educational programs that blend together well, and, moreover, they are a natural fit for teaching in an academic health science center. The purpose of this paper is to describe our recent journey of developing and implementing an interprofessional ethics curriculum across the six schools of UTHealth. We provide an overview of the goals of the Campus-wide Ethics Program, which is housed in the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics, and we highlight certain innovative developments that are the result of the collaborative work of faculty and administrators from all six schools of UTHealth.

Teaching evidence-based practice at the University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston.

This brief report outlines the current curriculum for evidence-based practice at The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston (UTDB). This curriculum is now based on the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation 2010 Accreditation Standards for Dental Education Programs. Evidence-based practice is introduced to students in the first-year curriculum.

Conflicts of interest in research: is clinical decision-making compromised? An opinion paper.

Lack of transparency in funded research can compromise clinical decision-making in an evidence-based practice. Transparency can be defined as full disclosure of all financial assistance and support to authors and investigators. There is a perception that ethical principles are eroding and that research data can be biased due to conflicts of interest.

Development of an interdisciplinary course in information resources and evidence-based dentistry.

The capacity to locate, access, and appraise information is an important skill required for success in dental school and beyond. An interdisciplinary course was implemented to teach first-year dental students at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Dental Branch about evidence-based dentistry, search strategies, critical appraisal of the literature, and dental informatics. Students learned to develop a clinical question, conduct a search to find answers to that question, and critically appraise one of the retrieved resources.

Stainless steel crowns versus amalgams in the primary dentition and decision-making in clinical practice.

This article reviews scientific dental literature related to amalgam restorations versus stainless steel crowns (SSCs) in the primary dentition. An extensive literature search of clinical studies was conducted to address the use of amalgams and SSCs in the primary dentition. The scientific literature provides evidence that SSCs demonstrate greater longevity and reduced need for retreatment, compared to multi-surface amalgam restorations.

Methods of dental instrument processing, sterilization, and storage--a review.

A comprehensive instrument processing and sterilization program in the dental office is essential to ensure that the DHCP and the public are protected from disease transmission due to contaminated instruments/ devices. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other organizations have made recommendations to help dental personnel with this aspect of patient care. By following the CDC's latest guidelines, the DHCP can develop an optimal program of dental instrument processing, sterilization and storage.

Dental practice implications of prion diseases.

This review article discusses dental practice implications of prion diseases, including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The current universal precautions used for infection control in dentistry do not inactivate infectious prions. There is a theoretical, yet real risk of prion disease transmission through dental treatment, although the magnitude of that risk has not yet been determined.