Building Resilience for Wellness: A Faculty Development Resource.

Introduction: The National Academy of Medicine recently published "A Multifaceted Systems Approach to Addressing Stress Within Health Professions Education and Beyond," which calls for greater attention to the wellness of health care providers, students, and educators. Suggested actions include "creating and training positive role models." In order for faculty to role-model behaviors of wellness, they need to understand what this means and how to incorporate it into their lives.

In-office vital bleaching with adjunct light.

The use of light as an adjunct to in-office bleaching is a controversial topic in dentistry because of the equivocal outcomes of the research conducted in studies using light compared with no light treatment. The proper diagnosis and treatment planning of discolored teeth is of primary importance when managing the outcomes and setting expectations for patients undergoing in-office bleaching with supplemental light. Although no study is conclusive on all bleaching lights, research evidence provides guidelines for the responsible use of in-office bleaching lights in dentistry.

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.

Application of basic science to clinical problems: traditional vs. hybrid problem-based learning.

It is widely acknowledged that clinical problem-solving is a key skill for dental practitioners. The aim of this study was to determine if students in a hybrid problem-based learning curriculum (h-PBL) were better at integrating basic science knowledge with clinical cases than students in a traditional, lecture-based curriculum (TC). The performance of TC students (n=40) was compared to that of h-PBL students (n=31).

Force relaxation between latex and non-latex orthodontic elastics in simulated saliva solution.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to compare the force relaxation between traditional latex elastics to different brands of non-latex elastics in a simulated saliva solution. The force relaxation of 6.35 mm (0.

Cone-beam computed tomography of the maxillofacial region--an update.

Background: During the last few years, craniomaxillofacial diagnosis of the head has been confronted with an increasing number of innovations and improvements. The main progress occurred following the introduction of cone-beam technology in computed tomography in the 1990s. The number of manufacturers and devices using this technology for the maxillofacial region is growing rapidly and they are now becoming readily available.

Factors influencing implementation and outcomes of a dental electronic patient record system.

Implementation of clinical information systems is often difficult and costly. Little is known about how to implement electronic patient records in a complex dental school environment. The purpose of this study is to report how such a system was implemented at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Dental Branch and to provide insights that may be useful for other institutions.

Integrating electronic patient records into a multi-media clinic-based simulation center using a PC blade platform: a foundation for a new pedagogy in dentistry.

Simulation has been used for many years in dental education, but the educational context is typically a laboratory divorced from the clinical setting, which impairs the transfer of learning. Here we report on a true simulation clinic with multimedia communication from a central teaching station. Each of the 43 fully-functioning student operatories includes a thin-client networked computer with access to an Electronic Patient Record (EPR).

Assessing user perceptions of an electronic patient record (EPR) before implementation.

As part of a comprehensive strategy to implement an electronic patient record (EPR), faculty, residents, students and support staff, were surveyed to assess their attitudes and awareness towards an EPR before implementation. Results of the survey suggested a high degree of awareness and optimistic outlook by many users about the potential of the EPR to improve efficiency and patient care.

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.

Immunohistochemical study of small integrin-binding ligand, N-linked glycoproteins in reactionary dentin of rat molars at different ages.

Small integrin-binding ligand, N-linked glycoproteins (SIBLING) are believed to play key roles in the process of biomineralization. Reactionary dentin (RD), formed by odontoblasts in response to external stimuli, differs morphologically from primary dentin (PD). To test our hypothesis that the microscopic changes reflect variations in molecular mechanisms involved in formation of the two forms of dentin, and to characterize RD further, we compared the distributions of four SIBLING proteins [bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteopontin (OPN), dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP-1) and dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP)] in naturally occurring RD with those in PD.

Functional consequences of interactions between Pax9 and Msx1 genes in normal and abnormal tooth development.

Pax9 and Msx1 encode transcription factors that are known to be essential for the switch in odontogenic potential from the epithelium to the mesenchyme. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that these molecules play an important role in the maintenance of mesenchymal Bmp4 expression, which ultimately drives morphogenesis of the dental organ. Here we demonstrate that Pax9 is able to directly regulate Msx1 expression and interact with Msx1 at the protein level to enhance its ability to transactivate Msx1 and Bmp4 expression during tooth development.

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.

A model for clinical credentialing of dental school faculty.

Committed to the premise that the same standards of review for clinical practice may be applied to clinical teaching, The University of Texas Health Science Center Dental Branch at Houston began credentialing clinical faculty in 1997 as part of its quality assurance and risk management program, one of the first dental schools in the country to do so. Credentialing, modeled after health care institutions such as hospitals, is general and procedure-specific involving the review of qualifications such as licensure, training, education, experience, and performance of professional practitioners; measuring those qualifications against pre-established criteria; and granting of "clinical privileges" to clinical faculty to perform or supervise procedures for which they are deemed qualified, based on that review. The development process included the leadership of the Quality Assurance and Risk Management Committee who met with all interested parties, explained the rationale and justification for credentialing, and successfully gained the support of the clinical department chairs, clinical faculty, faculty senate, and the administration of the school in implementing the credentials process.

Effect of finishing and polishing procedures on surface roughness, gloss and color of resin-based composites.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of different finishing and polishing procedures on surface roughness, gloss and color of five resin composites: two experimental microhybrid composites - FZ-Dentin (FZD) and FZ-Enamel (FZE), one commercial microhybrid composite - Esthet-X (EX), and two microfilled composites - Heliomolar (HM) and Renamel Microfill (RM).

Methods: Surface roughness, gloss and color of the disc-shaped specimens (10 mm in diameter and 2-mm thick) were measured as Mylar (baseline), 16-fluted carbide bur and polishing were completed. Sixteen specimens of each composite were randomized to four groups of four.

Evaluation of halitosis in children and mothers.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence and clinical parameters that are associated with halitosis in pediatric dental patients and compare these findings with those found for the patients' mother.

Methods: Children aged 5 to 12 years old were evaluated with mothers present during a dental visit. Each mother completed the child's medical history and a breath odor questionnaire.

Factors affecting in vitro bond strength of bonding agents to human dentin.

Four generations of total-etch (fourth, fifth) and self-etching (sixth, seventh) bonding agents for use with resin composites are commercially available in the United States. Innovations in bonding agents include: filled systems, release of fluoride and other agents, unit dose, self-cured catalyst, option of etching with either phosphoric acid or self-etching primer, and pH indicators. Factors that can affect in vitro bond strength to human dentin include substrate (superficial dentin, deep dentin; permanent versus primary teeth; artificial carious dentin), phosphoric acid versus acidic primers, preparation by air abrasion and laser, moisture, contaminants, desensitizing agents, astringents, and self-cured restorative materials.

The use of enamel matrix protein in the treatment of localized aggressive periodontitis: a case report.

The previously named localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP), recently reclassified as localized aggressive periodontitis (LAP) seen in young people, is a rare condition characterized by severe periodontal destruction around first molars and incisors in individuals with little or no accumulation of visible plaque and/or calculus. Treatment of this condition has traditionally included periodontal surgery and adjunctive antibiotic therapy. Even though several periodontal regeneration techniques in these patients have been reported, there have been no reports of the use of the enamel matrix proteins in the treatment of intrabony defects caused by this disease.

Clinical response to 2 different therapeutic regimens to treat peri-implant mucositis.

Background: Maintenance of implants is imperative, since implants, like teeth, are susceptible to bacterial plaque accumulation and calculus formation, and thus at risk of developing peri-implant mucositis or peri-implantitis.

Methods: This study determined the clinical effects of chlorhexidine treatment on peri-implant mucositis at 1 and 3 months as determined by the modified plaque index, the modified sulcus bleeding index, clinical attachment level, and probing depth. Through DNA probes, the effect of chlorhexidine on the microbial flora of mucositic lesions was also evaluated.