Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Oral Health Inequalities In Adolescents And Young Adults In Ontario, Maria Rahman

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Oral health is consistently linked to physiological, psychological, and social aspects of well-being in adolescents and young adults. In this thesis, I aimed to examine the social determinants of oral health and dental care utilization. First, I conducted a scoping review of the literature, demonstrated the multifaceted nature of oral health and its connections to broader social and economic factors. Then, I conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the Canadian Community Health Survey which showed a social gradient in oral health and dental care utilization among adolescents and young adults in Ontario. When stratified by age, there was a protective association …

E-Cigarettes: What Is The Relationship Between E-Cigarette Usage And Periodontal Disease?, Deborah Rose

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The dental community has a broad understanding of how traditional combustible cigarettes affect the oral cavity of the dental patient but there is little research available on the effects that e-cigarettes have on the patient’s dental health. Vaping products have been marketed as a healthier option over traditional combustible cigarettes. Since they were first introduced in 2003, very little research has been performed to understand their dental implications. This project was executed to investigate the chemicals associated with these vaping products and how they possibly contribute to the progression of periodontal disease. This research project was conducted with the contribution …

Strategies To Encourage Recall And Prevent Relapse After Full Mouth Rehabilitation Under General Anesthesia In Children, Claire Koukol

Capstone Experience

Background: Dental caries are preventable. Dentists utilize many prevention strategies in the office and provide at-home education to families. However, once a child develops Early Childhood Caries (ECC), especially in more severe cases, they may need general anesthesia (GA) to complete treatment. While this is an effective way to achieve full mouth dental rehabilitation (FMDR), this burdens the healthcare systems and families and does not come without risk to the patient. Patients with high caries experience remain at high risk of caries relapse after FMDR under GA, sometimes necessitating additional FMDR under GA. While there has been a significant amount …

Genetically Engineering Gingipains For High Yield Large Scale Purification., Andrew E. Fuchs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a keystone oral pathogen in the progression of periodontal disease and has been implicated in the etiology of many other systemic human diseases. P. gingivalis produces primary virulence factors termed the gingipains, a group of cysteine proteases. There is a high demand for high purity gingipains for downstream in vitro studies where P.g. is implicated, both oral and systemic. Gingipain production candidate mutant P.g. strains were generated to isolate each gingipain for large scale purification and the purified gingipains characterized. Two mutants were determined not to be viable for large scale purification of gingipains, each for different …

Effects Of Thermocycling And Hydrolytic Aging On The Flexural Strength Of Additively Manufactured Restorative Materials, Steven Mustafa Abu Al Tamn

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Introduction: Additive manufacturing is being integrated into various aspects of clinical prosthodontics due to its potential for use in various indications and the promise of improved clinical efficiency and properties.Objective: The purpose of this in-vitro study was to evaluate the flexural strength of two 3D-printed resin composites in relation to a conventionally fabricated resin composite after being subjected to two different artificial aging methods: thermocycling and distilled water storage. Material and methods: A total of 220 samples were fabricated (N=220); 72 samples were fabricated from Integrity composite (Dentsply Sirona) and 148 samples were fabricated from two 3D-printed composite materials MFH …

The Prevalence Of Burnout In Saudi Arabia Dental Hygienists, Nouf Hamad Aldayel

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the prevalence of burnout in Saudi Arabian dental hygienists and identify risk factors associated with burnout. Methods: A descriptive survey design using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) assessed burnout among a convenience sample of n=123 Saudi dental hygienists. The survey was disseminated electronically to 1,000 Saudi Arabian dental hygienists. The CBI measures three subscales: personal, work-related, and client/patient-related burnout on a five-point Likert-type scale. The survey also included six demographic questions, two Likert-type, one “yes/no,” and one openended question, related to burnout. Descriptive statistics, one-way between subject’s ANOVA, independent samples …

Cheiloscopy Examination And Classification Of Lip Prints With And Without Parafunctional Oral Habits: A Cross-Sectional Observation Study, Emily Smith Regan

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Problem: Lip prints are unique and have potential for use as a human identifier. The purpose of this study was to observe possible cheiloscopy differences of individuals with and without parafunctional oral habits. Additionally, inter-rater reliability (IRR) of lip print examiners was observed. Methods: This IRB approved blinded cross-sectional observational study collected lip prints from sixty-six individuals using lipstick and adhesive tape to transfer lip prints to white bond paper for viewing purposes. Each set of included lip prints was divided into quadrants and dichotomized as those with or without an oral parafunctional habit. Each quadrant sample was manually analyzed …

Dental Hygiene Students Reported Physiological Symptoms Associated With Wearing An N95 Respirator Mask, Peyton Shea Butler

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Purpose: Physiological symptoms and comfort levels while wearing an N95 respiratory mask has not been examined with dental hygienists. The purpose of this study was to investigate dental hygiene students reported physiological symptoms and comfort perception while wearing an N95 respirator mask during patient care appointments. Methods: After IRB approval (IRB #1987754-2), a 16-item questionnaire was distributed through email to a convenience sample of 65 dental hygiene students. Questions assessed respiratory, dermatologic, cardiac, mask mouth and general physiological symptoms, as well as comfort levels. Additionally, participants were asked to respond to demographic questions and one open ended question inquiring about …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Dental Hygiene Faculty Using Simulation With Dental Manikin Head Devices To Teach Local Anesthesia, Allison Castro

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

This study employed a qualitative phenomenological methodology to explore the lived experiences of dental hygiene faculty using simulation with dental manikin head devices to teach local anesthesia. This study aimed to address the gap in the literature given the lack of discussion regarding dental manikin head simulation use in teaching local anesthesia within dental hygiene education. The purpose extended to explore if educators could guide students and ease anxieties by incorporating simulation in the development of treatment skills on a manikin before applying these skills to real-life interactions. John Dewey’s (1938) concept of interconnectedness between education and experience and David …

The Impact Of Access To Oral Health Care On Inadequate Oral Health And Multimorbidity, Luis Limo

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The connection between oral health and other non-communicable chronic conditions—commonly referred in the dental literature as the oral-systemic health connection—emphasizes the role of oral health care on both oral diseases and chronic conditions, particularly in vulnerable populations like the elderly. This thesis comprises 2 studies: the first is a systematic review on the impact of oral health care interventions, as an indicator of access to oral health care, on chronic conditions of which their co-existence would result in multimorbidity; the second study is a cross-sectional investigation of the associations between oral health, access to oral health care, and multimorbidity among …

Association Of Inflammatory Markers And Growth Factors With Radiographically Assessed Wound Healing Of Extraction Sockets, Sasha Mohammadi

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this prospective cohort pilot study was to investigate the association of the periodontal status and inflammatory markers from the gingival crevicular and wound fluid with the healing outcomes following tooth extraction. The central research hypothesis is that extraction sites and the adjacent teeth that exhibit increased markers of inflammation, or decreased growth factors, at baseline or 2 weeks will be associated with reduced healing outcomes observed radiographically 3 months following surgery. Nine patients at the UNMC College of Dentistry who were seeking care to extract a posterior tooth due to advanced periodontal bone loss, non-restorable caries or …

Analysis Of Interprofessional Education Inclusion Within U.S. Dental Hygiene Programs’ Curricula, Jennifer M. Pacheco

Dental Hygiene ETDs

The purpose of this study was to collect information on the implementation of IPE activities within U.S. dental hygiene programs and whether program faculty are implementing these components into their program curricula. Furthermore, the study would identify which types of IPE activities were being conducted and if these activities met the CODA standards. An original survey was sent out to dental hygiene program directors and faculty. Results revealed both programs agreed that IPE is a significant component to include in hygiene curricula to better equip students as members of the healthcare team to deliver comprehensive care. IPE activities implemented were …

Immigrational Trauma: An Assessment Of Dental Phobia And Access To Care In Undocumented Individuals, Nora J. Vences Ortiz

Dental Hygiene ETDs

The purpose of this study is to assess immigrational trauma as it relates to dental phobia in accessing care from undocumented individuals. Immigrating from a country to the United States presents with unique challenges. These challenges include language barriers, traumatic experiences and cultural factors. These individuals also have perceived notions regarding their treatment with a physician or dentist as their immigration status may or may not be revealed during their care. If reported, they face deportation to their country of origin placing them in the danger they originally fled from. Survey data was collected using REDCap and distributed to students …

Examining The Effects Of Iron-Oxide Nanoparticles On Primary Gingival Keratinocytes For The Prevention Of Oral Disease, Jennifer C. Carranza

Dental Hygiene ETDs

Oral plaque biofilm has been identified as the primary contributor to dental conditions such as dental caries and periodontal disease that promotes a diverse and pervasive collection of microbial species to inhabit the oral cavity. Disrupting the plaque matrix early could help combat this global disease burden. This study evaluated the effect of IONPs on primary gingival keratinocytes.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine existing research regarding nanoparticles and determine if IONPs affect the PGK cell membranes with preliminary research to find the maximum lysis possible with PGK cells.

Methods: IONP core/shell syntheses were performed. Considering keratinocyte characteristics, examining data …

Enhancing Adherence To Best Practice Guidelines Related To Pressure Injury Prevention In The Operating Room At A Children's Hospital During Comprehensive Dental Procedures., Alyce Bailey Seaver

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Background: 1,600,000 patients develop a hospital-acquired pressure injury every year, and 23% of these originate during surgery. Research has demonstrated that the incidence of hospital-acquired pressure injuries developing during surgery has risen over the past 5 years. This rise has been attributed to nurse circulators exhibiting poor knowledge regarding best practices for intraoperative patient positioning and intraoperative documentation that does not follow standards of care.

Purpose: This quality improvement project aimed to enhance circulator knowledge on best practices for intraoperative patient positioning and improve documentation of intraoperative patient positioning in the electronic medical record to comply with standards of …

Exploring The Experiences Of Underrepresented Students Pursuing Health-Related Graduate Or Professional Programs, Alison Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For many years graduate and professional education programs for the health professions have sought to increase the diversity of their student body to include students from a wider variety of backgrounds. Increasing the diversity of healthcare providers is an essential component of addressing inequities in healthcare. However, despite initiatives to increase racial and ethnic diversity in the health professions, these professions remain largely White and female. Previous researchers have sought to identify the reasons that racial and ethnic minorities are underrepresented in healthcare, and the barriers to persistence and success. Little research exists explaining why men are underrepresented in the …

Dental Care Utilization Among U.S. Children Participating In Early Head Start Programs, Ahlam Ibraheem Joufi

Health Services Research Dissertations

Early childhood caries (ECC) remains one of the most common preventable diseases among children under the age of 6 years. Several national stakeholders recommend establishing a continuous collaboration of individuals involved with receiving oral health services (dental home) and routine dental care for the child by 12 months. Despite this recommendation, disparities exist among young, low-income children in preventive dental service utilization. The Early Head Start (EHS) program serves low-income children aged 0-3 years and their families and promotes oral health practices and service utilization within the program. This study aims to examine predictors of dental care utilization among children …

Maxillary And Mandibular Incisor And Molar Dentoalveolar Heights In Untreated Subjects Presenting Class I And Class Ii Malocclusion, Samantha Zavada Cardinal

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Objective : Class II malocclusion has been extensively studied, however there are many unanswered questions. This study analyzed the difference in incisor and molar dentoalveolar heights of untreated subjects presenting with Class I and Class II malocclusion. Dentialveolar heights are an aspect of the craniofacial complex that changes with growth and development and are manipulated by orthodontists. These changes hold important clinical implications for the development, maintenance and treatment of malocclusions. Methods : A sample of 96 untreated Class I and Class II subjects, with a total of 611 cephalograms was drawn from the archives of the University of Michigan …

Alveolar Bone Remodeling In Response To Orthodontic Tooth Movement, Matthew Raymond Mcgrady

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Objective: Dental protrusion and retrusion are common malocclusions in clinical orthodontics. When teeth are moved orthodontically, the alveolar bone surrounding the teeth remodels. In the past, incisor retraction-associated alveolar bone remodeling has been studied. However, less is known about the alveolar bone remodeling after incisors are proclined. This study aimed to assess the changes in alveolar bone thickness after proclination of maxillary incisors. The null hypothesis was that there is no difference in the surrounding alveolar bone thickness after orthodontic tooth movement. Materials and Methods: Patients were selected under the inclusion criteria of moderate-to-severe bimaxillary dental retrusion (U1-SN < 97°, L1-MP < 88.0°), absence of craniofacial anomalies, non-extraction, absence of missing teeth, with quality pre-and post-treatment lateral cephalometric images. Nineteen patients (10 males, 9 females; mean age 14.7 years) were selected, and their pre-treatment and post-treatment lateral cephalograms were digitally traced using a customized cephalometric analysis to compare changes in labial and lingual alveolar bone thickness (ABT) after orthodontic treatment. A two-sample t-test with R statistical software version 4.1.2 was used to measure the differences between the pre- and post-treatment cephalometric measurements. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: According to the SN-7° measurement method, ABT increased at the labial(b) SN-7 (0.27mm ± 0.70; p<0.05) and U1 labial(c) SN-7 (0.79mm ± 1.56; p<0.05) levels; however, ABT decreased at the U1 lingual (c) SN-7 (1.13mm ± 1.35; p<0.05) level. According to the perpendicular of the long axis of U1 root measurement method, ABT increased at the U1 labial(c) ⊥U1 (0.55mm ± 1.35; p<0.05) level while ABT decreased at the U1 lingual (b) ⊥U1 (0.79mm ± 1.03; p<0.05) and U1 lingual (c) ⊥U1 (1.61mm ±1.39; p<0.05) levels. Statistically significant changes were also found in post-treatment incisor angulation U1-SN° (8.05° ± 8.25; p<0.05), U1 – NA° (7.44° ± 8.08; p < 0.05) and post-treatment incisor position U1 – NA (mm) (1.64mm ± 2.63; p<0.05). Conclusion:The null hypothesis was rejected based on our results. There are statistically significant changes to the labial and lingual alveolar bone (ABT) after proclination of the maxillary incisors. Our data support previous findings in orthodontics literature. Further studies should be conducted that can employ larger sample sizes with imaging methods that overcome the limitations of conventional two-dimensional imaging.

Model Minority Myth And Oral Health Disparities In Asian Americans Of Multnomah County In Oregon, Taylor Kang

University Honors Theses

This thesis explores the concept of the Model Minority Myth (MMM) and its impact on minority groups such as Asian American communities. It discusses how the MMM is one of the many reasons why health disparities such as oral health disparities, may exist for these groups, particularly in the context of White-majority places like the city of Portland and Multnomah County in Oregon. These disparities, as a result, prevent communities from achieving racial equity in areas such as employment, education, occupation, and income, to name a few. At first glance, the MMM seems to shed an optimistic light with its …

Oral Health Literacy: A Tool To Reduce Oral Health Disparities Among Californians, Rubina Bukhari

Master's Projects and Capstones

Oral health is the health of the mouth, cheeks, teeth, and their supporting structure within the oral cavity. It helps in performing day-to-day routine functions such as swallowing, tasting, chewing, talking, and making a wide array of complex facial expressions. Apart from performing everyday functions, oral health is a crucial contributor to the overall state of well-being and good quality of life. It is measured by oral conditions such as tooth decay, gum disease (Periodontal), and oral cancers. Tooth decay and cavity formations are the most prevalent oral health conditions which affect people of all age groups. However, children are …

Aging An Ancient Maya Population From Actuncan, Belize Using Dental X-Rays, Kaitlyn Nicole Cash

Honors Theses

My goal is to determine an accurate age at death estimation of an ancient Maya population from the archaeological site of Actuncan, Belize. This was done by measuring the lengths of the coronal pulp cavities in the individuals’ teeth. I used X-Ray images to measure the coronal pulp cavities of the teeth and estimated age using multiple regression formulae for premolars, molars, and incisors to make age estimations. The formulae came from two studies, Ikeda et al. (1985) and Drusini (2008), that form the basis of my research. Ikeda et al. (1985) was the first to use this aging method, …

Women In Dentistry At The University Of Mississippi: Increasing The Confidence And Skills Of Future Women Dentists, Lakin Cramer

Honors Theses

Women in Dentistry became a registered student organization in February 2022. The purpose of the organization is to encourage and promote the professional and personal success of women in dentistry on the University of Mississippi Oxford campus. The historical and current literature of Women in Dentistry serve to provide a framework for the importance of uplifting women as they prepare for a career in dentistry. During my time as Founder and President of Women in Dentistry, my goal was to establish the organization, provide mentorship to prospective female dental school applicants, and increase the confidence and skills of future women …

The Creation Of An Innovative Oral Health Assessment Survey, Purna Patel

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background Oral health is an important factor to maintain overall health and well-being, such as students’ knowledge, attitude, and practice. Currently, there is a limited amount of research related to oral health awareness in college students.

Objective The purpose of the study was to define the importance of oral health and investigate college students’ understanding related to oral health. Moreover, research shows how students are protecting their oral hygiene.

Results: The outcomes revealed the college student's awareness and understanding of oral health. According to the survey questions, students believe that dental health is a significant aspect of overall health management. …

Molar Macrowear As A Proxy For Age In A Captive Sample Of Papio Hamadryas, Lauren Conrad

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study is methods-focused, centering around molar crown macrowear and its performance as a proxy for age in a sample of pedigreed, non-human primates. It analyzes the correlation between age-structured variables and molar wear among both males and females in a captive group of baboons. Here, I examined whether wear is significantly correlated with age-related variables (i.e., generations/cohorts) and whether the structure of the “age” dataset differed across wear categories. Because chronological age is unknown, I used documented pedigrees and parent-offspring relationships to group individuals into possible generations. I then used dental development charts to group individuals into cohorts based …

The Emerging Oral Pathogen, Filifactor Alocis, Modulates Antimicrobial Responses In Primed Human Neutrophils., Ian J. Snider

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Honors Theses

Periodontitis is an irreversible, chronic inflammatory, infectious disease of the oral cavity that affects approximately half of all adults 30 years or older in the USA. The oral cavity is under high immune surveillance because of its constant exposure to microbes in the environment. The primary immune cell responsible for this surveillance is the neutrophil. Pathogens associated with periodontitis possess virulence factors and have evolved strategies to evade neutrophil antimicrobial responses to survive. One such pathogen is Filifactor alocis, whose presence is associated with the progression of periodontitis. F. alocis manipulates several neutrophil antimicrobial functional responses to avoid killing, an …

Impact Of Financial And Demographic Factors On Severity Of Treatment Procedure, Vanessa Gunderson

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Indirect pulp caps (IPCs) and pulpotomies are forms of vital pulp therapy. These procedures are performed on young patients who have deep cavities due to bacterial biofilm damage; however, the two are performed and utilized differently. The less severe of the two procedures is an IPC. This is when decayed dentin is covered with biocompatible material to avoid pulp exposure. The more severe procedure, the pulpotomy, is when the inflamed coronal pulp tissue is removed either partially or fully to save any remaining pulp tissue. In this study, all IPCs and pulpotomies performed by Dr. Ben Reimer throughout ~4.5-years of …

Oral Prevalence Of Akkermancia Muciniphila Among Pediatric And Adult Orthodontic And Non-Orthodontic Patients, Ching Shen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Akkermansia muciniphila (AM) is one of many highly abundant intestinal microbes that influences homeostasis and metabolic disorders and may also play a role in oral disorders. However, there is little evidence regarding the oral prevalence of this organism. Based upon this lack of evidence, the primary goal of this project is to survey an existing saliva repository to determine the overall prevalence of this organism and any associations with demographic or patient characteristics (age, sex, body mass index, race/ethnicity, orthodontic therapy). Using an approved protocol, a total n = 141 pediatric samples from an existing saliva repository were screened using …

Chemotherapeutic Drug Resistance Associated With Differential Mirna Expression Of Mir-375 And Mir-27 Among Oral Cancer Cell Lines, Kieran Huni

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Objective: Although progress has been made towards the identification of molecular profiles that influence oral cancer growth and metastasis, recent advances have suggested that non-coding microRNAs (such as miR-21, miR-27, miR-145, miR-155, miR-365, miR-375 and miR-494) may be involved in multiple aspects of chemotherapeutic responsiveness. Based upon the paucity of information regarding this phenomenon, this project will determine whether these specific microRNAs are correlated with oral cancer responsiveness to chemotherapies, including Paclitaxel, Cisplatin and Fluorouracil (5FU).Methods: Commercially available and well-characterized oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (SCC4, SCC9, SCC15, SCC25 and CAL27) were used for this study. Experimental 96-well assays …

Differential Effects Of Extracellular Matrix Glycoproteins Fibronectin And Laminin-5 On Dental Pulp Stem Cell Phenotypes And Responsiveness, Hyungbin Lee

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with the potential to differentiate in a limited number of other tissue types. Some evidence has suggested the modulation of DPSC growth may be mediated, in part, by exogenous extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoproteins, including fibronectin (FN) and laminin-5 (LN5). Although preliminary research suggests that some ECM glycoproteins may work as functional biomaterials to modulate DPSC growth responses, the primary goal of this project is to determine the specific effects of FN and LN5 on DPSC growth and viability.Using an existing DPSC repository, n = 16 DPSC isolates were cultured and …