Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Influence Of Vitamin D Levels On Dental Caries: A Retrospective Study Of The United States Population, Man Hung, Himani Patel, Samantha Lee, Justin Nguyen, Amir Mohajeri

Student and Faculty Publications

(1) Background: This study examines vitamin D’s impact on dental caries to inform prevention strategies, given its critical role in bone and calcium regulation, vital for dental health. (2) Methods: Data from 18,683 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2016 were analyzed. NHANES collects U.S. population data through interviews, physical exams, and tests, including vitamin D levels and dental health assessed using both the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index and the presence of untreated dental caries. Vitamin D levels were measured according to serum 25(OH)D concentrations, and the analyses adjusted for confounders such as …

Improvements In Appropriate Placement Of Dental Sealants After Implementation Of A Clinical Decision Support System, Joanna Mullins, Ryan Brandon, Nicholas Skourtes, Elsbeth Kalenderian, Muhammad Walji

Student and Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Dental sealants are effective for the prevention of caries in children at elevated risk levels, and increasing the proportion of children and adolescents who have dental sealants on 1 or more molars is a Healthy People 2030 objective. Electronic health record (EHR)-based clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) have the ability to improve patient care. A dental quality measure related to dental sealant placement for children at elevated risk of caries was targeted for improvement using a CDSS.

METHODS: A validated dental quality measure was adapted to assess a patient's need for dental sealant placement. A CDSS was implemented to …

Breaking The Bamboo Ceiling And De-Bunking The Model Minority Myth, Yun Saksena

Journal Articles: College of Dentistry

Leadership roles must incorporate representation from all involved individuals for the resulting decision-making process to reflect the interests and expertise of a diverse organization. Many resources have rightly focused on developing historically underrepresented racial and ethnic (HURE) leaders. Though numbers of Black and Hispanic dental school deans have increased, more work is needed for these and other HURE groups such as American Indians. Asians are not classified as HURE. As an aggregated group they have robust presence in the dental workforce in North America, the United Kingdom and Australia. The assumption is they are fine, so the group is ignored. …

Allied Dental Students' Perceived Knowledge, Confidence, And Attitudes Regarding Disaster Victim Identification Topics, Samantha C. Vest, Brenda T. Bradshaw, Marsha A. Voelker, Ann M. Bruhn, Tara L. Newcomb, Sinjini Sikdar

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose Disaster victim identification (DVI) service requires knowledge, confidence, and an attitude (KCA) of readiness. The purpose of this study was to assess allied dental students’ perceived KCA regarding DVI skills and topics.

Methods A convenience sample of senior dental hygiene students (n=27) and senior dental assistant students (n=14) were recruited by email then presented mismatched simulated antemortem (AM) and postmortem (PM) bitewing radiographs and asked to indicate correct matches. Collectively, participants made 205 radiographic matches and indicated 205 degrees of certainty binarily as “positive” or “possible” (one per match). Participants also completed a researcher designed pretest/posttest electronic survey with …

Epigenome-Wide Association Study Using Peripheral Blood Leukocytes Identifies Genomic Regions Associated With Periodontal Disease And Edentulism In The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities Study, Naisi Zhao, Flavia Teles, Jiayun Lu, Devin C Koestler, James Beck, Eric Boerwinkle, Jan Bressler, Karl T Kelsey, Elizabeth A Platz, Dominique S Michaud

Student and Faculty Publications

AIM: To investigate individual susceptibility to periodontitis by conducting an epigenome-wide association study using peripheral blood.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 1077 African American and 457 European American participants of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study who had completed a dental examination or reported being edentulous at Visit 4 and had available data on DNA methylation from Visit 2 or 3. DNA methylation levels were compared by periodontal disease severity and edentulism through discovery analyses and subsequent testing of individual CpGs.

RESULTS: Our discovery analysis replicated findings from a previous study reporting a region in gene ZFP57 (6p22.1) that …

Social And Economic Capital As Effect Modifiers Of The Association Between Psychosocial Stress And Oral Health, Abby L J Hensel, Noha Gomaa

Dentistry Publications

OBJECTIVES: To assess the extent of the association of psychosocial stress with oral health in an Ontario population stratified by age groups, and whether any association is modified by indicators of social and economic capital.

METHODS: We retrieved data of 21,320 Ontario adults, aged 30-74 years old, from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS: 2017-2018), which is a Canada-wide, cross-sectional survey. Using binomial logistic regression models that adjusted for age, sex, education, and country of birth, we examined the association of psychosocial stress (indicated by perceived life stress) with inadequate oral health (indicated as having at least one of the …

Effect Of Selective Decontamination Of The Digestive Tract On Hospital Mortality In Critically Ill Patients Receiving Mechanical Ventilation: A Randomized Clinical Trial, The Suddicu Investigators For The Australian And New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group, John A Myburgh, Ian M Seppelt, Fiona Goodman, Laurent Billot, Maryam Correa, Joshua S Davis, Anthony C Gordon, Naomi E Hammond, Jon Iredell, Qiang Li, Sharon Micallef, Jennene Miller, Jayanthi Mysore, Colman Taylor, Paul J Young, Brian H Cuthbertson, Simon R Finfer

Student and Faculty Publications

IMPORTANCE: Whether selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) reduces mortality in critically ill patients remains uncertain.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether SDD reduces in-hospital mortality in critically ill adults.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A cluster, crossover, randomized clinical trial that recruited 5982 mechanically ventilated adults from 19 intensive care units (ICUs) in Australia between April 2018 and May 2021 (final follow-up, August 2021). A contemporaneous ecological assessment recruited 8599 patients from participating ICUs between May 2017 and August 2021.

INTERVENTIONS: ICUs were randomly assigned to adopt or not adopt a SDD strategy for 2 alternating 12-month periods, separated by a …

Assessment Of Oral And Overall Health Parameters Using The Sillha Oral Wellness System, Shawn S Adibi, Ryan Hanson, David F Fray, Tania Abedi, Brianna Neil, Danielle Maher, Gena Tribble, Ben F Warner, Mary C Farach-Carson

Student and Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVE: The study evaluated use of a multipoint saliva analyzer to assess patient wellness in a contemporary dental practice setting.

STUDY DESIGN: Unstimulated saliva from a diverse 104 patient cohort was analyzed using the SillHa Oral Wellness System. The device measures the following 7 analytes present in the patient's oral rinse: cariogenic bacteria, acidity, buffer capacity, blood, leukocytes, protein, and ammonia. Data obtained were compared with validated clinical assessment data independently provided by credentialed dental professionals.

RESULTS: Measured leukocyte and protein levels were higher in patients with periodontal disease and/or deep gingival pockets. Patients with a history of cancer and/or …

Use Of A Simulated-Virtual Training Module To Improve Dental Hygiene Students' Self-Reported Knowledge, Attitudes, And Confidence In Providing Care To Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study, Kimberly F. Cenzon, Ann M. Bruhn, Denise M. Claiborne, Jonna L. Bobzien

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder affecting an individual's ability to communicate, interact, behave, and learn. The purpose of this study was to determine knowledge, attitudes, and confidence of dental hygiene students in providing care to children with ASD as a mechanism for evaluating dental hygiene curricula for patients with special needs.

Methods: A simulated-virtual training (SVT) intervention was developed as an interactive approach for educating dental hygiene students on providing care to a child patient with ASD. The SVT intervention consisted of a scenario in which the clinician "interacted" with a child with ASD who was …

Occupational Health Practices Among Dental Care Professionals Before And During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Sean Banaee, Denise M. Claiborne, Muge Akpinar-Elci

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a substantial burden on dental care professionals. While dentistry is known as one of the most exposed and high-risk professions, dental care professionals are indeed at even greater risk.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, occupational health practices, personal protective equipment usage, and mental stressors during COVID-19 pandemic among dental care professionals.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among dental care professionals who were subscribers to a dental hygiene journal using a self-administered online survey (n = 1047 respondents). Cross-tabulations were performed to determine differences in the responses to …

Subgingival Microbiome And Specialized Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediator Pathway Profiles Are Correlated In Periodontal Inflammation, Chun-Teh Lee, Ruoxing Li, Lisha Zhu, Gena D Tribble, W Jim Zheng, Brittney Ferguson, Krishna Rao Maddipati, Nikola Angelov, Thomas E Van Dyke

Student and Faculty Publications

Failure of resolution pathways in periodontitis is reflected in levels of specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs) and SPM pathway markers but their relationship with the subgingival microbiome is unclear. This study aimed to analyze and integrate lipid mediator level, SPM receptor gene expression and subgingival microbiome data in subjects with periodontitis vs. healthy controls. The study included 13 periodontally healthy and 15 periodontitis subjects that were evaluated prior to or after non-surgical periodontal therapy. Samples of gingival tissue and subgingival plaque were collected prior to and 8 weeks after non-surgical treatment; only once in the healthy group. Metabololipidomic analysis was …

Systemic Th17 Response In The Presence Of Periodontal Inflammation, Lina J Suárez, Daniel E Vargas, Adriana Rodríguez, Roger M Arce, Nelly S Roa

Student and Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The relationship between periodontitis and the pathogenesis of other inflammatory diseases, such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and obesity has been an important topic of study in recent decades. The Th17 pathway plays a significant role in how local inflammation can influence systemic inflammation in the absence of systemic pathology.

OBJECTIVE: To determine Th17 biased-cells in systemically healthy patients in the presence of generalized chronic periodontitis.

METHODOLOGY: A total of 28 patients were recruited without systemic inflammatory pathology, which was determined by clinical history, the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and rheumatoid factor detection. Of these patients, 13 were diagnosed as …

Distinct Profiles Of Specialized Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediators And Corresponding Receptor Gene Expression In Periodontal Inflammation, Brittney Ferguson, Nishantha R Bokka, Krishna Rao Maddipati, Srinivas Ayilavarapu, Robin Weltman, Lisha Zhu, Wanqi Chen, W Jim Zheng, Nikola Angelov, Thomas E Van Dyke, Chun-Teh Lee

Student and Faculty Publications

Polyunsaturated fatty acid-derived specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs) play an important role in modulating inflammation. The aim of the study was to compare profiles of SPMs, SPM related lipid mediators and SPM receptor gene expression in gingiva of subjects with periodontitis to healthy controls. A total of 28 subjects were included; 13 periodontally healthy and 15 periodontitis before or after non-surgical periodontal therapy. Gingival tissues were collected from two representative posterior teeth prior to and 8 weeks after scaling and root planning; only once in the healthy group. Lipid mediator-SPM metabololipidomics was performed to identify metabolites in gingiva. qRT-PCR was …

Orofacial Pain And Menstrually Related Migraine, Chisa Nishihara, Keisuke Hatori, Yung-Chu Hsu, Kana Ozasa, Andrew L. Young, Yoshiki Imamura, Noboru Noma

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

PURPOSE: Migraine is a common, debilitating, primary headache disorder that can cause and be affected by odontalgia.

CASE REPORT: A 49-year-old woman(Patient 1) presented with pulsating pain in the left maxillary molar area, and a history of unsuccessful root canal treatment. She was ultimately diagnosed with menstrually related migraine without aura and zolmitriptan was prescribed, which reduced her headache and toothache together. A 45-year-old woman (Patient 2) presented with throbbing pain in the right maxillary molar and cheek area. Past repeated endodontic therapy had been unsuccessful. She was then diagnosed with menstrually related migraine without aura, and sumatriptan significantly reduced …

Systemic Antibiotic Therapy Reduces Circulating Inflammatory Dendritic Cells And Treg-Th17 Plasticity In Periodontitis, Mythilypriya Rajendran, Stephen Looney, Nagendra Singh, Mahmoud Elashiry, Mohamed M Meghil, Ahmed R El-Awady, Omnia Tawfik, Cristiano Susin, Roger M Arce, Christopher W Cutler

Student and Faculty Publications

Periodontitis (PD) is a common dysbiotic inflammatory disease that leads to local bone deterioration and tooth loss. PD patients experience low-grade bacteremias with oral microbes implicated in the risk of heart disease, cancer, and kidney failure. Although Th17 effectors are vital to fighting infection, functional imbalance of Th17 effectors and regulatory T cells (Tregs) promote inflammatory diseases. In this study, we investigated, in a small pilot randomized clinical trial, whether expansion of inflammatory blood myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) and conversion of Tregs to Th17 cells could be modulated with antibiotics (AB) as part of initial therapy in PD patients. PD …

Serum Nutrient Levels And Aging Effects On Periodontitis, Jeffrey L Ebersole, Joshua Lambert, Heather Bush, Pinar Emecen Huja, Arpita Basu

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Periodontal disease damages tissues as a result of dysregulated host responses against the chronic bacterial biofilm insult and approximately 50% of US adults > 30 years old exhibit periodontitis. The association of five blood nutrients and periodontitis were evaluated due to our previous findings regarding a potential protective effect for these nutrients in periodontal disease derived from the US population sampled as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2004). Data from over 15,000 subjects was analyzed for blood levels of cis-β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, folate, vitamin D, and vitamin E, linked with analysis of the presence and severity of periodontitis. …

Vwa Proteins Of Leptospira Interrogans Induce Hemorrhage In Leptospirosis By Competitive Inhibition Of Vwf/Gpib-Mediated Platelet Aggregation., Jia-Qi Fang, Muhammad Imran, Wei-Lin Hu, David M. Ojcius, Yang Li, Yu-Mei Ge, Kai-Xuan Li, Xu'ai Lin, Jie Yan

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

BACKGROUD: Leptospira interrogans is the major causative agent of leptospirosis, a worldwide zoonotic disease. Hemorrhage is a typical pathological feature of leptospirosis. Binding of von Willebrand factor (vWF) to platelet glycoprotein-Ibα (GPIbα) is a crucial step in initiation of platelet aggregation. The products of L. interrogans vwa-I and vwa-II genes contain vWF-A domains, but their ability to induce hemorrhage has not been determined.

METHODS: Human (Hu)-platelet- and Hu-GPIbα-binding abilities of the recombinant proteins expressed by L. interrogans strain Lai vwa-I and vwa-II genes (rLep-vWA-I and rLep-vWA-II) were detected by flowcytometry, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Hu-platelet …

Interrelationships In The Variability Of Root Canal Anatomy Among The Permanent Teeth: A Full-Mouth Approach By Cone-Beam Ct., Paul Monsarrat, Bertrand Arcaute, Ove A. Peters, Elisabeth Maury, Norbert Telmon, Marie Georgelin-Gurgel, Delphine Maret

Ove Peters

OBJECTIVES: In endodontic practice, clinicians should be aware of possible root canal anatomic variations. The aim of this study was to assess using CBCT acquisitions regarding whether one root canal anatomy of a tooth is associated with a specific anatomy of another tooth. METHODS: A total of 106 CBCT acquisitions were obtained using a CBCT scanner with 200μm voxel size. Numbers of roots and canals of the entire dentition were described. Bivariate analyses and logistic regressions were conducted to explore root canal anatomy on one tooth according to age, gender, jaw, side and the others teeth. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) …

Effect Of Voxel Size On The Accuracy Of 3d Reconstructions With Cone Beam Ct., Delphine Maret, Norbert Telmon, Ove A. Peters, B. Lepage, J. Treil, J. M. Inglèse, A. Peyre, Jean-Luc Kahn, Michel Sixou

Ove Peters

OBJECTIVES: The various types of cone beam CT (CBCT) differ in several technical characteristics, notably their spatial resolution, which is defined by the acquisition voxel size. However, data are still lacking on the effects of voxel size on the metric accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions. This study was designed to assess the effect of isotropic voxel size on the 3D reconstruction accuracy and reproducibility of CBCT data. METHODS: The study sample comprised 70 teeth (from the Institut d'Anatomie Normale, Strasbourg, France). The teeth were scanned with a KODAK 9500 3D® CBCT (Carestream Health, Inc., Marne-la-Vallée, France), which has two voxel …

Educational Outcomes Of Small-Group Discussion Versus Traditional Lecture Format In Dental Students' Learning And Skills Acquisition., Ana Arias, Raymond Scott, Ove A. Peters, Elizabeth Mcclain, Alan H. Gluskin

Ove Peters

The aim of this prospective quantitative study was to compare the effect of different instructional formats on dental students' skills and knowledge acquisition for access cavity preparation. All first-year dental students were invited to participate in this study conducted during the four consecutive two-week endodontic rotation courses at the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in spring semester 2015. Four alphabetically distributed intact groups of students were randomly allocated to two groups (n=70 each) that participated in either small-group discussion or a traditional lecture on access preparation. The first outcome measure was skill acquisition, measured by …

Palatal Mucosa Derived Fibroblasts Present An Adaptive Behavior Regarding Cytokine Secretion When Grafted Onto The Gingival Margin, Fabíola Pontes Azevedo, Ana Carolina Morandini, Carla Renata Sipert, Thiago José Dionísio, Carlos Ferreira Santos, Carla Andreotti Damante, Maria Lúcia Rubo De Rezende, Adriana Campos Passanezi Sant'ana, Sebastião Luiz Aguiar Greghi

Ana Carolina Morandini

BACKGROUND: Considering that grafted gingival tissue might have to be adapted to the receptor area and that fibroblasts have the ability to respond to bacterial stimuli through the release of various cytokines, this study investigated whether fibroblasts from the palatal mucosa behave differently when grafted onto the gingival margin regarding cytokine secretion. METHODS: Biopsies from the palatal mucosa were collected at the time of free gingival graft surgery, and after four months re-collection was performed upon surgery for root coverage. Fibroblasts were isolated by the explant technique, cultured and stimulated with Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Escherichia coli (Ec) LPS for …

Effects Of Periodontal Therapy On White Blood Cell Count And Levels Of Transforming Growth Factor Beta In Serum Of Subjects With Severe Periodontitis, A. C. E. Leite, V. M. A. Carneiro, Ana Carolina Morandini, Erivan Schnaider Ramos-Junior, M. C. M. Guimarães

Ana Carolina Morandini

This study aimed to investigate the effects of nonsurgical periodontal therapy on white blood cell (WBC) count and levels of transforming growth factor beta (TGF—β) in serum from subjects with severe periodontitis. Serum from 28 subjects with periodontitis (mean age: 34.36±6.24; 32% men) and 27 healthy controls (mean age: 33.18±6.42; 33% men) were collected prior to therapy. Blood samples were obtained from 23 subjects who completed therapy (9—12 months). A well—controlled periodontal treatment protocol was established in three stages: mechanical periodontal therapy (scaling and root planning), reinstrumentation of dental sites, and supportive periodontal therapy. Periodontal and systemic parameters such as …

Functional Local Renin-Angiotensin System In Human And Rat Periodontal Tissue, Carlos Ferreira Santos, Ana Carolina Morandini, Thiago José Dionísio, Flávio A. Faria, Marta C. Lima, Caio M. Figueiredo, Bella L. Colombini-Ishikiriama, Carla Renata Sipert, Rubens P. Maciel, Ana P. Akashi, Gabriela P. Souza, Gustavo P. Garlet, Camila O. Rodini, Sandra L. Amaral, Christiane Becari, Maria C. Salgado, Eduardo B. Oliveira, Isaac Matus, Daniela N. Didier, Andrew S. Greene

Ana Carolina Morandini

The initiation or progression of periodontitis might involve a local renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in periodontal tissue. The aim of this study was to further characterize the local RAS in human and rat periodontal tissues between healthy and periodontally-affected tissue. Components of the RAS were investigated using in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo experiments involving both human and Wistar rat periodontium. Although not upregulated when challenged with P. gingivalis-lipopolysaccharide, human gingival and periodontal ligament fibroblasts expressed RAS components. Likewise, healthy and inflamed human gingiva expressed RAS components, some of which were shown to be functional, yet no differences in expression …

A Multidisciplinary Treatment Of Congenitally Missing Maxillary Lateral Incisors: A 14-Year Follow-Up Case Report, Renato Rodrigues De Almeida, Ana Carolina Morandini, Renata Rodrigues De Almeida-Pedrin, Marcio Rodrigues De Almeida, Renata Cristina Faria Ribeiro Castro, Natalia Martins Insabralde

Ana Carolina Morandini

Absence of the maxillary lateral incisor creates an aesthetic problem which can be managed in various ways. The condition requires careful treatment planning and consideration of the options and outcomes following either space closure or prosthetic replacement. Recent developments in restorative dentistry have warranted a re-evaluation of the approach to this clinical situation. Factors relating both to the patient and the teeth, including the presentation of malocclusion and the effect on the occlusion must be considered. The objective of this study was to describe the etiology, prevalence and alternative treatment modalities for dental agenesis and to present a clinical case …

Salivary And Serum Adiponectin And C-Reactive Protein Levels In Acute Myocardial Infarction Related To Body Mass Index And Oral Health, Jeffrey L. Ebersole, Richard J. Kryscio, C. Campbell, D. F. Kinane, J. Mcdevitt, N. Christodoulides, P. N. Floriano, Craig S. Miller

Oral Health Practice Faculty Publications

Background and Objective

Adiponectin is produced by adipose cells and is considered an anti‐inflammatory molecule. In contrast, C‐reactive protein (CRP) has been identified as a hallmark of systemic inflammation and used as a risk marker of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Of interest was the relationship of these two biomarkers to oral health and CVD risk.

Material and Methods

This investigation examined these two molecules in serum and unstimulated whole saliva of patients within 48 h of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) compared to control subjects. We hypothesized a differential response in these biomolecules resulting from the heart attack that would be …

Cross-Talk Between Clinical And Host-Response Parameters Of Periodontitis In Smokers, Radha Nagarajan, Craig S. Miller, Dolph R. Dawson Iii, Mohanad Al-Sabbagh, Jeffrey L. Ebersole

Institute for Biomedical Informatics Faculty Publications

Background and Objective

Periodontal diseases are a major public health concern leading to tooth loss and have also been shown to be associated with several chronic systemic diseases. Smoking is a major risk factor for the development of numerous systemic diseases, as well as periodontitis. While it is clear that smokers have a significantly enhanced risk for developing periodontitis leading to tooth loss, the population varies regarding susceptibility to disease associated with smoking. This investigation focused on identifying differences in four broad sets of variables, consisting of: (i) host‐response molecules; (ii) periodontal clinical parameters; (iii) antibody responses to periodontal pathogens …

Mononuclear-Macrophages But Not Neutrophils Act As Major Infiltrating Anti-Leptospiral Phagocytes During Leptospirosis., Xu Chen, Shi-Jun Li, David M. Ojcius, Ai-Hua Sun, Wei-Lin Hu, Xu'ai Lin, Jie Yan

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

OBJECTIVE: To identify the major infiltrating phagocytes during leptospirosis and examine the killing mechanism used by the host to eliminate Leptospira interrogans.

METHODS: Major infiltrating phagocytes in Leptospira-infected C3H/HeJ mice were detected by immunohistochemistry. Chemokines and vascular endothelial cell adhesion molecules (VECAMs) of Leptospira-infected mice and leptospirosis patients were detected by microarray and immunohistochemistry. Leptospira-phagocytosing and -killing abilities of human or mouse macrophages and neutrophils, and the roles of intracellular ROS, NO and [Ca2+]i in Leptospira-killing process were evaluated by confocal microscopy and spectrofluorimetry.

RESULTS: Peripheral blood mononuclear-macrophages rather than neutrophils were the main infiltrating phagocytes in the lungs, liver …

Educational Outcomes Of Small-Group Discussion Versus Traditional Lecture Format In Dental Students' Learning And Skills Acquisition., Ana Arias, Raymond Scott, Ove A. Peters, Elizabeth Mcclain, Alan H. Gluskin

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

The aim of this prospective quantitative study was to compare the effect of different instructional formats on dental students' skills and knowledge acquisition for access cavity preparation. All first-year dental students were invited to participate in this study conducted during the four consecutive two-week endodontic rotation courses at the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in spring semester 2015. Four alphabetically distributed intact groups of students were randomly allocated to two groups (n=70 each) that participated in either small-group discussion or a traditional lecture on access preparation. The first outcome measure was skill acquisition, measured by …

An Instrument To Measure Dental Students' Communication Skills With Patients In Six Specific Circumstances: An Exploratory Factor Analysis, Joanna Alice Aalboe, Mitzi M. Schumacher

Center for Oral Health Research Faculty Publications

The aim of this study was to explore the internal structure of an instrument assessing dental students' confidence in their ability to communicate with patients in six specific circumstances (anxious, in pain, etc.) using exploratory factor analysis. In a Communication in the Dental Health Care Setting course at a U.S. dental school, second-year dental students in two years (2013 and 2014) responded to the six items on a survey instrument. Of the total 123 students, 122 fully completed the instrument, for a response rate of 99%. Analysis of the results identified a unidimensional scale with regards to patient-specific communication self-efficacy …

Interrelationships In The Variability Of Root Canal Anatomy Among The Permanent Teeth: A Full-Mouth Approach By Cone-Beam Ct., Paul Monsarrat, Bertrand Arcaute, Ove A. Peters, Elisabeth Maury, Norbert Telmon, Marie Georgelin-Gurgel, Delphine Maret

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

OBJECTIVES: In endodontic practice, clinicians should be aware of possible root canal anatomic variations. The aim of this study was to assess using CBCT acquisitions regarding whether one root canal anatomy of a tooth is associated with a specific anatomy of another tooth.

METHODS: A total of 106 CBCT acquisitions were obtained using a CBCT scanner with 200μm voxel size. Numbers of roots and canals of the entire dentition were described. Bivariate analyses and logistic regressions were conducted to explore root canal anatomy on one tooth according to age, gender, jaw, side and the others teeth. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) …