Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

How To Take A Proactive Approach To Reduce Cancellations & No-Shows, Carrie Webber

Articulator Magazine

Cancellations and no-shows wreak havoc on dental practice schedules, with 80% of practices citing last-minute cancellations as the main reason for incomplete schedules. This article provides a proactive approach to minimize cancellations by focusing on three key areas: enhancing the patient experience to build trust and perceived value, optimizing the check-out process with effective communication, and providing ongoing team training on verbal skills and customer service. By implementing strategies that prioritize patient relationships, commitment, and a seamless experience, practices can reduce cancellations, improve scheduling efficiency, and foster patient loyalty.

Practicing Dentistry: The Most Dangerous Profession?, Stephanie Botts Rdh, Bsdh, Ceas

Articulator Magazine

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are highly prevalent among dental clinicians due to repetitive movements, awkward postures, and static positions. This article highlights the importance of ergonomics - designing work environments for the worker - in preventing career-threatening MSDs. Key principles discussed include proper operator positioning establishing neutral spinal alignment, adjusting patient positioning to minimize harmful movements, and adopting an "ergonomic mindset" prioritizing clinicians' musculoskeletal health. The article discusses how through comprehensive ergonomic interventions, dental professionals can reduce injury risks and enjoy long, pain-free careers.

References For Trends In Malpractice Payments And Adverse Actions Against Healthcare Providers In The State Of Colorado Between 1990–2022

Articulator Magazine

This editorial explores the profound influence of community on personal and professional growth within the dental profession. It discusses the dynamics of social networks, highlighting their role in fostering innovation and support while cautioning against the risks of groupthink and echo chambers. Emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and diverse perspectives, the piece advocates for open dialogue and self-awareness to ensure the continued advancement and ethical integrity of dentistry.

Embracing Trauma: Informed Dental Care For Patient Well-Being, Adriana Zuniga Dds

Articulator Magazine

Trauma-informed dental care acknowledges that patients may have past traumatic experiences affecting their reactions during appointments. By creating a supportive environment through clear communication, calm demeanor, and emotional regulation techniques, dental professionals can help patients feel safe and improve their overall experience.

A Generational Transition Is Coming, Marko Vujicic

Articulator Magazine

This article discusses significant shifts occurring in the dental profession, highlighting the decline in solo practices and practice ownership, especially among younger dentists. It examines the rise of dental service organizations (DSOs) and factors driving these changes, such as student debt, increased diversity and evolving work-life balance preferences. The article emphasizes the need for dental associations to adapt to these trends and explores the potential opportunities for expanding dental care access and industry growth amidst these transitions.

Unleashing The Power Of Reflective Treatment Planning, Laura Ramsey

Articulator Magazine

This article explores how dental students at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine are using the practice of reflective treatment planning to prepare for life after graduation. The article also details how readers can use reflection in the their everyday practice of dentistry, case review, peer discussions and study clubs, patient feedback integration and more.

Articulator Q1 2024

Articulator Magazine

This issue serves as a wrap-up of the 2024 Rocky Mountain Dental Convention (RMDC) hosted by the Metro Denver Dental Society (MDDS). Read more to learn about new dental innovation presented at RMDC, how to take compassionate action with colleagues in a mental health crisis, the importance of reflective treatment planning, post-exposure steps to take in a dental practice and more.

Dentistry And The Law: Taking Records When Leaving A Practice, Dan Schulte Jd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

MDA Legal Counsel Dan Schulte advises on departing partner issues: without contracts, disputes arise regarding records, patient ownership, and practice buyout. Employment and shareholder agreements ensure orderly transitions and protect practice interests. Patient records legally belong to the practice, and transferring them without consent violates laws. Patients can request records, but fees apply. Schulte stresses the importance of agreements to avoid costly disputes and ensure continuity of care.

The Fight For Fluoridation In Stl, Noor Yousaf

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Fluoridation is the addition of fluoride to a source of drinking water. In St. Louis’s public water supply, the amount of fluoride remains the same since 1953 at 5ppm. Dr. Ralph Rosen and his team of dentists and researchers advocated for the fluoridation of the water because it reduced the frequency of dental caries occurring in children and adults alike, but the public had opinions on the sudden addition of chemicals to their water. This includes how the public’s health will be affected, how consumer products would change, and also how effective this addition of fluoride would be. This debate …

Effectiveness Of Blended Pedagogy For Radiographic Interpretation Skills In Operative Dentistry - A Comparison Of Test Scores And Student Experiences At An Undergraduate Dental School In Pakistan, Marium Iqbal, Jacqueline Maria Dias, Amber Shahmim Sultan, Hussain Ahmed Raza, Laeeq Uz Zaman

Department for Educational Development

Background: Utilizing Blended pedagogy (BP) in radiographic skills may prove to be an effective teaching strategy. However, studies on the use of BP in dentistry are quite limited in Pakistan, where teaching has mostly been via traditional Didactic Lectures (DL); and radiographic interpretation skills of undergraduate dental students are suboptimal. Therefore, this study aims to assess whether utilizing BP to teach radiographic interpretation skills is an effective teaching methodology in Pakistan.
Methods: This mixed-method study was conducted on final year dental students at Jinnah Medical and Dental College (JMDC). Two groups of students were utilized for this study, one taught …

Staying Focused On A Moving Target: Coping With Change, North Shetter Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Amid rapid changes in dentistry, this commentary addresses strategies to manage stress and maintain professional balance. Drawing parallels to Moore's Law in technology, the author emphasizes the need for a balanced life, integrating work, play, love, and worship. The concept, rooted in the Pankey Philosophy, aligns with principles from Stephen Covey's Seven Habits. Core skills, including patient relationships, foundational dental practices, periodontal health, occlusion, and perpetual learning, are deemed essential. The article underscores the importance of personal dental health and advocates for study clubs to share, learn, and mentor, fostering a positive professional environment amid evolving technologies and information overload.

Integration Of Massive Open Online Course (Mooc) In Conventional Teaching And Learning For Fixed Prosthodontics - A Case Study, Nor Faharina Abdul Hamid, Rohana Ahmad, Tong Wah Lim, Nur Hafizah Kamar Affendi, Tengku Fazrina Tengku Mohd Ariff, Melati Mahmud, Siti Mariam Ab Ghani

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

The potential for Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in clinical dentistry remains vague and inadequately explored. Objectives: The study aims to obtain insight into the development of MOOCs in Fixed Partial Dental Prostheses (FPDPs) and to assess students’ learning preferences, module quality, and interface usability. Methods: The MOOCs was created by seven academicians with prosthodontic backgrounds. After completing the MOOCs and three complementary online discussion sessions, the students (n = 89) were invited to participate in an online survey. SPSS version 23 was used to calculate the frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation of categorical data (SD). Results …

Coaching And Laissez-Faire Leadership Styles, Michelle C. Dziurgot Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Editor Dr. Michelle C. Dziurgot discusses the differences between coaching and laissez-faire leadership styles in dentistry. Coaching leaders motivate and educate their team members, fostering collaboration and improvement. In contrast, laissez-faire leaders take a more hands-off approach, allowing team members to make decisions independently. The author, a dentist, describes how she combines both styles in her practice, emphasizing the importance of educating and coaching team members while allowing them to take ownership of their roles. The editorial highlights the need for patient engagement in oral health care and the importance of coaching patients to take an active role in their …

Bulletin Of The Virginia State Dental Association (Vol. 38, No. 3, 1961)

Bulletin of the Virginia State Dental Association

No abstract provided.

Bulletin Of The Virginia State Dental Association (Vol. 38, No. 1, 1961)

Bulletin of the Virginia State Dental Association

No abstract provided.

Bulletin Of The Virginia State Dental Association (Vol. 38, No. 2, 1961)

Bulletin of the Virginia State Dental Association

No abstract provided.

What Does Professionalism Mean To You? Part I, Michael G. Maihofer Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This commentary explores generational perspectives on professionalism in dentistry, focusing on how younger dentists perceive this concept. It highlights the changing dynamics in dentistry and questions whether professionalism remains relevant in a world where various practice models exist. Insights from young dentists shed light on their commitment to professionalism and its evolving definition, emphasizing the importance of caring for patients and maintaining high-quality care.

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 …

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, …

Special Needs In Pediatric Dentistry, Emma Kail

Health and Exercise Physiology Presentations

Over the summer of 2022 I got the chance to work on my internship at a special needs and non special needs focused dentistry. Through this presentation I focus mainly on the pediatric special needs aspect of the dental care given to patients. Throughout the poster I speak about the importance of special needs care within dentistry and the field of dental health itself, where I worked and how they accommodated and worked with those with special needs to give the best care possible, and finally how this experience has changed my goals set for my future, especially within the …

Will The Government Rip Up Employment Contracts?, Christopher J. Smiley

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This editorial discusses the Federal Trade Commission's proposed rule to eliminate non-compete agreements, tracing their historical origins to the apprentice system in Europe. The author explores dentists' perspectives on this potential change, considering the need for talent acquisition versus workforce preservation. The editorial highlights the FTC's rationale for banning non-compete contracts and their impact on employee wages and innovation. It also addresses issues of boilerplate contract language and excessive leverage in the dental profession. The proposed rule aims to create consistency across states while allowing non-competes in specific cases. Dentist employers are advised to review and revise their agreements in …

Dental Care During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Patient Perceptions Of Barriers To Dental Care, Covid-19 Safety Precautions, And Administration Of The Covid-19 Vaccine At The Dental Office, Brunilda Lugo, Sheri Denslow, Jill Fromewick, Scott Davis, Katherine Jowers, J. Amadeo Valdez

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

The Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) Dental Health Center sought to learn how COVID-19 affected dental care attainment and patient perceptions of appropriate safety measures, as well as their acceptance of the dental office as a site for COVID-19 vaccinations.

Methods

A cross-sectional online survey of dental patients was performed to inquire about barriers to care, safety precautions, including COVID-19 testing, and the acceptability of vaccination for COVID-19 in the dental office. All adult patients of the MAHEC Dental Health Center with an email address on file and a clinic visit in the past year were randomized for …

From The Neck Up, Christopher J. Smiley

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This editorial emphasizes integrating behavioral health into dentistry for comprehensive patient care. It highlights evidence-based approaches showing positive outcomes of behavior change techniques in oral hygiene and smoking cessation. However, implementing behavioral change models in clinical dental care faces challenges, such as reimbursement issues and concerns about disrupting the patient-dentist relationship. The editorial suggests enlisting outside resources and fostering collaboration between oral and mental health professionals to address patients' overall health needs. Policy initiatives are seen as a promising avenue for advancing this integration.

J Mich Dent Assoc February 2023

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Every month, The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association brings news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members across the state. No publication reaches more Michigan dentists!

In this issue, the reader will find the following original content:

• A feature on the Interfaith Dental Refugee Program of Michigan
• Commentary on what makes membership matter and the ADA marketing shift on the value of membership.
• Complete details on the 2023 MDA Annual Session
• News you need, Editorial, and regular department articles on Dentistry and the Law, Staff Matters, and Advocacy.

Problem-Based Learning In Dentistry: Learner Satisfaction Survey, Manal Elhijazi, Ihsane Benyahya, Manal Elhijazi

Health Sciences

Background: Problem-based learning (PBL) is an active pedagogical approach based on self-directed learning that promotes knowledge retention and improves educational performance. Materials and methods: We have undertaken a first introduction of the PBL in conservative dentistry, with 91 volunteer students out of a total of 119 students in the 2nd year of dentistry at the Mohamed VI university of sciences and health (UM6SS) . The session was ended by a satisfaction survey through an anonymous and voluntary questionnaire with 4-level Likert scale. The descriptive statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23 software. Result: Students greatly appreciated the general concept …

Ada Executive Director Dr. Ray Cohlmia: "We're Focused On The Future, Not The Past", Debra Peters Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

In this interview, Dr. Raymond Cohlmia, the Executive Director of the American Dental Association (ADA), reflects on his first year in office and discusses the challenges of overcoming the decline of membership marketshare. He addresses the importance of strategic forecasting, nimbleness, and the role of the ADA team in shaping the future of dentistry. Dr. Cohlmia also highlights the significance of science and research in dentistry and the ADA's commitment to global presence. The interview offers insights into the ADA's evolving strategies and its dedication to serving its members and the dental community.

Provider Racial Concordance And Medical Mistrust In Pediatric Dentistry, Chinelo Eke

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Studies have drawn varying conclusions on the importance of a racially concordant patient provider relationship. Medical mistrust has continued to garner attention as healthcare enterprises thread equity, diversity and inclusion throughout their organizational policies, practices and systems.

Methods: Parents/caregivers of pediatric patients at VCU Pediatric Dentistry were invited to participate. Surveys included questions about demographics, racial concordance, language preference, and the validated Group-Based Medical Mistrust Scale.

Results: A total of 246 guardians completed the survey. For guardians, 40% reported Black or African American, 31% Hispanic, and 19% Caucasian. Seventy-one percent of guardians reported speaking English, 18% Spanish, and 11% …

Be Bullish About Dentistry — Stop Doom Scrolling!, Christopher J. Smiley Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This editorial encourages readers to stop focusing on negative news feeds and provides a positive outlook on the profession of dentistry, emphasizing the potential for growth and improvement. It highlights the impact of emerging technology, increased public awareness of oral health, and the enthusiasm of new professionals. The author also stresses the need for continuous adaptation and collaboration within the dental community.

Lgbtq+ And Dental Education: Analyzing The Present And Recommendations For The Future, Colin M. Haley, Diana V. Macri, Herminio L. Perez, Scott B. Schwartz

Publications and Research

LGBTQ+ populations constitute increasing proportions of children, adolescents, and adults in the United States. Compared to their heterosexual counterparts, this group suffers from health inequities, including oral health. The report “Oral Health: Advances and Challenges” identified the LGBTQ+ community as an underserved population which faces significant barriers in accessing oral health care. Coverage of LGBTQ+ topics in formal education settings in both dental schools and dental hygiene programs is scarce, which contributes to inequities within this group. Increasing curriculum content related to LGBTQ+ populations is of utmost importance to promote optimal patient-provider interactions while improving oral health outcomes. Ensuring equity …

J Mich Dent Assoc July 2022

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Monthly, The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association brings news, information, and feature articles to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. No publication reaches more Michigan dentists! In this July 2022 issue, the reader will find the following original content:

• A cover feature on negotiating reimbursement rates with PPO contracts.
• A cover feature on guarding against employee embezzlement.
• A 10-Minute EBD on rampant caries management and prevention with ADHD patients taking stimulant medications.
• A Back Page look at the 2022 MDA award winners.
• News you need: an Editorial, guidance on dental practice cybersecurity, and regular department …