Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

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 …

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

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 …

Precision Dentistry In Practice, Diana V. Macri

Publications and Research

A paradigm shift is necessary to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes. Precision medicine and precision dentistry may be able to shift the burden of disease and improve the nation’s oral and overall health.

Cultivating Leadership Potential, Diana V. Macri

Publications and Research

Two dental hygienists expand their professional horizons through their work with the Hispanic Dental Association.

Oral Manifestations Of Tuberculosis, Diana V. Macri, Sandra Castellanos, Elvir Dincer

Publications and Research

This article will update the reader on tuberculosis and its oral manifestations.

After decades of decreasing incidence, tuberculosis resurgence is being seen in some global regions due to factors that include the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, increased immigration from countries with endemic tuberculosis, transmission of tuberculosis in crowded or unsanitary environments, and poor healthcare infrastructure. Additionally, this review is especially prescient considering the increasing prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Host Modulation And The Inflammatory Response, Carleigh Fraley, Jennifer Knox-Rodriguez, Diana V. Macri

Publications and Research

Host modulation therapy may be effective in controlling the immune response responsible for periodontal diseases.

Oral Rapid Hiv Testing In The Dental Setting: Experiences From Three Dental Hygiene Clinics, Anthony J. Santella, Petal Leuwaisee, Susan H. Davide, Hanna Horowitz, Bhuma Krishnamachari

Publications and Research

Background: Oral rapid HIV testing (ORHT) is implemented in the dental setting to make individuals aware of their possibly undiagnosed HIV infection. The testing process and characteristics of clients willing to receive ORHT has yet, however, to be systematically collected. Case description: Three dental hygiene clinics located in academic institutions implemented ORHT from March 2016 to April 2017. Results: 231 persons received ORHT; all had non-reactive results. Most had seen a primary care provider in the past year (n = 130), had had a previous ORHT (n = 111), and described themselves as extremely likely or likely to accept a …

Creating Oral Health Awareness: Happy Teeth Make Healthy Teeth, Roseanna M. Torres, Dirien Santos, Tatyana Aksaeva, Hanna Jo, Nastassia Liaushun, Anty Lam

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Assessing Participants’ Feedback To Dental Screening Provided By New York City College Of Technology’S Dental Hygiene Students, Dirien Santos, Roseanna M. Torres, Nazrin Akbarova, Susan Davide

Publications and Research

The purpose of this research is to determine if CUNY students, faculty and staff are aware of the Dental Hygiene Program and services located at New York City College of Technology (NYCCT). Dental Hygiene students at NYCCT provide educational, clinical and therapeutic services to the public in accordance with individual state Dental Hygiene practice acts. Prevention and treatment of oral disease are recognized as important factors in a patient's overall health and well-being. Dental hygienists are important members of the dental health care team providing these services. The first phase of the project consisted of a free dental screening event …

Patients’ Willingness To Participate In Rapid Hiv Testing: A Pilot Study In Three New York City Dental Hygiene Clinics, Susan H. Davide, Anthony J. Santella, Winnie Furnari, Petal Leuwaisee, Marilyn Cortell, Bhuma Krishnamachari

Publications and Research

Purpose: One in eight people living with an HIV infection in the United States is unaware of their status. Rapid HIV testing (RHT) is an easily used and accepted screening tool that has been introduced in a limited number of clinical settings. The purpose of this study was to investigate patient acceptability, certainty of their decision, and willingness to pay for screening if RHT was offered in university-based dental hygiene clinics.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 426 patients at three dental hygiene clinics in New York City over a period of four months. The survey questionnaire was based …

Implementing A Minimally Invasive Approach, Diana V. Macri

Publications and Research

The World Health Organization notes that 60% to 90% of children and nearly 100% of adults have a history of dental caries. The caries process begins with the action of organic acids, which are produced by bacteria found in organized dental plaque via the anaerobic metabolism of dietary sugars. When this dental plaque goes undisturbed, organic acids may initiate the early stages of demineralization. Demineralization gradually weakens the tooth structure, making it more susceptible to plaque formation and demineralization. Remineralization is the process by which the damage to these surfaces is repaired by replacing surface minerals utilizing therapies such as …

Pain Management In Dentistry, Diana V. Macri

Publications and Research

The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) has defined pain as “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage." The most common dental complaint is pain, accounting for more than 80%of all dental visits. Pain diminishes the quality of life for many people, although it also may be a vital teacher or a warning message to be heeded. How humans process pain is a complicated, individualized process affected by genetics, personality, life experiences and straight forward physiological process.

Strategies For Improving Patient Compliance, Diana V. Macri

Publications and Research

Patient compliance is the degree to which a person adheres to the professional advice healthcare providers offer. Aside from significantly compromising a person’s health, non-compliance also wastes resources and productivity. The monetary costs of medical noncompliance has been estimated to be around $300 billion a year. Demographic, disease severity and gender effects on compliance are small. In dental hygiene, where practitioners focus on the prevention of oral disease, motivating patients to practice healthy behaviors has long been a challenging, and often frustrating, aspect of practice. Any discussion of compliance must begin with a brief review of human development and the …

Utilizing Dental Hygienists To Improve Health Outcomes In Long-Term Care, Diana V. Macri

Publications and Research

Poor oral health practices contribute to negative health outcomes for residents of long-term care facilities. The abundance of current information on the oral–systemic connection underscores the need for improved oral hygiene among all citizens but specifically for older adults, who face challenges for self-care due to sensory, mobility, endurance and cognitive deficits. Dental hygienists are oral disease prevention specialists and are trained to perform dental procedures that significantly improve a person’s oral health. Dental hygienists are legally permitted to provide many oral healthcare services to residents of long-term care facilities independent of dentist supervision or in collaborative agreements with dentists. …