Dentistry Commons^™

The Influence Of Tobacco Use, Hazardous Drinking, And Other Risk Factors On Hpv-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer Risk And Screening Perceptions Among Gay And Bisexual Men: A Cross-Sectional Study, I Niles Zoschke, Sarah L Bennis, Yi Tang, J Michael Wilkerson, Cynthia L Stull, Alan G Nyitray, Samir S Khariwala, C Mark Nichols, B R Simon Rosser, Charlene A Flash, Michael W Ross

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Oropharyngeal cancer is the eighth most common cancer among US men and its incidence is sharply rising. Oropharyngeal cancer manifests in two major ways: the classic form is prevalent among people who use alcohol and tobacco heavily, while a growing subset of incident cases is associated with human papillomavirus-16 (HPV) and transmitted via oral sex. Gay and bisexual men appear at higher risk for each etiologic subset of oropharyngeal cancer than heterosexual men. We conducted a cross-sectional study to learn how tobacco use, hazardous drinking, and other key risk factors affect gay and bisexual men's perceptions of oropharyngeal cancer …

Association Of Parental Oral Health Knowledge And Self-Efficacy With Early Childhood Caries And Oral Health Quality Of Life In Texas Schoolchildren, Shreela V Sharma, Jeanette E Deason, Mengxi Wang, Alejandra Garcia-Quintana, Ru-Jye Chuang, Kila Johnson, Shalisa Garner, Steven Kelder, Jose-Miguel Yamal

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Improving children's oral health is a national priority. Parental knowledge and self-efficacy influence children's health behaviors; however, the relationship between parental oral health-related knowledge, self-efficacy, child oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL), and dental caries remains unclear, especially among low-income, ethnically diverse U.S. families. This study assesses the relationship between parental oral health-related knowledge, self-efficacy, child dental caries, and OHQoL. This cross-sectional seco ndary analysis uses baseline data from a school-based cluster-randomized controlled trial among children (kindergarten-second grade). Dental assessments were conducted using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) on site in schools at baseline (n = 34 …

The Ethical Dilemma Of Social Media, Janet H. Southerland

New Orleans Dental Association News

Social media has transformed dentistry, enhancing communication, education, and patient engagement. However, ethical challenges, including privacy concerns and misinformation, pose risks. This article explores the benefits and challenges of social media in dentistry, emphasizing the need for ethical guidelines to uphold professional standards while leveraging digital advancements for improved care and education.

Training Protocol And Calibration Of The International Caries Detection And Assessment System In A School-Based Clinical Trial Of Elementary School-Age Children, Jose-Miguel Yamal, Dania Mofleh, Ru-Jye Chuang, Mengxi Wang, Kila Johnson, Alejandra Garcia-Quintana, Tolulope Titiloye, Suchitra Nelson, Shreela V Sharma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: This paper demonstrates International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) training procedures and inter/intra-examiner reliability for lesion severity, activity, and filling criteria in an elementary school setting.

Methods: ICDAS training was conducted in December 2021 prior to a school-based cluster-randomized controlled trial. A total of 59 children (6-8 years old) in grades 1-2 from one school in Houston, Texas were recruited. Two licensed dentists received a 5-day training from an ICDAS trainer at the participating school. Thirty-eight children were evaluated at least once by each dental trainee, and 18 had repeat examinations. The ICDAS criteria were used to classify …

Volunteers Needed To Join Effort To Alleviate Pain And Restore Hope, Stacy Mcilduff Cfre

The New York State Dental Journal

The New York State Dental Foundation is pleased to share an inspiring opportunity for dentists to make a difference for one of the most underserved groups in the Hudson Valley community — approved and documented refugees who are being resettled with the help of private citizens through the community sponsorship model. Hearts & Homes for Refugees (HHR) is a grassroots organization dedicated to supporting refugee families who arrive with documentation. We are inviting dental professionals to join the effort to alleviate dental pain and restore hope for those who have endured extraordinary hardship.

Current Concepts In Prenatal Dental Care: A Narrative Review, Adam Lawlor

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Dysbiosis Of The Oral Microbiome And Pathophysiology Of Pregnancy Complications, Jiselle Cornejo, Claudia M. Tellez Freitas

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Drug Addiction On Oral Health: Unveiling The Link Between Substance Abuse, Rahi [email protected], Kamran Awan

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Evidence Of Poor Oral Health For Individuals With Cardiovascular Disease, Maya Dagher, Ryan Moffat

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Early Childhood Caries And Associated Risk Factors Among Preschool Children In Southeast Iran, Homa Kamyabi, Parisa Kalantari, Azadeh Horri, Fereshteh Abbasi, Mahsa Kalantari

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Objective: To determine the prevalence of ECC and evaluate its association with possible risk factors in a group of preschool children in Kerman, Iran. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kerman on healthy preschool children (up to 6 years old) in June and October 2021. The children were randomly selected from kindergartens using a clustered sampling method, and their height, weight, dental caries, and occlusion were evaluated. Parents completed a questionnaire assessing feeding habits (breast/bottle feeding) and oral habits during the first two years of life. Data were analyzed by logistic regression and chi-squared test using SPSS …

Occupational Exposures To Chemicals In Dentistry: A Scoping Review, Geneviève Picard, Tisha Prakash, France Labrèche, Sabrina Gravel

Revues de littérature, synthèses de connaissances

The dental workforce comprises a variety of professions, most of which are predominantly occupied by women. Dental workers can be exposed to numerous toxic chemicals such as mercury, methacrylate polymers, and silica. This scoping review aims to synthesize the scientific literature on quantified chemical exposures and to identify research gaps in occupational chemical hazards faced by dental professionals. This review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute approach and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, using three concepts to search PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science: workers, dental care, and chemicals. Studies from high-income countries, published in French or English between 2000 and 2024 and reporting …

Burnout At University: Cross-Sectional Study Among Dental Students, Manal Elhijazi, Hajar Nafia, Ihsane Benyahya

Health Sciences

Context: The university constitutes a demanding and competitive learning environment which can impact the well-being of students. The objective of this survey is to assess the burnout of students at the faculty of dentistry.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted via an anonymous questionnaire with 3 sections: socio-demographic data, lifestyle and habit, and burnout through the Maslach burnout inventory-student survey (MBI-SS) . Continuous variables were presented as means and standard deviations,categorical variables as numbers and percentages. The variables were tested in univariate analysis to assess predictive factors related to burnout using the Khi-2 test. The significance level was …

Mda Foundation: Great Things Are Ahead For The Mda Foundation In 2025, Anne Berquist

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The MDA Foundation expresses heartfelt gratitude to donors and volunteers who contributed to improving oral health care access and education in 2024. Efforts included funding free and reduced-cost clinics, awarding scholarships, and hosting the Mission of Mercy (MOM) free clinic in Flint. For 2025, plans include the Sparkling Smiles fundraising event during the MDA Annual Session in Detroit and laying the groundwork for next year’s MOM in Kalamazoo. The Foundation encourages applications for grants (deadline: May 1) and scholarships (applications open Aug. 1), continuing its commitment to supporting Michigan communities and dental students.

Flipped Classroom Versus Lecture: A Quasi-Experimental Study Evaluating The Performance Of Dental Students.”, Manal Elhijazi, Ihsane Benyahya

Health Sciences

Background: The flipped classroom is an active pedagogical modality that improves learning, autonomy and critical thinking. This work aims to evaluate the impact of the flipped classroom on student performance compared to the lecture in a biomaterials course.

Material and methods:Second-year dental students were invited to participate voluntarily in this quasi-experimental study .Thus, they were divided into two groups: one group benefited́ from the flipped classroom while the control group attended the lecture. At the end of a formative evaluation for both groups, their average grades were compared using Student's test (significance threshold set at p

Results : …

Epidemiology Of Recurrent Herpes Labialis Among Dentistry Students: A Cross-Sectional Survey In Egypt, Sara Abdelwahed, Dalia Ghalwash, Al Hassan Diab

Dentistry

Aim: Recurrent herpes labialis (RHL) is a common viral infection with significant psychosocial and clinical implications. Dental students are particularly vulnerable due to stress and frequent patient contact, yet data on their epidemiology in Egyptian cohorts are scarce. The study aimed to determine the prevalence, recurrence patterns, and associated risk factors of RHL among dentistry students in Egypt. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 559 dentistry students at the British University in Egypt. A structured, self-administered questionnaire captured sociodemographic data, history of RHL episodes, frequency, severity, and triggering factors. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square …

Dental Care Trajectories Among Formerly Incarcerated Older Adults In The United States, Alexander Testa, Luis Mijares, Mateus Renno Santos, Vahed Maroufy, Dylan B Jackson, Rafael Samper-Ternent, Rahma Mungia, Ana C Neumann

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

A growing body of research has documented an association between prior incarceration and lower dental care use, yet the longitudinal impact of prior incarceration on dental care patterns over time among older adults remains unexplored. This study aims to investigate whether prior incarceration is associated with differing trajectories of dental care use among older adults in the United States. Data were drawn from the 2012-2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative longitudinal survey of older adults in the United States (n =  5,893). Group-based trajectory modeling was used to estimate dental care use patterns over …

The Use Of Motivational Interviewing In Preventing Dental Caries Among Young Children, Denise C. Mckinney, Melissa L. Sullivan, Futun Alkhalifah

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Dental caries is a complex, preventable disease that remains a global health burden. The burden of this disease has been shown to impact young children before the age of 6 years. Discussing dental caries prevention with the mother/caregiver(s) prior to childbirth is an ideal time to influence positive oral health behaviors. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a person-centered, goal-oriented, collaborative communication style that has been used to help individuals modify behaviors. The interrelated principles of partnership, acceptance, compassion, and evocation underpin the MI approach while utilizing communication skills such as asking open-ended questions, affirmation, reflective listening, and summarizing (OARS) to engage …

Dental Clinic Deserts In The Us: Spatial Accessibility Analysis, Md Shahinoor Rahman, Jeffrey C. Blossom, Ichiro Kawachi, Renuka Tipirneni, Hawazin W. Elani

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

IMPORTANCE: Little is known about the spatial accessibility to dental clinics across the US. OBJECTIVE: To map the spatial accessibility of dental clinics nationally and to examine the characteristics of counties and US Census block groups with dental care shortage areas. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional study of US dental clinics in 2023 using data from the IQVIA national practitioners' database, which includes 205 762 active dentists. Data were analyzed from November 2023 to April 2024. EXPOSURES: Socioeconomic characteristics of block groups and counties including rurality, area deprivation, racial and ethnic segregation, and uninsured population. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Enhanced …

Take Charge Of Your Health: Start With Your Smile, Jordan L. Lacey, Brizette O. Owusu, Sophia Gardner, Madeline Whitehead, Haeun Park, May Ligno

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Take Charge of Your Health: Start with Your Smile

Oral health is a fundamental component of overall health, yet it is often neglected-particularly among vulnerable populations like houseless individuals (Freitas et al., 2019). Houseless individuals face numerous barriers to accessing healthcare, with dental services being limited. This lack of access contributes to a higher prevalence of oral diseases, which if left untreated, can lead to severe complications. Poor oral health doesn’t just affect the mouth; it negatively impacts one’s overall systemic health, psychosocial well-being, and quality of life (Csikar et al., 2019).

As nursing students engaged in a Community Health …

Machine Learning Approaches For Predicting Dental Caries In Permanent Molars Of Children And Adolescents Using Nhanes 2011-16 Data, Pritam Deb, Christina Scherrer Phd, Lin Li Phd

Symposium of Student Scholars

Dental caries remains a prevalent chronic disease among children, significantly affecting their quality of life, educational outcomes, and school attendance. Between 2011 and 2016, caries affected 17.4% of children aged 6-11 and 56.8% of adolescents aged 12-19, with higher incidences among non-Hispanic Black and Mexican American youth, and those from lower-income families. This study aims to develop a robust machine learning model to predict the presence of decayed, missing, or filled permanent molars (DMFT) in children and adolescents using demographic, dietary, and oral health examination data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the years 2011 to …

Water Fluoridation: The Evidence Behind The Risk Of Fluoride Use, Margherita Fontana D.D.S., Ph.D., Carlos González-Cabezas D.D.S., M.S.D., Ph.D., Livia Tenuta D.D.S., M.Sc., Ph.D.

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The debate surrounding fluoride use for caries control has intensified due to recent events, including a National Toxicology Program (NTP) report and a court ruling mandating EPA action on fluoride levels in tap water.

Despite concerns about fluoride's potential neurodevelopmental impact at high concentrations, current evidence shows no adverse effects at the recommended levels of 0.7 ppm in U.S. community water fluoridation programs. While studies in regions with endemic fluorosis suggest an association between high fluoride exposure and lower IQ, methodological limitations undermine causal conclusions.

Global and U.S. health authorities, including the WHO and ADA, reaffirm the safety and efficacy …

Unmeasured Confounding In Summary Estimates Of Maternal Periodontitis And Adverse Birth Outcomes: Meta-Analyses Of Observational Studies, May Salama, Abdullah Al-Taiar, Denise Mickenny

Graduate Student Government Association Research Conference

Abstract

Importance Maternal periodontitis has been consistently linked to adverse birth outcomes. However, a causal relationship is not established due to potential unmeasured confounding factors in observational studies and inconclusive results from randomized controlled trials.

Objective To assess the impact of unmeasured confounding factors in meta-analyses examining associations between maternal periodontal disease and preterm birth or low birth weight.

Data Sources PubMed/Medline, the Cochrane database for systematic reviews, Embase, Google Scholar, and a manual search of the reported references between 2002 and 2023.

Study Selection Systematic reviews with meta-analyses of observational studies were included if either preterm birth or low …

Mda Foundation: How Your Donations Help Support The Vina Dental Clinic -- And Other Programs, Too, Anne Berquist

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

In 2007, Dr. Fredric Bonine and Dr. Sam Daniels founded the VINA Community Dental Center in Brighton, Michigan, to provide affordable dental care to low-income residents. The clinic opened in 2008, charging minimal fees for cleanings and appointments. Serving 1,500 to 2,000 patients annually, the clinic relies on volunteer dentists, partnerships with educational institutions, and grants. Notably, the University of Michigan’s Victors for Veterans program offers free dental care to qualifying veterans. The MDA Foundation supports the clinic through grants, contributing to VINA’s $250,000 annual budget. Donations to the MDA Foundation fund these efforts, ensuring continued access to affordable dental …

History Of Incarceration And Dental Care Use Among Older Adults In The United States, Alexander Testa, Dylan B Jackson, Carmen Gutierrez, Chantal Fahmy, Vahed Maroufy, Rafael Samper-Ternent, Ana C Neumann

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Dental care is a critical component of healthy aging; however, emerging evidence suggests that having been previously incarcerated is a risk factor for not using dental care services. This study investigates the relationship between prior incarceration and dental care among older adults and assesses whether wealth and dental insurance explain this relationship.

METHODS: Data are from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling older adults in the United States, collected in 2012 and 2014. Multivariable logistic regression is used to assess the relationship between a history of incarceration and dental care. Mediation analyses were conducted …

Case Title: Uncovering The Truth: The Unexpected Incidental Discovery Of Metastatic Carcinoid Tumor In An Elderly Patient., Kavitha Chittaragi Dr, Shwetha R. Poojary Dr

Radiology Teaching Files

Carcinoid tumors are rare neuroendocrine neoplasms with varied clinical presentations. We report a case of a 70-year-old female patient who presented with history of loose stools, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Imaging revealed a small hyper-enhancing nodule in the small bowel, multiple liver lesions, and a mesenteric mass, all suggestive of metastatic carcinoid disease. Biopsy confirmed a neuroendocrine tumor. As these tumors can remain indolent for years, early detection and treatment are critical for effective management and better prognosis.

Systematically Assessing The Quality Of Dental Electronic Health Record Data For An Investigation Into Oral Health Care Disparities, Krishna Kumar Kookal, Muhammad F Walji, Ryan Brandon, Ferit Kivanc, Elizabeth Mertz, Aubri Kottek, Joanna Mullins, Shuang Liang, Larry E Jenson, Joel M White

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: This work describes the process by which the quality of electronic health care data for a public health study was determined. The objectives were to adapt, develop, and implement data quality assessments (DQAs) based on the National Institutes of Health Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory (NIHPTC) data quality framework within the three domains of completeness, accuracy, and consistency, for an investigation into oral health care disparities of a preventive care program.

Methods: Electronic health record data for eligible children in a dental accountable care organization of 30 offices, in Oregon, were extracted iteratively from January 1, 2014, through March 31, 2022. …

Mom Is Back, Barbara Rollins

Virginia Dental Journal

For several years Mission of Mercy (MOM) events were curtailed as the risks from COVID-19 outweighed the benefits of the free dental care provided by MOM. While COVID is still with us, the risks of delivering dental care in a large group setting were judged to be manageable by the Virginia Dental Association Foundation’s Board of Directors, and MOM project plans moved forward. As such, “MOM IS BACK!” became the rallying motto, and the number of MOM events increased to nine projects in 2022. Through those nine MOM (and Mini-MOM) projects, some 1,029 patients across the state received over $1.3 …

Ethics And Professionalism, Dana Chamberlain Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

This article examines professionalism in dental ethics, based on a working draft of the 2017 Dental Ethics Primer by Drs. Bruce Peltier and Larry Jenson. It highlights the complexities of ethical decision-making and the responsibilities of dental professionals, who must balance autonomy with a commitment to competence and ethical conduct. The article outlines five key components of professionalism, emphasizing the importance of continuous education, adherence to ethical standards, and the willingness to prioritize patient care over personal interests. True professionalism is portrayed as service-oriented and deeply rooted in trust and ethical responsibility.

Pressing Issues For Oral Care Quality Improvement: Findings From The Eu Deliver Project, Paulo Melo, Leonor Frey-Furtado, Daniela Correia, Stefan Listl, Michael Lorenz, Nagihan Bostanci, Álvaro Azevedo, Maria Lurdes Pereira

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: While oral health often takes a backseat to other health domains, it silently affects nearly half of the Worldwide population. The DELIVER project, funded by the EU's Horizon Europe program, seeks to develop a blueprint model for improving the quality of oral health care for everyone.

METHODS: Applying the Nominal Group Technique (NGT), 17 stakeholders from various backgrounds participated in identifying pressing issues for oral care quality improvement across practice, community, and policy levels.

RESULTS: The results revealed significant differences at the different levels, with accessibility emerging as a prominent issue, encompassing affordability, availability, and acceptability of oral healthcare …

A Quantitative Examination Of Tobacco And Marijuana Use On Oral Health Outcomes Among Young Adults In Texas, Meenakshi Dasagi

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

This dissertation aimed to quantify the relationship between methods of tobacco and marijuana use and their impact on oral health. Tobacco use was defined as smoking combustible tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, and hookah) or electronic aerosolized vaping nicotine with an e-cigarette.5,9 Similarly, marijuana use was defined as smoking combustible marijuana (joints, blunts, and spliffs) or vaping marijuana with an e-cigarette.8 Despite the prevalence of nicotine vaping and marijuana use among young adults1,3-4,7,14-15, there is limited evidence of their association with oral health in Texas. To address this issue, this dissertation comprising three studies analyzed longitudinal data from the Texas Adolescent Tobacco …