Dentistry 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 …

Development And Validation Of A Rule-Based Algorithm To Identify Periodontal Diagnosis Using Structured Electronic Health Record Data, Bunmi Tokede, Ryan Brandon, Chun-Teh Lee, Guo-Hao Lin, Joel White, Alfa Yansane, Xiaoqian Jiang, Elsbeth Kalenderian, Muhammad Walji

Student and Faculty Publications

AIM: To develop and validate an automated electronic health record (EHR)-based algorithm to suggest a periodontal diagnosis based on the 2017 World Workshop on the Classification of Periodontal Diseases and Conditions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using material published from the 2017 World Workshop, a tool was iteratively developed to suggest a periodontal diagnosis based on clinical data within the EHR. Pertinent clinical data included clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival margin to cemento-enamel junction distance, probing depth, furcation involvement (if present) and mobility. Chart reviews were conducted to confirm the algorithm's ability to accurately extract clinical data from the EHR, and then …

Recent Advances In Nanomaterial-Based Biosensor For Periodontitis Detection, Mohammad Hosseini Hooshiar, Masoud Amiri Moghaddam, Mohammad Kiarashi, Athraa Y Al-Hijazi, Abbas Fadel Hussein, Hareth A Alrikabi, Sara Salari, Samar Esmaelian, Hassan Mesgari, Saman Yasamineh

Student and Faculty Publications

Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory condition caused by bacteria, often causes gradual destruction of the components that support teeth, such as the alveolar bone, cementum, periodontal ligament, and gingiva. This ultimately results in teeth becoming loose and eventually falling out. Timely identification has a crucial role in preventing and controlling its progression. Clinical measures are used to diagnose periodontitis. However, now, there is a hunt for alternative diagnostic and monitoring methods due to the progress of technology. Various biomarkers have been assessed using multiple bodily fluids as sample sources. Furthermore, conventional periodontal categorization factors do not provide significant insights into the …

Evaluating And Improving The Usability Of A Mhealth Platform To Assess Postoperative Dental Pain, Ana M Ibarra-Noriega, Alfa Yansane, Joanna Mullins, Kristen Simmons, Nicholas Skourtes, David Holmes, Joel White, Elsbeth Kalenderian, Muhammad F Walji

Student and Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVES: The use of interactive mobile health (mHealth) applications to monitor patient-reported postoperative pain outcomes is an emerging area in dentistry that requires further exploration. This study aimed to evaluate and improve the usability of an existing mHealth application.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The usability of the application was assessed iteratively using a 3-phase approach, including a rapid cognitive walkthrough (Phase I), lab-based usability testing (Phase II), and

RESULTS: The rapid cognitive walkthrough identified 23 potential issues that could negatively impact user experience, with the majority classified as system issues. The lab-based usability testing yielded 141 usability issues.; 43% encountered by …

Biomechanical Analysis Of The Maxillary Sinus Floor Membrane During Internal Sinus Floor Elevation With Implants At Different Angles Of The Maxillary Sinus Angles, Yinxin Deng, Ruihong Ma, Yilin He, Shujia Yu, Shiyu Cao, Kang Gao, Yiping Dou, Pan Ma

Student and Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed and compared the biomechanical properties of maxillary sinus floor mucosa with implants at three different maxillary sinus angles during a modified internal sinus floor elevation procedure.

METHODS: 3D reconstruction of the implant, maxillary sinus bone, and membrane were performed. The maxillary sinus model was set at three different angles. Two internal maxillary sinus elevation models were established, and finite element analysis was used to simulate the modified maxillary sinus elevation process. The implant was elevated to 10 mm at three maxillary sinus angles when the maxillary sinus floor membrane was separated by 0 and 4 mm. …

Patient And Dentist Perspectives On Collecting Patient Reported Outcomes After Painful Dental Procedures In The National Dental Pbrn, Elsbeth Kalenderian, Sayali Tungare, Urvi Mehta, Sharmeen Hamid, Rahma Mungia, Alfa-Ibrahim Yansane, David Holmes, Kim Funkhouser, Ana M Ibarra-Noriega, Janelle Urata, D Brad Rindal, Heiko Spallek, Joel White, Muhammad F Walji

Student and Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Dental Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) relate to a dental patient's subjective experience of their oral health. How practitioners and patients value PROs influences their successful use in practice.

METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 practitioners and 32 patients who provided feedback on using a mobile health (mHealth) platform to collect the pain experience after dental procedures. A themes analysis was conducted to identify implementation barriers and facilitators.

RESULTS: Five themes were uncovered: (1) Sense of Better Care. (2) Tailored Follow-up based on the dental procedure and patient's pain experience. (3) Effective Messaging and Alerts. (4) Usable Digital Platform. …

Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Telemedicine In Postoperative Follow-Up Care After Dental Implant Surgery. A Pilot Study, Praveen Kumar Patel, Anuj Kishor Shukla, Varun Sachan, Paawan Sharma, Sonal Singh, Swapnil Saxena, Ramanpal S Makkad

Student and Faculty Publications

AIM: Telemedicine has emerged as a potential solution to enhance postoperative follow-up care after dental implant surgery, offering the convenience of remote monitoring and reduced need for in-person visits.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to either the telemedicine group (n = 15) or the in-person group (n = 15). In the telemedicine group, patients received remote follow-up care through virtual consultations, during which they could communicate their concerns and share images of the surgical site. The in-person group received standard in-person follow-up visits. Patient satisfaction was measured using a standardized survey, with responses collected on a Likert scale. …

Surgical Periodontal Management Of Peripheral Ossifying Fibroma: A Series Of Three Cases, Karo Parsegian, Roger M Arce, Nikola Angelov

Student and Faculty Publications

Peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF) is a benign swelling of the gingival connective tissue commonly associated with dental biofilm and biofilm-retentive dental appliances. In the present case report, we described three cases of POF with different clinical presentations and treatment approaches. The treatment consisted of the removal of supra- and subgingival calculus, followed by a flap surgery with excision of the entire lesion ensuring the inclusion of the periosteal bed. The first patient developed POF during her pregnancy that remained clinically noticeable postpartum. The second case represented a rare case of POF appearing on the palatal aspect of the anterior maxilla …

Orthodontically Induced Changes To The Genetic Profile In Periodontal Ligament Tissue And Cytokine Release In Gingival Crevicular Fluid - A Pilot Investigation, Nutthakarn Ratanasereeprasert, Li-Fang Hsu, Shih-Kai Wang, Chung-Chen Jane Yao

Faculty and Staff Publications

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: It has been known that genetic factors influence orthodontic tooth movement, however, scientific research on humans is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate dynamic changes to the genetic profile in human periodontal ligament (PDL) tissue and cytokine release in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) during the first 28 days of orthodontic treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen teeth from three patients were recruited. Full-mouth fixed appliances with extraction of four premolars and one maxillary third molar was planned for orthodontic treatment. GCF collection and tooth extraction were performed following force application for 0, 1, 3, 7, and 28 days. GCF …

A Novel Odaph Mutation Causing Amelogenesis Imperfecta And Its Expression In Human Dental Tissues, Shih-Kai Wang, Zhe-Hao Lee, Parissa Aref, Kuan-Yu Chu

Faculty and Staff Publications

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI), an assemblage of genetic diseases with dental enamel malformations, is generally grouped into hypoplastic, hypomaturation, and hypocalcified types. This study aimed to identify the genetic etiology for a consanguineous Iranian family with autosomal recessive hypocalcified AI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dental defects were characterized, and whole exome analysis conducted to search for disease-causing mutations. Minigene assay and RT-PCR were performed to evaluate molecular consequences of the identified mutation and expression of the causative gene in human dental tissues.

RESULTS: The defective enamel of erupted teeth showed extensive post-eruptive failure and discoloration. Partial enamel hypoplasia and indistinct dentino-enamel …

Surgical Periodontal Management Of Peripheral Ossifying Fibroma: A Series Of Three Cases, Karo Parsegian, Roger M Arce, Nikola Angelov

Student and Faculty Publications

Peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF) is a benign swelling of the gingival connective tissue commonly associated with dental biofilm and biofilm-retentive dental appliances. In the present case report, we described three cases of POF with different clinical presentations and treatment approaches. The treatment consisted of the removal of supra- and subgingival calculus, followed by a flap surgery with excision of the entire lesion ensuring the inclusion of the periosteal bed. The first patient developed POF during her pregnancy that remained clinically noticeable postpartum. The second case represented a rare case of POF appearing on the palatal aspect of the anterior maxilla …

Cannabinoids In Periodontology: Where Are We Now?, Yésica Carmona Rendón, Hernán Santiago Garzón, Bruno Bueno-Silva, Roger M Arce, Lina Janeth Suárez

Student and Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Cannabinoids are a well-documented treatment modality for various immune and inflammatory diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Crohn's disease, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and a range of neurodegenerative conditions. However, limited information is available regarding the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in treating periodontal disease.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to analyze the current evidence on the antibacterial and immunomodulatory effects of cannabis and its role in the healing and regeneration processes within periodontal tissues.

RESULTS: This review discusses the potential role of cannabinoids in restoring periodontal tissue homeostasis.

CONCLUSIONS: The examination of the endocannabinoid system and the …

Cost-Effectiveness Of [99mtc]Tilmanocept Relative To [99mtc]Sulfur Colloid For Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy In Early Stage Oral Cavity Cancer, Karen Y Choi, Qiang Hao, Kathryn Carlisle, Christopher S Hollenbeak, Stephen Y Lai

Student and Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated varying rates of efficacy, reliability, and sensitivity of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in identifying occult nodal disease for early stage oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) depending on the radionuclide agent utilized. No head-to-head comparison of cost or clinical outcomes of SLNB when utilizing [99mTc]tilmanocept versus [99mTc]sulfur colloid has been performed. The goal of this study was to develop a decision model to compare the cost-effectiveness of [99mTc]tilmanocept versus [99mTc]sulfur colloid in early stage OCSCC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A decision model of disease and treatment as a function of SLNB was created. Patients with …

The Mechanisms Of Nerve Injury Caused By Viral Infection In The Occurrence Of Gastrointestinal Motility Disorder-Related Diseases, Yaqian Li, Qiuyu Chen, Liwei Wang, Xin Chen, Bangmao Wang, Weilong Zhong

Student and Faculty Publications

Gastrointestinal motility refers to the peristalsis and contractility of gastrointestinal muscles, including the force and frequency of gastrointestinal muscle contraction. Gastrointestinal motility maintains the normal digestive function of the human body and is a critical component of the physiological function of the digestive tract. At present, gastrointestinal motility disorder-related diseases are gradually affecting human production and life. In recent years, it has been consistently reported that the enteric nervous system has a coordinating and controlling role in gastrointestinal motility. Motility disorders are closely related to functional or anatomical changes in the gastrointestinal nervous system. At the same time, some viral …

Evaluating The Impact Of An Mhealth Platform For Managing Acute Postoperative Dental Pain: Randomized Controlled Trial, Bunmi Tokede, Alfa Yansane, Ana Ibarra-Noriega, Joanna Mullins, Kristen Simmons, Nicholas Skourtes, Urvi Mehta, Sayali Tungare, David Holmes, Joel White, Muhammad Walji, Elsbeth Kalenderian

Student and Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Postoperative dental pain is pervasive and can affect a patient's quality of life. Adopting a patient-centric approach to pain management involves having contemporaneous information about the patient's experience of pain and using it to personalize care.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we evaluated the use of a mobile health (mHealth) platform to collect pain-related patient-reported outcomes over 7 days after the patients underwent pain-inducing dental procedures; we then relayed the information to the dentist and determined its impact on the patient's pain experience.

METHODS: The study used a cluster-randomized experimental study design with an intervention arm where patients were prompted …

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 …

Patient Shielding During Dentomaxillofacial Radiography: Recommendations From The American Academy Of Oral And Maxillofacial Radiology, Erika Benavides, Avni Bhula, Anita Gohel, Alan G Lurie, Sanjay M Mallya, Aruna Ramesh, Donald A Tyndall

Student and Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology established an ad hoc committee to draft evidence-based recommendations and clinical guidance for the application of patient contact shielding during dentomaxillofacial imaging.

TYPES OF STUDIES REVIEWED: The committee reviewed monographs and reports from radiation protection organizations and studies that reported radiation dose to gonads, breasts, and thyroid gland from dentomaxillofacial imaging.

RESULTS: Considering the absence of radiation-induced heritable effects in humans and the negligible dose to the gonads and fetus from dentomaxillofacial imaging, the committee recommends discontinuing shielding of the gonads, pelvic structures, and fetuses during all dentomaxillofacial radiographic imaging procedures. …

Effects Of Surface Treatment Method Forming New Nano/Micro Hierarchical Structures On Attachment And Proliferation Of Osteoblast-Like Cells, Jae-Seung Im, Hyunsuk Choi, Hyun-Wook An, Tae-Yub Kwon, Min-Ho Hong

Student and Faculty Publications

Titanium (Ti) and Ti-based alloys are commonly used in dental implants, and surface modifications of dental implants are important for achieving osseointegration (i.e., direct connection between the implant surface and bone). This study investigated the effect of an eco-friendly etching solution-a hydrogen peroxide-sodium bicarbonate mixture-on the surface properties and contact angles of osteoblast adhesion and proliferation on Ti surfaces. Disk-shaped Ti specimens were prepared using different surface treatments (machining, sandblasting, and sandblasting/acid-etching), and they were immersed in the etching solution and ultrasonically cleaned. Surface characterization was performed using scanning electron microscopy, digital microscopy, contact angle analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. …

Evaluation Of The Clinical And Radiographic Effectiveness Of Treating Peri-Implant Bone Defects With A New Biphasic Calcium Phosphate Bone Graft: A Prospective, Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial, Jae-Hong Lee, Hyun-Wook An, Jae-Seung Im, Woo-Joo Kim, Dong-Won Lee, Jeong-Ho Yun

Student and Faculty Publications

PURPOSE: Biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP), a widely used biomaterial for bone regeneration, contains synthetic hydroxyapatite (HA) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), the ratio of which can be adjusted to modulate the rate of degradation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic benefits of reconstructing peri-implant bone defects with a newly developed BCP consisting of 40% β-TCP and 60% HA compared to demineralized bovine bone mineral (DBBM).

METHODS: This prospective, multicenter, parallel, single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted at the periodontology departments of 3 different dental hospitals. Changes in clinical (defect width and height) and radiographic (augmented …

Comparison Of Different Reconstruction Flap For Maxillofacial Region: An Original Research., Pallavi Khan Chakraborty, Smit Patel, Misbah Farheen Mulla, Manisha Mangesh Kulkarni, Rummaan Ahmed Sheikh, Anuj Kishor Shukla

Student and Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Large chunks of the tissue are sacrificed during the surgical procedures for the treatment if oral cancers. Our goal was to assess the viability of "

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty subjects were included in this investigation, and they were divided into 3 groups. The follow-up as accompanied for six months. Comparisons were made for the time for the operations, reduction in the width of the mouth opening and the survival rates of the flaps. The data that was collected for the above two parameters and compared for the significance using the

RESULTS: In the subjects with the PM, the …

Assessment Of The Apical Transportation And Quantity Of Root Canal Dentin Removed Using Different New Rotary File Systems: An Original Study, Harmeet Singh, Anuj K Shukla, Apurva A Jadhav, Anshuman Shetty, Chitharanjan Shetty, Smita D Dutta, Mohammed Mustafa

Student and Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: The rotary systems have found a common application in the clinical practice for the endodontic therapies. Hence, we compared three recent endodontic systems for the comparison of the dentine removal and the apical transportation particularly in the curved canals.

METHODS: Oneshape, Pro Taper Next, and Edgefile X3 were the three systems that were compared. Thirty maxillary mesio buccal canals of the human permanent teeth were compared due to its curved nature. The volume of dentin removed and apical transportation (mm) were measured using micro-computed tomographic imaging (mm). Both the coronal section and the entire canal length had their dentin …

A 3d Perfusable Platform For In Vitro Culture Of Patient Derived Xenografts, Lindsey K Sablatura, Kristin M Bircsak, Peter Shepherd, Madhavi Bathina, Karla Queiroz, Mary C Farach-Carson, Rick A Kittles, Pamela E Constantinou, Anthony Saleh, Nora M Navone, Daniel A Harrington

Student and Faculty Publications

Many advanced cancer models, such as patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), offer significant benefits in their preservation of the native tumor's heterogeneity and susceptibility to treatments, but face significant barriers to use in their reliance on a rodent host for propagation and screening. PDXs remain difficult to implement in vitro, particularly in configurations that enable both detailed cellular analysis and high-throughput screening (HTS). Complex multilineage co-cultures with stromal fibroblasts, endothelium, and other cellular and structural components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) further complicate ex vivo implementation. Herein, the culture of multiple prostate cancer (PCa)-derived PDX models as 3D clusters within engineered biomimetic …

Gingival Transcriptomic Patterns Of Macrophage Polarization During Initiation, Progression, And Resolution Of Periodontitis, Octavio A Gonzalez, Sreenatha S Kirakodu, Linh M Nguyen, Jeffrey L Ebersole

Faculty and Staff Publications

Phenotypic and functional heterogeneity of macrophages is clearly a critical component of their effective functions in innate and adaptive immunity. This investigation hypothesized that altered profiles of gene expression in gingival tissues in health, disease, and resolution would reflect changes in macrophage phenotypes occurring in these tissues. The study used a nonhuman primate model to evaluate gene expression profiles as footprints of macrophage variation using a longitudinal experimental model of ligature-induced periodontitis in animals from 3 to 23 years of age to identify aging effects on the gingival environment. Significant differences were observed in distribution of expressed gene levels for …

Clinical Evaluation Of Winged Versus Wingless Rubber Dam Clamps In Single Tooth Isolation – A Randomized Clinical Study, Rohan Jiteshkumar Doshi, Nimisha Chinmay Shah, R S Mohan Kumar, Ruchi Shah, Niral Kotecha

Student and Faculty Publications

Context:

Retention of the rubber dam is done with metallic or nonmetallic clamps for isolation. The two types of metallic clamps most frequently used are winged and wingless. The clinical efficacy of both clamps is needed to be compared.

Aim:

The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the postoperative pain and clinical efficacy of winged clamps and wingless metallic clamps in rubber dam isolation of permanent molars in class I restoration.

Materials and Methods:

After obtaining ethical approval and CTRI registration, a total of 60 patients with mild-to-moderate deep class I caries were included after obtaining informed …

Efficacy Of Delta Plate In Condylar Fracture: A Case Series With Review, Aniket Sarkar, Lahari Banerjee, Samiran Ghosh

Student and Faculty Publications

Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of mandibular condylar fracture with a three dimensional stabilization has been a controversial topic in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Miniplates and many 3D plates have been used till now for fixation of condylar fracture and delta plate is one of them. Present literature has less evidence about which one is superior over another. We have tried to evaluate the clinical performance of the delta miniplate in this study. A total of 10 patients presenting mandibular condylar fracture were treated by ORIF using delta miniplate. Dimensional details were measured of 10 dry human mandibles. At …

Dental Claires: Contrastive Language Image Retrieval Search For Dental Research, Tanjida Kabir, Luyao Chen, Muhammad F Walji, Luca Giancardo, Xiaoqian Jiang, Shayan Shams

Student and Faculty Publications

Learning about diagnostic features and related clinical information from dental radiographs is important for dental research. However, the lack of expert-annotated data and convenient search tools poses challenges. Our primary objective is to design a search tool that uses a user's query for oral-related research. The proposed framework,

Use Gpt-J Prompt Generation With Roberta For Ner Models On Diagnosis Extraction Of Periodontal Diagnosis From Electronic Dental Records, Yao-Shun Chuang, Xiaoqian Jiang, Chun-Teh Lee, Ryan Brandon, Duong Tran, Oluwabunmi Tokede, Muhammad F Walji

Student and Faculty Publications

This study explored the usability of prompt generation on named entity recognition (NER) tasks and the performance in different settings of the prompt. The prompt generation by GPT-J models was utilized to directly test the gold standard as well as to generate the seed and further fed to the RoBERTa model with the spaCy package. In the direct test, a lower ratio of negative examples with higher numbers of examples in prompt achieved the best results with a F1 score of 0.72. The performance revealed consistency, 0.92-0.97 in the F1 score, in all settings after training with the RoBERTa model. …

Massive Macroglossia, A Rare Side Effect Of Covid-19: Clinical, Histologic, And Genomic Findings In Covid-19-Positive Versus Covid-19-Negative Patients, Victoria A Mañón, David Chubb, Laura S Farach, Rachid Karam, Mary C Farach-Carson, Nadarajah Vigneswaran, Karan Saluja, Simon Young, Mark Wong, James C Melville

Student and Faculty Publications

PURPOSE: The primary purpose of this study is to identify if there is an underlying genetic predisposition for COVID-related macroglossia and if this susceptibility is higher among individuals of African heritage. Secondary objectives include determining if genetic testing of COVID-infected patients who are intubated and prone could identify patients with higher susceptibility to the development of macroglossia.

METHODS: A retrospective chart review was completed for each patient, and prospectively, genetic and histopathologic analyses were completed. Whole-exome sequencing was completed on two patients; immunohistochemistry was completed on the COVID-positive tissue samples.

RESULTS: Histopathology of the COVID-positive patient revealed significant peri-lymphocytic infiltrate, …

Design For A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial To Evaluate The Effects Of The Catch Healthy Smiles School-Based Oral Health Promotion Intervention Among Elementary School Children, Ru-Jye Chuang, Courtney Byrd-Williams, Jose-Miguel Yamal, Kila Johnson, Steven Kelder, Suchitra Nelson, Dania Mofleh, Shreela V Sharma

Student and Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The top two oral diseases (tooth decay and gum disease) are preventable, yet dental caries is the most common childhood disease with 68% of children entering kindergarten having tooth decay. CATCH Healthy Smiles is a coordinated school health program to prevent cavities for students in kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade, and is based on the framework of Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH), an evidence-based coordinated school health program. CATCH has undergone several cluster-randomized controlled trials (CRCT) demonstrating sustainable long-term effectiveness in incorporating the factors surrounding children, in improving eating and physical activity behaviors, and reductions in obesity prevalence …