Dentistry Commons^™

Cultural Adaptability Of Students Attending Culturally Diverse And Non-Culturally Diverse Dental Hygiene Programs, Katrina White Magee

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive investigation was to determine the cultural adaptability of students attending culturally diverse and nonculturally diverse dental hygiene programs throughout the U.S. The dental hygiene schools were identified according to their ethnic diversity as reported by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation in the 1996-1997 Survey of Dental Hygiene Education Programs. Once the programs were identified, a random sample was taken from the diverse and non-diverse dental hygiene programs. A 50-item inventory, the Cross-Cultural Adaptability Inventory (CCAI), was mailed to the participating dental hygiene programs. One-hundred eighty-eight students represented U.S. dental hygiene programs in the …

Sexual Harassment In The Virginia Dental Hygiene Profession, Anne Pennington

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes, And Behaviors Of Qatari People, Najat Abdrabbo J. Saleh Al-Salahi

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the oral health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of Qatari people. The convenience sample consisted of 859 Qatari people between the ages of 18-72 from Hamad Medical Corporation Dental Department,

Public Dental Health Care Centres, University of Qatar, Police and Army Departments, governmental schools, a private dental clinic, and citizens. Participants were asked to complete a self-designed questionnaire titled Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors of

Qatari People. Prior to the study, 20 Arab college students responded to the questionnaire in a test-retest procedure to establish instrument reliability. The content validity of …

A Needs Assessment For A Distance Education Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program For Associate Degree Level Dental Hygienist, Joan Gugino Ellison

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive research was to determine the need for a distance education program for geographically dispersed dental hygienists to complete a baccalaureate degree program in dental hygiene. The sample consisted of randomly selected licensed dental hygienists in the Commonwealth of Virginia. A self-designed instrument, titled The Distance Education for a Dental Hygiene Degree Completion Program Questionnaire, was mailed to the study participants after establishing validity and reliability. The questionnaire asked participants to provide information concerning personal demographics, educational background, and interest in completing a dental hygiene baccalaureate degree via distance education. Frequencies, percentages, crosstabulations, chi-square test …

Course Selection Factors Deemed Important By Dental Hygienists Prior To And After The Initiation Of Mandatory Continuing Education In The Commonwealth Of Virginia, Melissa Lynn Sainsbury

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the factors deemed important by dental hygienists in their selection of continuing education courses prior to and after the initiation of mandatory continuing education in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Under mandatory continuing education, dental hygiene educators must be able to plan continuing education courses that meet the needs of potential participants.

Results indicate that relative to each other, the 15 factors within this study, ranked in a hierarchy of importance in continuing education course selection by dental hygienists. Mandatory requirement for relicensure and course time ranked higher and course presenter and cost …

Measurement Of Perceived Service Quality Of Selected Dental Specialists, David P. Paul Iii

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

Although consumers find it difficult to evaluate the quality of healthcare services in general and dental services in particular, they do make such evaluations. The most widely accepted measurement scale for service quality is SERVQUAL (Parasuraman, Zeithaml and Berry 1988). A more parsimonious alternative to SERVQUAL, SERVPERF, has also been developed (Cronin and Taylor 1992). Previous research comparing these two scales in the setting of adult patients of general dentists concluded that SERVPERF accounts for significantly more of the variance in perceived service quality than does SERVQUAL (McAlexander, Kaldenberg and Koenig 1994). This dissertation extends this line of research to …

Oral Health Assessment Of Renal Transplant Recipients Undergoing Immunosuppressant Therapy, Coral Diaz

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the oral health, prevalence of intraoral manifestations/infections. and periodontal disease status of renal transplant recipients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy to determine their oral health needs. A purposive sample was selected via the Renal Transplant Center. Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. and Nephrology Associates of Tidewater LTD from which 22 renal transplant recipients who agreed to participate were examined. Three subgroups of the population were studied: individuals with a renal transplant for less than one year. individuals with a renal transplant for one to three years and individuals with a renal transplant for more than …

The Effects Of Procedural Explanation In Lessening Anxiety During Dental Hygiene Care, Michelle Leigh Sensat

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if procedural explanation, given during dental hygiene care, significantly reduces client anxiety. The sample consisted of 62 subjects selected randomly from the population of all current clients, with records dating from 1994 to the present, of a private general dental practice in Virginia Beach, Virginia. A randomized subjects, pretest-posttest design was used to determine ii if procedural explanation yields a significant reduction in client anxiety as opposed to no such explanation during treatment procedures, measured by the Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon matched-pairs tests. The Dental Hygiene Fear Survey served as the …

The Oral Health Status Of Individuals On Renal Dialysis, Kimberley Naugle

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to perform oral assessments on individuals undergoing renal dialysis in Hampton Roads health care facilities to determine their oral health status. A purposive sample was identified via the Sentara Health System in Hampton Roads, from which individuals on renal dialysis who agreed to participate in the study were selected.

Three subgroups of the population were studied: those who have been on renal dialysis for less than a year, individuals on renal dialysis for one to three years and those on renal dialysis for longer than three years.

The Periodontal Disease Index by Ramfjord (1967) …

Comparison Of Curriculum Content On Behavioral Strategies For Managing Anxious Clients In Associate And Baccalaureate Degree Dental Hygiene Programs In The United States, Darnyl Marie King

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Dental anxiety, a pervasive problem in the general population, is an important client management concern for dental hygienists. This study sought to determine the type and amount of instruction in United States dental hygiene programs in terms of behavioral strategies for the management of anxious clients, the difference in instruction between associate and baccalaureate degree dental hygiene programs, and the opinions of dental hygiene educators regarding these strategies. A self-designed, 19-item questionnaire entitled the King Behavioral Management Questionnaire was used to obtain data on a sample of 210 accredited dental hygiene programs. Part one of the questionnaire consisted of questions …

Relationship Between Design Marketing Strategies And Toothbrush Purchases By Consumers, Cynthia Lynn Garvin

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a relationship exists between design marketing strategies of toothbrushes (handle size, color, and shape; brush head size and shape; and bristle firmness and formation of toothbrushes) and toothbrush purchases made by consumers. To understand what consumers preferred, a self-designed, 24 item questionnaire, "Toothbrush Design and Consumer Preferences," was given to a convenience sample of 300 subjects ranging from ages 20 to 60 and over from the Old Dominion University campus in Norfolk, Virginia. Responses from each item were analyzed using frequency and percentages of responses, contingency tables, Kendall's tau b, and …

The Relationship Between Levels Of Dentist Supervision And The Ability Of Dental Hygienists In Nontraditional Settings To Provide Care, Julie Ann Dunphy

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purposes of this study were to determine if a relationship exists between levels of dentist supervision and the ability of dental hygienists in nontraditional settings to provide care, and to ascertain differences in the ability of dental hygienists practicing in legal jurisdictions with direct, indirect, general, and no dentist supervision. The Dental Hygiene supervision in Nontraditional settings Questionnaire (DHSNSQ) was sent to a purposive sample consisting of dental hygienists employed in nontraditional settings within one of the four levels of dentist supervision. The levels of dentist supervision were based on criteria, education, and competence, stipulated by each of the …

Effectiveness Of Dna Probe Technology In Distinguishing Among Gingival Health, Mild-Moderate Periodontitis, And Severe Periodontitis In Human Oral Sites, Juliana J. Kim

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if there is a difference in the type of microorganisms found in oral sites classified as gingival health, mild-moderate periodontitis, or severe periodontitis as measured by the DMDx* Test. A purposive sample of one hundred oral sites was selected from adult patients. Subjects were excluded from the study based on: the presence of any systemic disorders, communicable diseases, diabetic conditions, blood dyscrasias, congenital heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, pregnancy, history of periodontal surgery, prosthetic joint replacement, hypertensive heart disease, or any medications that might alter the gingival tissues (e.g. antibiotics, hormonal therapy, …

Regulation Of Dental Hygienists: Its Effect On Disciplinary Action And Opinions Of Regulatory Board Members In The United States And Canada, Jodie A. Mueller

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was two-fold. The first was to examine the effect of regulatory status (dentist versus dental hygienist control) on disciplinary sanctions for dental hygiene practitioners. The second was to assess the opinions of board members concerning the regulation of the practice of dental hygiene. Regulatory bodies from jurisdictions with and without dental hygiene self-regulation in both Canada and the United States respectively were examined to determine if differences exist in opinions and sanctions exercised by the two. A self-designed questionnaire titled the Mueller-Dental Hygiene Regulatory Questionnaire was used to obtain descriptive data on a sample of …

Effects Of A Commercial Sodium Bicarbonate Toothpaste On Composite Restorative Material, Maggie Jackson

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Commercial sodium bicarbonate toothpaste is a relatively new product on the market and limited research has tested its effects on composite material. The purpose of this investigation was to determine and compare, invitro, the effects of a commercially available sodium bicarbonate toothpaste versus a leading brand of fluoridated toothpaste on composite restorative material simulated in daily toothbrushing for a six month time period. Deionized water was used as the control treatment. A three-group, post-test only design was used to test the abrasive effects of the paste on 48 filled composite resin shade guide teeth. The digital microprocessor scanning device, a …

Attitudes Of Virginia Dental Hygienists Towards Issues Relevant To The Independent Practice Of Dental Hygiene, Linda Hawkins Mccain

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

Adequate studies have not been conducted to assess the attitudes of dental hygienists toward independent practice of dental hygiene. The purpose of this study was to investigate these attitudes. The method of investigation was a survey questionnaire designed by the principle investigator. The research results indicated weak support for the independent practice of dental hygiene. The support for general supervision of hygienists in Virginia and the desire to be allowed to practice in nontraditional settings was stronger. There was reported a very strong opposition to preceptorship in dental hygiene. The majority of Virginia dental hygienists agreed that they were educationally …

Factors Influencing Dental Hygiene Job Retention In The Private Practice Setting, Kristin A. Hamman

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine what role the following factors have in influencing dental hygienists to remain in a private practice employment setting for five or more years: (1) working conditions, (2) the employer and the organizational structure of the employment setting, (3) scope of practice, and (4) personal factors. A random sample of 1200 licensed dental hygienists in 12 states was surveyed (100/state). Only dental hygienists working in one private practice setting for a minimum of five years completed the questionnaire; nonpracticing dental hygienists returned the questionnaire unanswered. A 69.9 percent response rate was established. Of …

Faculty Standardization Of Dental Hygiene Instrumentation Skill Evaluation: A Calibration Exercise, Diane-Marie Smela

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Faculty must be standardized so that student skills are assessed in an unbiased, equal fashion. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of calibration on dental hygiene faculty standardization. Examples of correct and incorrect instrumentation skill performance were demonstrated and discussed during the calibration exercise. Groups simultaneously viewed instrumentation skills while assessing correct or incorrect performance. Group standardization was determined through analysis of answer key agreement, intra-rater reliability, and inter-rater reliability. Data were statistically analyzed through the use of a z-test for both answer key agreement and inter-rater reliability, and chi-square (x²) for inter-rater reliability …

Short-Term Effects Of The PoliswabR On Supramarginal Bacterial Plaque Removal And Gingival Health In A Spinal Cord Unit Population, Beth Elaine Mckinney

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the short-term efficacy of a mechanical device (Poliswab^R) on supramarginal bacterial plaque removal and gingival health. The sample consisted of 15 residents in a spinal cord unit at the Hampton Veterans' Affairs Medical Center. A single blind, split-mouth, pretest-posttest design was used in the study with each subject serving as his own control. Over a two week period, each participant had his teeth cleaned once daily by a dental hygienist using a Poliswab^R containing sodium bicarbonate and dentifrice on one side of the mouth and a toothbrush without dentifrice …

Preventative Oral Health Services Provided By Nurses' Aides To Nursing Home Residents, Deborah Lewis Hardy

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purposes of this investigation were to identify: 1) what preventive oral health services were provided by nurses' aides to nursing home residents, 2) how frequent preventive oral health services were performed by nurses' aides, 3) who nurses' aides reported abnormal or suspicious findings detected in the resident's mouth, 4) what factors discouraged and encouraged nurses' aides performance of oral health services, and 5) how nurses' aides rated their oral health knowledge of services they performed. The study population was comprised of a random sample of 40 percent of nursing home facilities in southeastern Virginia. A 14-item questionnaire was administered …

Promoting Careers In Dental Hygiene: The Dental Hygienist's Role, Taline Dadian

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether practicing dental hygienists promote their profession as a desirable career. A self-designed, 48 item questionnaiire, Dental Hygienists' Participation in Career Recruitment, was mailed to a random sample of 600 dental hygienists residing in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Data were obtained from 393 dental hygienists for a 65.5 percent response rate. Responses from each item were analyzed by frequency distributions, percentages and chi-square test for independence at a 0.05 level of confidence. The factors determined to influence dental hygienists' decisions towards promoting careers in dental hygiene included the perceived image of the …

Effects Of Ultrasonic Scaling And Hand Scaling On Root Typography, Kim Lee Herremans

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of scaling and root planing with the modified P-10 Cavitron^R tip and curet instruments on root surface topography. Sample specimens included 20 periodontally involved extracted human teeth. Specimens were carved into a three split root design, each sample specimen acting as its own control. Control and experimental surfaces were randomly assigned to each specimen. Scaling techniques were applied on the assigned experimental surfaces for 2 minutes and 14 seconds. A scanning electron microscope was used to examine and micrograph root surface topography of experimental surfaces. Photomicrographs were evaluated using …

Dental Hygiene Manpower Distribution In Virginia, Christine Ann Nielsen

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this investig~tion was to conduct a comprehensive dental hygiene manpower study in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Data were collected to establish the present number of dental hygienists and dentists in Virginia; the estimated number of practicing and nonpracticing dental hygienists and dentists in Virginia; and the past, present and forecasted employment opportunities for dental hygienists in Virginia. Primary and secondary data were collected via professional associations, state regulatory boards, health agencies, employment and educational commissions and labor statistics bureaus. Frequency distributions were used to analyze the data. Results suggest that there is an adequate supply of dental …

Survey Of Virginia Dental Practices To Determine Compliance With The Standards Of Risk Management Theory, Joanne Schade Boyce

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this survey was to determine selected areas of risk in dental practices within the Commonwealth of Virginia. A self-designed, 51 item questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 300 Virginia dentists to examine their risk management procedures in: (1) the medical record and related documentation, (2) infection control, (3) identification and classification of periodontally involved patients, (4) obtaining informed consent, and (5) emergency protocols. Data from 62% of the dentists were analyzed via the chi-square goodness of fit test, frequency and percentage of responses. Results suggest that Virginia dental practitioners are practicing some of the recommended …

Survey Of Attitudes Of Licensed Dental Hygienists Toward Continuing Education In A State With Mandatory Continuing Education Versus A State Without Mandatory Continuing Education, Katharine Reeves Behroozi

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to compare attitudes of licensed dental hygienists toward continuing education (CE) in two states: Kentucky, a state with mandatory continuing education (MCE) as a requirement for dental hygiene re-licensure and Virginia, a state without MCE for dental hygiene re-licensure. A self-designed, 28-item instrument, Continuing Education Attitudinal Questionnaire, was mailed to a stratified and random sample of 400 licensed dental hygienists in Kentucky and Virginia. Employing the chi-square test for independence, analysis of results revealed that Kentucky participants responded more affirmatively than Virginia participants to attitudinal statements regarding CE, particularly in areas of MCE, benefits …

Job Satisfaction Among Three Different Dental Hygiene Occupational Settings, Ruth Halstead Hull

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

A survey was conducted to determine differences in job satisfaction which may exist among dental hygienists employed in private practice positions, public health positions, and dental hygiene education positions. A modified version of the questionnaire developed by the Washington State Dental Auxiliaries Project was mailed to all public health dental hygienists, all dental hygiene educators, and a randomized sample containing ten percent of private practice employed dental hygienists residing in North Carolina for a total of 334 participants. From a 76 percent response rate, results indicated that dental hygiene educators feel more satisfied overall than private practice dental hygienists and …

The Antimicrobial Effectiveness Of Isopropyl Alcohol, Phenylphenol, And Nonphenal Oxyethylene Iodine Complex On Dental Operatory Surfaces, Maureen Anne Lawless

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Clinical Effects Of Daily Rotary Electric Toothbrushing On The Presence Of Gingivitis And Supragingival Dental Plaque, Laura Jean Mueller

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if statistically significant differences existed in the gingival health of subjects who brushed with a rotary electric toothbrush (Rota-dent^R when compared to a conventional toothbrush (Oral B-35^R). A randomized, two group research design was employed using forty subjects. At baseline and at two week intervals for six weeks, gingivitis and supragingival dental plaque were measured by the Loe and Silness Gingival Index and the O'Leary Plaque Index, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the Rota-dent^R was superior to the conventional toothbrush in reducing dental plaque accumulation and equally effective …

The Effectiveness Of Oral Health Computer Assisted Instruction On Increasing The Oral Hygiene Status Of Children, Claudia Ann Michalak

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

This study investigates the effectiveness of computer assisted instruction on the oral hygiene status of children. Over a one month period, as measured by the Personal Hygiene Performance Index, sixty-five fifth grade students participated in one of three intact groups: oral health computer assisted instruction, traditional oral health instruction, or no oral health instructions. Oral health instructions were identical in content for computer assisted and traditional lecture formats. During pretest evaluations, students were presented with a dental kit containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and an oral health instruction pamphlet. The Personal Hygiene Performance Index was performed on each student prior …

Effects Of Air Polishing And Rubber Cup Polishing On Enamel Abrasion, April Kee

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

An investigation was conducted to determine if statistically significant differences in enamel abrasion occurred when molar specimens were air polished (AP) and rubber cup polished (RCP). Thirty human molars were randomly divided into two groups. Molar buccal surfaces were masked longitudinally to provide control surfaces. Each polishing technique was applied for two minutes and thirty seconds on fifteen exposed enamel surfaces. Buccal enamel surfaces were divided into coronal and cervical sections for microscopic review. Six enamel thickness measurements were determined for each coronal and cervical enamel section using the scanning electron microscope. Measurements of AP and RCP coronal and cervical …