Variations In Cigarette Smoking And Quit Attempts By Health Insurance Among Us Adults In 41 States And 2 Jurisdictions, 2014, Shillpa Naavaal, Ann Malarcher, Xin Xu, Lei Zhang, Stephen Babb

Dental Public Health and Policy Publications

Objectives: Information on the impact of health insurance on smoking and quit attempts at the state level is limited. We examined the state-specific prevalence of cigarette smoking and past-year quit attempts among adults aged 18-64 by health insurance and other individual- and state-level factors.

Methods: We used data from 41 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, the jurisdictions that administered the Health Care Access module of the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Data on quit attempts included current smokers with a past-year quit attempt and former smokers who quit during the past year.

Results: Overall, smoking prevalence …

School Hours Lost Due To Acute/Unplanned Dental Care, Shillpa Naavaal, Uma Kelekar

Dental Public Health and Policy Publications

Objective: We estimated the school-hours lost for acute/unplanned dental care and examined the associated factors among children aged 5-17 years using 2008 National Health Interview Survey data.

Methods: We used bivariate and multivariate regression models to investigate the associations between school hours lost and socioeconomic and oral health factors (p < .05).

Results: Acute/unplanned dental care accounted for a loss of 34 million school-hours annually. Compared to children with very good oral health, children with fair/poor oral health were 2.8 times more likely to lose ≥1 hours. Children in high-income families had 31% less likelihood of losing any school …

Investigation Into The Role Of Manganese In The Growth Of The Opportunistic Pathogen Streptococcus Sanguinis, Brittany Spivey

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

While Streptococcus sanguinis plays a beneficial role in the oral cavity as a competitor of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus, the bacteria that produce dental caries, it can cause deadly infective endocarditis if given the opportunity to colonize the vegetations that form over damaged endocardial tissue. Pre-existing heart conditions, surgery, and intravenous drug use predispose individuals to endocarditis. S. sanguinis growth and consequential virulence is significantly impeded by restriction to manganese. This is due to the resulting overwhelming oxidative stress and formation of reactive oxygen species which damage DNA and other cellular components. Manganese is essential for S. sanguinis proteins …

Change In Working Length At Different Stages Of Instrumentation As A Function Of Canal Curvature, Mei Tang, Garry L. Myers, Richard D. Archer, Al M. Best

Graduate Research Posters

The aim of this study was to determine the change in working length (∆WL) before and after coronal flaring and after complete rotary instrumentation as a function of canal curvature. One mesiobuccal or mesiolingual canal from each of 43 extracted molars had coronal standardization and access performed. Once the access was completed, canal preparation was accomplished using Gates Glidden drills for coronal flaring and EndoSequence files for rotary instrumentation. WLs were obtained at 3 time points: pre-instrumentation (unflared), mid-instrumentation (flared) and post-instrumentation (concluded). Measurements were made via direct visualization (DV) and the CanalPro apex locator (EM) in triplicate by a …

Impact Of Sensory Adapted Dental Environment On Children With Developmental Disabilities, Gail Kim

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This was a pilot study assessing the impact of a sensory adapted dental environment (SADE) on children with developmental disabilities (DD) receiving routine dental care.

Methods: A crossover study of 22 children with DD, aged 6 through 21, was conducted at Virginia Commonwealth University Pediatric Dental clinic. Each participant was randomized to a sequence of two dental cleanings, one regular dental environment (RDE) and one SADE with a 3-4-month recall. Outcomes included physiological measures (heart rate and oxygen saturation) and cooperation (Frankl scores).

Results: Study subjects completed a total of 36 visits. None of the physiological measures differed at …

Directing Mesenchymal Stem Cells For Periodontal Regeneration, Charles Stoianovici

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Directing autogenous Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) to defect sites has a great promise in bone regeneration. We designed a MSC specific, bone affinity peptide (E7HA7) by conjugating E7 with a polyglutamate hydroxyapatite (HA) binding motif. We sought to characterize the in-vivo releasing pattern and bioactivity of E7HA7. Methods: HA discs were coated with fluorescent labeled peptides E7HA7, E7HA2 or E7 were subcutaneously implanted in Sprague Dawley rats. In an ectopic bone formation model was used to test the in-vivo bioactivity of E7HA7 conjugated to DBM. Results: E7HA7 showed slower peptide release from scaffolds in comparison to other groups, being …

The Effect Of Instrumentation Taper On Dentin Conservation, Megan E. Green

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: The aim of this in vitro study was two part. The first being to assess and compare the amount of dentin removed by an instrument with a taper of 0.04 versus an instrument with a taper of 0.06 using the Edge Evolve® file system at different increments within the canal system. Secondly, this study evaluated whether instrumentation with either taper resulted in a remaining dentin thickness (RDT) of less than 0.3mm. If this RDT was imposed upon, fracture resistance was compromised. Both pre and post instrumentation measurements were taken of samples instrumented with the 0.04 and 0.06 tapered files. …

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 95, No. 4, 2018)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Accuracy Of A Smartphone-Based Orthodontic Treatment Monitoring Application, Heather Moylan

Theses and Dissertations

Objectives: Dental Monitoring® (“DM,” Dental Monitoring, Paris, France), is a cloud-based software that allows orthodontists to track patients’ treatment remotely. The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of the software in making linear measurements.

Methods: Patients took intraoral photographs using the DM application, immediately followed by impressions for plaster models. Intercanine and intermolar width and arch depth measurements were made by DM and compared to measurements made on the plaster models. Data was analyzed using two one-sided t-tests for equivalence with equivalence bounds of

+/-0.5mm. Significance level was set at 0.05.

Results: Thirty sets of measurements were …

A Comparison Of The Antimicrobial Efficacy Of Silver Diamine Fluoride And Silver Nitrate: An Ex Vivo Study, Reham M. Alnajjar

Theses and Dissertations

A comparison of the antimicrobial efficacy of silver diamine fluoride and silver nitrate on various cariogenic bacteria: an ex vivo study By: Reham AlNajjar, D.D.S.

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Dentistry at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2019

Thesis Advisor: William Dahlke, D.M.D., Associate Professor and Chair of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry

Purpose: The use of silver-based antimicrobials is an emerging method for the treatment of dental caries. In this study, the authors compare the efficacy of the two most prominent silver- based therapeutics, silver diamine …

Trna Profiling Of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Exosome, Khin Mimi San

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Exosomes have great potential in regenerative medicine through the

transfer of their bioactive cargos, such as RNA. tRF RNA and tiRNA are tRNAderived

non-coding RNA. Here, we sought to identify the tRF/tiRNA profile in human

mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) exosomes. Methods: Bone marrow hMSCs were

cultured with/without osteogenic differentiation medium and exosomes were

harvested. RNA was extracted from: 1) control cells (Cell-NT); 2) control exosomes

(EXO-NT); 3) differentiated cells (Cell-OM); 4) exosomes produced by differentiated

cells (EXO-OM). RNA was sequenced to profile the small RNA with a focus on

tRF/tiRNA. Results: tRF/tiRNA was highly enriched in hMSC exosomes. Less …

The Effect Of Biologic Materials And Oral Steroids On Radiographic And Clinical Outcomes Of Horizontal Alveolar Ridge Augmentation., Amy Reichert

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate if the addition of biologic materials and/or oral steroids would affect horizontal bone gain, or the bone density of the grafted bone in horizontal alveolar ridge augmentations. A retrospective chart review was completed to assess the clinical and radiographic outcomes of 53 ridge augmentation patients. An average bone gain of 3.6mm of width was found in our study based on radiographic analysis. There were no statistically significant differences found in the linear bone gain with the addition of biologic materials and steroids. A marginally statistically significant difference was found in the bone …

The Periodontal Specialty: A Survey Regarding Our Future, John H. White

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: To determine the characteristics influencing periodontal practices in Virginia and report on the anticipated changes in practice.

Methods: A REDCap survey was emailed to Virginia based American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) members assessing personal and practice demographics, trends in dental treatment and practice models, and how periodontists will adjust to account for these trends.

Results: The response rate was 31% (n=46). Respondents report greater referrals from more experienced general practitioners (GPs). Student debt was associated with age. Respondents ranked biologic advances, treatment of peri-implantitis, digital dentistry, development of corporate and group practice models, and GPs incorporating more periodontal …

A Comparison Of The Antimicrobial Efficacy Of Silver Diamine Fluoride And Silver Nitrate: An In Vitro Study, Nicholas L. Luke

Theses and Dissertations

A COMPARISON OF THE ANTIMICROBIAL EFFICACY OF SILVER DIAMINE FLUORIDE AND SILVER NITRATE: AN IN VITRO STUDY

By: Nicholas L Luke, D.D.S.

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Dentistry at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Virginia Commonwealth University, May 2018

Thesis Advisor: William O. Dahlke Jr., D.M.D.

Pediatric Dentistry, Department Chair

Purpose: To determine the antimicrobial efficacy of SDF and SN/NaF.

Methods: Three bacterial species were combined to create an in vitro biofilm. Treatment was completed with SN, SN/NaF, SDF, SDF½ or untreated (control).

Results: The untreated group demonstrated significantly higher …

Prevalence And Factors Of Sibling-Recurrent Dental Treatment Under General Anesthesia, Brandy N. Edmonds

Theses and Dissertations

Objective/Aims: Assess the prevalence of sibling recurrent dental general anesthesia (DGA) at VCU Pediatric Dentistry. Assess factors that contribute to sibling recurrent dental general anesthesia. Methods: The guardian of patients with siblings were provided a questionnaire to assess the prevalence and factors associated with recurrent DGA. Results: A total of 40 families with a child presenting for GA and at least one sibling were included in the study. Of these, 45% had sibling-recurrent GA treatment (20% in one sibling; 25% in 2 or more siblings). Additionally, 13% of the children currently presenting for GA had already been treated under GA, …

Assessment Of Pediatric-Focused Brief Motivational Interviewing Training Of Dental Students And Pediatric Dental Residents, Victoria M. Onesty

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: To assess dental students and pediatric dental residents’ knowledge and attitudes towards motivational interviewing and evaluate the efficacy of a pediatric-focused brief motivational interviewing training program.

Methods: A total of 66 participants were enrolled; 35% were third year dental students, 46% were fourth year dental students and 18% were pediatric dental residents. Participants completed three questionnaires: the first before the training, the second immediately after the training and the third approximately 3.5 months after the training.

Results: A significant increase in correct responses was found for 4 of the 5 questions assessing participants’ knowledge. Participants were satisfied with the …

Comparison Of Hiring Strategies Of Orthodontic Private Practitioners, Steven C. Petritz

Theses and Dissertations

COMPARISON OF HIRING STRATEGIES OF ORTHODONTIC PRIVATE PRACTITIONERS

By Steven C. Petritz, D.D.S.

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Dentistry at Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Commonwealth University, 2018

Thesis Director: Bhavna Shroff, D.D.S., M.Dent.Sc., M.P.A.

Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Orthodontics Program Director

Purpose: Evaluate factors that influence hiring outcomes of clinical and non-clinical staff in orthodontic private practices.

Methods: Orthodontists (n=1968) were surveyed regarding their hiring methods and outcomes. Responses were summarized using descriptive statistics. Chi-square tests were used to compare between hiring strategies and outcomes. …

Evaluation Of Fit For 3d Printed Retainers As Compared To Thermoform Retainers, David J. Cole

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

EVALUATION OF FIT FOR 3D PRINTED RETAINERS AS COMPARED TO THERMOFORM RETAINERS

By David Cole, D.M.D.

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Dentistry at Virginia Commonwealth University

Thesis Directors: Eser Tüfekçi, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D., M.S.H.A.

Professor, Department of Orthodontics

Sompop Bencharit, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D.

Associate Professor and Director of Digital Dentistry, Department of General Practice

Introduction: Despite recent advances in three-dimensional (3D) printing, little information is available on 3D printed retainers

Methods: Three reference models were used to fabricate traditional vacuum formed, commercially-available vacuum formed, and 3D printed …

Potential Antimicrobial Methods For Provisionalizing Teeth After Endodontic Treatment, Laura T. Garden

Theses and Dissertations

POTENTIAL ANTIMICROBIAL METHODS FOR PROVISIONALIZING TEETH AFTER ENDODONTIC TREATMENT

By Laura T. Garden, DDS

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Dentistry at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Virginia Commonwealth University, 2018

Thesis Advisor: Garry Myers, DDS

Department of Endodontics

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of a Chlorhexidine soaked cotton pellet on bacterial leakage.

Methods: Fifty-one extracted teeth, including six controls, were instrumented, obturated, and sealed with either a cotton pellet (CP), 2% Chlorhexidine soaked cotton pellet (CHX), or a Permaflo orifice barrier (OB). Each root was suspended between two chambers: the …

Orthodontists’ And Patients’ Preferences In Website Design In The Selection Of An Orthodontic Practice: A Comparative Study, Taylor R. Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: To determine which website characteristics are preferred by orthodontists, adult patients, and parents of patients.

Materials and Methods: 1,000 active members of the American Association of Orthodontists and 750 active orthodontic patients/parents were sampled. Participants rated the importance of website characteristics, indicated presence of those characteristics on the current website, and ranked sample website images. Preferences were compared between orthodontist and the patient/parent group using t-tests and sample websites were compared using ANOVA models and Tukey’s adjusted post-hoc tests. Significance level was set at 0.05.

Results: 11 of the 16 website features showed significant differences between patients/parents and orthodontists. …

Change In Working Length At Different Stages Of Instrumentation As A Function Of Canal Curvature, Mei Tang

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this study was to determine the change in working length (∆WL) before and after coronal flaring and after complete rotary instrumentation as a function of canal curvature. One mesiobuccal or mesiolingual canal from each of 43 extracted molars had coronal standardization and access performed. Once the access was completed, canal preparation was accomplished using Gates Glidden drills for coronal flaring and EndoSequence files for rotary instrumentation. WLs were obtained at 3 time points: pre-instrumentation (unflared), mid-instrumentation (flared) and post-instrumentation (concluded). Measurements were made via direct visualization (DV) and the CanalPro apex locator (EM) in triplicate by a …

The Effects Of Amixicile On Sub-Gingival Biofilm Cultured From Humans, Kian Azarnoush

Theses and Dissertations

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of the oral cavity induced by anaerobic bacteria, that remains to be the primary cause of tooth loss in adults worldwide. Finding an anti-microbial therapeutic to selectively target periodontal pathogens has proven to be difficult, and current treatment modalities only provide a transient benefit. Amixicile is a non-toxic, readily bioavailable novel antimicrobial that targets strict anaerobes through inhibition of the activity of Pyruvate Ferredoxin Oxidoreductase (PFOR), a major enzyme mediating oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate, a critical step in metabolism. Our study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of amixicile in inhibiting the growth of bacteria harvested …

Observations Of Trends And Successes Of Revascularization Therapy At Virginia Commonwealth University: A Retrospective Study, Richard W. Sedwick

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this study was to determine the trends in protocol, success rates, and consistency in follow up of revascularization procedures in a controlled environment. Patients of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry were identified who were offered revascularization therapy as a treatment option on immature permanent teeth from January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2017. A total of 77 patients and 78 teeth were evaluated for revascularization therapy. For patients accepting treatment, records were reviewed for outcome assessment and consistency of follow up. A total of 30 patients (31 teeth) were treated following revascularization protocols, with only …

Proteomic Approach For Extracting Cytoplasmic Proteins From Streptococcus Sanguinis Using Mass Spectrometry, Fadi Elrami, Kristina Nelson, Ping Xu

Philips Institute for Oral Health Research Publications

Streptococcus sanguinis is a commensal and early colonizer of oral cavity as well as an opportunistic pathogen of infectious endocarditis. Extracting the soluble proteome of this bacterium provides deep insights about the physiological dynamic changes under different growth and stress conditions, thus defining “proteomic signatures” as targets for therapeutic intervention. In this protocol, we describe an experimentally verified approach to extract maximal cytoplasmic proteins from Streptococcus sanguinis SK36 strain. A combination of procedures was adopted that broke the thick cell wall barrier and minimized denaturation of the intracellular proteome, using optimized buffers and a sonication step. Extracted proteome was quantitated …

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 94, No. 4, 2017)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Prevalence Of Past-Year Dental Visit Among Us Adults, 1999– 2010: Comparison Of Trends And Estimates Between The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System And Three National Surveys, Mei Lin, Chen-Hsun Li, Liang Wei, Shillpa Naavaal, Shellie Kolavic Gray, Michael C. Manz, Laurie Barker

Dental Public Health and Policy Publications

Objectives: To compare estimated prevalence of past-year dental visit (PPYDV) among US adults aged ≥18 years from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to estimates from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Methods: We estimated PPYDV adjusted for covariates (age, race/ethnicity, education level, poverty status, edentulism) using BRFSS, MEPS, and NHIS 1999-2010, and NHANES 1999-2004. We tested trend in overall PPYDV for BRFSS, MEPS, and NHIS from 1999-2010. For 2002 and 2010, we calculated absolute differences (AD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) in PPYDV between BRFSS …

The Effect Of Health And Dental Insurance On Us Children’S Dental Care Utilization For Urgent And Non-Urgent Dental Problems - 2008, Shillpa Naavaal, Laurie K. Barker, Susan O. Griffin

Dental Public Health and Policy Publications

Objective: We examined the association between utilization of care for a dental problem (utilization-DP) and parent-reported dental problem (DP) urgency among children with DP by type of health care insurance coverage.

Methods: We used weighted 2008 National Health Interview Survey data from 2,834 children, aged 2-17 years with at least one DP within the 6 months preceding survey. Explanatory variables were selected based on Andersen's model of healthcare utilization. Need was considered urgent if DP included toothache, bleeding gums, broken or missing teeth, broken or missing filling, or decayed teeth and otherwise as non-urgent. The primary enabling variable, insurance, had …

Evaluation Of School-Based Dental Sealant Programs: An Updated Community Guide Systematic Economic Review, Susan O. Griffin, Shillpa Naavaal, Christina Scherrer, Mona Patel, Sajal Chattopadhyay

Dental Public Health and Policy Publications

Context

A recently updated Community Guide systematic review of the effectiveness of school sealant programs (SSPs) still found strong evidence that SSPs reduced dental caries among schoolchildren. This follow-up systematic review updates SSP cost and benefit information from the original 2002 review.

Evidence acquisition

Using Community Guide economic review methods, the authors searched the literature from January 2000 to November 20, 2014. The final body of evidence included 14 studies—ten from the current search and four with cost information from the 2002 review. Nine studies had information on SSP costs; six on sealant benefit (averted treatment costs and productivity losses); …

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 94, No. 1, 2017)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 94, No. 3, 2017)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.