Dentistry Commons^™

Homecoming Mom Returns To Wise After Three Years Absence, Madelyn Lawrence

Virginia Dental Journal

Madelyn Lawrence, a VCU School of Dentistry student and UVA-Wise alum, shares her transformative experience with the Mission of Mercy (MOM) project in Wise, Virginia. Initially volunteering in 2019, she witnessed the profound impact of providing free dental care to underserved rural communities. Returning as a dental student, she felt a deep connection to the patients and recognized the critical need for accessible dental care in such areas. Lawrence urges dental professionals to volunteer for projects like MOM, emphasizing the life-changing benefits for both providers and recipients.

How Can Financial Planning Software Help You Plan For Retirement?, Jeremy Pickett

Virginia Dental Journal

Financial planning software helps retirees navigate the complexities of retirement by considering various factors like assets, liabilities, income sources, and expenses. Unlike the simplistic four percent rule, modern software uses Monte Carlo Simulation to account for uncertainties such as sequence of return risk. This allows retirees to model different scenarios, make informed decisions, and adjust their plans over time to ensure financial stability throughout retirement.

Do You Know How To Prevent Financial Fraud In Your Dental Practice?, Phil Nieto

Virginia Dental Journal

Financial fraud is a significant concern for dental practices, with an estimated 20%-60% of dentists affected over their careers. To prevent embezzlement, dentists should utilize the security functions of their practice management software, including setting high-level user permissions and audit logs. Daily checks on patient returns and weekly audits of financial consistency are crucial. Monitoring these areas can help detect and deter fraudulent activities, ensuring the financial health of the practice.

Reduce Costs And Boost Profits, Robert Mcdermott

Virginia Dental Journal

Dental practices face significant challenges with time-consuming tasks like insurance verification, which can be streamlined through automation. Automated dental insurance verification can save nearly 30 hours a week, effectively adding a full-time employee without the overhead. This not only reduces costs but also improves patient care by identifying revenue and treatment opportunities. Additionally, revenue analytics tools help practices stay on top of patient eligibility and uncollected accounts, boosting overall profits. Solutions like iCoreConnect's cloud-based products offer comprehensive tools to enhance productivity and financial growth for both solo practices and DSOs.

Vda Member Perks Announces Expanded Endorsement With Icoreconnect, Elise Rupinski

Virginia Dental Journal

The VDA Member Perks Program has expanded its endorsement of iCoreConnect, adding five new services to its portfolio. Building on previous endorsements of HIPAA-compliant email, ePrescription software, and automated insurance verification, the new services include iCoreCloud for data backup, iCoreCodeGenius for medical coding, iCoreHuddle for analytics, iCoreHuddle+ for detailed practice metrics, and iCoreIT for managed IT services. These tools aim to enhance productivity and profitability for VDA members, who also receive exclusive savings on these services.

Social Media Trends And Tips For 2023, Michaela Mishoe

Virginia Dental Journal

In 2023, social media trends emphasize the importance of short-form videos, such as TikTok and Instagram Reels, to engage audiences. Educational content that adds value and is easy to understand can help break through the clutter. Collaborating with micro-influencers and other healthcare providers can expand reach and credibility. Regularly analyzing social media performance can guide content strategy adjustments. Lastly, maintaining authenticity in content is crucial for building trust and effectively communicating your practice's values.

Virginia Board Of Dentistry Notes December 2, 2022, Ursula Klostermyer Dds, Phd

Virginia Dental Journal

The Virginia Board of Dentistry meeting on December 2, 2022, addressed several key issues. New Director of the Department of Health Professions, Mr. Arne W. Owens, acknowledged workforce shortages and proposed new ideas to tackle them. The Board discussed regulatory updates, including simplifying language and reducing reactivation costs for inactive licenses. They clarified procedures for taking vital signs during sedation and increased continuing education hours for dentists and dental hygienists providing free services to low-income individuals. The disciplinary report revealed that most closed cases were patient care-related, with some resulting in license suspensions.

Update: Smiles For Children Program (Medicaid), Roger Palmer

Virginia Dental Journal

The Smiles for Children program, part of Virginia's Medicaid, has expanded to provide comprehensive dental care to adults as of July 2021. This includes treatments like endodontics, crowns, and dentures. Despite a 30% fee increase in 2022, there is a shortage of participating dentists to meet the high demand. Dr. Roger Palmer encourages more dentists to join the program to help underserved populations, highlighting the satisfaction of restoring dental health and the streamlined payment process. For more information, dentists can contact Dr. Palmer directly.

Our Success Is Your Success, Laura Givens

Virginia Dental Journal

The Virginia Dental Association (VDA) successfully advocated for a 30% increase in dental Medicaid reimbursement rates, securing $116 million in new funding. The VDA is actively seeking contributions to its Political Action Committee (PAC) and encouraging participation in advocacy events like Dental Days at the Capitol. The 2022 contributions report shows varying levels of success across different regions, with a total of $298,492 raised, falling short of the $375,000 goal.

Reflections On Dentistry In The Year 2022, Gary Oyster Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

In 2022, the dental profession faced ongoing challenges from COVID-19, including workforce shortages. The ADA is working to address staffing issues and improve member engagement through initiatives like the SmileCon meeting and a new mobile app. Efforts are also underway to introduce legislation for a Medical Loss Ratio in dental plans across multiple states. Membership remains a priority, with a focus on engaging young dentists and those working for Dental Service Organizations (DSOs). The ADA aims to make all dentists feel welcome and involved.

School Days, Richard F. Roadcap Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

In the 1980s, Garrison Keillor's radio show humorously suggested that all children are above average, reflecting a modern culture where failure is often avoided. The document discusses the challenges faced by students in Organic Chemistry, particularly at New York University (NYU), where students petitioned for the dismissal of Dr. Maitland Jones Jr. due to his strict grading. This incident raises questions about whether academic standards should be relaxed for aspiring healthcare professionals and the implications of such actions on the quality of future providers. The author reflects on personal academic struggles and emphasizes the importance of overcoming failures to achieve …

Let’S Start The Year Off Right, Cynthia Southern Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

Dr. Cynthia Southern, in her New Year message, highlights a significant victory in Massachusetts where voters approved a dental loss ratio of 83% for insurance companies, similar to medical insurance under the Affordable Care Act. She urges other states, including Virginia, to adopt similar legislation to improve dental care coverage and reimbursement rates. Dr. Southern also addresses the 30% increase in Medicaid reimbursement rates and the ongoing workforce shortage in dental offices. She encourages contributions to the VDA Tooth PAC, recruitment of new members, and participation in Dental Days at the Capitol to advocate for these changes.

Retreatability Of Endosequence® Bcs™ Hiflow Utilizing Both Chloroform And An Aqueous Solution, Dijana Elmejdoubi, Thomas E. Lallier, Masyn Cameron, Albert F. Mcmullen Iii

School of Dentistry Faculty Publications

Purpose: When RCT fails, retreatment of the case usually requires removal of the previous root canal fill (RCF). The aim of our research was to evaluate the retreatability of a root canal initially filled with gutta percha and EndoSequence® BCS™ HiFlow utilizing chloroform followed by 18% HCl, 18% HCl alone, chloroform alone or saline solution. Methods: 40 extracted single canal teeth were decoronated and obturated utilizing a single cone gutta percha technique and Endosequence BCS, stored one week in an incubator, and then we attempted to remove the previous RCF. Teeth were divided in 4 different groups (n=10). Canals were …

Ada News - 01/06/2025, American Dental Association, Publishing Division

ADA News

Established in 1970 as the official newspaper of the American Dental Association, the ADA News serves practicing dentists and others allied to the dental profession in the U.S. and internationally. It is the No. 1 source of news and information about the many benefits and services the ADA delivers to members daily as well as timely information on scientific, social, political and economic developments affecting dentistry and health care.

Shear Bond Strength Of A Composite Resin To 3d-Printed Resins With Various Designed Surface Texture: An In-Vitro Study, Venkata Sruthi Surabathula

All ETDs from UAB

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) printing has revolutionized dentistry by enabling the fabrication of interim restorations that protect prepared teeth and maintain aesthetics and function during prosthesis creation. These interim shells often require relining with composite resins for precise fitting and enhanced durability, relying on achieving a strong shear bond strength (SBS) between the 3D-printed shell and the composite resin. Surface roughness and texture are critical factors that create micro-mechanical retention sites, enhancing SBS by increasing surface area and improving adhesive properties through techniques like air-abrasion. Research into novel surface textures mimicking natural dentinal tubules aims to further boost bond strength, comparing …

Comparison Between Relining Of Ill‑Fitted Maxillary Complete Denture Versus Cad/ Cam Milling Of New One Regarding Patient Satisfaction, Denture Retention And Adaptation, Maha Nagy Kamal

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Platelet-Rich Fibrin In Maintaining Vascularity For Intentionally Replanted Teeth: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Elizabeth L. Easley-Perez, Joseph B. Bavitz, Lynette M. Smith, Peter J. Giannini

Journal Articles: College of Dentistry

Background: A primary goal for a mature tooth autotransplant is preserving tooth vitality. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) has characteristics that may improve the success of autotransplanted mature teeth by decreasing harmful inflammation and boosting vascular growth. This prospective human trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of PRF on vitality in a mature tooth replantation model. Methods: This double-blind, randomized controlled trial included 18 participants with 70 single-rooted vital teeth planned for prosthetic extraction. Experimental teeth were extracted and apicoectomized to increase vascular growth. PRF was condensed into the canals before teeth were replanted in their respective sockets. In the same patient, …

Understanding The Relationship Between Children's Oral Health Utilization And Parent's Use Of Healthcare Services, Shillpa Naavaal, Rashmi Lamsal

Dental Public Health and Policy Publications

Introduction: Parents play an influential role in their children's lives, but little is known about how their healthcare experiences connect. This study examined the relationship between parent's healthcare use and their child's overall and preventive dental care use.

Methods: We pooled three years (2017–2019) of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data and merged child (0–17 years) and parent data. Our outcomes included any dental visit, preventive visit, and receipt of sealant or fluoride. The primary exposure variable was the parents’ medical and dental care use, grouped into four categories. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted, and multivariable logistic regression analyses …

Investigating The Association Between Parental Paid Sick Leave Benefit And Children's Dental Care Utilization, Rashmi Lamsal, Shillpa Naavaal

Dental Public Health and Policy Publications

Objective: The purpose of this research is to examine the association between paid sick leave (PSL) benefit for employed parents and their child's dental care utilization, including preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services.

Methods: Using pooled data from the 2017–2019 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, we created a dyadic observational unit linking children aged 0–17 years with their parents (n = 7652) specifically focusing on the younger children of employed parents. Descriptive statistics and a multivariate logistic regression model were employed to examine the association between parental PSL benefit and child dental care utilization, accounting for various child and …

Oral Health Impact And Cost-Effectiveness Of Resealing First Permanent Molars, Christina Scherrer, Pritam Deb, Jayden Ayash, Shillpa Naavaal

Dental Public Health and Policy Publications

Introduction: This study examined the cost-effectiveness and health impact of various dental sealant resealing scenarios for first permanent molars from the payer perspective.

Methods: The authors used a discrete event simulation model for 4,000 recently sealed first molars in a hypothetical cohort of 1,000 children aged 7 years over a 10-year time horizon. Scenarios included a base case of no resealing, resealing at first dental visit, and resealing at the age of 12 years.

Results: Without resealing, only 34.88% of teeth retained sealants after 10 years, whereas resealing at the age of 12 years increased this to …

Role Of Oral Health Providers In Supporting Hpv-Related Cancer Prevention In The Dental Setting, Megan Cloidt, Sarah Vivo, Aubree Thelen, Shillpa Naavaal

Dental Public Health and Policy Publications

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination can prevent HPV-related illness and associated cancers, including oropharyngeal. The safety and efficacy of HPV vaccination has been well-established, but national HPV vaccination rates remain unacceptably low with persistent disparities for certain populations. While vaccination has been one of the biggest public health accomplishments of the last century, vaccine hesitancy continues to grow in the United States, and remains a challenging element of low HPV vaccine uptake.

Description: Oral health providers have been traditionally siloed and largely uninvolved in vaccination counseling and administration, but the COVID-19 pandemic brought oral health providers, pharmacists and …

Fluoridation Facts, American Dental Association

Fluoridation Facts

Fluoridation Facts is the ADA's premier resource on fluoridation, answering frequently asked questions about community water fluoridation and the latest scientific research. The book assists policy makers and the general public in making informed decisions about fluoridation. With an easy-to-use question-and-answer format that draws on more than 400 references, the book answers queries about fluoridation's effectiveness, safety, practice and cost-effectiveness. 114 pages.

"Dental Health For Mental Wealth": A Comprehensive Analysis Of The Underexplored Impact Of Oral Health And Behaviors On Neurobiology And Psychological Well-Being, Brooke C. Beck

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This thesis explores the link between oral health and psychological state, specifically, the effect of oral health on psychological state and how appropriate oral health impacts this relationship. A review of the literature was conducted and studies interpreted within the scope of oral health’s impact on psychological health and detailing some of the pathways proposed for such a link. The literature search was limited to the English language from well-known databases mainly from 2015 to 2025. A few outliers are present to include foundational information.

The effects of oral disease and oral self-care behaviors were dissected through a biochemical perspective, …

Effectiveness Of School Fluoride Delivery Programs: A Community Guide Systematic Review, Susan O. Griffin, Mei Lin, Christina Scherrer, Shillpa Naavaal, David P. Hopkins, Anita A. Jones, Tammy Alexander, Virginia A. Black, Elizabeth Clark, Lori K. Cofano, Raúl Isidro García, Anna Goddard, Jane Grover, Susan M. Kansagra, Thomas E. Kottke, Elizabeth C. Lense, Tooka Zokaie, The Community Preventive Services Task Force

Dental Public Health and Policy Publications

Introduction: Although preventable, dental caries remains highly prevalent. Many children do not receive preventive dental services routinely in clinical settings. This review examined the effectiveness of school (preschool through high school) fluoride varnish delivery programs in preventing caries.

Methods: Community Guide systematic review methods were followed. In 2024, databases were searched for studies published through December 2023 on school flouride varnish delivery program effectiveness in increasing fluoride varnish receipt and decreasing caries. Included studies had to be written in English, published in peer-reviewed journals, and conducted in upper-middle– or high-income countries. Data synthesis conducted in 2024 used median …

Improving Dental Hygiene Students' Knowledge, Attitudes, And Confidence Toward Prenatal Oral Health Through Experiential Learning, Denise C. Mckinney, Sinjini Sikdar, Shillpa Naavaal

Dental Public Health and Policy Publications

Purpose Maintaining optimal oral health is essential for maternal health as well as the health of their child. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine dental hygiene (DH) students' knowledge of prenatal oral health before and after receiving an asynchronous prenatal oral health care training (POHCT), and their attitudes and self-perceived confidence before and after receiving an experiential learning opportunity with a pregnant and/or post-partum client at a Women's Infants and Children nutrition program (WIC) clinic.

Methods A one-group pre/post-test design was used. This IRB-approved study (#2027439-4) utilized a convenience sample of DH student participants (n=37) in their …

Living Guidelines: A Giant Leap For Patient Care, Clinical Practice, And Dental Journalism, Christopher J. Smiley

AADEJ - The Communicator

Dr. Smiley's President's message recognizes the collaboration between the American Dental Association (ADA), the University of Pennsylvania and other stakeholders in launching the "living guideline collaboration" as a significant advancement for the profession. This initiative, focusing on oral health, will be continually updating clinical practice guidelines with new evidence, providing timely, rigorously reviewed, and reliable clinical guidance. He notes that previous ADA Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) were high-quality but many are now outdated, a point emphasized by the ADA Science & Research Institute’s External Review Committee. The Living Guideline Program, a collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental …

Removal Of Fluoridation Caused 700% Increase In Serious Dental Infections

Bulletin of the Ninth District Dental Association

Yorktown Totwn Supervisor Lachterman is waiting for a decision by the EPA per court order to act concerning possibility of IQ loss at current fluoridation levels before making a final decision on town fluoridation. The court decision was based on a report by the National Toxicology Program of foreign studies of high dose exposure that the public health community deemed as having “high bias,” i.e., questionable studies and results. The EPA has decided to appeal the decision. Evidence-based studies deemed as having low bias have consistently shown no harm to IQ at fluoridation levels of 1.5mg/L, twice the amount of …

Paul Revere-Founding Father And America’S First Forensic Dentist, William J. Maloney

Bulletin of the Ninth District Dental Association

Paul Revere is remembered today for his many contributions to the independence efforts of the American colonies. It is also well-known that he was a skilled goldsmith and silversmith. Revere put these skills to use in providing dental care to the people of Boston. Revere had acquired his dental knowledge from John Baker- a dentist who emigrated from Europe to America in 1760 and is considered to be the first dentist to practice in North America. In his dental practice, Revere cleaned teeth and replaced missing teeth by wiring in replacement teeth usually utilizing various metals and animal bone.

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 …

The Influence Of Adhesive Curing Mode (Light Vs. Dual) On The Microtensile Bond Strength Of Cad/Cam Composite Blocks To Human Dentin : (In-Vitro Study), Mohamed Fouad Haridy, Shadwa Hatem Kabil, Amr Hesham

Dentistry

No abstract provided.