Dental Hygiene Commons^™

J Am Coll Dent 2026 92 2a

Journal of the American College of Dentists

This special issue of the Journal of the American College of Dentists responds to a growing but long-underrecognized demand for humanities and ethics in dental education, practice, and scholarship. It emerges from the work of the National Collaborative on Humanities and Ethics in Dentistry (NCHED), a multi-institutional partnership formed in 2023 to address the persistent exclusion of dentistry from broader health humanities conversations. Through national webinars and scholarly collaboration, NCHED has demonstrated substantial interest in ethical reflection, historical analysis, narrative inquiry, and the arts as essential to understanding oral health and dental care. The unexpectedly strong response to the call …

From Silos To Systems: A Conceptual Framework For Workforce Aligned Oral Health Education, Meghan Bastin

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Poster Session Papers

In the current U.S. educational system, becoming a dentist follows a few prescriptive pathways.  Learners typically complete an undergraduate degree before entering time-intensive doctoral training.  This results in only 3-4 years of direct professional education embedded within an eight -year process, while learners accumulate significant financial investment in their education.  With the average cost of graduate-level dental education alone exceeding $300,000 and new federal borrowing limits likely to further constrain access, there is an opportunity to explore alternative ways of structuring oral health education.

This poster presents a conceptual, system-level framework that explores a perspective in which oral health education …

Biological Dental Hygiene: Principles, Educational Pathways, And Clinical Practice Considerations, Tara Newcomb

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Dental hygiene practice is rapidly evolving in response to emerging evidence on the oral–systemic health connection, advances in preventive technologies, and increased emphasis on individualized, minimally invasive care. A commitment to lifelong learning and continuing professional development is essential for maintaining clinical competence and integrating new scientific knowledge into practice. Biological dental hygiene has emerged as a complementary framework that emphasizes whole-body health, biocompatibility, reduction of toxic exposures, and prevention-centered care. This approach expands traditional dental hygiene practice by incorporating enhanced risk assessment, salivary diagnostics, targeted preventive strategies, as well as patient education focused on nutrition, inflammation reduction, and systemic …

Knowledge, Attitude, And Practice Towards Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women Aged 20 Years And Above In Mysuru, India, Sneha Manosh Kumar, Rashmi S, Amogha Shree

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background: Cervical cancer remains the fourth most common cancer among women globally and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in India. Despite being largely preventable through screening, uptake remains suboptimal due to socio-cultural and systemic barriers.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 women aged ≥20 years residing in urban and rural areas of Mysuru. Data were collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 30.

Results: Awareness of cervical cancer was reported by 90% of participants and of screening methods by 80%. However, only 21% had ever undergone screening and 17% within the preceding …

A Developmental Evaluation Of A Dental Hygiene Program And A Community Health Partnership, Laura Jacob

Higher Education: Doctoral Research Projects

Today, dental hygiene education commonly occurs in community college settings which are removed from dental schools thus dental hygiene students graduate with relatively little to no exposure to dentistry or directly with a clinically practicing dentist. With dental hygiene workforce shortages at an extremely high level, locally and nationally, it is imperative to matriculate students who are poised to be successful in the changing landscape of healthcare.

The purpose of this program evaluation was to investigate via the developmental program evaluation model, the perceived benefits of a potential collaboration between the Colorado Mountain College (CMC) dental hygiene program and a …

Teaming Up For Better Health: An Interprofessional Collaborative Approach To Older Adult Oral Care, Deborah Dowd, Jodie Lopez, Jennifer Goodman

Utah Conference on Community Engagement

Oral health is a critical component of overall health, significantly influencing systemic diseases and the quality of life in older adults. Conditions such as xerostomia, swallowing difficulties, and poor oral self-care are associated with aspiration pneumonia. Integrating oral health into healthcare in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) is essential for preventing various conditions and improving quality of life. Effective oral hygiene is crucial in avoiding non-ventilator hospital-associated pneumonia by reducing oral biofilm and lowering the risk of pneumonia. Nurses' knowledge and care in oral health across healthcare settings are vital for positive health outcomes. Revising nursing curricula to incorporate oral health …

Areas Of Interest In Dental Education: A Bibliometric Analysis Of The Last Decade, Eswar Kandaswamy

School of Dentistry Faculty Publications

This study aimed to perform a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of journals focused on dental education (Journal of Dental Education and European Journal of Dental Education) from 2014 to 2023. An ISI Web of Science Search was performed in October 2023 with no filters for language or keywords. Published articles between 2014 and 2018, 2019 and 2023, and 2014-2023, along with the top 100 cited articles published within this period were exported as txt files. Keyword and title word network maps and occurrences were generated using VOS Viewer software. Author-affiliated countries with the most publications were tabulated from the Web of …

Educating Nurses On Frequent Oral Care For Mechanically Ventilated Patients: An Evidence-Based Practice Project Proposal, Grace Alford, Susan Butz, Ruth Chavez, Joy Shoemaker

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

The final scholarly project proposal is to implement oral care education for nurses in an intensive care unit (ICU). The proposal aims to create a guideline for an investigator to implement oral care recommendations for mechanically ventilated patients in order to reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The proposal consists of obtaining VAP data and oral care charting data for the unit studied, steps for providing oral care education, and analysis recommendations. Oral care involves swabbing the patient’s mouth every two hours with a swab and mouthwash. Oral care education would include handouts and direct teaching. The proposal aims to increase oral …

The Use Of Tissue Grafts Associated With Immediate Implant Placement To Achieve Better Peri-Implant Stability And Efficacy: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Enrico Maria Rondone, Bruno Leitão-Almeida, Miguel Silva Pereira, Gustavo Fernandes, Tiago Borges

MOSDOH Faculty Publications

Background: The goal of this systematic study and meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of hard and/or soft tissue grafts associated with type-1 implants on healing and treatment outcomes. The primary outcomes studied were implant survival rate, pocket depth, marginal periimplant recession, bone loss, bone thickness (volumetric change), interproximal bone level, mesial and distal papilla migration, and radiographic evaluation; and the secondary parameters were Pink Esthetic Score (PES), vertical distance from implant shoulder and bone, Visual Analogue Score (VAS), Implant Stability Quotient (ISQ), and biological complications (fistulas, pain, mucositis, and peri-implantitis). Methods: The PICO strategy was used to formulate the …

Fibroblasts And Osteoblasts Behavior After Contact With Different Titanium Surfaces Used As Implant Abutment: An In Vitro Experimental Study, Jose Henrique Cavalcanti De Lima, Patricia Cristina Matos Robbs, Elena Mavropoulos Oliveira Tude, Piedad N. De Aza, Eleani Maria Da Costa, Antonio Scarano, Juan Carlos Prados-Frutos, Gustavo Fernandes, Sergio Alexandre Gehrke

MOSDOH Faculty Publications

Background: The goal of this in vitro study was to compare three different surfaces: two types of implant surfaces commercially available ([a] smooth/machined and [b] acid-treated surface) versus (c) anodized surface. Discs were manufactured with commercially pure titanium (CP) grade IV, which were subsequently analyzed by scanning microscopy and fibroblastic and osteoblastic cell cultures. Methods: Ninety-nine discs (5 × 2 mm) were manufactured in titanium grade IV and received different surface treatments: (i) Mach group: machined; (ii) AA group: double acid etch; and (iii) AN group: anodizing treatment. Three discs from each group were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) …

Minimally Invasive Periodontal Regeneration With The Buccal Approach: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Clinical Studies, Elisa Pasqualini, Filipe Castro, Denise Curado, Ana Martelete, Artak Heboyan, Muhammad H. Saleh, Juliana Campos Hasse Fernandes, Gustavo Fernandes

MOSDOH Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate clinical periodontal parameters after treatment using the Minimally Invasive Surgical Technique (MIST), Modified Minimally Invasive Surgical Technique (M-MIST), and/or any technique for papilla preservation, such as Entire Papilla Preservation (EPP), modified-papilla preservation technique (M-PPT), or simplified-papilla preservation technique (SPPT). METHODS: The focus question was “For patients with periodontal intrabony defects (P), what is the best minimally invasive regenerative approach (I), comparing MIST, M-MIST, and papilla preservation techniques’ outcomes (C) to improve PD, CAL, GR, and periodontal stability (O)?” An online search was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase. Only randomized …

Is The Facial Bone Wall Critical To Achieving Esthetic Outcomes In Immediate Implant Placement With Immediate Restoration? A Systematic Review, Sergio Charifker Ribeiro Martins, Marcio Da Costa Marques, Michael Gomes Vidal, Pedro Henrique Moreira Paulo Tolentino, Roberto Galvão Dinelli, Gustavo Fernandes, Jamil Awad Shibli

MOSDOH Faculty Publications

Background. Rehabilitation in the anterior region requires specific conditions for success, such as the presence of papilla, emergence profile, and balance between pink and white esthetic. Objectives. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the esthetic risk associated with immediate implant placement with immediate restoration in the anterior superior area, where the facial bone plate may be absent or deficient. Materials and methods. The search was done in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Lilacs, Scopus, Scielo, and Google Scholar databases. The investigation involved clinical studies and observational studies published between January 2012 and July 2023. Studies were excluded if there was less than …

Critical-Size Defects Reconstruction With Four Different Bone Grafts Associated With E-Ptfe Membrane: A Histomorphometric Experimental In Vivo Study, Gustavo Fernandes, Filipe Castro, Rafael Martins Pereira, Wendel Teixeira, Sergio Gehrke, Julio Cesar Joly, Juan Blanco Carrion, Juliana Campos Hasse Fernandes

MOSDOH Faculty Publications

Objectives: The goal of this study was to assess the newly formed bone and the remnant biomaterial by comparing four different bone grafts used to treat critical-size defects, associated or not with the non-resorbable membrane.

Materials and methods: Two calvaria critical-size bone defects were created in 50 male Wistar rats. They were divided into blood (G1), autogenous (G2), bioglass (G3), hydroxyapatite (G4), and xenograft (G5) groups, associated or not with e-PTFE. The experimental periods were 15 and 45 days. Sections were prepared for histomorphometric assessment. All data were analyzed by the mixed-effects model with multiple comparisons (significance level, p < .05).

Results: …

Student Productivity Log: An Innovative Approach To Managing Clinic Sessions With No Patient, Tara L. Newcomb, Jessica Suedbeck, Lauren Eusner, Amber W. Hunt

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Prevalence Of Sexually Implicit Attitudes In Entry-Level Dental Hygiene Students, Monica Drew, Emily Ludwig, Jessica Suedbeck, Adaira Howell

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose: There has been an increase in the number of persons identifying as LGBTQ+ in the United States. LQBTQ+ individuals are also subject to social stigmas and discrimination which create barriers to obtaining quality healthcare. Providers may harbor implicit or unconscious biases which may negatively affect their ability to provide impartial health or oral healthcare. An awareness of biases early in education may promote equitable care and increase quality of oral healthcare delivered to diverse populations. The purpose of this study was to determine prevalence of sexually implicit attitudes in entry-level dental hygiene students in one university.

Methods: This cross-sectional …

Using Motivational Interviewing To Increase Confidence In Nutritional Counseling Among Dental Hygienists: A Pilot Study, Heather M. Anderson, Sarah Jackson, Lisa Bilich, Craig Hunt, Elizabeth Tipton

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Dental hygienists have the unique opportunity to educate patients on connections between nutrition and oral health. Dental hygiene students are introduced to these concepts but struggle to gain confidence to share this knowledge with patients. This pilot study looked at an educational module on motivational interviewing (MI) and an assessment and counseling tool to build student confidence with nutritional counseling. Methods: Dental hygiene students participated in an educational module to review MI and introduce a nutritional risk assessment and counseling tool. Prior to the module, participants completed a pretest about confidence levels regarding MI and nutritional counseling. After three …

Health Profession Students' Interprofessional Socialization And Values Toward A College-Based Virtual Interprofessional Education Activity, Denise Claiborne, Praveen Durgampudi, Anne C. Dumadag, Emily J. Hawkins, Patricia Laverdure, Amy Laurie Meeker, Barbara Kraj, Angela Wilson, Muge Akpinar-Elci

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose: The inclusion of interprofessional education (IPE) is essential for the health professions curricula and establishes the expectation of collaborative patient-centered care. The COVID-19 pandemic has required educators to develop innovative methods for IPE student engagement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a college-based virtual IPE activity for first-year health profession students and measure their interprofessional socialization and values (ISVS) toward IPE teams. The validated interprofessional socialization and valuing scales (ISVS-9A/9B) were used.

Methods: A one-group pre-post-test design examined health profession students' ISVS from seven health programs before and after a virtual IPE activity. The IPE activity was …

Dean’S Report: University Of Michigan School Of Dentistry Advancing Dental Education And Oral Health Science Is Our Passion And Mission, Jan Hu Bds, Phd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The Dean of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Jan Hu’s annual report to our readers, highlights the school's dedication to dental education and oral health science. The report underscores the school's commitment to maintaining high standards in the face of changing times. Key Highlights:

1. Educational Normalcy: Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the school has returned to a sense of normalcy in educating DDS, dental hygiene, and graduate students. Stringent infection control measures are still in place.
2. Vibrant Research: The school's research endeavors remain strong, with over 200 papers, articles, and reviews published in prestigious academic journals …

J Mich Dent Assoc May 2022

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Monthly, The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association brings news, information, and feature articles to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. No publication reaches more Michigan dentists!

In this May 2022 issue, the reader will find the following original content:

• A feature on “Periodontal Disease and COVID-19"
• A cover feature introducing Dr. Vince Benivegna 2022-23 MDA President
• A 10-Minute EBD: “Charcoal Toothpastes Pose Risks with Few Benefits”
• A Professional Ethics article on “How Can Our Office be More Inclusive of Transgender Patients”
• News you need: an Editorial, a profile on Dr. Jessica Rikert, recipient of the …

Interprofessional Education Between Dental Hygiene And Occupational Therapy Students In Relation To Stroke Care, Morgan Umlauf

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: To determine if interprofessional education (IPE) program with dental hygiene and occupational therapy students help determine roles and responsibilities in patients post-stroke.

Methods: A virtual 90-minute educational module was presented to occupational therapy and dental hygiene students, hosted over zoom with a 30-minute presentation followed by an open discussion over two case studies. A pretest was administered before the event and followed by an immediate posttest. Both tests included the Modified Readiness for Interprofessional Learning (mRIPLS) items that are on a 5-point Likert scale.

Results: The virtual IPE showed that there were positive changes in pretest to posttest scores. …

Improving Dental Hygiene Students' Journal Writing, Susan Davide

Publications and Research

During the introductory semester of treating patients, students are in need of assistance and guidance throughout the assessment and treatment phases of patient care. As novice learners, there is little to no prior knowledge on writing a patient case study presentation. To assist and improve dental hygiene student writing of patient case journals, a scaffold assignment was created. Over the course of the semester students were required to submit five patient case studies in the form of a journal. Each journal had a writing focus with specific directions for each along with a detailed rubric; the final journal encompassing all …

Strategies For Safe And Effective Treatment Of Patients With Alzheimer Disease, Jafar Alabdullah, Ahmed Almuntashiri

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Alzheimer disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that causes cognition impairment and memory loss, affecting activities in daily living. In the United States, an estimated 4.5 million people have AD and this figure is expected to reach 14 million by 2050. Because patients with AD experience a deterioration of their mental functions, patients need more help with their activities of daily living, including oral hygiene, as their AD progresses. Studies have found that individuals with AD often experience poor oral health. As advanced age is a risk factor for AD and the number of older adults in the US continues …

Oral Care During Pregnancy: An Educational Intervention, Holly Redwine

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: Interprofessional collaboration can help prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes related to poor oral health. This study was conducted to see if an educational module provided by a dental hygienist (DH) could increase the knowledge and confidence of physician assistant (PA) students with preventive oral care for the pregnant patient.

Methods: A one group mixed-method approach was used in this research. Pregnancy and oral health knowledge were assessed using a 9-item pretest and posttest survey. Participants completed the pretest, were presented an educational module, and were asked to complete an immediate posttest. A second posttest was sent via e-mail to the …

Application Of The Unified Theory Of Acceptance And Use Of Technology Model To Predict Dental Students' Behavioral Intention To Use Teledentistry, Jafar H. Alabdullah, Bonnie L. Van Lunen, Denise M. Claiborne, Susan J. Daniel, Cherng-Jyh Yen, Tina S. Gustin

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Abstract

Teledentistry is an innovative technology that can be used to improve access to care and oral health outcomes. Dental students’ intention to use teledentistry after completing dental school has not been investigated.

Purpose

The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) was used to predict intentions to use teledentistry among 4th-year U.S. dental students. Methods A cross-sectional approach was performed for a 7-week period in Spring 2019. All U.S. dental schools (N = 66) were invited to participate and 16 schools agreed to participate. An anonymous survey link was emailed to academic deans for dissemination to students. …

Xerostomia: A Comprehensive Review, Danevin Putrus

Honors College Theses

This thesis will be highlighting the condition known as Xerostomia. Xerostomia is the condition also known as “dry mouth”. This condition affects many people all throughout the world with symptoms causing bad breath, discomfort, difficulty speaking and many other. The seriousness of this condition can lead to cardiovascular disease, dementia, respiratory infections, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, and even cancer (Absolutedental.com). Currently there is not any one specific solution for the condition although many have been proposed. Throughout the thesis I will closely examine former research studies, current solutions proposed, and propose my own study and solution based on research and …

Exploring Student-Led Interprofessional Education Through A Community Service Project, Lindsay Ann Doerschuk

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to explore the effectiveness of a student-led interprofessional education (IPE) workshop in improving student attitudes and perceptions toward IPE. Students from four health science programs including Dental Hygiene, Communication Sciences and Disorders/Speech and Hearing, Health Services Administration and Occupational Therapy participated in a community service event. Students provided screenings to veteran patients including a health history intake, hearing test, and sleep screening while other students observed.

Methods: Students were asked to attend an orientation, the Vets Day IPE workshop, and a debrief session. This mixed methods approach study utilized the Readiness for Interprofessional …

A Study Of Visible Tattoos In Entry -Level Dental Hygiene Education Programs, Kathryn R. Search, Susan L. Tolle, Gayle Mccombs, Aaron Arndt

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to survey entry-level dental hygiene program directors in the United States (US) to assess their perceptions of dental hygienists with visible tattoos as well as to determine current policies related to dress codes in US dental hygiene programs.

Methods: Data was collected with an online survey emailed to 340 dental hygiene program directors from March to April 2016, yielding a 43% (n = 141) response rate. Participants indicated their opinions of visible tattoos on the basis of professionalism and school policy requirements.

Results: Eighty percent of respondents reported their program …

A Study Of Visible Tattoos In Entry-Level Dental Hygiene Education Programs, Kathryn R. Search

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to survey entry-level dental hygiene program directors in the United States to assess their perceptions of dental hygienists with visible tattoos as well as their satisfaction with current program tattoo polices. Methods: After IRB approval, a 14-item survey was administered online to 340 entry-level dental hygiene programs. Participants used a seven-point Likert type scale ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (7), to indicate their opinions of visible tattoos on the basis of professionalism, concern within the school, dress code policy satisfaction, tolerance toward visible tattoos, whether tattoos needed to be covered, …

Magnification Loupes In U.S. Entry-Level Dental Hygiene Programs, Leslie Mchaney Congdon

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine policies and practices regarding magnification loupes among accredited dental hygiene programs as measured by a 31- item, self-designed questionnaire titled Magnifying Loupes in U.S. Entry Level Dental Hygiene Programs. In addition, the study compared policies among dental hygiene programs in two year versus four year programs in terms of requirements for the use of magnification loupes.

Methods: After institutional review board approval, the questionnaire was emailed via Survey Monkey to 303 entry-level dental hygiene programs. An overall response rate of 75% was obtained. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and …

2011 Adea Annual Session: Poster Abstracts, Susan L. Tolle, Leslie M. Congdon, Michele L. Darby

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Poster session abstracts from the 2011 American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Conference.