Dental Hygiene Commons^™

Comparison Of Corded And Cordless Handpieces On Forearm Muscle Activity, Procedure Time And Ease Of Use During Simulated Tooth Polishing, Gayle Mccombs, Daniel M. Russell

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose: Dental professionals suffer from a high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). Dental hygienists in particular have a high prevalence of pain in the forearms and hands. The objective of this study was to compare 1 cordless handpiece to 2 corded handpieces during simulated tooth polishing in terms of the muscle loads (recorded as electromyography (EMG) activity), duration of polishing procedure, and dental hygienist opinion about ease of use. Methods: EMG was used to quantify muscle electrical activity of 4 forearm muscles during simulated dental polishing with 2 corded handpieces (HP-A and HP-B) and 1 cordless handpiece (HP-C). A …

Teledentistry: A Systematic Review Of Clinical Outcomes, Utilization And Costs, Susan J. Daniel, Lin Wu, Sajeesh Kumar

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review is to identify clinical outcomes, health care utilization and costs associated with teledentistry. Relevant databases were searched for articles on teledentistry published until March 2012, reference lists examined and key journals hand searched. Of a possible 58 articles, 19 studies met the inclusion criteria.

Clinical outcomes were generally improved following a teledentistry intervention and satisfaction with teledentistry was consistently high. The few studies examining health care utilization reported mixed findings, but preliminary evidence suggests cost savings for health care facilities.

There is a consistent trend in the literature supporting the efficacy and effectiveness …

Oil Pulling: An Ancient Practice For A Modern Time, Gina M. Bekeleski, Gayle Mccombs, W. Lee Melvin

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

The practice of oil pulling or oil swishing is a time-honored Indian folk remedy that involves swishing edible oil in the mouth for oral and systemic health benefits. Oil pulling offers a naturalistic approach to oral health care for a growing body of individuals who desire alternative and complementary medicine. The purpose of this paper was to summarize published research on the effectiveness of oil pulling on oral health. Literature was retrieved from 1992-2011 through databases including Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), 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.

Bisphenol A Blood And Saliva Levels Prior To And After Dental Sealant Placement In Adults, Joyce M. Zimmerman-Downs, Deanne Shuman, Sharon C. Stull, Robert E. Ratzlaff

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose: This study examined the effects of a widely used (Delton® Pit & Fissure Sealant – Light Cure Opaque, DENTSPLY Professional, York, PA) pit and fissure sealant material on bisphenol A (BPA) levels in blood and saliva, among both low and high–dose groups over time.

Methods: A convenience sample of 30 adults from the Old Dominion University population were randomly and evenly divided into 2 independent variable groups: a low–dose group (1 occlusal sealant application) and high–dose group (4 occlusal sealant applications). A 2 group, time series design was used to examine the presence and concentration of BPA in serum …

The Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner At The Master's-Degree Level: Is It Necessary?, Michele Leonardi Darby

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

The article reflects on the Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner (ADHP) curriculum proposed by the American Dental Hygienists' Association at the master's degree level. It is stated that dental hygienists and ADHPs can collaborate with other health care professionals for contributing towards the advancement of quality health care to the most vulnerable populations. It is mentioned that preparation at the master's degree is a logical pathway to the expanded scope of practice.

Cold Plasma Technology: Bactericidal Effects On Geobacillus Stearothermophilus And Bacillus Cereus Microorganisms, Angela D. Morris, Gayle B. Mccombs, Tamer Akan, Wayne L. Hynes, Mounir Laroussi, Susan L. Tolle

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Introduction: Cold plasma, also known as Low Temperature Atmospheric Pressure Plasma (LTAPP) is a novel technology consisting of neutral and charged particles, including free radicals, which can be used to destroy or inactivate microorganisms. Research has been conducted regarding the effect of cold plasma on gram-positive bacteria; however, there is limited research regarding its ability to inactivate the spore-formers Geobacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus cereus.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if cold plasma inactivates G. stearothermophilus and B. cereus vegetative cells and spores.

Methods: Nine hundred eighty-one samples were included in this study (762 experimental and …

Muscle Activity Comparisons In Dental Hygiene Students When Using Different Fulcrums While Scaling, Susan L. Tolle, Mary Elizabeth Cosaboom, Michele L. Darby, Martha L. Walker

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

The high incidence rate of cumulative trauma disorders in dental hygienists attests to the musculoskeletal problems experienced by dental hygienists. Research is ongoing to investigate ergonomic practices that will minimize muscle trauma when providing scaling and root debridement. The purpose of this study was to determine differences in the activity of four forearm muscles, (extensor carpi radialis longus, flexor carpi ulnaris, biceps brachii and pronator teres) when using five different finger fulcrums while scaling in dental hygiene students. A convenience sample of 29 consenting senior dental hygiene students participated in the study. Using a 4 x 5 counterbalanced research design, …

Effects Of 5 Different Finger Rest Positions On Arm Muscle Activity During Scaling By Dental Hygiene Students, Mary E. Cosaboom-Fitzsimons, Susan Lynn Tolle, Michele L. Darby, Martha L. Walker

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose. This study was conducted to determine the effects of 5 different finger rest positions: opposite arch, standard intraoral, basic extraoral, cross arch, and finger on finger on the muscle activity of 4 forearm muscles (extensor carpi radialis longus, flexor carpi ulnaris, biceps brachii, and pronator teres) during a simulated periodontal scaling experience.

Methods. A convenience sample of 32 consenting senior dental hygiene students who met inclusion criteria participated. Using a 4 x 5 counter-balanced research design, each participant used a Gracey 11/12 curet to scale one cc of artificial calculus from first permanent molar typodont teeth (#3,14,19,30). Five different …

Debate: A Teaching-Learning Strategy For Developing Competence In Communication And Critical Thinking, Michele Darby

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

The article highlights key benefits from debate as a teaching-learning strategy for developing critical thinking and analytical skills while fostering teamwork and communication. According to the author, it is an effective pedagogical strategy because of the level of responsibility for learning and active involvement required by all student debaters. She also notes that the debate strategy can be used as a method to achieve competencies in baccalaureate and graduate dental hygiene programs.

In Vitro Evaluation Of The Reciprocating Disposable Prophylaxis Angle Versus The Rotating Disposable Prophylaxis Angle In Extrinsic Stain Removal Effectiveness, Inma Lacross, Michele Darby, Sharon S. Stull, Carlene M. Lynch

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

This study determined the extrinsic tooth stain removing effectiveness of a 90° counter-rotational disposable prophylaxis angle (DPA) with rubber cup compared to the traditional 360° unirotational DPA with rubber cup. Four randomly-assigned groups of cleaned, sterilized, extracted human teeth, artificially stained with coffee, tea, tobacco, and red wine, were polished on the buccal and lingual surfaces using one of the 2 DPAs. Each dependent variable (4 different stain types) was tested 4 times with each prophylaxis angle, using 4 prophylaxis paste conditions, and 3 different rpm; therefore, 2 trials x 2 angles x 3 speeds x 4 stains x 4 …

Bactericidal Effects Of Cold Plasma Technology On Geobacillus Stearothermophilus And Bacillus Cereus Microorganisms, Angela D. Morris, Gayle B. Mccombs, Susan L. Tolle, Mounir Laroussi, Wayne L. Hynes

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Cold plasma is a state of matter that contains a large number of particles that are electrically charged. Plasmas generate chemically reactive species and ultraviolet radiation making them useful in decontamination applications (Kong & Laroussi, 2003). Research regarding the inactivation of gram-positive bacteria by cold plasma has been studied by Laroussi et al (2003); however, there is limited research regarding the germicidal effectiveness of cold plasma on Geobacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus cereus microorganisms. The purpose of this study was to determine if cold plasma technology inactivates Geobacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus cereus vegetative cells and spores. This study consisted of 981 …

Predictors Of Student Success In An Entry-Level Baccalaureate Dental Hygiene Program, Mohammad J. Alzahrani, Evelyn M. Thomson, Deborah Blythe Bauman

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to measure the utility of various predictors used by the Old Dominion University Gene W. Hirschfeld School of Dental Hygiene baccalaureate degree dental hygiene program in selecting dental hygiene students who are most likely to graduate and be successful in passing the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE). The following factors were examined: grade point average (GPA); science GPA; final grade in various prerequisite courses; final grade in first-year dental hygiene courses; academic setting where prerequisite courses were completed; multiple attempts to achieve a passing course grade; and admissions criteria points (ACP).

METHODS: …

Dental Hygienists' Contributions To Improving The Nation's Oral Health Through School-Based Initiatives From 1970 Through 1999: A Historical Review, Gayle B. Mccombs, Cynthia C. Gadbury-Amyot, Rebecca S. Wilder, Karen O. Skaff, Margaret Lappan Green

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

PURPOSE: The purpose of this literature review is to document the contributions dental hygienists have made over the past 3 decades to improve the nation's oral health. This historical review encompasses selected literature that acknowledged dental Hygienists' direct involvement in U.S. school-based or school-linked oral health programs from 1970-1999.

METHODS: Five researchers independently searched MEDLINE, PubMed, and other electronic databases to identify relevant literature for the years 1970-1999. The search aimed to locate articles authored by or that documented dental Hygienists' involvement as "service provider" in U.S. school-based oral health programs. For the purpose of this review, service provider was …

Antimicrobial Mouthrinses In Contemporary Dental Hygiene Practice: The Take Home Message, Michele Leonardi Darby

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

The article discusses the significance of antimicrobial mouthrinses to the oral hygiene of people in the U.S. Such product is vital to those with or without dental problems because its regular use reduces supragingival plaque and gingivitis. Studies reveal that an American Dental Association (ADA)-Accepted antimicrobial mouthrinse can result in a greater reduction in plaque and gingivitis than brushing

Changing Perspectives On The Use Of Antimicrobial Mouthrinses, Michele Leonardi Darby

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

As oral health care professionals, we need to make evidence-based recommendations to our patients. Studies from which we derive our recommendations need to have been conducted with scientific rigor and need to be confirmed with other welldesigned studies. Given the numerous, long-term, peer-reviewed published studies on antimicrobial mouthrinses with consistent statistically and clinically significant outcomes, it is time to change our professional thinking and practices.

Effects Of Daily Oral Care With 0.12% Chlorhexidine Gluconate And A Standard Oral Care Protocol On The Development Of Nosocomial Pneumonia In Intubated Patients: A Pilot Study, Michelle Bopp, Michele Darby, Karin C. Loftin, Sharon Broscious

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if a difference existed between nosocomial pneumonia rates for intubated critical care unit (CCU) patients who received twice-daily oral hygiene care with 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate and those who received the standard oral care. Methods. Over seven months (February to August), CCU patients were identified through screening and informed consent procedures, and randomized into 1 of 2 groups. Over the 7 months, due to the critically ill nature of the patients, only 5 subjects were enrolled. While in the study, twice-daily oral hygiene care consisted of brushing the cheeks, teeth, and …

The Comparative Effects Of 0.12% Chlorhexidine And Herbal Oral Rinse On Dental Plaque-Induced Gingivitis, Elizabeth N. Southern, Gayle B. Mccombs, S. L. Tolle, Ken Marinak

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of two oral rinses-one 0.12% chlorhexidine rinse (CHX) and one herbal rinse (HBR)-on gingival health status over time.

METHODS: Sixty-three participants were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: CHX, HBR, or placebo. For three months, participants rinsed twice daily (morning and evening) with (1/2) ounce of allocated rinse after brushing and flossing. Individuals were given the same type of soft bristle toothbrush and whitening toothpaste. No attempt was made to modify participants' routine oral care, except they were advised to refrain from use of any other oral …

Sulcular Sulfide Monitoring: An Indicator Of Early Dental Plaque-Induced Gingival Disease, Aleksandra Pavolotskaya, Gayle Mccombs, Michele Darby, Kenneth Marinak, Naik N. Dayanand

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) and gingival health status and to determine if volatile sulfur compounds can detect early dental plaque-induced gingival disease. Methods. A split-mouth design with randomly selected quadrants of the mandibular arch enabled 39 participants to serve as their own controls. At baseline and at three subsequent appointments (days 7, 14, and 21) gingival inflammation (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and sulfide levels (SUL) were measured using the Gingival Index and the Diamond Probe/Perio 2000 System. For three weeks, participants refrained from brushing and flossing one …

Oral Cancer Prevalence In Virginia, Karin C. Loftin, Michele Darby, Stacey Plichta, Sophie Thompson, Shreeram Kumar, Louis Abbey

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose. Oral and pharyngeal cancer affects 30,000 Americans a year and kills one fourth of those diagnosed. The primary risk factors for oral cancer are past or present cigarette and tobacco usage, and alcohol consumption in conjunction with tobacco use. Even though the prevalence of oral cancer is relatively low in the younger age groups, this group is most likely to benefit from intervention programs designed to change risky behavior such as smoking, and to prevent oral cancer in the later years. The goal of the study was to identify high-risk target areas for an oral cancer prevention program in …

Effects Of Ultrasonic Scaling And Hand-Activated Scaling On Tactile Sensitivity In Dental Hygiene Students, Danielle L. Ryan, Michele Darby, Susan L. Tolle, Deborah Bauman, Dayanand Naik

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose. This study was conducted to determine if tactile sensitivity varies in dental hygiene students who use the ultrasonic scaler, as compared to those who scale with hand-activated instruments.

Methods. A two-group, randomized subjects, pretest-posttest design was carried out mid-semester for five weeks on 40 first-year dental hygiene students who met the inclusion criteria of this study and who agreed to participate. A convenience sample of 40 consenting, first-year dental hygiene students were randomly assigned to one of two groups (experimental or control). After establishing a baseline tactile sensitivity score with the Vibratory Sensory Analyzer (VSA), experimental group subjects used …

Cultural Adaptability Of Dental Hygiene Students In The United States: A Pilot Study, Katrina W. Magee, Michele L. Darby, Irene M. Connolly, Evelyn Thomson

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Dental hygiene students should prepare to competently provide services to culturally diverse patients; therefore, this study was conducted as a baseline to determine the cross-cultural adaptability of dental hygiene students. The sample consisted of 188 dental hygiene students attending four culturally diverse dental hygiene programs (N=108) and four non-culturally diverse dental hygiene programs (N=80). The culturally diverse programs randomly selected were located in the southwest, southeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S., and the non-diverse programs were located in the northwest, northcentral, central, and southern regions of the U.S. Any dental hygiene program with students representing four of the five …

Unhealthy Politics Of Oral Health, Michele Leonardi Darby

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Editorial. Comments that a survey conducted by national advocacy group Oral Health America found that people from the U.S. are underachievers in access to dental hygiene. Measurement of success in oral health care; Proposal to implement dental hygiene practice laws; Shortage of dentists in rural and inner city communities.

Effects Of Occupational Ultrasonic Noise Exposure On Hearing Of Dental Hygienists: A Pilot Study, Jennifer Dunning Wilson, Michele Leonardi Darby, Susan L. Tolle, Joseph C. Sever Jr.

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose. The purpose of this case-control study was to determine whether long-term ultrasonic noise exposure via the dental office environment is related to dental hygienists' hearing status.

Methods. Registered dental hygienists (N - 698) who live in the Hampon Roads areas of Virginia were mailed a Dental Hygiene Word History Questionnaire to determine who would meet the inclusion criteria and would be willing to participate in the study. Consenting subjects were categorized into one of two groups, according to ultrasonic sealer usage rate, and matched on age. Persons with known hearing loss due to infection, disease, or congenital defect were …

Eating Disorders In The Oral Health Curriculum, Rita D. Debate, Deanne Shuman, Lisa A. Tedesco

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Due to the oral/systemic nature of eating disorders, this serious health issue requires comprehensive patient assessment and coordinated health treatment. The purpose of this study was to assess the breadth and depth of eating disorder and comprehensive care within the dental and dental hygiene curriculum. Survey data were collected from deans of U.S. dental programs (n=24) and dental hygiene program directors (n=94). Statistically significant differences were observed between dental programs (DP) and dental hygiene programs (DHP) as more DHP reported including anorexia nervosa (p<.001), bulimia nervosa (p<.001), and oral manifestations of eating disorders (p=.003) within their curricula. Clock hours dedicated to these topics ranged from seventeen to thirty-five minutes, with no statistically significant differences observed between DP and DHP. Only 58 percent of DP and 56 percent of DHP included patient communication skills specific to eating disorders. Moreover, DHP were observed dedicating more instruction time for this skill (p=.011). As greater emphasis is placed on oral/systemic health and the provision of comprehensive care, many oral health professionals may not be adequately trained to identify, provide education, and communicate with patients regarding the oral/systemic nature of eating disorders. The findings from this study indicate that there is a need for appropriate training to better prepare oral health professionals for comprehensive patient care.