Dental Public Health and Education Commons^™

Describing Trends In Virginia's Dentist And Dental Hygienist Workforce: Challenges And Opportunities, Shillpa Naavaal, Yetty Shobo, Barbara Hodgdon

Dental Public Health and Policy Publications

Purpose: Regular assessment of the dental workforce is essential to improve the population's oral health. This analysis aimed to understand the trends in the distribution of dentists and dental hygienists (DHs) in Virginia.

Methods: Annual survey data (2013-2022) of dentists and DHs from the Virginia Department of Health Professions Healthcare Workforce Data Center was used to examine the trends in provider distribution by age, gender, race/ethnicity, and geography across Virginia.

Results: In 2022, there were 5,720 dentists and 5,290 DH licensees in Virginia. In the dentist workforce, there was a high representation of those aged ≥60 years …

Health, Beliefs, And Faith: Hpv Vaccine Uptake Intent Among Catholic, Evangelical, And Mainline Protestant Parents, Jeanine P.D. Guidry, Shillpa Naavaal, Linnea I. Laestadius, Carrie A. Miller, Gina Zurlo, Candace W. Burton, Kellie E. Carlyle, Julie Russo, Paul B. Perrin

Dental Public Health and Policy Publications

The HPV vaccine has the potential to prevent nearly 92% of HPV-related cancer cases, yet its uptake remains suboptimal. While well-documented barriers to HPV vaccine uptake include inadequate knowledge and lack of provider recommendation, religious preferences have emerged as another crucial factor influencing vaccination decisions. This study examined the interrelatedness of religion, beliefs, and HPV vaccination uptake among children among Catholic, Evangelical, and Mainline Protestant parents. A nationally representative survey was conducted among 1,068 U.S. parents from one of three major Christian denominations: Catholic, Evangelical, or Mainline Protestant. We examined the extent to which demographic factors, constructs from the Health …

Implementation Of A Cancer Education Program In Rural Counties With The Lowest Hpv Vaccination Rates And Health Rankings, Sarah Arezo, Shillpa Naavaal, Charlotte Garrett, Marcie S. Wright, Vanessa B. Sheppard, Michael A. Preston

Dental Public Health and Policy Publications

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). To address STIs, one rural county public school district developed a series of Family Life Programs to educate pre-teens about pertinent health information. The Schooling Cancer Program (SCP) was developed in partnership with the local Cancer Research and Resource Center to raise awareness about cancer risk factors including HPV-related cancers and HPV prevention methods. Methods: We collected a post-evaluation survey from students who attended a SCP session at one of the targeted middle schools. The SCP educated students about topics focusing on healthy lifestyles. The survey asked students’ …

Intersectionality, Racial Discrimination And Oral Healthcare Utilization Among Black Adults In Baltimore City, Maryland, Briona M. Phillips

Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Oral health is essential for overall well-being, yet disparities persist, particularly among marginalized populations including Black adults. Limited access to and underutilization of oral healthcare services exacerbate these disparities. Discrimination, both individual and systemic, acts as a significant barrier to accessing care, contributing to disparities in oral health outcomes. Individuals facing discrimination experience mistrust and fear within oral healthcare settings, leading to delayed or avoided care. Therefore, investigating and addressing discrimination among Black adults is essential for promoting equitable access to oral healthcare, improving overall oral health outcomes, and lessening existing disparities.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this dissertation was …

Dental Outreach In Academic Dental Settings, Tisha Clayborn

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Creating an effective outreach program in a dental academic setting involves a strategic approach combining educational objectives and community service. This Dental Outreach Program Guide aligns with organizational objectives, contributes to community well-being, and serves as a model for future outreach initiatives in academic dental settings. This program utilizes the PRECEDE-PROCEED planning model to design and evaluate an oral health strategy. This program aims to outline a strategic plan incorporating evidence-based decision-making, data-driven metrics, and a comprehensive roadmap for successful implementation.

Silver Diamine Fluoride As A Caries Management Option For The Young Child, Giovana Anovazzi Medeiros Dds, Msc, Phd, Chia-En Tsai Dds, Ms, Nita Singh Dds, James R. Boynton Dds, Ms

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Dental caries is among the most-common childhood diseases around the world, and neglected caries can result in pain, infection, and can have a negative cascading impact on a child’s overall well-being. Definitive care of these lesions involves restorative procedures and/or extractions, but these treatment options require some level of child cooperation, which can sometimes be a challenge with very young children.

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a non-invasive treatment intended to arrest the caries process. SDF is a liquid solution that contains a high concentration of silver and fluoride ions and has been used as an alternative agent for treating …

Pediatric Dentists’ Considerations Concerning Obesity-Related Education For Parents Of Young Children: Who Should Educate About What, How And When?, Arianne Swanson Dds, Ms, James R. Boynton Dds, Ms, Larry B. Salzmann Dds, Yu-Ju Yang Dds, Marita R. Inglehart Dipl. Psych., Dr. Phil., Dr. Phil. Habil

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This study aimed to explore pediatric dentists' perspectives on obesity-related interventions for parents of young children. A web-based survey was administered to 210 American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry members. Findings revealed that respondents considered it important for various healthcare professionals, especially pediatricians and nurse practitioners, to engage in obesity-related parent education. Strong consensus existed on educating parents about the link between early childhood caries and diet, soft drink and fruit juice consumption, and healthy snacking. The study also found positive attitudes correlated with increased engagement in objective weight determination, data collection, and diet/nutrition counseling.

Advocacy Spotlight: Telehealth Regulations For Dentistry Established, Neema Katibai Jd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The article discusses the rise of telehealth in the last three years and its implications for dentistry, focusing on recent rulemaking by the Michigan Board of Dentistry. The regulations address key aspects such as definitions, informed consent, scope of practice, and prescribing medications. Dentists must comply with HIPAA and state/federal privacy regulations when using telehealth. Notably, the rules restrict teledentistry delegation to allied personnel after an in-person visit within 24 months. The article emphasizes the importance of understanding and following these regulations for legal telehealth use, reimbursement, and malpractice coverage. The Michigan Dental Association advocates for sensible teledentistry laws to …

Mda Foundation: 2024 Promises Great Things From The Mda Foundation, Anne Berquist

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The MDA Foundation is making significant strides in supporting dental and hygiene students and the community. In a recent announcement, 12 scholarships totaling $31,000 were awarded, thanks to donor generosity. The Foundation's upcoming Sparkling Smiles Celebration will provide an opportunity to meet scholarship recipients and acknowledge donors. The primary focus in June will be the Mission of Mercy event in Flint, aiming to offer essential dental care to up to 2,000 individuals. Volunteers are encouraged to participate, and financial support can be pledged online. Ongoing efforts include fundraising for the Karen Burgess Scholarship Endowment and the upcoming MDA Foundation golf …

Having The Opportunity To Give Kids A Smile, Alianna Mbanda

A with Honors Projects

The author describes their experience working as a dental hygienist for the Parkland community event called Give Kids a Smile.

Allied Dental Students' Perceived Knowledge, Confidence, And Attitudes Regarding Disaster Victim Identification Topics, Samantha C. Vest, Brenda T. Bradshaw, Marsha A. Voelker, Ann M. Bruhn, Tara L. Newcomb, Sinjini Sikdar

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose Disaster victim identification (DVI) service requires knowledge, confidence, and an attitude (KCA) of readiness. The purpose of this study was to assess allied dental students’ perceived KCA regarding DVI skills and topics.

Methods A convenience sample of senior dental hygiene students (n=27) and senior dental assistant students (n=14) were recruited by email then presented mismatched simulated antemortem (AM) and postmortem (PM) bitewing radiographs and asked to indicate correct matches. Collectively, participants made 205 radiographic matches and indicated 205 degrees of certainty binarily as “positive” or “possible” (one per match). Participants also completed a researcher designed pretest/posttest electronic survey with …

Assessment And Quantification Of The Microbial Flora In The Output Water Of Two Types Of Dental Chairs: A Comparative Study, Khalil Kharma, Louis Hardan, Cynthia Kassis, Rim Bourgi, Regina Geitani, May Mallah, Elie Maalouf, Carina Mehanna Zogheib

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Objectives: Dental Unit Waterlines (DUWL) have shown to be a perfect host for different pathogenic microorganisms. The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare the level of bacterial contamination in the output water of 2 types of DUWL.

Methods: Dental unit water samples from the air/water syringe of the A-dec (A-dec™ Performer 200, Newberg, USA) DUWL type and KaVo (ESTETICA™ E30/E70/E80 Vision, Kavo, Biberach, Germany) type were collected and analyzed for total aerobic flora, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, faecal coliforms, total coliforms, faecal streptococci and sulfite-reducing anaerobic flora.

Results: The bacteriological analysis of water samples shows the …

Improving Dental Students' Knowledge And Confidence In Treating Tobacco Use, Victoria Pierce

DNP Projects

Background: Tobacco use can lead to numerous chronic health conditions. Healthcare professionals in the dental field are in a unique position to broach this issue with patients. Research shows that dental students do not feel equipped to provide tobacco cessation care, citing lack of education on the subject among their top reasons for this.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate changes in dental students’ knowledge and confidence related to treating tobacco use after participation in an educational intervention about the 5A’s, behavioral counseling, and first-line prescription medications.

Methods: This quality improvement initiative utilized a quasi-experimental survey design …

The Value Of Educating Teachers, Coaches, And Athletic Trainers On The Management Of Dental Trauma., Darlene W. Jean

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: To investigate the benefit of educating teachers, coaches, and athletic trainers about dental trauma to prevent incidents and improve the management of students/athletes with dental trauma.

Methods: Teachers, coaches, and athletic trainers throughout the greater Richmond metro area were recruited via email. Participants answered a pre-seminar survey to evaluate their baseline knowledge and determine whether they have experienced dental trauma with their students/athletes previously. The participants were given the option to attend an in-person or virtual seminar educating them on the basic management of traumatic dental injuries and how to guide affected students/athletes and their families to obtain optimal …

Clinical Outcomes Of Primary Anterior Esthetic Crowns In Pediatric Dentistry, Jenan Alahmad

Theses and Dissertations

Clinical Outcomes of Primary Anterior Esthetic Crowns in Pediatric Dentistry - A Prospective Cohort Study

By: Jenan Alahmad, BDS

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, 2024

Thesis Advisor: Parthasarathy Madurantakam, DDS, MDS, PhD

Department of Pediatric Dentistry

BODY

Purpose: This prospective cohort study aimed to compare the effectiveness of restoring maxillary anterior teeth in children (aged 3-6 years) with three different materials: Zirconia Crowns (ZC), Resin Composite Crowns (RC), and Pre-veneered Stainless-Steel Crowns (PVSSC). The study aims to assess the Oral …

Transforming Children's Oral Health: The Impact Of Oral Healthcare Policies On Virginia Medicaid Dental Health Outcomes., Anita M. Kumar

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract: Transforming Children's Oral Health: The Impact of Oral Healthcare Policies on Virginia Medicaid Dental Health Outcomes.

Objectives: This dissertation uses Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) administrative files at the individual and provider level from fiscal years (FY) 2011 to 2021 to systematically study the effect of recently implemented oral health policies (EBD guidelines on sealants, CMS updated quality measures, expansion of Medicaid oral healthcare for qualifying pregnant women) on oral health outcomes of Virginia Medicaid-enrolled children.

Methods: The studies employ a difference in differences regression methods (negative binomial, Poisson, and logistic) to examine the effects of oral health …

Aadej Comm 10 4 2024

AADEJ - The Communicator

The Communicator is the official journal of the American Association of Dental Editors and Journalists (AADEJ). It is published quarterly, distributed digitally via email to members, and posted on the Association's website, AADEJ.org. Each issue includes regular updates from the editorial team and AADEJ board, as well as feature articles on current issues in the field.

Setting The Foundation For A Lifetime Of Oral Health, Samuel Blanchard Dds, Ms

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

In this Children’s Dental Health Month article, the Michigan Academy of Pediatric Dentistry emphasizes the crucial role of relationships and trust in pediatric dentistry. Highlighting the significance of collaborative efforts between dental societies, the commentary discusses the impact of professional connections on patient care. The author shares personal insights on transitioning in their career, underscoring the value of cultivated relationships. The age-1 dental visit is highlighted as a powerful preventive measure to establish rapport and empower parents with oral health knowledge. The article emphasizes the enduring benefits of building connections in promoting lifelong oral health.

Staying Focused On A Moving Target: Coping With Change, North Shetter Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Amid rapid changes in dentistry, this commentary addresses strategies to manage stress and maintain professional balance. Drawing parallels to Moore's Law in technology, the author emphasizes the need for a balanced life, integrating work, play, love, and worship. The concept, rooted in the Pankey Philosophy, aligns with principles from Stephen Covey's Seven Habits. Core skills, including patient relationships, foundational dental practices, periodontal health, occlusion, and perpetual learning, are deemed essential. The article underscores the importance of personal dental health and advocates for study clubs to share, learn, and mentor, fostering a positive professional environment amid evolving technologies and information overload.

The Pacesetter Style Of Leadership, Michelle C. Dziurgot Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This editorial explores the pacesetter leadership style, likening it to a marathon "rabbit" setting a fast pace. Pacesetters, exemplified by figures like Jack Welch and James Cameron, set ambitious goals, driving themselves and their teams relentlessly. While effective in achieving short-term goals and maximizing team potential, drawbacks include employee stress, lack of feedback, and a "rat race" atmosphere. The author, a self-identified pacesetter with a compassionate approach, emphasizes the importance of balancing high standards with employee well-being for sustained success.