Dental hygiene student perceptions of a school-based sealant program: A qualitative review.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this 2021 study was to explore experiences acquired from a school-based sealant program (SBSP), to improve understanding of the relationship between SBSP and dental hygiene (DH) student outcomes, and to inform institutions of the value of educational experiences aiming to reduce disparities in access to dental care. METHODS: University of Missouri Kansas City School of Dentistry Senior DH students complete a community engaged course which includes participation in community projects and clinical activities targeting Kansas City's urban and surrounding rural environments. The SBSP is a component of this course. This investigation utilized a qualitative methodology to examine SBSP experiences through the experience of the primary investigator, on-site dentist, and DH students involved in the program. RESULTS: Data analysis resulted in consensus of five synthesized conceptual models and twenty-three emergent themes. The conceptual models include: competence, roles and responsibilities, social justice, value added, and lessons learned. CONCLUSION: Based on triangulated results, SBSPs improve access to care for children, save dental costs, and provide essential experiences for DH students.

Brushing Behavior Changes and Plaque Removal with an Electric Toothbrush: A clinical trial.

Purpose To evaluate changes in toothbrushing behavior and plaque removal performance with usage of a next generation oscillating-rotating electric toothbrush (NG-OR).Methods This exploratory clinical study had a two-treatment, three-period, single-group, sequential design. Generally healthy adults with a screening whole mouth mean Turesky modified Quigley-Hein Plaque Index (TQHPI) score of at least 1.75 on a 0-5 scale and who were primarily OR brush users were enrolled. Participants used each OR toothbrush in A-B-B order, where a currently marketed OR brush with a traditional mechanical drive system (T-OR) was used in period A and the NG-OR brush with a linear magnetic drive was used in period B. At Visit 1, qualifying participants brushed on-site with T-OR. After a 48h washout, participants returned for Visit 2 and brushed on-site with NG-OR. Participants then used NG-OR for 1 week, twice daily, at home and returned for Visit 3 to brush on-site with NG-OR again. For all on-site brushings, participants were instructed to brush for 2min without interactive features. Each toothbrush was tagged with a transmitter chip connected to a Motion Tracking System to record movements of the toothbrush and participant using infrared light transmission to determine Isochronicity (brushing time uniformly distributed across the dentition). Plaque was measured using TQHPI. Primary variables were Isochronicity and TQHPl whole mouth mean plaque reduction (pre-brushing minus post brushing).Results Overall, 41 participants enrolled and received treatment; 40 completed the trial. NG-OR showed significantly greater Isochronicity after a single brushing (p=0.043) and after a 1-week at-home use (p=0.001) versus T-OR. NG-OR showed 41% greater whole mouth plaque removal than T-OR (p<0.001) after a single brushing. Plaque reduction by region/surface was consistent with whole mouth results.Conclusion The NG-OR brush showed greater brushing uniformity and plaque removal versus the T-OR brush.

Relationships Between Course Capture Systems and Student Performance in Dental Hygiene Education.

Purpose: The aim of this mixed-methods longitudinal study was to assess student perceptions of technology use, and to examine the relationship between technology use and performance as reflected by self-reported student grade point averages.Methods: Students (n=351) enrolled in a dental hygiene program within a dental school located in the mid-western United States were surveyed in three courses from 2008 through 2012 to gather their perceptions regarding usage of a lecture recording system (LRS). Additionally, self-reported grade point averages were collected over the same period of time. Data were analyzed using a statistical software program (IBM SPSS; Armonk, NY).Results: The response rate was 82%. Descriptive statistics demonstrated that students believed that the LRS increased their success and satisfaction in the course and would be useful in other courses. Students also reported they would not choose to miss class sessions based on the availability of the recorded lectures. Correlation statistics found no relationship between student GPA and students' perceptions regarding the LRS.Conclusion: Students reported LRS use and availability did not impact their attendance. No relationship was found between students' self-reported GPA and evaluation of the LRS use within the limits of this study.

Referring periodontal patients: clinical decision making by dental and dental hygiene students.

Referral of periodontal patients requires development of a complex set of decision making skills. This study was conducted to determine criteria used by dental and dental hygiene students regarding the referral of periodontal patients for specialty care. Using mixed methods, a thirteen-item survey was developed to elicit the students' perceptions of their knowledge, confidence regarding managing patients, and clinical reasoning related to periodontal patients. The instrument was administered during the summer prior to (T1) and at the end of the students' final year (T2) of training. Seventy-nine dental students (81 percent of total class) and thirty dental hygiene students (83 percent of total class) completed T1. At T2, forty-two dental (44 percent of total class) and twenty-six dental hygiene students (87 percent of total class) completed the questionnaire. While 90 percent of dental and 96 percent of dental hygiene respondents reported a willingness to refer patients with active disease to specialists, only 40 percent of dental and 36 percent of dental hygiene respondents reported confidence in diagnosing, treating, and appropriately referring such patients. The students' ability to recognize critical disease and risk factors influencing referral was good; however, clinical application of that knowledge indicated a gap between knowledge and applied reasoning. The students' attitudes about the importance of periodontal disease and their perceived competence to identify critical disease risk factors were not significantly related (p>0.05) to correct clinical decisions in the case scenarios. The study concludes that dental and dental hygiene curricula should emphasize both the acquisition and application of knowledge regarding criteria for referral of periodontal patients.

Analysis of patient factors impacting duration of periodontal maintenance appointments: an exploratory study.

PURPOSE: The periodontal maintenance (PM) appointment requires varying amounts of time and is absolutely essential for long-term successful periodontal therapy. This study assessed time requirements for PM and relative contribution of patient-level factors such as oral health status, complex medical history, maintenance compliance and demographics. METHODS: One hundred patients receiving PM in a graduate periodontal program at a dental school participated in this cross sectional, observational study and components of their PM were timed in minutes/seconds. Descriptive data were obtained for average total-time required for PM and relative time for each treatment component. Hierarchical multiple linear regression determined what patient-level factors demonstrated the greatest impact on total-time to complete PM. RESULTS: The average PM appointment interval, with radiographs, was 1 hour, 16 minutes, 23 seconds (SD 19:25 minutes). When cubicle preparation and disinfection was included, the total-time was 1 hour, 24 minutes, 31 seconds (±19:32 minutes). Multiple regression showed that BOP, dentist examinations, number of carious lesions and/or restorative defects, number of teeth/implants, taking radiographs, female gender and deposit aggregate (supragingival and subgingival calculus and stain) were significant predictors of total PM duration and explained 57% variance (p<0.05, R2=0.569). CONCLUSION: Based on the average comprehensive PM appointment time of 1:16 minutes, the typical appointment of 60 minutes is insufficient to achieve the goals of a comprehensive PM in this academic clinic setting. These findings suggest the need to utilize more customized models for scheduling PM in order to achieve time allocations that are individualized to address specific patients' needs.

Examining the effect of the Flextend Orthotic Device on grip strength: a pilot study.

Strengthening exercises like those used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome have been recommended for prevention however their effectiveness when used in this manner are not known. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the Flextend Orthotic Device on grip strength of dental hygiene students. This study used a convenience sample of 24 (n=24) first year dental hygiene students. Students were randomly assigned to either the Flextend Orthotic Exercise glove group or a control group. A series of grip strength measurements were taken periodically throughout the study using a hydraulic hand dynamometer. In a repeated measures analysis of covariance there were no significant effects for study group (p=0.812) time (p=0.954), nor was there a significant interaction between group and time (p=0.858). Use of the Flextend Orthotic Device did not additionally increase grip strength among dental hygiene students over the eight week time period. In none of the weeks post baseline was there a significant difference between the Flextend Orthotic Device group and control groups.

Comparison of muscle activity associated with structural differences in dental hygiene mirrors.

PURPOSE: Ergonomic studies suggest that the commonly used pinch grasp, held in a static position, is a contributing factor for dental Hygienists' development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) such as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), Trigger Thumb, de Quervain's stenosing tenosynovitis, and carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis. The pinch grasp is commonly used by the dental hygienist while holding the dental mirror in the non-dominant hand. In response to this concern, manufacturers are redesigning dental mirror handles. The value of these re-designed products is based solely on anecdotal evidence. To date, minimal research has been done to examine the non-dominant mirror hand. The purpose of this study was to objectively evaluate dental mirror handle design using surface electromyography (sEMG) to compare muscle activity associated with grasping the mirror. METHODS: This randomized controlled clinical trial utilized a two-by-two repeated measures statistical design. Data was collected on a convenience sample of 19 (N=19) healthy dental hygiene students in their last year of study. Data collection was divided into two phases to maintain a balanced study. The independent variables in phase I were diameter and weight. The independent variables in phase II were weight and padding. Muscle activity was measured while grasping various dental hygiene mirrors in 30-second increments using sEMG. Following data collection subjects designated which mirror felt most and least comfortable to compare subjective data with objective data. RESULTS: Three statistically significant results occurred. In phase II, padding (p=.01) demonstrated the largest reduction of muscle activity in the flexor pollicis brevis, by decreasing mean muscle activity by 3.7 microv. The interaction of diameter and weight (p=.01) in phase I reduced the mean muscle activity in the extensor digitorum by .8 microV and weight (p=.02) in phase II decreased the muscle activity in the extensor digitorum by .62 microV. Self-reports of comfort reported by the subjects in this study were not consistent with the measurements of muscle activity using sEMG. CONCLUSION: Ergonomic adaptations to dental hygiene mirror handles were associated with increases and decreases in muscle activity. The clinical impact of this is amplified as force is exerted. Furthermore, it may be possible to reduce WMSDs for dental hygienists by using instrument designs during the workday. Self-reports of comfort by the subjects in this study did not calibrate with the measurements of muscle activity using sEMG. Additional research is needed to further isolate the external variables of the study and to determine what actual reduction in muscle activity is significant for maintaining musculoskeletal health.