Outcomes from the Health Resources and Services Administration's Dental Faculty Development Program.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: While the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) requires programs to conduct faculty development, implementation of faculty development activities vary widely. Faculty development programs can enhance teaching, research, and leadership skills needed to transition from clinical practice to teaching. In 2012, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funded 6 institutions to plan, develop, and operate programs for training oral healthcare providers who plan to teach in general, pediatric, public health dentistry, or dental hygiene. This performance study examines the results of the dental faculty development programs. METHODS: After the 5-year grant program (2012-2017), we used descriptive analysis to examine annual performance data including trainee demographics, faculty development activities, post-completion intentions, and course development activities. RESULTS: Nearly 300 trainees participated across 6 funded grantees; the majority were female, aged 30-49 years, and non-Hispanic White. For those who completed, 80% intended to teach. Common faculty development activities included community-based training, curriculum enhancements, Web-based training, and interprofessional education methods. Faculty development modalities included faculty seminars, Master's degrees, and mentoring. Pipeline activities, online resources, and continuing education supported dental students and providers moving into academics. CONCLUSIONS: Faculty development better prepares individuals to compete in academic environments and develop faculty. Community-based programs may utilize faculty development to recruit community preceptors and achieve calibration. HRSA investment in faculty development programs builds resources and infrastructure to promote continuing engagement in clinical education, research, and administrative skills. Future research is needed to establish the impact of faculty development initiatives on practice change and patient outcomes.

Rethinking tenure in dental education.

In the midst of changes in the environment of academic dentistry over the past two decades, reform of traditional tenure is one way for dental schools to respond to these changes while maintaining scholarly, evidence-based learning environments. Challenges facing academic dentistry today and in the future include a crisis in workforce capacity, difficulty attracting recent graduates into academic positions, overburdened faculty members with limited time for scholarly activity, loss of tenured faculty members due to retirement, and a potentially diminished voice for dental schools within the parent university. The purpose of this opinion article is to suggest ways to reform the current tenure system in dental education as a means of improving recruitment and retention of new faculty members while maintaining or increasing scholarly activity within dental schools.

Restoration of posterior teeth in clinical practice: evidence base for choosing amalgam versus composite.

This article reviews the current use of amalgam versus resin composite in posterior restorations and the evidence-base for choosing between these two treatment options. While much research has been published on the issue of the clinical use of amalgam versus resin composite, there are several issues that limit the true evidence-base on the subject. Furthermore, while the majority of published studies on posterior composites would seem to indicate equivalent clinical performance of resin composite to amalgam restorations, the studies that should be weighted much more heavily (randomized controlled trials) do not support the slant of the rest of the literature. As part of an evidence-based approach to private practice, clinicians need to be aware of the levels of evidence in the literature and need to properly inform patients of the true clinical outcomes that are associated with the use of amalgam versus resin composite for posterior restorations, so that patients are themselves making informed decisions about their dental care.

Removal time of fiber posts versus titanium posts.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the time needed to remove a glass reinforced fiber post versus a titanium post. METHODS: 40 extracted anterior teeth were mounted in acrylic blocks then treated endodontically. They were randomly assigned to three groups. The teeth were sectioned horizontally, with the coronal portion removed. The fiber posts were cemented with resin cement and the titanium posts were cemented with glass ionomer or resin cement. The fiber posts were removed by coring them out internally. The titanium posts were removed by creating a trough around the post then vibrating with ultrasonic energy. The teeth were examined visually and radiographically to ensure complete removal of the post and cement. Removal time included the time to make radiographs necessary to ensure complete removal. RESULTS: Post-cement combination significantly affected the median rank of the removal time (Kruskal-Wallis test; H = 12.709; P = 0.002). The mean rank removal time of titanium posts cemented with resin cement were significantly higher than the mean rank of the other two post-cement combinations (Dunn's multiple comparison test; P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the other two combinations.

Glass ionomer cements: a review of composition, chemistry, and biocompatibility as a dental and medical implant material.

Glass ionomer cements are a group of materials based on the acid/base reaction between poly(alkenoic) acid and an ion-leachable silicate glass. The material was developed in dentistry as a tooth restorative material that released fluoride ions over an extended time, bonded to tooth structure, and was very biocompatible. Its use in dentistry was initially limited by its slow setting time and lack of strength; however, modern formulations of the material have yielded materials with properties that are clinically useful in dentistry. Its biocompatibility, osteoconductive behavior, and ability to bond to bone and metals have generated interest in the material for medical applications. Glass ionomer cements in medicine have been used as bone cements, implants to replace ossicular bones of the inner ear, as well as other craniofacial implants. The early release of fluoride and aluminum ions and release of polyacids have been implicated in tissue biocompatibility in medical use. Additional material development is necessary to optimize its properties for use in medicine. This article reviews the literature written on the composition, chemistry, fluoride release, biocompatibility, and medical uses of glass ionomer cements.

Vitallium.

Vitallium is a base metal alloy that has been used in dentistry and medicine since 1929. This article will focus on the historical perspectives of Vitallium and include the dental and medical applications used today. The physical and chemical properties of Vitallium will be discussed, with particular emphasis on the biocompatibility of the metal. Finally, the future uses of Vitallium will be examined, as will the potential dangers in fabricating prostheses using this base metal alloy.