Do bib clips pose a cross-contamination risk at the dental clinic?

Although multiple-use dental napkin holders have a relatively low risk of transmitting infection, they do require disinfection between patients. This study sought to: 1) determine the presence of bacterial load on two types of clips of reusable bib chains after dental procedures at the Endodontics and Orthodontics clinics at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine; and 2) evaluate the effectiveness of disinfecting the clips. These specialty clinics represent a wide spectrum of patients, procedures, and appointment times. Bacterial load on the bib clips was determined immediately following dental treatments-both before and after their disinfection-during morning and afternoon sessions. The results revealed that, after treatments, there was a statistically significant difference when comparing the two clinics for bacterial burden on the clips. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant difference in bacterial load on the two types of clips. Disinfection of the bib clips was highly effective in both clinics. Clinically, the results suggest that due to the nature of the treatment, the demographic population, and the type of bib clips used, patients in different clinics may be exposed to varying bacterial concentrations on the bib clips, and thus to different possible cross-contamination risks. Future analyses will be performed to identify the bacterial species in samples from both pre- and post-disinfected clips, and to determine if they harbor disease-causing bacterial species that can pose a potential, yet undetermined risk for cross-contamination.

Customization of a standard practice management software program to satisfy the needs of a dental hygiene program.

The University of New England (UNE) Dental Hygiene Program converted from a paper format to a digital format to manage the daily, dental hygiene clinic transactions. The use of this practice management software created new opportunities to enhance the program's teaching mission, monitor the progress of individual students, and facilitate the data collection necessary to meet accreditation standards. This report will describe how this dental hygiene program customized a standard practice management software program to enhance the specific requirements of a clinical teaching institution.

Fibrin clot adhesion to dentin conditioned with protein constructs: an in vitro proof-of-principle study.

OBJECTIVES: Periodontal regeneration is contingent on the adsorption, uninterrupted adhesion, and maturation of a fibrin clot to a periodontally compromised root surface. Clot adhesion appears vitally dependent on the formation of a resilient union between the clot and the root surface. Root surface demineralization will remove a root surface smear layer exposing dentin tubules and collagen matrix for enhanced clot adhesion. Recently, protein constructs have been introduced to condition the root during periodontal surgery. The effect of such root conditioning on clot adhesion has not been clarified. The objective of this study was to evaluate clot adhesion to protein conditioned dentin surfaces. METHODS: Human dentin blocks (4 x 6 x 1 mm) were exposed to a saturated citric acid solution (CA) or a commercial ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) preparation using standardized protocols. Some dentin blocks were additionally conditioned with proteins, either bovine serum albumin (BSA) or an enamel matrix protein preparation (EMP). Fresh human whole blood was applied to the blocks. The blood was allowed to clot for 20 min. in a humidified chamber. The dentin blocks were rinsed 3 x 5 min. in phosphate-buffered saline under standardized conditions to test clot adhesion. They were then processed for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Two masked examiners independently evaluated the SEM images. RESULTS: CA removed the dentin smear layer, exposing dentin tubules and collagen. EDTA appeared less efficacious leaving smear layer residues. The BSA or EMP application resulted in a surface morphology similar to that of a smear layer. Fibrin clot adhesion was best supported by the CA-treated dentin surface. Forces produced by the rinse protocol partially removed the fibrin clot from EDTA-treated surfaces. BSA- or EMP-treated surfaces poorly retained the fibrin clot. CONCLUSIONS: CA surface demineralization removes a dentin surface smear layer to promote adhesion of a fibrin clot. The EDTA gel appears less effective. Further conditioning of the dentin surface with protein constructs produces a surface morphology similar to that of the smear layer with poor fibrin clot retention.

Utilization of research methodology in designing and developing an interdisciplinary course in ethics.

Development research methodology was utilized to design an interdisciplinary ethics course for students from seven disciplines: dental hygiene, nursing, nurse anesthesia, occupational therapy, physician assistant, physical therapy, and social work. Two research questions, 'What content areas should be considered for inclusion in an interdisciplinary course in Ethics?' and 'What design framework, format, or structure would best fit the content chosen?' guided the study. An interdisciplinary faculty design team conducted a comparative analysis of each of the seven discipline's codes of ethics to find common topics of interest. Further analysis then grouped these topics into eight categories of professional responsibility. The result was a fifteen-week course with validated content relevant to all disciplines.