A comparative study of crestal bone loss and implant stability between osteotome and conventional implant insertion techniques: a randomized controlled clinical trial study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective randomized controlled clinical study was to assess the crestal bone loss and the implant stability in implants that were placed by the osteotome technique compared with the conventional drilling technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-six screw type Straumann SLA® oral implants (Straumann AG, Waldenburg, Switzerland) were inserted in the anterior segment of maxilla of 30 patients. The implant site was prepared randomly using either osteotome technique (test group) or the conventional drilling technique (control group). Radio frequency analysis (RFA) values at implant placement and after 3 months were recorded. The crestal bone loss was measured using digital subtraction radiography technique after 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: RFA demonstrated a statistically significant higher primary stability for implants in the osteotome group than that of the conventional group (p=.026) at the time of implant insertion. However, there was no statistically significant difference between both groups 3 months after the surgery (p=.06). At month 3, the osteotome group caused significantly more crestal bone loss than the conventional group (p=.04). At months 6 and 12, both groups had comparable bone levels (p=.29). CONCLUSION: Osteotome technique yielded higher primary stability than conventional drilling technique. However, this technique was not superior to conventional technique after 3 months.

The impact of an interprofessional standardized patient exercise on attitudes toward working in interprofessional teams.

Effective interprofessional education engages participants in authentic tasks, settings and roles. Using these guiding principles, an interprofessional standardized patient exercise (ISPE) was developed and implemented for 101 dental, medical, nurse practitioner, pharmacy and physical therapy students. This study describes the ISPE and evaluates its impact on students' attitudes toward working in interprofessional teams. The attitudes toward health care teams (ATHCT) survey was administered pre- and post-ISPE and to a sample of non-participating students. Faculty and students were surveyed post-ISPE about outcomes and satisfaction. Focus groups were conducted with students from each profession. Students' attitudes toward team-based care improved significantly on the team value and team efficiency subscales of the ATHCT. There were significant differences in attitudes toward team-based care by profession. Faculty and student satisfaction with the ISPE was high. These findings contribute to the growing body of literature on efforts to generate positive attitudes toward interprofessional collaboration early in training, which may influence students' ability to be effective members of healthcare teams.

Teaching local anesthesia in dental schools: opinions about the student-to-student administration model.

The student-to-student local anesthesia administration model has been an accepted part of the formal curriculum in dental schools for teaching this clinical skill. However, there is very little published literature that explores the validity of this model or examines students' attitudes toward it. The ethics of this educational model and the value of consent also need to be explored. In this study, an online survey regarding the student-to-student administration model was used to obtain the opinions of students and faculty members at three dental schools in one state of the United States. The survey was distributed by the Office of Academic Affairs at each school. A total of 152 individuals responded to this survey: 123 (80.9 percent) dental students and twenty-nine (19.1 percent) faculty members. The respondents consistently identified the perceived strengths of this model, while a number also identified the need for consent and raised ethical concerns. These findings highlight the complex nature of the respondents' opinions and raise the question of whether modification of this mode of instruction may be needed.

The prognosis for dental implants placed in patients taking oral bisphosphonates.

The success rate of dental implants placed in female patients taking oral bisphosphonates, before the risks became known in 2003, were compared with a control group of females receiving implants and not taking bisphosphonates. The bisphosphonate group had an overall success rate of 86 percent versus a success rate of 95 percent in the control group. This suggests that the failure rate of implants placed in patients taking oral bisphosphonates may be higher unless suggested safeguards are taken.