Exploring dental faculty perceptions of current strategies and barriers to retention.

PURPOSE: The aims of the study were to identify perceived strategies for and barriers to faculty retention and examine differences regarding age, gender, and race. METHODS: Cross-sectional data was captured from the eight author-affiliated dental schools. A Qualtrics survey was emailed to all faculty members at these institutions (1467 possible participants) between November 2021 and February 2022. The survey was formulated from best practices listed in the American Dental Education Association Faculty Diversity Toolkit. It consisted of 18 questions, including demographic information and faculty perceptions of their respective workplaces. These responses were then evaluated with descriptive statistics, Chi-squared analysis, Pearson Correlation, and Fleiss' kappa. RESULTS: The survey's response rate was 19.2%. There was no significant difference in perceived retention strategies across race, age, gender, practice tenure, practice type, or clinical versus tenure track. The top four barriers identified were inadequate financial compensation, workload, poor work environment, and burnout. There was a significant difference between racial groups and their perceived barrier of support for promotion (p = 0.048). This was more prevalent among clinical faculty (47.7%) than tenure track faculty (16.2%). The work environment was listed as a leading factor for both promoting retention and encouraging the exodus of faculty members. CONCLUSION: Strategies aimed at improving financial compensation, career recognition, and transparency of the promotion process, along with those aimed at improving the work environment were shown to be vital to retaining faculty. Though the low response rate is a study limitation, these findings provide valuable information and a framework for future studies regarding dental faculty recruitment and retention.

Transatlantic engagement: a novel dental educational exchange.

Introduction Newcastle University School of Dental Sciences (NUSDS) and Indiana University School of Dentistry in the United States of America (IUSD) are like-minded institutions committed to civic engagement. Over the last 15 years, both universities have built civic engagement into the dental curricula, however each institution operates within significantly different healthcare systems.Aim Co-development of unique collaborative dental education; the first UK/US educational exchange programme engaged with the dental student community.Design A dental educational exchange was developed enabling NUSDS and IUSD students to learn alongside each other within dental and community settings in both countries. Students participate in a unique face-to-face collaborative and interdisciplinary education programme within respective dental schools and by a series of video conferences scheduled before on-site visits. They gain mutual awareness of delivery, access to care and possible barriers facing patients relating to the oral healthcare systems in England, the state of Indiana and the USA. Logistical considerations were significant, aided by scoping visits to the respective partner school and video conferencing. Planning encompassed timetable restrictions, scheduling student video conferences, students' clinical access/observerships, occupational health clearances, overall educational content, student/staff evaluation and potential areas for education research.Conclusions Currently in its fourth year, this is a unique example of a collaborative educational exchange between the UK and USA.

Gingival evaluation of the pediatric cardiac patient.

PURPOSE: Children with congenital cardiovascular diseases (CCDs) who suffer from dental diseases have an increased risk of infective endocarditis. In the light of recent evidence, oral inflammatory diseases may also increase the severity of their cardiovascular condition. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the gingival status of children with congenital cardiovascular diseases in comparison to healthy children. METHODS: Fifty 7- to 13-year-old children were included. The test group comprised 25 CCD children subdivided into three groups: (1) unrepaired ventricular septal defect; (2) aortic valve stenosis; and (3) coarctation of the aorta. The control group consisted of 25 healthy age- and gender-matched children. Gingivitis, plaque, calculus, and recession were measured on six sites per tooth on 12 teeth. RESULTS: CCD children had significantly more gingivitis (P<.001), plaque (P<.001), recession (P>.02), and calculus (P<.001) than controls. Among the CCDs groups, no statistically significant differences were found for gingivitis, plaque, or recession. CONCLUSIONS: Children with congenital cardiovascular diseases had a higher prevalence of periodontal disease, evidenced by gingivitis, plaque, calculus, and recession. These children should be evaluated periodontally and their oral health monitored on a 3-month basis to prevent disease development, benefit cardiovascular condition, prevent endocarditis, and improve quality and longevity of life.

The relationship between acute otitis media and the anatomic form of the hard palate.

PURPOSE: Acute otitis media (AOM) is a serious health concern for millions of children. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between AOM and the shape of the hard palate. METHODS: Intraoral examinations were performed on 175 pediatric dental patients ages 4-6. The palatal height was classified as high, medium or low. The accompanying parent completed a survey regarding their child's age, gender, overall health, history of AOM and presence of known risk factors for AOM. RESULTS: Eighty five percent of the total sample had a positive history for AOM, with 76% experiencing AOM prior to age 1. High palatal vault was a significant finding in children that experienced AOM before age 1 (odds ratio 3.49). Logistic regression analysis revealed that children with high palatal vaults underwent tube placement more often than the rest of the study population (odds ratio 2.49). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed a relationship between the presence of high palatal vaults and early, recurrent acute otitis media in young children. Recognition of high palatal vault in children suffering from AOM, in the presence of other known risk factors, may guide health care professionals to identify an otitis media prone patient and aid in prevention of recurrence.

Perspectives on affirmative action in academic dental institutions: the U.S. Supreme Court rulings in the University of Michigan cases.

In June 2003 the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of using race as a factor in higher education admissions decisions. This article considers the impact of the Supreme Court decisions on admissions procedures at selected academic dental institutions (ADI) and their parent institutions. We interviewed fifty-eight leaders considered to be individual stakeholders at seven ADI and their related parent institutions, state dental associations, and state legislatures using a common set of questions about the Supreme Court decisions. Educators from the ADI and their parent institutions were consistent in their responses that the rulings upheld affirmative action as necessary to achieve diversity. State organized dentistry officials did not appear to be as aware as others of the rulings, whereas legislators were mixed in their responses. Except for the University of Michigan undergraduate admissions procedures, it remains to be seen what the impact will be for other higher education institutions and for academic dental institutions. Although the rulings have provided guidelines for achieving diversity using race/ ethnicity as one of several factors, the rulings will possibly be challenged, thus requiring vigilance on the part of parent institutions and their ADI to ensure compliance with the spirit of the rulings and to avoid attack from opponents of affirmative action.