Incorporating Experiential Learning Techniques to Improve Self-Efficacy in Clinical Special Care Dentistry Education.

The New York University College of Dentistry has introduced a clinical rotation for fourth-year dental students that focuses on treating people with special health care needs (PSN). The aim of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that clinical experience in treating patients with special health care needs during predoctoral education is associated with increased self-assessed student ability and comfort and therefore self-efficacy. The study also investigated whether other characteristics, such as prior personal or volunteer experience with this population, service-mindedness, and/or the inclination to treat underserved populations, were associated with comfort in treating PSN. A survey was used to assess changes in students' perceived knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes regarding treating PSN before and after the clinical experience for July 2012-June 2013. The survey included questions about students' service-mindedness, comfort, perceptions of abilities of PSN and educational importance of learning to treat PSN, desire for clinical experience, and future intent or interest in treating PSN. Out of 364 students invited to participate, 127 surveys were returned, for a response rate of 34.9%. The results showed statistically significant increases on six items following training: impressions about the importance of oral health among PSN, comfort in treating people with cognitive disabilities and with medical complexities, intent to treat PSN in future practice, interest in including PSN in postgraduate training, and belief that PSN could be treated in the private practice setting. These students reported preferring to learn in the clinical setting over didactic instruction. This clinical experience was associated with improved self-efficacy in treating PSN and increased intentions to treat this population in future practice. Improvements were particularly evident among those with the least prior experience with PSN and were independent of other aspects of the students' past experience, future goals, or personality characteristics.

Plaque removal with a novel rubber chewing wheel device: results of a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of a disposable rubber chewing wheel (Rolly Brush device) to remove plaque after meals. METHODOLOGY: This was a randomized, four-armed, investigator-blinded study where subjects were assigned into tooth brushing, mouthrinse, chewing gum, and Rolly Brush groups. Plaque index was measured before and after one of the four plaque removal techniques. Questionnaires were administered to ascertain the subject's opinion of the Rolly Brush device compared with the other plaque removal methods. RESULTS: Rolly Brush removed plaque better than mouth rinsing (p < 0.03). Subjects reported that Rolly Brush removed plaque better than mouthrinse (p < 0.001) or chewing gum (p < 0.001), but not better than tooth brushing (p = 0.365). Subjective reports indicated that the Rolly Brush device was less likely to disrupt taste compared to mouthrinse (12% versus 30% of the subjects, respectively). Subjects randomized to the Rolly Brush group also rated the device highest in terms of ease of use, although there were no statistical differences among the methods. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a disposable rubber chewing wheel, the Rolly Brush device, is an acceptable means of removing plaque after meals, and should be well tolerated by the public.