bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Laboratory grouping based on previous courses
Authors: Doemling DB , Bowman DC
Published: June 2020

In the human physiology course at Loyola University School of Dentistry, students (N = 761, second‐year classes from 1971 to 1976) were divided into three laboratory groups according to prior experience with physiology courses and laboratories. To determine the effects of this grouping on academic performance, data were obtained on grades in the physiology course, National Board scores in physiology (combined with biochemistry from 1973 to 1976), predental GPA, and predental science GPA. Comparisons were made between the three groups using t‐tests, and correlation coefficients were obtained for physiology grade and National Board score, predental GPA, and predental science GPA. The results indicated that there were no significant differences among the three groups in performance in the physiology course or on the National Board Examination. Significant correlations were found between course performance and the other three variables. The overall impression of the faculty and the students was that the grouping program has been successful in improving laboratory performance and participation in the conference sessions.
Continuing education needs assessment in dentistry: the SNAP system
Authors: Ross GR , Smith IK , Smith JO , Waldrep AC
Published: June 2020

Needs assessment has become an integral step in planning for continuing education. This article describes a computer‐based needs assessment system that has been used successfully in planning continuing dental education in South Carolina. The Statewide Needs Assessment Program (SNAP) provides a general purpose system for collecting and analyzing continuing education needs data for large populations. Needs assessment data from 489 practicing dentists in South Carolina are presented and analyzed.
Dental student response to moral dilemmas
Authors: Green TG
Published: June 2020

This study was performed to test whether there is any difference in the manner in which freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior dental students respond to dental moral dilemmas. An instrument composed of three dental moral dilemmas was completed by 483 dental students during the first day of class of the fall 1979 semester. An analysis of the results showed that freshmen rated principled reasons more highly than sophomores, juniors, and seniors. It appears that the differences in response to moral dilemmas exist early in the dental educational process, even before students have substantial clinical experience.
Economic growth in the U.S. dental industry, 1950–1977
Authors: Doherty N
Published: June 2020

This paper addresses the issue of economic growth in the U.S. dental industry. The rates of growth in real output in the dental industry and in the U.S. economy are compared for the period 1950–1977. The annual dental rate of 4.5 percent is significantly greater (P .001) than the 3.7 percent rate for the economy. In addition, inflation has been less in dentistry than in the economy. The consequences of growth of the dental industry are also discussed.
Clinical pedodontics: an approach based on comprehensive care
Authors: Bennett CG , Hill CJ , Ronk SL , Courts FJ
Published: June 2020

The University of Florida uses a comprehensive care program to teach clinical pedodontics. Several special block clinics permit students further experience with children. Details of the comprehensive care program are described, with basic elements for a successful program emphasized. Quantitative results of patient treatment are presented and compared to those of other clinical pedodontic programs.
Transferring a computer‐based clinical administration system
Authors: Plasschaert AJ , Poort HW , Crandell CE , Plow EP
Published: June 2020

The educational programs and clinical operations of many dental schools are quite similar, but most schools find it necessary to develop their own system of clinical administration. This paper reports the transfer of an existing system to another institution embracing a different culture, a different language, and a different system of dental education. Despite changes necessitated by these conditions the system was placed in operation much earlier and at far less cost than if an entirely new system had been developed from the start. The conclusion is that, in many situations, it is not only possible to transfer a system from one school to another, it is desirable to do so.
The financial aspects of graduate dental education
Authors: Wotman S , Herrmann GL
Published: June 2020

This paper is one of a series of ten discussion papers being developed by the American Association of Dental Schools in an effort to elucidate the major issues in graduate dental education. The purposes of this paper are to discuss financial aspects of graduate education and to present specific recommendations for future action. As far as is possible, this paper will present a detailed picture of the past, present, and future costs of, and funding for, graduate dental education. It will compare the financial aspects of graduate dental education with those of predoctoral dental education. Further, it will attempt to analyze the major environmental factors affecting the fiscal survival of graduate programs in dentistry. The implications of the analysis of these factors for the future of graduate dental education in its various forms will be discussed and strategies will be proposed to maximize opportunity and minimize risk as conditions change.
Dimensions of effective preclinical teaching
Authors: Tedesco LA , Garlapo DA , Albino JE , Conny DJ , Wood RH
Published: June 2020

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors underlying dental students' evaluations of preclinical instruction. Ninety sophomore students in academic year 1979–80 and 74 sophomore students in academic year 1980–81 rated five preclinical instructors in a fixed prosthodontic technique course. At the end of the course, prior to final examinations, students received a 24‐item evaluation instrument designed to assess preclinical teaching behavior. All items were rated on a 5‐point scale, with response options ranging from no agreement to strong agreement. Factor analytic techniques were used to identify common sources of variation among items. Results indicate that 22 of the 24 items correspond to two underlying, stable dimensions that summarize preclinical teaching effectiveness, teaching style, and orientation toward students. The discussion compares teaching effectiveness dimensions identified in dental education studies with dimensions identified in studies of college instruction.
The teaching of ethics in the dental hygiene curriculum
Authors: Jong A , Heine CS
Published: June 2020

This study describes the extent of formal instruction in ethics in dental hygiene programs. Responses from 159 programs indicated that all hygiene programs include ethics in the curriculum, but the method of teaching and the amount of time devoted to the subject varied considerably. The majority of programs included ethics as a component of a larger course such as dental hygiene practice or as a separate course in ethics and jurisprudence. Although most course instructors used the lecture format, most programs combined lecture with more active forms of learning, such as use of ethical dilemmas. In general, respondents felt satisfied with the current role of ethics in the dental hygiene curriculum, although there was some concern about their own competence in teaching the subject.
A structured interview for dental school admissions
Authors: Graham JW , Boyd MA
Published: June 2020

The Dental Admission Test Committee of the Canadian Dental Association developed a structured interview instrument for use in the admission process in Canadian dental schools. The interview was structured to elicit standardized information concerning a candidate's personality with regard to motivation, self‐appraisal, maturity, ability to relate, adaptability, principles (ethics), sense of responsibility, and personal reaction. In a pilot study for the 1980 admission cycle, the interview was used in the admission process at the University of British Columbia and the University of Alberta. Interrater reliability was established and factor analysis performed. All subsections of the interview loaded on the same factor, indicating that the use of a composite score is preferable to the use of subscores in the assessment process. Validity studies will be performed when the accepted candidates have progressed in their dental careers.
The effect of instructor variance on students' grades
Authors: Mescher KD , Kerber PE
Published: June 2020

Students' scores and subsequent grades for clinical courses should reflect their performance. The scores are dependent in part on the reliability of faculty evaluations. Large variance in instructor scoring could unduly affect students' final grades. This study investigated the effect on students' scores of instructor variance in clinical evaluation. The results indicated that instructor variance was responsible for 11 percent of the variance in students' final scores. The remainder of the differences resulted from differences in student performance. More than one half of the students' grades would have been either higher or lower if the scores assigned by one or more individual instructors had been excluded. For all but one student the net change in total scores was less than one standard deviation. The authors conclude that the students' grades were reliable and that individual differences among instructors did not unduly affect the students' final scores.
The use of microfiche in testing clinical judgment
Authors: Mackenzie RS , Javid NS , Weldy PL
Published: June 2020

This paper reports an investigation of the use of microfiche to replace other more bulky clinical materials in testing clinical judgment. Twenty‐three students were administered two versions of tests of clinical judgment (micro‐fiche and nonmicrofiche) regarding the treatment of partial edentulism. Each student served as both experimental subject and control. Results indicated that under the conditions of testing used, students preferred the nonmicrofiche version of the test. However, there was no significant difference in time of administration or grades resulting from the microfiche medium. Whether the test was given first or fourth in a series of five made a difference in time to take the test (p less than .01), and in the grade received (p less than .01). Tests taken in the first position took more time to complete and resulted in a higher grade. The rate of agreement in grading between the first and second grading session was 70 percent.
Dental technology program administrators' attitudes toward credentialing health manpower
Authors: Thomson WA , Holcomb JD , Roush RE , Smith QW
Published: June 2020

The purpose of this study was to identify the attitudes of administrators of dental technology programs toward health manpower credentialing. A survey instrument was developed by allied health professionals knowledgeable in the credentialing process. The instrument contained 32 items that were categorized into three subscales and sought information about academic program accreditation, certification, and the licensure of dental technicians. The survey was sent to the directors of the 57 dental technology programs accredited by the American Dental Association, Usable returns totaled 49, or 86 percent. The data indicated that dental technology program administrators support the concept and practice of health manpower credentialing. The data also indicated that these administrators felt that academic program accreditation was of value in meeting demands for quality assurance in dental technology, and that certification of technicians, while beneficial, had been of little value in terms of rewards (recognition and economic gains) for the credential holder. In addition, licensure of dental technicians was found to be desirable.
Primary care practice patterns
Authors: Loupe MJ , Meskin LH
Published: June 2020

An interview survey of the primary care practices of a class of dental school graduates was conducted in 1977 as a part of a longitudinal study that was begun 11 years earlier, when these individuals entered dental school. Primary care was defined by the variety of dental treatment procedures used by the dentist and by his or her participation in interdisciplinary aspects of health care. The study showed that: (1) the urban or rural location of the practice was not associated with primary care; (2) the dentists' position in the practice (sole practitioner, group owner, and so forth) was associated with the variety of treatment procedures used; (3) predental school values, dental aptitudes, and dental school achievement were significant predictors of primary care practices; and (4) the two measures of primary care were uncorrelated, and there were several patterns of primary care being practiced.
Changes in personality among male and female dental graduates
Authors: McCreary CP , Gershen JA
Published: June 2020

This study examines changes in personality traits in male and female dental students and recent graduates. The Comrey Personality Scales were administered to two freshman classes, and the test was readministered two months after graduation for one class and twenty‐six months after graduation for the other class. Sex. class, and test/retest scores were analyzed using a three‐way analysis of variance with repeated measures for each scale. Significant test/retest differences consisted of increases on the Orderliness versus Lack of Compulsion Scale and Conformity versus Rebelliousness Scale and a decrease on the Activity versus Lack of Energy Scale. There were significant sex differences on the Activity versus Lack of Energy, Emotional Stability versus Neuroticism, and Masculinity versus Femininity Scales; a decrease on the Empathy versus Egocentrism Scale occurred among females in one of the classes. Dental students became increasingly more orderly and identified with established social values; they also became less competitive and less driven to excel. The dental school experience may partially explain these changes; however, other conditions, such as maturation and societal influences, may have been involved.
Faculty retention in dental hygiene programs
Authors: Ley ES
Published: June 2020

This study assesses the extent to which faculty turnover in dental hygiene programs is related to the type of educational institution. A questionnaire was mailed to 201 dental hygiene program directors; 17 5 responded (87 percent). Nearly 47 per‐cent of the directors associated with programs in state colleges and universities indicated they had experienced some degree of difficulty retaining faculty in the past five years; less than 18 percent of those in community colleges and technical schools experienced similar problems. Faculty attrition due to personal reasons and job and salary dissatisfaction occurred to a slightly greater extent in state educational institutions than in community colleges and technical schools. Achieving tenure was perceived as a problem primarily by directors of programs in state colleges and universities. Although inadequate salary was a direct cause of attrition in some cases, the degree to which it influenced personal reasons for leaving was not determined.
The role of psychological androgyny in female students' dental career choices
Authors: Hamby CL
Published: June 2020

Studies of the characteristics of graduate students in several made‐dominated and female‐dominated disciplines suggest that expressivity and instrumentality are related to career choices. The Bem Sex‐Role Inventory (BSRI) was administered to female dental and dental hygiene students to determine whether female dental students are stereotypically androgynous and differ from female dental hygiene students in their sex‐role behavior and preference. The rationale for this assumption was based on the relatively female exclusiveness of the dental hygiene profession and the notable male dominance of dentistry. The female dental hygiene students were classified by their self‐description as being predominantly feminine, the female dental students by their self‐description as androgynous. The differences as measured by the BSRI were statistically significant (p = .007).
A dental school formulary
Authors: Gill C
Published: June 2020

A drug formulary can provide a readily accessible source of drug information that will complement traditional sources and enable students and faculty to make better use of them. This article presents the formal and types of information included in the University of Southern California Dental School formulary. Experiences with this formulary are discussed and recommendations for improvement are made. The formulary can be readily introduced in any dental school and would be beneficial to all dental schools, with or without their own pharmacies.
The use of affective assessment to plan and evaluate instructional changes
Authors: Holland JC , Vann WF
Published: June 2020

Affective assessment has been used extensively in dental education to gain valuable information from student attitudes; however, it has rarely been used as an instrument for systematically evaluating courses in order to plan instructional changes. In this investigation, affective assessment was used to plan and subsequently evaluate instructional changes in a restorative dentistry laboratory course. Affective assessment was used initially to determine attitudes concerning the laboratory course as well as the effect of an experimental program conducted during the course. Based on that assessment, changes were made in the course and the experimental program. Affective assessment was again employed the following year to determine the effect of the instructional and methodological changes. This study serves as a model for dental educators who would like to employ a systematic and practical approach to planning and evaluating instructional change through affective assessment.
Evaluation of common predictors for selection of postdoctoral dental students
Authors: Handelman SL , Iranpour B , Brunette PM , Solomon E
Published: June 2020

Certain predictors are traditionally presumed to be reliable measures for selection of candidates for general dentistry training programs. The purpose of this study was to assess the relative value of academic standing, letters of recommendation, and personal interview impressions by comparing them with performance during training. Predictor data were collected from the application files of all postdoctoral trainees in the advanced general dentistry training program at the Eastern Dental Center of the past ten years (N = 154). However, only 102 postdoctoral students had information available for all three predictor criteria. Performance was rated subjectively on completion of training by two faculty members on a six‐point rating scale. The highest correlations between predictors and performance were to academic achievement (r = 0.347). Weaker, though statistically significant, correlations were found for the personal interview (r = 0.206) and letters of recommendation (r = 0.192). Although these predictor criteria will continue to be used in the selection of candidates, administrators and selection committees must be aware of the limitations of such criteria in predicting performance.
Research on craniofacial genetics and developmental biology: implications for the future of academic dentistry
Authors: Slavkin HC
Published: June 2020

The literature of biology abounds in awe‐inspiring acts of iridescent genius. Although a law of nature is phrased in abstract language and is itself devoid of passion and sensibility, the history of its discovery may be an epic worthy of Homer, every page of which bears the stamp of the personality of people. Clearly, scientific truth can be defended by dispassionate logic, but its discovery cannot be promoted this way. The human factor in the creative equation is an important aspect. The discovery of the principles that now form the foundation of developmental craniofacial biology is a story of irony and paradox. Although much progress has been made in many scientific endeavors, many questions regarding craniofacial growth and development remain unanswered. One of the main problems encountered in studies of mammalian growth and development, specifically those dealing with developmental craniofacial biology, has been the apparent lack of application of advances in parallel fields of scientific endeavor. The time seems appropriate for commingling clinical problems with the recently acquired principles of cellular, molecular, and developmental biology.
Teaching dental students mirror vision skills
Authors: Willis DO , Kincheloe JE
Published: June 2020

A study was undertaken to determine the most advantageous format for teaching dental students the perceptual motor skills needed in mirror vision. It was found that performance varied, with each student reaching a personal limit of performance in regard to time and errors. Groups that performed the exercise in different formats (massed, distributed, progressive, and simple) all improved in relation to the control group, but not in relation to each other. There was significant correlation between the time taken to complete the exercise and errors incurred on both pre‐ and post‐tests.
The use of hepatitis B vaccine in U.S. dental schools
Authors: Schaefer ME
Published: June 2020

A questionnaire was sent to the deans of 59 dental schools in the United States. They were asked to indicate their plans for the use of the new hepatitis B vaccine, whether hepatitis B antigen‐positive patients were treated in the dental school clinics, and if so, what special precautions were used. The requirements for serological testing of patients were also addressed. Fifty questionnaires were returned. Eight schools (16 percent of the respondents) had not formulated plans for use of the vaccine. Thirty‐one schools (62 percent) planned to use it for all students, faculty, dental assistants, and hygienists. In 74 percent of the schools planning to use the vaccine, the cost would be borne by the recipients; in 16 percent, costs would be paid by the institution. Several stated that the cost would be shared by both. Twenty percent of the respondents had not yet formulated plans for payment. The responses indicated that a great deal of indecision still exists among dental administrators as to the use of the hepatitis B vaccine and who will assume the cost.
Future of dental education: strategic issues
Authors: Sinkford J , Boyd JB
Published: June 2020

Dental education institutions, as components of university systems, must develop short‐, mid‐, and long‐range plans for program development, resource allocation, evaluation, and continued financial support. This ongoing process must be accomplished in a very competitive academic arena where program excellence and program relevance are key issues in the game of survival. This presentation has focused on the major issues raised by the Strategic Plan of the American Dental Association, which must be considered by education institutions as they develop their plans. The Strategic Plan outlines some of the most crucial issues in dental education, and careful study of its content should be an obligatory step in any dental school planning process.
Dental insurance, a successful model facing new challenges
Authors: Olsen ED
Published: June 2020

Dental insurance has been the fastest growing fringe benefit during the 70s. Further, it has evolved into a cost‐effective means for getting more people to seek dental treatment. Early worries of the purchaser and the profession about the uninsurability of dental care have largely been solved; to this day, though, no one has developed a model to successfully deliver individual coverage. In the 80s, dental insurance is facing some significant new challenges, mainly because purchasers of care perceive the need to trim all health care costs due to the rapid escalation of medical and hospital costs. Two avenues being pursued are “alternative delivery” and a “health tax” on fringe benefits. These two cost‐containment efforts significantly threaten both the form and growth of dental insurance. It is important that the profession recognize the significance of these challenges and, recognizing the causes, become involved in finding solutions that do not diminish the quality of dental care.
Four years' experience with a fellowship program for dental quality studies
Authors: O'Shea RM , Mercer JF , White RP
Published: June 2020

A fellowship program of small grants to support students' research has been conducted for several years as a means of attracting beginning investigators to the field of dental quality assurance. Experience with the program yielded several observations that may be useful in similar endeavors. Recruitment of research manpower to a new problem area is possible in a relatively short period of time, and at modest cost when the targeted population is students in training institutions, and when the grants program uses volunteers, has frequent cycles, provides applicants with rapid turn‐around, and takes advantage of the extensive communication network available to dentistry. A general small grants program with these features would benefit dental research.
Stress management training for dental students
Authors: Tisdelle DA , Hansen DJ , St Lawrence JS , Brown JC
Published: June 2020

Dental school and professional practice are well‐documented sources of stress. Although students and dentists risk developing stress‐related disorders, no empirically evaluated method for helping dental students cope with stress has been reported. A group of 17 dental students participated in a six‐session program that included instruction in self‐relaxation and time management; exercise and leisure planning; and cognitive modification techniques. From pre‐ to post‐training, subjects showed improvement on a variety of self‐report and physiological measures relative to a waiting‐list control group. A three‐month follow‐up assessment revealed continued reductions in stress‐related behavior. The importance of stress‐management training for dental students is discussed as well as suggestions for future research.
A comprehensive stress‐reduction program for dental students
Authors: Schwartz RM , Eigenbrode CR , Cantor O
Published: June 2020

This paper describes the efforts of the Behavioral Science Department of the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine to develop a comprehensive program for reducing student stress. Components of this program include the school's overall orientation, the student advising and counseling system, and student‐oriented programs and courses. The concept of stress management provides a useful framework for guiding the development of such programs and is relevant to both dentistry and dental education.
Dental hygiene students' future orientation and perceptions of old age and of older persons
Authors: Rakowski W , Kerschbaum WE , McGowan JM
Published: June 2020

The future orientation that health care providers have toward old age has been proposed as one factor that contributes to unfavorable perceptions of older patients. Two samples of students from a dental hygiene program (n1 = 145; n2 = 100) were questioned about their general attitudes toward older people, older people as patients, their own future, the future for older adults, and about their social/familial contact with the elderly. Discriminant function analysis supported the importance of both views of the future and social/familial background for general attitudes and perceptions of patients.
Another look at behavioral sciences in dentistry: perspectives on collaborative clinical research
Authors: Tedesco LA , Albino JE , Feagans WM , Mackenzie RS
Published: June 2020

This paper explores the collaborative research relationships between clinical dentists and behavioral scientists in dental education. The emergence of behavioral sciences in dentistry is discussed and attention is given to the nature of professional roles in collaborative clinical research. Components for a model for collaborative clinical research are specified based on the research experiences of behavioral scientists with colleagues in prosthodontics and orthodontics.
Effects of a curriculum change on dental student attitudes
Authors: Kress GC , Howell TH , Spinell D
Published: June 2020

This study compared student attitudes before and after the change from a four‐ to a five‐year D.M.D. program at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Three instruments were used to collect data from eight successive classes, the last four enrolled in the original program (classes of 1979–1982) and the first four enrolled in the new program (classes of 1984–1987). Overall participation rate was 89 percent. The scales were: (1) the Survey of Interpersonal Values (SIV); (2) a bipolar adjective checklist, The Job of Dentistry, which reveals views of the profession, and (3) Career Plans. The same set of scales was administered for a second time, upon graduation, to the classes of 1980–1982. Only two changes were noted between first and second administrations for these three classes: at graduation, the job of dentistry was viewed as more sales‐oriented and more physical. Comparing the two programs, students in the new (five‐year) program scored significantly higher on leadership in the Survey of Interpersonal Values. Five‐year students viewed the job of dentistry as significantly more changing, complicated, unusual, intellectual, scientific, interesting, and involving more public speaking, and their career plans tended to be more academically oriented.
Geriatric dentistry in the predoctoral curriculum
Authors: Freedman KA , Drummond JL , Pretto LA
Published: June 2020

The elderly component of the general population has been increasing in the past decades and will continue to increase well into the future. This group of people presents to the dentist with a unique set of characteristics, both dental and physical. To treat the elderly more competently and to provide clinical training to undergraduates simultaneously, a geriatric dental program was initiated in 1976 at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry. The program's current status and operation are described.
Changing patient needs and their impact on clinical education
Authors: Colman HL , Entwistle B , Meskin L
Published: June 2020

Dental records of 1,800 clinic patients were examined in nine U.S. dental schools. The objective of the study was to identify what changes, if any, occurred over the five‐year period between 1978 and 1982 in dental clinic patient treatment needs. Patients were found to be older at the time of entry into the clinical system and they required less operative treatment, fewer opposing full dentures, and less fixed bridgework. Increases in single full dentures and partial dentures were recorded. No changes were observed in endodontics, periodontics, or oral surgery treatment needs. These findings present a potentially serious problem in affected areas that may lead to a decline in the availability of sufficient experiences for the clinical training of dentists.
Communication tendencies of senior dental students
Authors: Dunning DG , Lange BM
Published: June 2020

Although the importance of dentist‐patient communication is generally recognized, the dental literature does not specify what interpersonal behaviors can be used as a basis for evaluating dental students' communication skills. A set of behaviors based on clinical observations is described, and an evaluation of 25 senior students' behavioral skills is presented. Students often did not: (1) spend much time orienting patients before beginning treatment; (2) update medical histories; (3) ask patients if they had any questions before beginning treatment; (4) explain the operation and use of equipment; (5) forewarn patients about uncomfortable procedures; (6) attend to signs of patient discomfort; (7) reinforce praiseworthy patient behavior; (8) caution patients about numbness, chewing, and sensitivity; (9) thank patients for their time; and (10) use leading/motivating questions. There is a need to provide students with systematic feedback on their interpersonal behaviors.
The use of videotape in the treatment planning seminar
Authors: Raborn GW , Plecash JE
Published: June 2020

Despite the drawbacks, the student evaluation of the seminar approach was positive. This reinforced the faculty's view that the seminar is a unique, interactive learning experience. The seminar provides a forum for faculty and students to integrate the various treatment planning and case management skills taught in oral diagnosis and radiology. Students must focus on the treatment plan for the “whole” patient without regard for divisional bias. Although some students criticized the seminar experience as too stressful, others believed that a certain level of stress actually aided the learning process. The faculty plans to identify the sources of this stress and eliminate them whenever possible. One guess is that most of the stress results from the students striving to do well for their peers and the attending faculty; this will be difficult to eliminate. The use of videotape as a medium for displaying the patient interview and intraoral conditions has been proven and is well supported by student evaluation. The use of live cases for the seminars adds reality to the treatment planning process and was also strongly supported by student evaluation.
Continuous knowledge of results and psychomotor skill acquisition
Authors: Feil PH , Reed T , Hart JK
Published: June 2020

In preclinical dentistry, precise terminal knowledge of results (KR) typically is provided by an instructor when the student has completed all or a portion of a preparation. A contemporary model of psychomotor learning implies that performance can be improved if continual precise KR also is available. This investigation compared a traditional instructional format that provided instructor‐generated terminal KR with one that also trained students to generate continual KR using two sections of an operative laboratory (n = 55 each). The dependent variable was student performance on occlusal and mesio‐occlusal amalgam preparations. Students in the experimental group significantly outperformed those in the control group on both preparations.
Radiation safety and quality assurance in North American dental schools
Authors: Farman AG , Hines VG
Published: June 2020

A survey of North American dental schools revealed that processing quality control and routine maintenance checks on x‐ray generators are, in most instances, being carried out in a timely manner. Available methods for reducing patient exposure to ionizing radiation are, however, not being fully implemented. Furthermore, in some instances, dental students are still being exposed to x‐rays primarily for teaching purposes.
Organizational characteristics of dental schools associated with research productivity
Authors: Harrington MS
Published: June 2020

The purpose of this study was to identify organizational characteristics of dental schools that relate to research productivity. Published data on 53 U.S. dental schools comprised the seven predictor variables. The criterion variable of school research productivity (SRP) was defined as the aggregate number of faculty publications generated by each dental school. Using stepwise multiple regression, it was found that three of the variables predicted 34 percent of the variance in SRP: (1) level of NIDR funding, R2 = .28; (2) student/faculty ratio, R2 = .31, and (3) number of library books, R2 = .337. An ANOVA was conducted between source of basic science instruction and SRP and revealed that the use of medical school faculty to teach basic science courses for dental students had the strongest positive relationship to SRP. The “ideal” combination of dental school characteristics associated with research productivity was $420,000 or more in NIDR funds, a student/faculty ratio of 4.75 or less, a dental library with at least 10,000 dental‐related books, and the use of medical school faculty to teach basic science courses.
Have dentists assimilated information about AIDS?
Authors: Atchison KA , Dolan TA , Meetz HK
Published: June 2020

A random sample of 396 general dentists, oral surgeons, and periodontists in Los Angeles was interviewed in fall 1986. The purpose was to determine their experience in treating patients infected with HIV, factors associated with their knowledge about signs and symptoms of AIDS, and their sources of information regarding AIDS. The results showed that one‐third of the dentists reported treating a known or suspected AIDS patient and that 56 percent indicated that they would not or could not treat patients with AIDS. Dentists displayed little knowledge of the oral and systemic signs and symptoms of AIDS. They reported professional journals, continuing education, and the popular press as the sources of information regarding AIDS that they found most useful. Yet those who reported attending continuing education were found to have only slightly greater knowledge of diagnostic signs. After two or more reported lectures on AIDS, 31 percent still named no oral signs and symptoms of AIDS.
The effect of eliminating administrative radiographs on patient exposure and accuracy of provisional treatment plans
Authors: Kantor ML , Slome BA
Published: June 2020

Published reports and recommendations suggest that radiographs are often ordered because of administrative policies during the screening and selection of patients for dental school clinics. This study examined the prescription of radiographs for two groups of patients: those who were radiographically examined according to an administrative policy and those whose radiographic needs were determined by a clinical examination. The provisional treatment needs assessment based on the screening examination was compared to the final treatment plan based on a complete diagnostic workup for both groups of patients to assess the effect of a change in school policy. Clinicians ordered half the number of panoramic radiographs as would have been ordered by administrative policy. There was no significant difference in the agreement between the provisional and final treatment plans under the two policies. These results suggest that dental schools can comply with federal recommendations against administrative radiographs without compromising patient selection.
Adjusting for hard and easy graders
Authors: Chambers DW
Published: June 2020

The dental education literature demonstrates that rater training and the use of criterion‐anchored evaluation systems have been only partially successful in reducing the use of private standards by raters. A method is described for statistically removing this source of bias. A study is reported where scores normalized using this technique were significantly better predictors of students' future performance than were raw scores. Assumptions, techniques, and practical considerations are also discussed.
The reliability of three methods for evaluating dental sealants
Authors: Daniel SJ , Scruggs RR
Published: June 2020

Three evaluation instruments (global, check‐list, and criterion referenced) were used by experienced and inexperienced examiners to evaluate dental sealant end products on 40 extracted teeth. Intra‐ and interexaminer reliabilities were measured. Experienced examiners achieved higher intrarater reliabilities with all three evaluation instruments than did inexperienced examiners. The highest intraexaminer agreement for all examiners occurred with use of the global evaluation. The highest interexaminer reliability was achieved with the second use of the criterion‐referenced evaluation by the experienced examiner. Interexaminer reliability was improved for both types of examiners with the criterion‐referenced evaluation.
A comparison of potential treatment costs for group capitation versus voluntary individual enrollment plans
Authors: DePorter DJ , Marcus M , Jacobson JJ
Published: June 2020

As competition among insurance companies for increased market share intensifies, dental plans designed for new markets have begun to appear. One such plan is marketed to individuals not eligible for group plans. The purpose of this study was to determine if differences in potential treatment costs exist between patients enrolling in individual‐targeted plans and those in group‐based plans. The cost of treatment plans to eliminate dental disease and replace missing teeth whenever possible and/or practical was calculated for 119 patient pairs from both types of plans. Individually targeted patients had significantly higher levels of potential treatment costs, which were due primarily to significantly greater needs for operative, periodontal surgery, and endodontic services. These findings are important to insurance companies in designing plans that are both equitable and attractive to consumers and potential providers of care, who must weigh their costs of providing care against anticipated revenues.
A comparative analysis of the influence of financing on Boston's neighborhood health center dental programs in 1979 and 1985
Authors: Bolden AJ , Branch LG , Allukian M
Published: June 2020

This study determined whether or not income and other structural components of 15 Boston neighborhood health centers in 1979 and 1985 had a systematic influence on their dental productivity as measured by dental visits. Health center revenue sources, health center costs, dental program costs, dental and medical manpower, and type of facility license were analyzed in relation to dental visits using secondary data from multiple sources. Dental costs and dental manpower were substantial predictors of dental visits for both periods of time. Stepwise regression analyses suggest that in 1979, the type of license and the type of grants received also were associated with the number of dental visits. In 1985, however, none of the revenue variables showed an association with dental visits when controlling for dental manpower and dental costs.
Selecting the optimal threshold for the radiographic diagnosis of interproximal caries
Authors: Tulloch JF , Antczak‐Bouckoms AA , Berkey CS , Douglass CW
Published: June 2020

The declining prevalence of dental caries and changes in understanding about the progressive nature of this disease have led to recommendations that new diagnostic criteria be adopted. Selecting the optimum diagnostic threshold requires consideration of the probability of disease, distribution of true and false diagnoses at different test thresholds, and estimates of the consequences of treatment based on these diagnoses. Data from the Veterans Administration Dental Longitudinal Study were used to determine the distribution of true and false diagnoses at progressively more stringent diagnostic thresholds. Estimates of the consequences of treatment provided on the basis of true and false diagnoses were obtained from a randomly selected group of clinicians. The data were combined in a decision analysis to determine the “expected value” of operative treatment at each threshold under varying assumptions about the prevalence of disease, rate of disease progression, and value of treatment. No single diagnostic threshold consistently maximized the benefits of treatment. While patients with a high caries prevalence who experience infrequent recalls would benefit from a diagnostic threshold that includes early lesions, patients with a low caries prevalence who follow good recall schedules should benefit from a more conservative diagnostic threshold.
Future directions in surface preparation of dental implants
Authors: Baier RE , Meyer AE
Published: June 2020

Clean, intrinsically high‐surface‐energy dental implants are both safe and effective, but ambiguity remains with regard to the true surface qualities of many implant materials that have been sterilized and are about to be placed in properly instrumented host sites. Future dental implant requirements should include proper surface preparation and surface quality maintenance of the implants themselves. Recommended directions for research on dental implant materials include greater use of surface analytical techniques to identify, understand, and ultimately control common surface contaminants. Regulatory agencies should require specific reporting of critical surface parameters for all dental implant materials in their final, sterile states, including any changes from desirable initial values. Different implants demand different degrees of interaction with adjacent biological phases, for example, to promote or inhibit bioadhesion, and different surface preparations can assure these results.
Impact of an NIDR educational program on the teaching of caries prevention in dental hygiene
Authors: Loupe MJ , Frazier PJ , Horowitz AM , Kleinman DV , Caranicas PC , Caranicas DA
Published: June 2020

An evaluation is reported of selected educational and promotional activities of the National Institute of Dental Research related to caries prevention. Data were collected from U.S. dental hygiene program directors (n = 183) and faculty (n = 718) by mail questionnaire between November 1984 and May 1985. The impact of NIDR activities on the caries prevention curricula in dental hygiene education programs was investigated. Results show that the educational activities of the NIDR, as well as selected state and program characteristics, are associated with differences in the caries prevention curricula of dental hygiene programs and the caries prevention teaching of the faculty. The more frequent and the more personal the contact with NIDR activities, the greater the emphasis given to caries prevention in the curriculum structure and in the teaching practices of the faculty.
The impact of the differences in the decline of dental school applicants in the United States and Canada
Authors: Bennett IC , Boyd MA , Graham JW
Published: June 2020

The number of individuals writing the Canadian Dental Association Dental Aptitude Test and the American Dental Association Dental Admissions Test for the first time is used as a measure of the number of new additions to the dental school applicant pool in each of the past 15 years. Dramatic changes have occurred during that period. Comparisons are made and similarities noted between the situations in the United States and Canada. A discussion of the probable causes of the differences highlights the changing government programs in the two countries, the perceptions of potential applicants, and the attitudes of members of the dental profession. Some suggestions for future action are proposed.
The effectiveness of a leadup activity on performance in an operative preclinic laboratory course
Authors: Feil PH , Reed TR
Published: June 2020

Preclinical technique curricula seldom provide training in those prerequisite skills that may facilitate performance in a large class of procedures. Instead, students typically progress from simple to increasingly difficult preparations and it is assumed that positive transfer occurs between them. Another strategy that may provide greater benefits is the leadup activity, which closely simulates the criterion tasks, but eliminates one or more complexities thought to interfere with prerequisite skill acquisition. This investigation evaluated the effectiveness of such a training program on performance in all projects of a freshman operative laboratory course. Twenty‐six student volunteers participated in an eight‐hour program that was largely self‐instructional. Their performance was compared to that of a randomly selected control group with replacement at each observation. Raters were calibrated and blind to group affiliation of completed preparations. Analyses of covariance with PAT as the covariate indicated that the experimental group statistically significantly outperformed the control group on all but one preparation. It is concluded that the implementation of leadup activities at least for a freshman operative technique laboratory may be warranted.