Linking postdoctoral general dentistry programs with managed care programs and settings.

This report presents the results of a small workgroup convened by the American Association of Dental Schools to examine experiences related to postdoctoral general dentistry programs linked with managed care systems and clinical settings. The workgroup was a component of an Association effort to identify and promote innovative and nontraditional methods by which the number of postdoctoral general dentistry (PGD) positions can be increased to meet current demand for PGD education. The participants identified factors and conditions that they believed to be critical to the planning, development, and conduct of PGD programs with substantial linkages with managed care systems and settings. The information should be helpful to others as they consider opportunities to establish PGD programs or increase their number of PGD training positions.

The relationship between first presentation and subsequent observations in heavy calculus formers.

There are few studies that provide information on the natural history of calculus formation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between pre-scaling baseline calculus scores, the time since the last prophylaxis before baseline, and scores 8 weeks after scaling in a group of presumed heavy calculus formers. Scaling and polishing were completed on 203 subjects with Volpe-Manhold Index (VMI) calculus scores of 7 or higher, and the date of the last prophylaxis was noted. All were re-examined after 3 weeks. The group included 45.8% males and 54.2% females; the mean age was 41.74 (range = 24 to 72). Racial mix was 57.6% African-American, 39.9% white, and 2.5% other. The mean baseline VMI score was 24.07 (SD = 15.38, range = 7-97). The VMI scores were directly related (P = < .001) to the date of the last scaling and were highest in subjects whose last scaling was more than 2 years earlier (33.67) and least in subjects whose last scaling was less than 6 months previous (15.12). At 8 weeks the mean VMI score was 9.96 (SD = 7.30; range = 0-41). The VMI scores at this time were inversely related (P = < .05) to the date of the last scaling before baseline and were lowest in subjects whose last scaling was more than 2 years earlier (9.07) and highest in subjects with the last scaling less than 6 months previous to baseline (13.07).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Description of a faculty-student group practice.

Dental schools are facing budgetary constraints, decreasing clinic patient populations, and increasing competition. At the same time, there is a need to provide students a realistic educational environment. The Dental Practice Systems (DPS) Program is a partially self-supported student-faculty group practice designed to address these issues. All individuals appearing for care are accepted into the program. Services are delivered by vertical teams of faculty preceptors, in-house specialty consultants, dental and dental hygiene students, and appropriate auxiliaries. All third- and fourth-year students rotate through the program providing clinical services. In addition, fourth-year students are assigned specific managerial responsibilities. The DPS Program maximizes the use of auxiliaries and students, allowing each to function as autonomously as is consistent with good patient care.