Reshaping dental faculty development using collective healthcare experiences.

Dental academics provide a fulfilling career path to educate the next generation of oral health professionals. The number of dentists choosing a career in dental academics is declining and existing faculty are opting for other career options. As the number of dental schools increase across the US, a critical shortage of educators may be evidenced. In dentistry, innovative approaches to develop academic faculty are not keeping pace with the growing needs of dental faculty, who are challenged to establish a fulfilling work-life balance. This work reviews existing methods that other health professions implement to develop faculty for successful career growth. This review highlights factors and related cofactors that influence career development among dental faculty. Recommendations are presented as potential solutions based on the assessment of similar experiences published by related academic healthcare professions. Dental academia must increase attention to faculty needs and awareness by conducting institutional-specific studies to address these issues with customizable solutions.

Probing Heterogeneity in Bovine Enamel Composition through Nanoscale Chemical Imaging using Atom Probe Tomography.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the heterogeneity in chemical composition of bovine enamel using atom probe tomography, and thereby evaluate the suitability of bovine enamel as a substitute for human enamel in in vitro dental research. DESIGN: Enamel samples from extracted bovine incisor teeth were first sectioned using a diamond saw and then milled into needle-like samples (<100 nm diameter) by focused ion beam (FIB) coupled with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). These samples were analyzed in the atom probe to acquire three-dimensional (3D) images and quantify the atomic chemistry and distribution in bovine enamel. RESULTS: For the first time, the atomic-level composition and clustering of major constituents and impurities within bovine enamel were determined and imaged. We discovered that the chemical composition of bovine enamel is spatially inhomogeneous at the atomic scale. The average bulk Ca/P ratio, ∼1.4, was in agreement with previously reported literature values from alternative conventional methods. When assessed locally at the atomic scale, the Ca/P ratio varied between 1.1 and 2.03. We also discovered that the Mg impurities were significantly segregated throughout the enamel, and such clustering influenced the variation of Ca/P ratios. The increase in Mg concentrations, near the Mg clusters, correlated with increased Ca and decreased P concentrations. CONCLUSION: The presented findings of variability in local composition should be taken into account when interpreting dental research results from bovine enamel.

Acquisition of Skills in Operative Dentistry Following a Contemporary Technique Skills Course: A Retrospective Study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a contemporary preclinical technique skills course on early dental student performance in a preclinical operative course. Ivorine teeth prepared for Class I resin restorations by the Classes of 2020 and 2021 in one U.S. dental school were evaluated in this study (N=184). Ivorine teeth were prepared during the first practical exam of the operative dentistry course. Students in the Class of 2021 had been enrolled in a contemporary technique skills course a semester prior to the operative dentistry course, while students in the Class of 2020 were not. The preparations were randomly evaluated by three calibrated and blinded faculty members using magnification loupes, an explorer, and a periodontal probe to evaluate external outline form, internal form, depth, and margin following an established rubric. The results showed that students in the Class of 2021 (who had taken the technique skills course) performed significantly better than students in the Class of 2020 for all criteria evaluated (p<0.05). In this study, incorporation of the preclinical technique skills course improved student performance in the subsequent operative dentistry course.

Use of Virtual Comparison Software for Preparation Depth Assessment in a Dental Technique Skills Course.

The aims of this study were 1) to determine whether the Compare software Comparison% score provided appropriate feedback for preparation depth on a non-anatomical tooth and 2) to define an acceptable tolerance for use in calculating the Comparison% for virtual assessment of cavity depth on a non-anatomical mandibular first molar. Forty-six non-anatomical ivorine teeth with laser-marked outlines on their occlusal surfaces were used for this study. One tooth was prepared at a 1.5 mm depth, approved by participating faculty at a U.S. dental school, and served as the standard preparation. The remaining teeth were divided into three groups (n=15 per group) for cavity preparation depths of 1 mm, 1.5 mm, and 2 mm in the laser-engraved external outline. Teeth were prepared using an electric handpiece with a 330 bur and a hatchet. Virtual images of the standard and experimental tooth preparations were recorded using an intraoral scanner. Virtual comparison software was then used to superimpose a three-dimensional (3D) image of each experimental preparation on the 3D image of the standard preparation. The software calculated comparison surface percentage values (Comparison%) at a 100 and 200 micron tolerance for each specimen. Two-way mixed linear models (α=0.01) were adopted to compare outcomes for the two levels of tolerance for teeth with different depths of preparation. Using a tolerance level of 200 µm, Comparison% scores for the acceptable preparation depth of 1.5 mm were found to be significantly different (p<0.01) from those of the unacceptable 1 mm and 2 mm depth preparations. These findings suggest that virtual comparison software may be used to assess an acceptable depth for cavity preparation within a defined external outline.