Evaluation of Faculty Mentoring Practices in Seven U.S. Dental Schools.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the faculty mentoring practices in seven dental schools in the U.S. A 34-item survey was administered electronically to dental faculty members of all ranks, tracks, and job categories in seven dental schools using faculty listservs. Survey questions addressed current mentoring practices in which the faculty members were involved; their perceptions of those mentoring practices; their perceived characteristics of an ideal mentoring program, mentor, and mentee; perceived best practices; and respondents' demographics. The survey was conducted from October 2017 to February 2018. A total of 154 surveys were completed (response rate 22%). Over 58% (90/154) of the respondents reported receiving no mentoring; 31.9% (49/154) said they received informal mentoring; and 9.7% (15/154) received formal mentoring. Of the 64 respondents who received mentoring, both formal and informal, 92.2% (59/64) were full-time faculty, and 7.8% (5/64) were part-time faculty (p=0.001). Approximately 39% of the respondents indicated that their mentoring program was not overseen by anyone and that participation was voluntary. The top three perceived benefits of mentoring were increased overall professional development, development of a career plan, and increased professional networks. The three most important characteristics of an ideal mentoring program for the respondents were a program based on the needs of the mentee, a mentor who has the desire to help the mentee, and a mentee who is eager to learn. The results of this study showed a very low level of formal or informal faculty mentoring programs in the dental schools surveyed. Future studies are needed to determine best practices and strategies to expand and enhance mentoring of faculty members.

The effect of changes in primary attending doctor coverage frequency on orthodontic treatment time and results.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether changes in primary attending (PA) doctor coverage frequency caused an increase in orthodontic treatment time or a decrease in the quality of treatment results in a postgraduate orthodontic clinic. The effect of T1 Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) scores on PA doctor coverage frequency, treatment times, and results was also evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 191 postorthodontic subjects was divided into three groups based on PA doctor coverage (high, medium, or low). Treatment times, treatment results, and other variables were compared between the three PA coverage groups. Additionally, the sample was divided into three groups based on T1 PAR scores. Attending coverage frequency, treatment times, and results were compared between the T1 PAR groups. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found in treatment time (P  =  .128) or results (P  =  .052). There were no statistically significant differences in the mean scores for T1 PAR (P  =  .056), T2 PAR (P  =  .602), patient age at T1 (P  =  .747), total appointments (P  =  .128), missed appointments (P  =  .177), or cancelled appointments (P  =  .183). Statistically significant differences were found between the low T1 PAR group and the medium and high T1 PAR groups (attending coverage, P  =  .008; results, P < .001; treatment time, P  =  .001). CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions of this study, variations in PA doctor coverage frequency did not lengthen orthodontic treatment or reduce the quality of treatment results. Low T1 PAR scores were associated with less PA coverage, less change in PAR, and shorter treatment times.

Periodontal health of anterior teeth with two types of fixed retainers.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the periodontal health of maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth retained with two types of fixed retainers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A fixed straight retainer (SR) group had 39 subjects, and a fixed wave retainer (WR) group had 35 subjects. Subjects were between the ages of 13 and 22 years and had been in fixed retention for 2 to 4 years. Pocket probing depths, bleeding on probing, plaque index, calculus index, recession, and gingival crevicular fluid volume were compared between the two retainer groups. A four-question oral hygiene survey was given to each subject. The Mann-Whitney U-test and Fisher exact test was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: There was no clinically significant difference between the retainer groups regarding plaque index, gingival crevicular fluid volume, calculus index, recession, bleeding on probing, and pocket probing depths. A statistically significant increase in the reported frequency of flossing (P  =  .006) and ease of flossing (P < .001) was associated with the WR group. There was no significant difference between the groups in reported frequency of brushing and comfort of the retainer. CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions of this study, no clinical difference was found in the periodontal health of anterior teeth retained with a SR or WR for a period of 2 to 4 years. Subjects in the WR group reported an increase in frequency and ease of flossing.

Influence of common orthodontic appliances on the diagnostic quality of cranial magnetic resonance images.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate cranial magnetic resonance (MR) image distortion caused by various orthodontic brackets. METHODS: Ten subjects received 5 consecutive cranial MR scans. A control scan was conducted with Essix trays (GAC International, Bohemia, NY) fitted over the maxillary and mandibular teeth. Four experimental MR scans of the head were conducted with plastic, ceramic, titanium, and stainless steel brackets incorporated into the Essix tray material. Each MR scan consisted of 4 sequences: sagittal T1-weighted spin echo (T1 sagittal), axial T2-weighted spin echo (T2 axial), gradient echo, and diffusion-weighted imaging. Three board-certified neuroradiologists examined the MR images for distortion in predetermined regions of the head. RESULTS: The paired Wilcoxon signed rank test showed a statistically significant difference between the mean distortion scores of stainless steel brackets and the mean distortion scores of the other experimental MR scans (P <0.0001). Interrater and intrarater agreement was high (kappa statistic and associated 95% confidence intervals). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that plastic, ceramic, and titanium brackets cause minimal distortion of cranial MR images (similar to the control). On the other hand, stainless steel brackets cause significant distortion, rendering several cranial regions nondiagnostic. Areas with the most distortion were the body of the mandible, the hard palate, the base of the tongue, the globes, the nasopharynx, and the frontal lobes. In general, the closer the stainless steel appliance was to a specific anatomic region, the greater the distortion of the MR image.

Common orthodontic appliances cause artifacts that degrade the diagnostic quality of CBCT images.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates artifacts generated by orthodontic brackets in CBCT images. METHODS: Cadaver heads with restoration free dentitions were prepared. CBCT scans with four orthodontic bracket materials utilizing thermoplastic carriers and a control were compared in three phases. RESULTS: Stainless steel brackets caused statistically significant (P<0.0001) differences from the control in the three phases. CONCLUSION: These observations support the hypothesis that metallic and nonmetallic orthodontic brackets interfere with the diagnostic quality of CBCT images.

A comparison of synovial fluid pressure after immediate versus gradual mandibular advancement in the miniature pig.

PURPOSE: Mandibular advancement is a commonly performed surgical procedure for the treatment of mandibular hypoplasia. With the increased use of rigid fixation, there has been a decrease in the amount of relapse but an increase in the amount of force transmitted to the condyles. Gradual advancement of the mandible by distraction osteogenesis slowly overcomes the soft-tissue envelope and may decrease the amount of force exerted on the condyles. The purpose of this study was to develop an animal model to measure the magnitude of pressure associated with immediate versus gradual mandibular advancement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 2.0-mm pressure transducer was placed in the superior joint space in 2 miniature pigs. In the first animal, immediate advancement of the mandible with rigid fixation was performed. The synovial fluid hydrostatic pressures were measured prior to surgery and postoperatively. A second animal underwent gradual advancement with distraction osteogenesis. The synovial fluid hydrostatic pressures were measured prior to and after each activation of the distraction device. The condyles were examined radiographically and microscopically. RESULTS: The superior joint space fluid pressures increased and remained elevated over a 5-week period after immediate advancement. In the gradually advanced mandible, the pressures were elevated but returned to near baseline prior to the activation the following day. CONCLUSION: This animal model is useful to directly measure the pressure that is exerted on the condyle. This will allow further studies to compare methods for mandibular advancement. It is likely that gradual advancement of the mandible by distraction osteogenesis produces less force and causes less condylar resorption than large mandibular advancement stabilized with rigid fixation.