ABSTRACT
Edentulism is the outcome of a multifactorial process involving biological factors and patient-related factors. Prosthodontics serves as a solution. Tooth replacement through prosthetic devices may be prohibitive for the underserved population due to barriers such as cost and lack of transportation. A community service project was developed as a response strategy to address these concerns in Fort Wayne, Indiana. With the help of Indiana University Purdue University (IPFW) Dental Laboratory Technology students and local dental professionals, the Smiles for Success: Restoring Functional Dentition One Mouth at a Time project assisted the underserved of Fort Wayne. Success was accomplished through the repair or reline of existing dentures, as well as the creation of new partial and complete oral prosthetic appliances. Working within the existing healthcare framework of an inner city clinic and local health fair for the underserved, the project completed work on 29 dentures and restored 22 patients to functioning dentitions. While the prosthetic appliances bring about new and restored smiles, it leads to a lifetime of new opportunities and improved health.
Subject(s)
Dentures , Uncompensated Care , Vulnerable Populations , Dental Technicians/education , Denture Rebasing , Denture Repair , Denture, Complete , Denture, Partial , Esthetics, Dental , Health Fairs , Health Services Accessibility , Humans , Indiana , Quality of Life , Schools, DentalABSTRACT
Educators in all academic disciplines have been encouraged to utilize assessment strategies to evaluate students' critical thinking. The purpose of this study was to assess the viability of the modified objective structured clinical examination (m-OSCE) to evaluate critical thinking in dental hygiene education. This evaluation utilized a convenience sample of senior dental hygiene students. Students participated in the m-OSCE in which portions of a patient case were revealed at four stations. The exam consisted of multiple-choice questions intended to measure students' ability to utilize critical thinking skills. Additionally, there was one fill-in-the-blank question and a treatment plan that was completed at the fifth station. The results of this study revealed that the m-OSCE did not reliably measure dental hygiene students' critical thinking. Statistical analysis found no satisfactory reliability within the multiple-choice questions and moderately reliable results within the treatment planning portion of the examination. In addition, the item analysis found gaps in students' abilities to transfer clinical evidence/data to basic biomedical knowledge as demonstrated through the multiple-choice questioning results. This outcome warrants further investigation of the utility of the m-OSCE, with a focus on modifications to the evaluation questions, grading rubric, and patient case.
Subject(s)
Educational Measurement/methods , Oral Hygiene/education , Students/psychology , Thinking , Adolescent , Adult , Clinical Competence , Female , Humans , Male , Pilot Projects , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young AdultABSTRACT
This historical narrative highlights the origin and development of the dental hygiene profession in South Korea. The legacy of early American missionaries to Korea includes profound and long-lasting contributions in medicine, education and theology. Many of Korea's top universities today have their roots in the missionary schools of the late nineteenth century, including Yonsei University, home of the first dental hygiene program in Korea. From Yonsei in Seoul, the dental hygiene profession spread throughout the country, includingtheAmerican missionary-based program in Kwangju in 1977. Contributions included clinical and didactic education, as well as professional leadership and development. American dental missionaries developed the profession of dental hygiene in Korea, and provided guidance to Korean dentists and hygienists for its growth and expansion.
