Virtual patient instruction for dental students: can it improve dental care access for persons with special needs?

An interactive, virtual-patient module was produced on compact disc (CD-ROM) in response to the critical need to increase dental students' clinical exposure to patients with developmental disabilities. A content development team consisting of dental faculty members, parents of children with developmental disabilities, an individual with a developmental disability, and educational specialists developed the interactive, virtual-patient module. The module focused on a young man with congenital deafblindness presenting as a new patient with a painful molar. Students were required to make decisions regarding clinical interactions throughout the module. Differences in both comfort and knowledge level were measured pre- and post-module completion, as well as the dental students' overall satisfaction with the learning experience. Significant results were obtained in students' perceived comfort and knowledge base. Participants reported overall satisfaction using the modules. This study demonstrated that an interactive, multi-media (CD-ROM), virtual patient learning module for dental students could be an effective tool in providing students needed clinical exposure to patients with developmental disabilities.

Improving student dentist competencies and perception of difficulty in delivering care to children with developmental disabilities using a virtual patient module.

An interactive, multimedia, virtual patient module was designed and developed on compact disc (CD-ROM) to address the need for student dentists to increase their competence and decrease their perception of difficulty in caring for children with developmental disabilities. A development team consisting of pediatric dentistry faculty members, parents of children with developmental disabilities, an individual with a developmental disability, and educational specialists developed an interactive virtual patient case. The case involved a ten-year-old child with Down syndrome presenting with a painful tooth. Student dentists were required to make decisions regarding proper interactions with the child, as well as appropriate clinical procedures throughout the case. Differences in perceived difficulty level and knowledge change were measured, as well as the student dentists' overall satisfaction with the learning experience. Significant results were obtained in both perceived difficulty level and knowledge-based measures for student dentists. Participants reported overall satisfaction with the modules. Preparing student dentists to provide sensitive and competent care for children with developmental disabilities is a critical need within dentistry. This study demonstrated that an interactive, multimedia (CD-ROM), virtual patient learning module for student dentists is potentially an effective tool in meeting this need.

Acrylic artificial fingernail embedded in the palate of an 11-month-old: a case report.

Foreign bodies found embedded in the oral cavity have been reported in the literature. The purpose of this case report was to document embedding of an acrylic artificial fingernail in the palate of an 11-month-old. As the use of artificial acrylic nails increases, this case report is also meant to alert oral health professionals as to what may become a more common occurrence.

A retrospective study of the use of the Bluegrass appliance in the cessation of thumb habits.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of the Bluegrass appliance in ceasing the thumb-sucking habit. METHODS: Patient records of 41 subjects, ages 4 to 20 years of age, who attended the University of Kentucky Pediatric Dental Clinic for the treatment of a thumb-sucking habit with the Bluegrass appliance, were reviewed. Of the 41 subjects, 30 were included in the study. Data collected from the records included age, sex, past dental history, past medical history, history during treatment with the Bluegrass appliance, patient and/or parental/legal guardian report of cessation of the habit, and total treatment time. RESULTS: Of the 30 subjects included in the study, the results showed that in 28 (93%) of the patients, the thumb habit was ceased after insertion of and complete treatment with the Bluegrass appliance. The average reported treatment time for the cessation of the habit was 12.3 weeks+/-12.2 weeks. The mean total treatment time for the thumb habit with the Bluegrass appliance was 30.3 weeks+/-1 7.7 weeks, with 6 (20%) of the patients requiring reinsertion of the appliance during treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the Bluegrass appliance is an effective treatment option for the cessation of a thumb-sucking habit with limited treatment complications.