Benefits of virtual externships with a pediatric dentistry program for potential residents.

PURPOSE: To determine if a virtual externship (VE) is beneficial to potential applicants regarding their perceived knowledge of a pediatric dentistry residency program. Secondarily, this study identified general program characteristics that influence resident ranking decisions. METHODS: All applicants who applied to a pediatric dentistry residency program in the Southeast were invited to participate in a VE. Those who participated in the externship (n = 65) were asked to voluntarily complete Pre- and Post-VE surveys. Participants were asked 22 questions about their level of knowledge of both tangible and intangible aspects of the program such as stipend, patient volume, faculty-resident interaction, and resident comradery. Participants were also asked to rank 9 general characteristics that influence ranking decisions such as geography, cost to attend, and reputation of the program and were asked to rate their satisfaction with the VE. Post-VE data were compared to pre-VE data to determine level of knowledge gained via Wilcoxin matched pairs signed rank test (significance set at p < 0.05). RESULTS: When comparing Pre- and Post-VE ratings of level of knowledge about each category, all 22 categories assessed showed statistically significant mean differences indicating perceived knowledge gain with the most knowledge gained for "resident satisfaction in the program." Of the nine program characteristics, clinical experience was the most important factor to participants. Participants (100%) were satisfied with the VE experience and indicated the VE gave them the opportunity to get to know the program. CONCLUSIONS: A virtual externship is a satisfactory option for increasing applicant knowledge of the tangible and intangible aspects of a residency program.

Dental students and recent dental graduates' perceptions of preparedness in treating pediatric patients.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To survey potential applicants applying to advanced education in pediatric dental programs and evaluate their preparedness upon graduating from an accredited dental school. METHODS: Attendees of a virtual externship of a University program were recruited to participate in a web-based survey. The survey collected demographic data, current levels of confidence with various pediatric clinical procedures, predicted confidence with those procedures, and number of procedures completed. Chi-Square and analysis of variance statistics were performed on resulting data to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: Fifty-three participants completed the survey in its entirety (n = 53). Most respondents reported adequate didactic training, mean score of 3.6 (range 0-5) and a moderate to high impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on their overall training with a mean score of 4.9 (range 0-10). Current dental students reported that they are "not confident at all" (<2.0) for 15/24 (63%) of the procedures. Graduates reported "somewhat confident" (<3.0) for 13/24 (54%) of the categories. Both students and graduates report the lowest levels of confidence for managing dental trauma, invasive treatment of young patients (<4 years of age), and patients with special healthcare needs. Dental students self-reported the expectation to feel more confident throughout their matriculation; however, their clinical experience was still reported to be limited. Students did not report reaching the level of "confident" for 75% of the procedures. CONCLUSION: Dental students and recent dental graduates alike perceive themselves to be under prepared for practice and do not feel confident in performing pediatric dental procedures. This study can provide dental schools, program directors, recent graduates, and dental students with an understanding of areas where they are under prepared and could offer areas where curricula and clinical experiences could be updated or modified.

Alcohol use among US dental students: Results of a nationwide survey.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: Substance use may be a consequence of dental student stress. Studies have examined the alcohol use among medical students, but there are fewer studies among dental students. The purpose of this study was to examine alcohol use in a large geographically diverse sample of US Dental Students. METHODS: An anonymous web-based survey instrument was modeled after well-known surveys of college student substance use. Survey data collection used best practices for web-based surveys when possible. RESULTS: 2019 responses were collected with the cooperation of fifteen US dental schools (potential sample size: 6029; RR: 7.6%, n = 463). 2021 responses were collected using the American Student Dental Association email list (potential sample size: 18,722; RR: 2.2%, n = 424). Respondents came from all regions of the US. Thirty-day alcohol usage and binge drinking rates were somewhat higher among dental students than college-age students from other surveys. Women's 30-day prevalence of alcohol use was slightly higher than men, but binge drinking prevalence was greater among men. Prevalence of binge drinking was higher among white students, as was mean drinks per drinking occasion. Students who self-reported below average academic performance were more likely to report drinking to get away from problems and had a higher prevalence of some alcohol-related problems (ARPs). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limitations of this study, the results are consistent with that of other studies. This study has provided some valuable insight into the prevalence of alcohol usage and ARPs among US dental students. Of special concern are the reasons for drinking as mechanisms for relieving tension and stress, which may continue into dental practice.

Effectiveness of and Dental Student Satisfaction with Three Teaching Methods for Behavior Guidance Techniques in Pediatric Dentistry.

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of different types of instructional styles-traditional lecture with and without video examples and contemporary format that simulated a flipped classroom-on dental students' learning of behavior guidance techniques (BGTs) in pediatric dentistry. The study also sought to determine if students had an improved comfort level with BGTs with these instructional methods, if videos improved learning and comfort with BGTs, and if there were differences in outcomes by gender. All 96 second-year dental students at one U.S. dental school were recruited to participate in the study in 2017. Students were randomly divided into three groups: contemporary instruction (CI), traditional instruction with video (TIV), and traditional instruction with no video (TI). CI students watched a 20-minute mini-lecture and were divided into discussion groups led by calibrated faculty members. TIV students received 50 minutes of traditional lecture with video examples. TI students received a traditional lecture with no video examples. All groups completed a questionnaire prior to and on completion of the course. The questionnaire assessed students' learning and perceptions of the learning experience. All students participated in the course and the assessments, for a 100% response rate. The students' post-course scores improved for all teaching methods (TI>CI>TIV) with no significant differences among them. CI students rated comfort with BGTs and usefulness of videos higher than the other groups, but the difference was not statistically significant. Students rated their satisfaction with and usefulness of the course high for all groups (>3 on a four-point scale). Learning style and comfort treating children were not statistically significant by gender. Overall, the students reported high satisfaction with all the teaching methods. Although the differences were not statistically significant, discussion groups were ranked highest in satisfaction and usefulness.

Trends in First-Year Dental Students' Information Technology Knowledge and Use: Results from a U.S. Dental School in 2009, 2012, and 2017.

Dental students must be skilled in the use and application of information technology (IT), but there are few studies of IT use and knowledge among U.S. dental students. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze survey data regarding IT use and knowledge collected from first-year dental students at one U.S. dental school in 2009, 2012, and 2017. Data were collected from an anonymous survey of these students as part of a D1 course called Informatics and Evaluation of Dental Literature. All students participated in the survey each year, for a response rate of 100%. Annual numbers of participants were 80 (2009), 90 (2012), and 97 (2017), for a total 267 respondents. The students reported that they frequently accessed Internet resources multiple times per day and that frequency of use had increased over time, principally from access via smartphones. These students reported feeling comfortable with higher education IT applications such as learning management systems and computerized testing. However, despite their frequent IT use, the students reported low levels of knowledge about IT security, and the three years of survey data showed that IT security knowledge had declined over time. These findings have implications for dental educators, including the need for methods for training students to protect their personal data and that of their patients.

Effect of a nano-hydroxyapatite paste on bleaching-related tooth sensitivity.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: Bleaching-related tooth sensitivity has been shown to be facilitated by the presence of enamel defects. A nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HAP) paste has been shown to repair these defects. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Using a randomized clinical trial, an n-HAP paste was investigated to determine its efficacy in reducing bleaching-related tooth sensitivity. METHODS AND MATERIALS: An n-HAP paste (Renamel AfterBleach, Sangi Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) and a placebo (zero-HAP) were randomly assigned for use in 42 participants. A 7% hydrogen peroxide gel was used twice daily for 14 days, with use of assigned desensitizer for 5 minutes immediately following. A diary was completed daily for 4 weeks to note: use of the agents and sensitivity on a visual analog scale (VAS). Three aspects of tooth sensitivity were investigated: percentage of participants; number of days; and intensity level. Color change was assessed. RESULTS: For Groups zero-HAP and n-HAP, respectively, 51 and 29% of participants reported tooth sensitivity (p = 0.06). Days of sensitivity were 76 and 36, respectively (p = 0.001). Change in VAS score from baseline trended higher for group zero-HAP (p = 0.16). Color change was equivalent. DISCUSSION: The data trend indicated group n-HAP experienced less sensitivity over all three measures. Only the number of days of sensitivity was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Within the limits of the study it can be concluded that the use of the n-HAP paste was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the number of days of tooth sensitivity experienced during active bleaching. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: For those using a tooth whitener without a desensitizing agent, this study indicates that a paste containing nano-hydroxyapatite crystal can effectively reduce the duration of tooth sensitivity.