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Purpose Empathetic engagement is considered a vital component in forming respect-based relationships between patients and clinicians, leading to more optimal patient care. The purpose of this study was to explore whether there was a relationship between dental hygiene students' levels of empathy and student demographics including age, gender, year in school, and the degree type of dental hygiene program attending. Methods This was a cross-sectional observation study conducted among dental hygiene undergraduate students attending three dental hygiene programs in the Midwestern United States. Two programs offered associate degrees and one offered a baccalaureate degree. Participants completed the 20-item Jefferson Scale of Empathy[R], student edition (JSE-S) along with demographic questions including age, gender, year in dental hygiene program, and degree type of dental hygiene program. Descriptive statistics and comparisons of the empathy scores were conducted using t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Regressions were conducted to determine whether the students' year in dental hygiene program and the type of degree program were predictors of empathy. Results Forty-one participants completed the questionnaire for a 65% response rate. The mean empathy score was 83.05 [+ or -] 10.04 among the participants. There were no statistically significant differences between levels of empathy of first- and second-year students or those attending a two-year institution versus a four-year university. Age, year in program, and type of degree were not shown to be predictors of empathy. Conclusion Results from this study did not show relationships or predictors of empathy with dental hygiene students' demographics or type of degree program. Future research should expand beyond a small homogenous convenience sample and include a longitudinal gauge to assess potential fluctuations in empathy as students progress throughout the curriculum and as practicing clinicians. Keywords empathy, emotional intelligence, dental hygienists, dental hygiene students, allied dental education, cognition NDHRA priority area Professional development: Education (evaluation)., INTRODUCTION Empathy is significant in the relationship between a patient and their healthcare provider. The expression 'empathy' is derived from the Greek 'empatheia,' which translates as appreciation for another person's [...]

Purpose Social media can be an effective tool in health care education. The purpose of this study was to explore dental hygiene educators' familiarity and use of social media platforms and to examine how social media was implemented in dental hygiene education. Methods A 25-item questionnaire was designed to investigate the use of social media by dental hygiene educators. The instrument included demographic data and items addressing personal, professional, and educational use of twelve common social media sites and the respondents' beliefs about social media using a 4-point Likert scale. The electronic questionnaire was distributed by email to 379 dental hygiene program directors in the United States and Canada. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results A total of 120 responses were received. While Facebook was the most utilized site for personal use (78.3%), LinkedIn was the most frequently accessed site for professional use (57.5%), and YouTube for educational use (68.3%). There was strong agreement that the interactive nature of online technologies create better learning environments (84.1%). There was also strong agreement that social media use in the classroom invites student participation (77.5%). More than half of the respondents (64.2%) indicated that social media can be an effective method for content delivery. Conclusion Social media is highly utilized for personal use by dental hygiene educators, but less frequently for engagement purposes in the classroom. Keywords social media, technology, dental hygiene education, digital classroom, dental hygiene educators, INTRODUCTION As society has emerged from the global pandemic, education has shifted from more traditional delivery methods to distance learning modalities. (1) To meet the needs of the current Gen [...]

Background Since the outbreak of COVID-19, how to reduce the risk of spreading viruses and other microorganisms while performing aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) has become a challenging question within the dental and dental hygiene communities. The purpose of this position paper is to summarize the existing evidence about the effectiveness of various mitigation methods used to reduce the risk of infection transmission during AGPs in dentistry. Methods The authors searched six databases, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar, for relevant scientific evidence published in the last ten years (January 2012 to December 2022) to answer six research questions about the the aspects of risk of transmission, methods, devices, and personal protective equipment (PPE) used to reduce contact with microbial pathogens and limit the spread of aerosols. Results A total of 78 studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria. There was limited literature to indicate the risk of infection transmission of SARS-CoV-2 between dental hygienists and their patients. A number of mouthrinses are effective in reducing bacterial contaminations in aerosols; however, their effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 was limited. The combined use of eyewear, masks, and face shields are effective for the prevention of contamination of the facial and nasal region, while performing AGPs. High volume evacuation with or without an intraoral suction, low volume evacuation, saliva ejector, and rubber dam (when appropriate) have shown effectiveness in reducing aerosol transmission beyond the generation site. Finally, the appropriate combination of ventilation and filtration in dental operatories are effective in limiting the spread of aerosols. Conclusion Aerosols produced during clinical procedures can potentially pose a risk of infection transmission between dental hygienists and their patients. The implementation of practices supported by available evidence are best practices to ensure patient and provider safety in oral health settings. More studies in dental clinical environment would shape future practices and protocols, ultimately to ensure safe clinical care delivery. Keywords aerosol generating procedures, infectious disease transmission, respiratory aerosols and droplets, personal protective equipment, mouthrinses, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, INTRODUCTION Aerosols can be defined as the suspension of solid or liquid particles in the air, which can be generated by either natural or anthropogenic phenomena, and may be present [...]

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine dental hygiene students' perspectives regarding their knowledge and understanding about caries prevention strategies and their intention to use these regimens in clinical practice. Dental hygienists' knowledge and understanding of caries prevention is critical because they are the primary providers of these regimens and the relevant education. Methods This 2019 national cross-sectional online survey was designed by the University of Maryland (UMD), structured by the ADA staff for online administration, distributed and collected by the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) to 9533 email addresses, and de-identified response data were analyzed by UMD. The survey included questions on three caries preventive regimens: fluoride varnish, dental sealants, and silver diamine fluoride (SDF), and items on community water fluoridation (CWF), respondent's demographics and intent to use the regimens. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and analysis of variance. Significance was set at p Results Of the 235 surveys returned (response rate 2.5%) the majority were female, White and born in the United States. Over half were in associate degree programs; nearly a third were in baccalaureate programs. Respondents reported greater knowledge/understanding and intention to use fluoride varnish and dental sealants than SDF. Less than half (44.7%) reported knowledge/ understanding of SDF and only 22.6% had a high level of confidence regarding applying it. Additionally, only 31.1% indicated they were extremely likely to use SDF upon graduation. Conclusions To reduce the prevalence of caries, dental hygiene graduates must be well-versed with the latest science-based preventive procedures, including non-invasive caries prevention and control therapies. The results of this survey, albeit non representative of the general population of dental hygiene students, suggest a need for a more extensive review of the caries preventive regimen content, especially for silver diamine fluoride, of dental hygiene curricular programs. Keywords dental hygiene education, caries prevention, non-invasive caries preventive regimens, fluoride varnish, dental sealants, silver diamine fluoride, community water fluoridation, INTRODUCTION Untreated dental caries is a leading cause of preventable pain, tooth loss, and loss of time from school and work in the United States (US). (1) Despite the existence [...]

2024 JUL 25 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Women's Health Weekly -- Investigators publish new report on clinical medicine. According to news reporting originating from Jeonju, [...]

Your mouth is marvelous. Without it, you couldn't eat, drink, breathe or speak. But the mouth can just as easily harbor harmful microbes that can cause tooth decay and gum [...]

2024 MAY 18 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Investigators publish new report on personalized medicine. According to news reporting originating [...]

Byline: Adgully Bureau Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited, the leader in oral care, announces the launch of the renewed Colgate Active Salt, setting a new benchmark in oral hygiene solutions with an [...]

MOST HORSES NEED dental care periodically. Domestic horses are often eating grain and hay rather than grazing, and may not wear their teeth normally. Dental care is part of horse [...]

Disparities exist in access to early oral health care, disproportionately impacting minority ethnic groups and populations with low socioeconomic status. Medical dental integration provides an opportunity to create a new dental access point for early prevention and intervention as well as care coordination. The Wisconsin Medical Dental Integration (WI-MDI) model expanded early access to preventive oral health services by integrating dental hygienists (DHs) into pediatric primary care and prenatal care teams to address oral health inequities with the goal of reducing dental disease. This case study will describe how DHs were incorporated into the medical care teams in Wisconsin and how legislation expanding scope of practice made this possible. Since 2019, five federally qualified health systems, one non-profit clinic, and two large health systems have enrolled in the WI-MDI project. Thirteen DHs have worked across nine clinics in the WI-MDI project and over 15,000 patient visits to a medical provider included oral health services provided by DHs from 2019 to 2023. Dental hygienists working in alternative practice models such as those demonstrated in the innovative WI-MDI approach are positioned to reduce oral health disparities through the provision of early and frequent dental prevention, intervention, and care coordination. Keywords medical dental integration, dental hygienists, health disparities, oral disease prevention, access to care NDHRA priority area Population level: Access to care (interventions). Submitted for publication: 4/18/23; accepted with revisions 5/8/2023, INTRODUCTION Early access to preventative oral health care can improve maternal and child oral health outcomes, however, populations with low socioeconomic status and those from racial/ethnic minority groups often encounter [...]

There is no doubt that each of us can remember vividly when we decided we wanted to be a dental hygienist. We anxiously waited to hear from the dental hygiene [...]

Purpose Chronic kidney disease is highly prevalent in the general population and can progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The purpose of this pilot study was to assess dental hygiene and dental therapy students' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions towards ESRD and evaluate the feasibility of a larger scale study. Methods A convenience sample (n=59) of dental hygiene (DH) and dual degree DH/dental therapy students were invited to participate in an electronic survey for the pilot study. The investigator designed survey consisted of a total of 37 items: demographics (4), perceived knowledge, confidence, importance and attitudes (14), knowledge of chronic kidney disease (18). The knowledge questions were adapted from the Chronic Kidney Disease Self-Management Knowledge Tool (CKD-SMKT) with permission. Descriptive statistics and the non-parametric two-sample Wilcoxon rank sum test were used to analyze the data. Results Twenty-five participants completed the survey for a 42% response rate. Fewer than half (36%) perceived having some knowledge regarding ESRD, its oral manifestations (28%) and mental health implications (12%). The importance of managing oral health for ESRD was rated by most respondents as 'very important' or 'extremely important' (76%). Respondent attitudes indicated high interest (68%) regarding employment in hospital settings to care for individuals with ESRD. Knowledge scores from the CKD-SMKT were low in the categories of general knowledge of ESRD and dental hygiene care modifications for individuals with ESRD. Conclusion Results of this pilot study indicate that using a validated instrument on a national sample is feasible to determine the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of dental hygiene students regarding ESRD. Future research should include knowledge and awareness of hypertension, diabetes, and the role that management of chronic kidney disease plays in the prevention of ESRD. Keywords dental hygiene students, dental therapy students, end stage renal disease, chronic kidney disease, knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, INTRODUCTION Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an irreversible progressive condition that can ultimately advance to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring replacement therapies such as hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplantation. [...]

AUGUST 6 Everyone wants great breath all the time, not just on Fresh Breath Day. Try these tips from Megan Chin, D.D.S., owner of Playhouse Dental for Kids & Teens [...]