Watch this short recording about the Dental Implant Restoration Study. Dr. Nico Geurs talked about the registry and why we need to better understand the outcomes of implant restorations.
The mDentistry model supplements the traditional practice of dentistry with virtual visits supported by mobile devices and mHealth tools such as mobile phones, wireless infrastructures and intraoral cameras. This mDentistry eHygiene study is the first step of utilizing the mDentistry model to assess the acceptance of virtual intraoral examinations by patients and the dental health care personnel, along with testing patients’ abilities to take intraoral photos using a digital mobile health tool.
The purpose of this Quick Poll was to evaluate Network participants’ perceptions regarding the impact of National Dental PBRN participation on various aspects of their clinical and business outcomes including clinical decision-making, internal and external relations, organizational culture, and risk management.
The findings of this Quick Poll indicate a vast majority of dentists have at least one or more Sjögren’s Syndrome (SjS) patients in their practices. Sjögren’s syndrome (SjS) is a multisystem autoimmune disease which manifests as dryness of the mouth and eyes, fatigue, and joint pain. With an incidence of 0.5% to 1.0%, it is the second most common systemic autoimmune disorder in the US.
The National Dental Practice-Based Research Network, founded and hosted at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry, is now home to the nation’s first dental implant registry.
The results from this cross-sectional study were recently published in JADA, and we interviewed Dr. M. Marianne Jurasic, the study principal investigator, for our blog. Dr. Jurasic is the Director of the Center for Clinical Research as well as a Clinical Professor of General Dentistry and Health Policy and Health Services Research at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. “Treating teeth with deep carious lesions with a more conservative approach such as selective caries removal has the potential to extend the longevity of the tooth and affect a patient’s oral health and quality of life. I therefore wanted to know to what extent this more conservative approach to caries management has been adopted by Network dentists.”
“Being a member of the network gives me a fresh outlook on dentistry. I believe it cuts down on burnout. To be involved in practice-based research network makes the daily practice more interesting to be involved in the studies. Plus, I think it provides so real life, real practice information that is helpful for the research that is being done. My patients always have a positive attitude about being participants. We have not had many people decline participation.”
Mental health screening can improve quality of life and treatment engagement. Unlike primary medical services, where screening for mental health concerns is standard practice, dental offices rarely perform this as part of routine dental care. The MSDP pilot study will evaluate the feasibility of integrating mental health screening and referral to mental health services into dental practice workflows. Five practitioners from the South-Central Region of the National Dental PBRN will be recruited to enroll between 5 and 8 patients in each dental office.
Oral health practitioners rarely treat tobacco use. The FreSH study tests a simple tobacco treatment approach called Nicotine Replacement Therapy Sampling. In this study, practices will provide a brief intervention for tobacco cessation recommended by the American Dental Hygienist’s Association called Ask-Advise-Refer (Ask all patients if they smoke, advise them to quit, and refer to the state quitline).
