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Dentistry articles from across Nature Portfolio

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• Dental anthropology
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Latest Research and Reviews

Automatic removal of soft tissue from 3D dental photo scans; an important step in automating future forensic odontology identification

• Anika Kofod Petersen
• Andrew Forgie
• Line Staun Larsen

Preventive dental care reduces risk of cardiovascular disease and pneumonia in hemodialysis population: a nationwide claims database analysis

• Risako Mikami
• Koji Mizutani

A bibliometric analysis of scientific literature in digital dentistry from low- and lower-middle income countries

• Samira Adnan
• Abhishek Lal

Insights into the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial potential of Nigella sativa essential oil against oral pathogens

• Shaeesta Khaleelahmed Bhavikatti
• Siti Lailatul Akmar Zainuddin
• Mohmed Isaqali Karobari

A systematic review of patient-oriented outcomes following complete denture treatment: a comparison between the neutral zone technique and conventional approach

• Nareudee Limpuangthip
• Siraphob Techapiroontong
• Wisarut Prawatvatchara

Automatic segmentation and classification of frontal sinuses for sex determination from CBCT scans using a two-stage anatomy-guided attention network

• Renan Lucio Berbel da Silva

News and Comment

Has children’s oral health-related quality of life improved more following necrotic primary molars pulpectomy or extraction.

• Majidi Bakar
• Brett Duane

Do chewing gums and sweets containing xylitol prevent caries in children?

• Darshini Ramasubbu

Root canal re-treatment with gutta percha - which techniques influence success?

• Alexander Hall
• Emilie Baerts
• David Edwards

Tiny teeth in terrified tots - what is the global prevalence of paediatric dental fear and anxiety?

• Lucy Hutton
• John Linden

Can narrow-diameter implants enhance patient-reported outcomes for mandibular implant-retained overdentures?

• Omer Waleed Majid

More than clean teeth! Identifying factors that contribute to the development of early childhood caries

• Amy Carroll

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Dentistry News

Top headlines, latest headlines.

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Earlier Headlines

Friday, december 1, 2023.

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Wednesday, November 29, 2023

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Wednesday, August 16, 2023

• Teeth Could Preserve Antibodies Hundreds of Years Old, Study Finds

Monday, August 14, 2023

• Stem-Cell Derived Organoids Secrete Tooth Enamel Proteins

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• Taking Good Care of Your Teeth May Be Good for Your Brain

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

• AI for Early Detection of Gum Inflammation

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• How the Evolution of Tooth Enamel Tissue Unfolded

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• Dentists Identify New Bacterial Species Involved in Tooth Decay

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• 4,000-Year-Old Plague DNA Found -- The Oldest Cases to Date in Britain

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• Healing the Unhealable: New Approach Helps Bones Mend Themselves

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• Attracting Stem Cells and Facilitating Bone Regeneration by Adhesive Protein

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• Soft Gums Are More Prone to Inflammation

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

• Gum Inflammation Parallels Novel 'cytokine Score'

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• School Dental Program Prevents 80 Percent of Cavities With One-Time, Non-Invasive Treatment

Friday, January 27, 2023

• Gum Infection May Be a Risk Factor for Heart Arrhythmia, Researchers Find

Friday, December 9, 2022

• New Customizable, Strontium-Filled Scaffold Could Improve Dental Implant Healing, Study Finds

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

• Study Identifies Potential Link Between Oral Bacteria and Brain Abscesses

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

• Using Vapes May Set the Stage for Dental Decay

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

• New Hope for Patients With Severe Bone Loss

Tuesday, October 11, 2022

• No Adverse Effects of Early Fluoride Exposure Found on Childhood Development

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

• Gel Treats Gum Disease by Fighting Inflammation

Thursday, September 15, 2022

• People Who Receive Periodontal Care Have Better Outcomes After Heart Attack, Study Finds

Monday, August 29, 2022

• Water Fluoridation: Effective Prevention for Tooth Decay and a Win for the Environment, Research Shows

Monday, August 22, 2022

• Microbial Food Chain: Nutritional Interactions Promoting Periodontitis
• Dental Biorhythm Is Associated With Adolescent Weight Gain, Study Finds

Tuesday, August 9, 2022

• Microrobotics in Endodontic Treatment, Diagnostics

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

• AI Tech to Automate Process of Denture Design and Enhance Treatment Efficiency Without Compromising Accuracy

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

• Shapeshifting Microrobots Can Brush and Floss Teeth

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

• Diabetes May Weaken Teeth and Promote Tooth Decay

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

• U.S. Study Analyzing Tooth Survival After Root Canal in General Population

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

• How One Inflammatory Disorder Exacerbates Another

Monday, April 25, 2022

• Could Blocking or Deleting a Protein Help Prevent Common Oral Cancers?

Thursday, April 21, 2022

• Wearing Dentures May Affect a Person's Nutrition
• Researchers Take Important Step Towards Development of Biological Dental Enamel

Thursday, April 14, 2022

• Study Helps Explain How Xanthan Gum, a Common Food Additive, Is Processed in the Gut

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

• Newly Identified Cell Type Could Be the Key to Restoring Damaged Salivary Glands

Tuesday, April 5, 2022

• Carbs, Sugary Foods May Influence Poor Oral Health

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

• New Dental Tool Prototype Can Spot the Acidic Conditions That Lead to Cavities

Thursday, March 3, 2022

• Nocturnal Teeth Grinding Can Damage Temporomandibular Joints

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

• Some Oral Bacteria Linked With Hypertension in Older Women

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

• Evidence Grows for Vaping's Role in Gum Disease

Thursday, February 17, 2022

• Less Antibiotic Use in Dentistry Gave No Increase in Endocarditis

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

• Living in a Microbial World: The Healthy Oral Microbiome Contributes to Jaw Bone Health by Influencing Immune Cell Interactions With Bone Cells

Thursday, January 20, 2022

• Social Isolation Among Older Adults Linked to Having Fewer Teeth

Wednesday, January 5, 2022

• How Oral Bacteria Suppress Protection Against Viral Growth

Monday, January 3, 2022

• Researchers Gain Insights Into How Ultrasmall Bacteria from the Environment Have Adapted to Live Inside Humans

Thursday, December 23, 2021

• Disarming a Blood-Clotting Protein Prevents Gum Disease in Mice

Monday, December 20, 2021

• Gum Disease Increases Risk of Other Illness Such as Mental Health and Heart Conditions, Study Suggests

Friday, December 3, 2021

• A Chewing Gum That Could Reduce SARS-CoV-2 Transmission

Friday, November 12, 2021

• Obesity Raises the Risk of Gum Disease by Inflating Growth of Bone-Destroying Cells

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

• Baby Teeth May One Day Help Identify Kids at Risk for Mental Disorders Later in Life

Monday, October 25, 2021

• ‘Nanozyme’ Therapy Prevents Harmful Dental Plaque Build-Up

Thursday, October 14, 2021

• New Technique Helps Researchers Understand How Acid Damages Teeth

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

• Heartburn Drugs May Have Unexpected Benefits on Gum Disease

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

• A Study of Skull Growth and Tooth Emergence Reveals That Timing Is Everything

Thursday, September 30, 2021

• Dental Care: The Best, Worst and Unproven Tools to Care for Your Teeth

Thursday, September 9, 2021

• Smart Dental Implants

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

• Whiter Teeth, Without the Burn

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

• Dental Implant Surfaces Play Major Role in Tissue Attachment, Warding Off Unwanted Bacteria

Friday, September 3, 2021

• Setting the Teeth on Edge: Identifying the Risk Factors for Tooth Loss

Monday, August 30, 2021

• Research Finds ‘very Low Rates’ of Dental Fluoride Varnish Treatment for Young Children

Thursday, August 19, 2021

• Half of Pediatric Opioid Prescriptions Are 'high Risk'

Friday, August 6, 2021

• Light Therapy Helps Burn Injuries Heal Faster by Triggering Growth Protein

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

• Good Toothbrushing Habits in Children Linked to Mother's Wellbeing

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

• Study Reveals New Aspects of Gingivitis and Body's Response

Thursday, July 8, 2021

• Tooth Loss Associated With Increased Cognitive Impairment, Dementia

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

• Mucus and Mucins May Become the Medicine of the Future

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

• New Report Aims to Improve VR Use in Healthcare Education

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

• Pulling Wisdom Teeth Can Improve Long-Term Taste Function, Research Finds

Thursday, June 24, 2021

• Predicting Tooth Loss

Monday, June 14, 2021

• Gaps to Fill: Income, Education May Impact Inequalities in Seeking Dental Care

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

• A Link Between Childhood Stress and Early Molars
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The 100 most cited articles in dentistry

Affiliation.

• 1 Grupo de Investigación en Odontología Médico-Quirúrgica (OMEQUI). School of Medicine and Dentistry, Santiago de Compostela University, Santiago de Compostela A Coruña, Spain.
• PMID: 23771182
• DOI: 10.1007/s00784-013-1017-0

Objectives: To identify the 100 most cited articles published in dental journals.

Materials and methods: A search was performed on the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Science for the most cited articles in all the journals included in the Journal Citation Report (2010 edition) in the category of "Dentistry, Oral Surgery, and Medicine". Each one of the 77 journals selected was analyzed using the Cited Reference Search tool of the ISI Web of Science database to identify the most cited articles up to June 2012. The following information was gathered from each article: names and number of authors, journal, year of publication, type of study, methodological design, and area of research.

Results: The number of citations of the 100 selected articles varied from 326 to 2050. All articles were published in 21 of the 77 journals in the category. The journals with the largest number of the cited articles were the Journal of Clinical Periodontology (20 articles), the Journal of Periodontology (18 articles), and the Journal of Dental Research (16 articles). There was a predominance of clinical research (66 %) over basic research (34 %). The most frequently named author was Socransky SS, with 9 of the top 100 articles, followed by Lindhe J with 7. The decades with most articles published of the 100 selected were 1980-1989 (26 articles) and 1990-1999 (25 articles). The most common type of article was the case series (22 %), followed by the narrative review/expert opinion (19 %). The most common area of study was periodontology (43 % of articles).

Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report of the top-cited articles in Dentistry. There is a predominance of clinical studies, particularly case series and narrative reviews/expert opinions, despite their low-evidence level. The focus of the articles has mainly been on periodontology and implantology, and the majority has been published in the highest impact factor dental journals.

Clinical significance: The number of citations that an article receives does not necessarily reflect the quality of the research, but the present study gives some clues to the topics and authors contributing to major advances in Dentistry.

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• J Istanb Univ Fac Dent
• v.51(3); 2017

Scientific basis of dentistry

Yegane guven.

Department of Basic Medical Science, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul University Turkey

Technological and scientific innovations have increased exponentially over the past years in the dentistry profession. In this article, these developments are evaluated both in terms of clinical practice and their place in the educational program. The effect of the biologic and digital revolutions on dental education and daily clinical practice are also reviewed. Biomimetics, personalized dental medicine regenerative dentistry, nanotechnology, high-end simulations providing virtual reality, genomic information, and stem cell studies will gain more importance in the coming years, moving dentistry to a different dimension.

Introduction

Dentistry, with its master-apprentice relationship,is a powerful art, and a profession that has a solid scientific and technological background. Dental profession has a long history which goes back to ancient times ( 1 ).

History of dentistry timeline

Some dental studies were written before the beginning of the modern Gregorian calender, or before Christ (BC). Hesy-Re, an Egyptian scribe, is accepted as being the first “dentist” (2600 BC). An Egyptian text, the Ebers Papyrus dated 1700-1550 BC, shows teeth and toothache. Between 500 BC and 300 BC, Hippocrates and Aristotle wrote about teeth, eruption, decay, and gum disease. Dentistry was first accepted as a profession in the middle ages. Barbers had undertaken this task before dentistry became a profession. A Guild of Barbers was established in France in 1210, and barber-surgeons performed routine hygienic services including shaving, bleeding, and tooth extraction. In 1530, first dental book for barbers was published by Artzney Buchlein in Germany. It was written for barbers who treated the mouth and contained practical topics including tooth extraction, drilling, and teeth filling. Professional dentistry began to develop in the eighteenth century and there were many advances in dental science in the nineteenth century. The first dental journal, the American Journal of Dental Science, began publication in 1839. The world’s first dental school, the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, was founded by Horace Hayden and Chapin Harris in 1840, and its graduates was given the “Doctor of Dental Surgery” (DDS) degree. The school joined to Maryland University in 1923. The first professional organization of dentists in the United States of America (USA), the American Dental Association, was formed by 26 dentists in 1859. Harvard University Dental School, the first university-affiliated dental institution, was founded in 1867. The school calls its degree the Dentariae Medicinae Doctorae (DMD). There is continuing controversy with respect to the DDS and DMD. Dr. Robert Tanner Freeman graduated from Harvard University Dental School in 1869 as the first African-American to earn a dental degree, and Ida Gray, the first African-American woman to earn a dental degree, graduated from University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 1890. The first female dental assistant was employed in a dental office in 1885, and the American Dental Assistants Association was founded in 1924 by Juliette Southard and her female colleagues. Although tubed tooth paste started to be manufactured in the 1880s, the widespread use of toothbrushing took place 10 years later. In 1890, Willoughby Miller, an American dentist in Germany, wrote a book entitled “Micro-Organisms of the Human Mouth” and explained the microbial basis of dental decay. From then, regular toothbrushing and flossing began. After the discovery X-rays by the German physicist Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895, New Orleans dentist C. Edmond Kellstook the first dental X-rays of a living person in the USA in 1896. In 1899, Edward Hartley Angle began the first orthodontic studies in dentistry. In twentieth century, many innovations in techniques and technology were achieved. The scientific and technological developments in clinical dentistry increased with turning of the twenty-first century. Developments related to dentistry in the new century are now closely related with medicine ( Table 1 ).

Major innovations in 20th century and most promising fields of research in 21st century so far.

Impact of biotechnology on research and clinical practice

Research in dentistry must be conducted according to the oral health needs of communities. This is ensured by biotechnological advances. As biomedical techniques evolve, the biomedical knowledge on vaccines, cloning, drugs, DNA, tissues, microorganisms, viruses, and complex proteins are rapidly increasing and contribute to improving human health ( 2 ). One of the most revolutionary techniques regarding nucleic acid analysis is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which is used to boost specific DNA fragments in order to detect particular proteins. Measurements can also be made quantitavely using real-time PCR. Gene expression analysis or microarrays can be used to estimate mRNA. PCR has become a standard diagnostic and research tool in dentistry. PCR is used in medicine to detect microorganisms and identify chromosomal disorders and hereditary diseases, for analysis of mutations in oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes, and in the detection and quantification of transcripts of tumour-associated translocations. The applications of PCR in dentistry include the detection of periodontal cariogenic pathogens, microorganisms in endodontic infections, viruses present in host cells, useful markers in the diagnosis and prognosis of some types of oral cancer, and the quantitative estimation of different microorganisms ( 3 ).

Many advances in oral bioscience stem from the “Human Genome Project,” which began in 1990 and was completed in 2003, and in 2007, when the salivary proteome was mapped ( 4 ). Along with the development of bioinformatics and in parallel with biotechnology, research about genomics (structure, function, evolution, and mapping of genomes), transcriptomics (the study of transcriptoms: the complete set of RNA molecules in one cell or a population of cells), proteomics (the study of proteomes: a set of proteins produced in an organism, system, or biological context), and metabolomics (the study of the set of metabolites present within an organism, cell, ortissue) have increased exponentially( 2 ). Two important diseases that dentists encounter throughout their professional lives are periodontal disease and tooth decay. Bacterial, genetic, and environmental factors play a role in these complex diseases. Understanding these conditions at the molecular level using molecular techniques is necessary for their appropriate treatment. Some salivary tests have been developed to measure genetic susceptibility to periodontal diseases. Although various therapeutic approaches, including the use of recombinant growth factors, complete regeneration of lost periodontium has not yet been achieved ( 5 ).

The effect of advances in genetics on dentistry

Important progress in human molecular genetics has been reflected in dental treatments. Advances in oral bioscience from passive immunization for dental caries, induction of new bone and cartilage tissue, and regeneration of periodontal tissues, to the artificial synthesis of saliva for patients with xerostomia also came about courtesy of the Human Genome Project ( 6 ). These remarkable advances provide the basis for gene-based diagnostics and drug developments for the management of condition ranging from chronic facial pain, to osteoarthritis as related with temporomandibular joint disease, and osteoporosis associated with periodontal diseases ( 7 ). Genetic bioengineering will be more impactful on dentistry in the next few decades in ways that encourage the body to repair itself, rather than artificially placing extrinsic materials. Seeding genetically-developed pulpal tissue into the canal to grow and fill the chamber, triggering epithelial cells to form dentin and enamel, thus completing the biologic restoration of teeth will be enabled through genetic engineering techniques in the future.

Studies related with dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs)

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, in the same way that stem cells can be used for the treatment of diseases from muscular dystrophy to the regeneration of brain tissue, the most important dental studies are those related with dental pulp stem cells. After the first discovery of DPSCs in 2000, many studies have been performed ( 8 , 9 , 10 ). The first human trial for cornea replacement in a rabbit model with human immature dental pulp stem cells (hIDPSCs) was conducted in 2010. Although various studies with hIDPSCs showed promising results in animal models, effective results have yet to be obtained in humans. The most important aim of scientists working in the dental field is to obtain good results, to heal periodontal tissue using stem cells, and to replace lost teeth using scaffold technology ( 11 ).

Biochemical developments in dental research

Recently, biochemical studies have become an area of increasing importance in dental research, from dental pulp stem cells to synovial fluid analyses, in order to understand the etiology and pathology of temporomandibular joint disorders. Saliva is now an important biofluid for the early detection of diseases; rapid and sensitive analyses of saliva and crevicular fluid are used as important diagnostic tools ( 12 , 13 , 14 ) In fact, the recent development of saliva as a diagnostic tool has placed dentistry at the forefront of monitoring systemic health and disease. The use of gingival crevicular fluid is an important biochemical tool in the diagnosis of diabetes and other inflammatory conditions ( 15 ). Advances in the science and technology of miniaturization (nanotechnology) now enables a biochemistry laboratory on a miniature chip and these types of microfluidic chips have been widely used to analyze small-volume fluids. This “lab-on-a-chip” technology allows oral fluids to be used for diagnostic and prognostic purposes ( 16 ).

Biomimetics in dentistry

Biomimetics is a field in which some chemical, biologic, and engineering principles are applied to the synthesis of materials that mimic biochemical processes. Some biomimetic products can be used in regenerative dentistry such as shallow dentin defects, bone substitutes, remineralization of the tooth surface, and biofilm destruction. In contrast to traditional treatment principles, biomimetics align with the biology, function, and mechanics of natural teeth.Biomimetic dentistry is an emphasis of modern dental education ( 17 ).

Personalized dental medicine

The concept of “personalized medicine” (PM) necessarily emerged because an individual’s response to treatment of disease depends on their genetic factors and individual behavior. PM facilitates the selection of optimal therapy with the highest safety margin, thereby reducing trial-and-error prescribing and increased adherence to treatment by patients ( 7 ). Genomic information plays an important role in PM and can be used in the practice of dentistry ( 2 ) by taking into account ethical and legal obligations. Genome-derived information of a patient can help physicians understand the disease etiology and permit earlier diagnosis. Applying preventive dentistry rather than treating diseaseis made possible by using genomic tests. Also in orthodontics treatment, genetic and environmental (including treatment) factors (nature and nurture together) should be considered to ensure better results. “Regenerative dentistry” has progressed through the innovations in new diagnostics ( 17 ). In the future, analyzing “personal genetics” may determine the most effective treatment options in dental practice; for example, filling materials may be able to regenerate decayed teeth.

The effects of scientific developments on dental education

History of dental education: Changes and innovations parallel to technological developments have occured in dental education. After the second half of the 16th century and at the beginning the 17th century, there were many advances in dental education ( 1 ). The publication of the first textbook on dentistry in Leipzig (1530), and identification of microorganisms in material scraped from teeth by van Leeuwenhoek (1683) both occurred during this period. Later, the first American dental school was founded in Baltimore by four physicians (1840), and institutional dental education began in the USA after the medical department of the University of Maryland refused a request to include dental education in its curriculum ( 18 ). After Harvard started the first university-based dental department in close association with medical department in 1867, much research was performed related with dentistry. Data were published indicating the infectious basis of tooth decay (1891). In 1926, the tenth in the series of Carnegie reports on dental education was written and published by William Gies, a Columbia University biochemistry professor with a particular interest in dental research. It was the first comprehensive report for dental education that took five years to research and write, and consisted of 250 pages of text plus more than 400 pages of appendixes. Gies, forcefully supported a strong basic science education and almost certainly encouraged dental schools to strengthen this aspect of their curriculum. It was proposed in Gies’s report that dentistry should be an independent part of health services in universities, and it should receive the same quality of consideration and support as medicine ( 18 ). Additionally, Gies supported hospital internships and a broad array of graduate specialty programs. The suggestion of Gies that predoctoral education should emphasize general practice and early specialization still maintains its validity today. Twenty-five years after Gies’s report, recognized specialties in dentistry included dental public health (1950), endodontics (1963), oral and maxillofacial surgery (1947), oral pathology (1949), orthodontics (1947), pediatric dentistry (1947), periodontics (1947), and prosthodontics (1947). Dental school accreditation standards were published by the American Dental Asociation (ADA) council in 1941. In 1980, the Kellogg report on advanced dental education was published. The Dentist Scientist Award, founded in 1984, sponsored individuals in a five-year dental education and research training program that went on to doctoral degrees in basic sciences. In Turkey, developments in dental education closely followed those in the world. The first dental manuscript book in Turkey was published ( 19 ) by Dr. Musa Bin Hamun (1490-1554) before the first American book on dentistry (1801). The first Turkish dental school was founded in Istanbul in 1908, later becoming Istanbul University, Faculty of Dentistry. In Europe, the origins of formal dental education were more diverse. Dental schools were founded as separate schools, especially in northern Europe, whereas in southern Europe they were a discipline in medical schools.

Scientific and technological developments in dental education

Dentistry is unique in that undergraduate dental students require competence-based clinical skills that can only be acquired through specialized laboratory training and direct patient care. The necessity of patient care in the undergraduate period requires that all students have professional and scientific knowledge, which is supported by “new science” that forms the clinical skills. Scientific advances in molecular biology, biomolecular sciences, stem cell technology, regenerative technology, genomics, proteomics, and tissue engineering all provide the basis for new technologies in dentistry ( 20 ). Scientific and technological developments in dentistry should be evaluated for the educational program as well as for the clinical program. Research-based education is realized by including biomedicine and biotechnology in the dental curriculum. Research outcomes should also be included in patient care. Supporting student research projects is one way of achieving this goal ( 21 ). The encouragement of student involvement in research projects is fundamental for dental education. Iacopino et al. ( 22 ).supported students’ research projects and emphasized its importance for the future of academic dentistry. Some dental faculties have arranged “Student Scientific Days” when they present their research projects. These meetings have been arranged regularly since 1993 in Istanbul University, Faculty of Dentistry. In the study of Guven and Uysal ( 23 ), students also believed that their participation in this activity positively affected both personal development and academic success. Students’ research projects, by developing these skills, are an integral part of dental education ( 24 , 25 , 26 ). According to the study of Henzi et al. ( 27 ), teaching and testing that focused on memorization was found to be a weakness of a dental faculty. Activities such as research projects in which students are actively involved replaced ememorization methods and provided opportunities to them to use their knowledge in practice. Working on problems using an evidence-based dentistry approach also developed students’ analytical skills.Lantz and Chaves ( 28 ) reported that biotechnological developments must be included in the dental curriculum and be taught to students at the highest level such that they can use this information in connection with health-related issues throughout their professional lives. Students should learn the concepts of science and use scientific methods such as critical thinking skills and clinical judicial development tools. Students need to have sufficient knowledge in epidemiology, bioinformatics, molecular medicine, dentistry, and bioengineering to adopt new evidence-based preventive strategies, and diagnosis and therapy methods ( 29 ). Over the last 80 years, biomedical science evolved from a single discipline to a multidisciplinary approach in biological, digital, and nanotechnology fields in health science education ( 30 ). Biomedical sciences are necessary to understand different subjects, from human genes and functions, to communities and health differences.

In order for students to gain the competencies related to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of oral diseases, the traditional approach must be changed and molecular biosciences and technologies should be embedded into curricula. These include biotechnology (gene therapy, drug delivery, transport dynamics), molecular engineering (macromolecular structure, protein structure, and molecular therapies), informatics (patient management/record systems, data mining/ management applications, and simulation/computerassisted learning environments), and biomaterials (biocompatibility, bioengineering applications of polymers, biomimetics, implant materials, and nanotechnology of dental materials) and named as “New science” ( 20 ).The oral health of an individual is now considered to be closely related to overall health. Dental students must therefore be equipped with information about human genetics and the current principles of molecular medicine. Dental curricula and faculty development programs have to be restructured in such a way as to compensate for the lack of genetic training.The future dentist has to be highly equipped with technology, have the ability to use social media, be able to solve problems through evidence-based dentistry and more as oral physicians. Most dental patients have some medical problems and they expect the expect their care to be up to present standards of science ( 31 ). Dentists may be the first physicians to reveal the general health problems of patients. On the other hand, the attention of dentists to the medical problems of patients as well their dental treatment positively affects the patients’ viewpoint towards dentists and increase their confidence. Educational systems change ( 32 ). Dental schools needed to strengthen the culture of a scientific approach to education and health care provision. The modern dental education model is learning-based, problem-oriented, and independent from disciplines, a vertically and horizontally integrated subject. As well as in learning and teaching, there should be an integrated approach to patient care. The success of this type of educational model is in the acquisition of competencies, which are reflected in attitudes and behaviors as well as deep knowledge. This helps in the long-term retention of knowledge for future application. In contemporary dental education, high-end simulations that provide virtual reality, haptic trainers, 3D atlases, e-textbooks, learning management systems and student response systems, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) are used effectively. Use of ICT will be the key for success of dental institutions in the future enabling reuse of clinical data and application of advanced methods in dental research. Graduates should be equipped with tools to evaluate the literature and scientific innovations. Research should be considered a part of experimential learning. The results of research in dental faculties should be reflected in dental education ( 29 , 33 , 34 ). Evaluation methods such as objective structured clinical examinations and portfolios will enhance students’ future problem solving and critical thinking skills. The accreditation of dental schools plays a role in increasing the quality of dental education and is required in order to produce future leaders ( 35 ). In the USA, accreditation standards for dental education were revised in 2016 and published by the Commission of Dental Accreditation of ADA ( 36 ). Accreditation criteria were created for European dental schools by the Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE). These foundations are independent organizations representing academic dentistry. Their aim is to foster convergence and to promote excellence in dental education. The ADEE, by forming the DentEd Project, detected strengths, weaknesses, and identified best practices of dental schools. School visit programs by the ADEE prepare dental faculties for accreditation ( 37 ).

As a result, it can be stated that world scale innovations in educational models have caused systemic changes contributing to the advancement of dental education. Since characteristics of scientific and technological developments, as well as their repercussions on dental education, will always be of utmost importance in modern dentistry, rapid integration of innovations into the dental curriculum plays a key role in reaching higher standards in patient treatment and disease prevention.

Source of funding: None declared.

Conflict of interest: None declared.

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The dangers of amorous ostriches when starting an ostrich farm

Feedback wonders if previous research into 'courtship behaviours of ostriches' in the UK will be taken into account by the owner of a new ostrich farm in New Hampshire

By Marc Abrahams

29 May 2024

Head in the sand

The known risks – corporate, financial, personal, sexual – of starting an ostrich farm are perhaps not so well known in New England as in old England.

The Boston Globe profiled an entrepreneur who has begun raising ostriches in New Hampshire, a small state in New England. “Move over filet mignon,” says the headline, “meet the man who wants to make ostrich meat a staple.” The article then goes on to say how “A self-described ‘city boy’ created an ostrich farm in rural N.H”.

The 2002 Ig Nobel Prize in biology was awarded to Norma Bubier, Charles Paxton, Phil Bowers and D. Charles Deeming, for their report “ Courtship behaviour of ostriches ( Struthio camelus ) towards humans under farming conditions in Britain”.

The four researchers had been asked to investigate why ostriches at British farms were failing to produce enough baby ostriches. Careful observation made clear what was happening: ostriches hatched on British farms often found their two-armed companions to be more sexually attractive than their two-winged companions.

Feedback has learned, from conversations with one of the scientists, that some of the ostriches showed a special yearning for that particular scientist. Feedback sends good wishes, along with what Americans call “hopes and prayers”, to the New Hampshire farmer.

Coffee aromatherapy

Praewpat Pachimsawat, Manita Tammayan, Thi Kim Anh Do and Nattinee Jantaratnotai devised a fairly simple way to deliver aroma to dental students. Opting not to infuse an entire room with a general miasma, they sought to achieve “personal coffee aroma distribution”.

Personal coffee aroma distribution, desirable though it is, wasn’t the ultimate purpose. This project had a different, clearly stated goal: “[We] aimed to investigate the potential reduction of academic stress related to a graded oral presentation in postgraduate dental students using coffee aromatherapy.”

The story appears in the study “ The use of coffee aroma for stress reduction in postgraduate dental students” . One photo caption gives the essence of what the team did: “Coffee essential oil (1 mL) was dropped onto a cotton pad at 5:100 concentration and placed near the nose with a lanyard and a personal fan to help distribute the aroma.”

The caption to a subsequent photo conveys some of the project’s drama: “The coffee essential oil was placed around a mannequin similar to an experimental setting with the tube set at 20 cm from the coffee aroma source. The tube (A) for transferring the aroma was connected to the e-nose machine (B).” The team reports a modicum of success in its stated aim.

Dental stress

Another reason dental students can feel stress becomes evident when one sees the title of the study “ Influence of dental students’ dietary habits on tooth color” by Ayse Tugba Erturk Avunduk, Hande Filiz and Esra Cengiz Yanardağ.

They report making two discoveries: “Females have lighter teeth than males” and “The increase in the amount of consumption of the evaluated staining beverages is one of the factors that cause the tooth colors to become darker”.

Circumcision for nudists

Feedback congratulates the anonymous author of a news release from Brandon University in Canada for persuading their editor to run the item that bears this all-caps headline: “BU PROF RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING RESEARCH ON ANTI-CIRCUMCISION DEBATES”.

The first sentence may have been irresistible once it entered the writer’s mind. It says: “A respected Brandon University professor known for his cutting-edge work studying masculinity has received major recognition for one of his recent academic articles.”

Then come some technical details of interest to specialists: “[Jonathan Allan’s] article, ‘ Reading anti-circumcision [activism] in Clothed with the Sun: The Quarterly Journal of Clothes-Optional Living’ … analyzes a debate about circumcision that unfolded in a nudist magazine, beginning with a 1986 article arguing for a natural foreskin as well as the letters to the editor that followed.” Then come some words of praise from the editor who published Allan’s research: “Jonathan’s work impressed us all because it is well-written and well-researched, and a great example of how to explain complex issues for a broad range of readers.”

Then, at the end, come some clarifying words for laypersons keen to read the study and learn more: “Please note that the article discusses and includes images about nudity and male genitals.”

Pharma drama

Feedback savours the panoply of emotions delivered to television viewers by an ad campaign for a drug that has the non-evocative name Bimzelx.

“Most people got 100 per cent clear skin”, says a voice-over, preparing us for the drama that arrives seconds later when a second voice-over adds: “Serious side effects, including suicidal thoughts and behaviour, infections and lower ability to fight them, liver problems and inflammatory bowel disease, have occurred.”

Marc Abrahams created the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony and co-founded the magazine Annals of Improbable Research. Earlier, he worked on unusual ways to use computers. His website is  improbable.com .

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To DSO or Not to DSO, That Is the Question

DSOs continue to be a polarizing issue throughout the dental industry. People seem to believe they are either “destroying dentistry as we know it” or “the best possible way to practice dentistry,” with very little room in between.

Before we go any further, we all have to agree that there are some great corporate dental companies and some less-great corporate dental companies. Like anything else, that evaluation hinges on how you measure what makes a dental practice “great.” But we also have to acknowledge that there are great independent dentists and less-great independent dentists, just like there are great barbers and less-great barbers.

DSOs serve a market need

DSOs continue to grow because they offer a solution that meets the needs and preferences of some dentists and patients.

There are dentists who love the art and practice of dentistry and have no interest or inclination for running a small business. They don’t want to spend time and energy on marketing, or accounting, or hiring and firing. And they have even less interest in dealing with all the regulatory acronyms: OSHA, EPA, and IRS. An organization that offers efficient business service and regulatory expertise is ideal for a dentist who simply wants to be a dentist and not a business owner.

Likewise, some patients prioritize practices with convenient locations and hours (evenings and weekends) while taking all insurance packages. Large corporate dental organizations are often exactly what those patients are looking for.

A DSO isn’t the only way to achieve these goals, but the business model clearly resonates with those who see their needs served.

Research says…

When I served as the VP of Member & Client Services at the ADA, my team did research to understand the experience of dentists. Some of the qualitative research focused on understanding the experience of dentists working in DSOs to identify what they might need from the ADA.

As expected, some loved working in that model and some were eager to leave. But whether they liked or disliked the business model itself, there was commonality in what they did not like about the experience. When asked what they did not like about working as an employee in a corporate setting, the responses can be summarized in one word: control . The surveyed dentists wanted more control over the materials used, their own time, and, in some cases, the treatment plan.

I suspect the ADA would find the same experience if they surveyed associates in independent practices or even in a completely different non-dental setting. Some of those concerns stem from the very nature of being an employee. Any employee agrees to certain standards and business practices as part and parcel of working in an organization. As long as those practices are ethical and legal, the employee is choosing to agree to those conditions. Those who start their own business often do so because they want to control those standards and business practices.

How dentists’ career paths are changing

Increasing numbers of dentists go to corporate opportunities right out of dental school. According to ADEA, 18.1% of dentists intend to work in DSOs immediately after graduating , while the ADA Health Policy Institute reports that 10.4% of all dentists are affiliated with a DSO . But it also seems that some large corporate dental organization experience significant turnover of those dentists.

Anecdotally, we are now seeing more dentists enter DSOs at the end of their career. Tired of managing their own practice, dentists approaching retirement often desire to keep working in dentistry without the responsibility of running a small business. These options offer an attractive off-ramp as a dentist moves toward retirement.

Regardless of the reason, it’s up to the dentist to take the time to carefully evaluate their own needs and the office itself before signing on the dotted line. No matter what type of practice you might consider, the questions are the same:

• What are the working conditions and schedule?
• Are you comfortable with the quality of dentistry being delivered?
• What procedure mix will you be responsible for?
• What is kept in-house, and what is referred out?
• Does the practice stay on schedule or consistently run over?
• How does the office “fit” your personal style? (Do you like quiet or bustling? How do you prefer to work with the rest of the team?)

These questions point to finding the right “culture” or “philosophy of care,” which means the place where you can find career satisfaction. ( See the Know Your Options eBooks, for owners or early-career dentists , to take a quiz on potential options for you. )

The Evolution of the DSO

“If you have seen one DSO, you have seen one DSO.”

We see that the corporate model is in a constant state of change. Today, there are DSOs with hundreds of locations across the country. Some of these function like well-oiled machines, with all offices sharing the same processes, branding, and layout. On the other hand, there are DSOs with 10-30 practices that allow the dentist to function as a solo practitioner, with full operational autonomy, while the corporate entity provides oversight, guidance, and economies of scale. (See: Should I Join a DSO? )

The reality is that every practice is unique, be it DSO, private practice, public health, or another modality. No matter what, you must take the time to fully understand the individual practice you are interested in joining.

Ultimately, in the current market, there is room for corporate-owned dental service organizations and private practice owners – as well as everything in between. Remember to carefully evaluate your personal and professional situation, review all your options, and make the decision that is right for you.

If you then take the time to ask the right questions and objectively evaluate the individual practice – you have a much higher chance of finding success as you pursue your dream career! 

This article was reviewed and updated in June 2023.

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Clinician-scientist focuses on orthodontics clinical care and research

For Laura Jacox, DMD, PhD, MS, finding the ideal fit with varied interests has guided her career. As an assistant professor at Adams School of Dentistry, Jacox enjoys both research and teaching, and has found the ideal place to investigate ways to improve patient care.

She initially thought she’d be a lawyer, but while getting her undergraduate degree at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, she was exposed to mentors who opened her eyes to a different direction –research and patient care.

Jacox with some of her students. The students were honored with awards for their research, supervised by Jacox.

“I pursued research in a bioengineering lab with a clinician-scientist who was an MD and PhD. He encouraged me to pursue this career track. I thought I would make research and clinical care a dual-career, to always have options and keep things interesting,” she said. “My other mentor and pre-health advisor was an oral surgeon. He hosted me at surgical conferences at Harvard MGH, where I learned about jaw surgeries and orthodontics, sparking my interest in both dentistry and orthodontics. I also discovered that there was a nationwide need for dental academics, which also was encouraging.”

Jacox then got her DMD and PhD at Harvard University, studying craniofacial development in frog embryos and becoming a general dentist.  When it came time to specialize in orthodontics, she decided to pursue her residency and post-doctoral training at UNC Adams School of Dentistry, where she found strong mentors in Ching-Chang Ko, DDS, PhD, and William Proffit, DDS, PhD.  At UNC, Jacox could excel in both research and clinical care, with outstanding supported in these endeavors.

“[UNC’s] campus and dental school are beautiful, with great legacies. The residency was also cost effective, and I was granted a fellowship,” she said. “Importantly, I had several friends from Harvard School of Dental Medicine who attended UNC Orthodontics and raved about the quality of the faculty, the clinic, the resident community and their experience. People vouched for it and said it was a great program with strong clinical and research training. I also was able to join the lab of Dr. Ko, who was a positive, supportive mentor.”

As Jacox grew into the clinician-scientist she is today, she was able to grow her research interests and collaborative team along the way, eventually creating the Jacox Lab. Her work with animal assisted therapy and speech studies of jaw surgery patients offer great potential to help people who are scared of the dentist or who are trying to gain insurance approval for jaw surgery treatments to allow them to speak and function normally.

One of Jacox’s studies looks at patients undergoing jaw surgery for anatomical disproportions who often also have speech disorders. The research looks at whether surgical interventions and orthodontics benefit these patients’ articulation problems.

Jacox with student researcher Christine Bode during a Research Day presentation.

“We are asking: do these involved, invasive jaw surgeries and orthodontics help improve the speech of our patients with jaw disproportions? So far, our data is encouraging that the treatments are providing significant patient benefit. Not only is this exciting scientifically, but the data also help us to guide our patients’ care, since we as providers have a better understanding of treatment outcomes. When patients ask us if jaw surgery will help improve their speech distortions, we can now answer them to inform their treatment decisions,” she said. “Widespread insurance denial is a nationwide problem for our surgical patients with severe jaw disproportions. The jaw procedures are considered cosmetic by many insurers, necessitating oral surgeons to resubmit cases numerous times with more and more documentation before some surgeries are approved. Patients are left in limbo during this lengthy process, which is stressful and time-consuming for patients and providers.”

Jacox’s speech study is looking at speech before and after jaw surgery, to see if speech changes after the jaws are surgically moved to a normal position. So far, preliminary data indicate significant improvement in speech among certain patient groups. Results also suggest that speech therapists need to be part of the treatment planning team for jaw surgery patients. If speech therapy fails due to the underlying jaw structural problem, speech-language pathologists can document this to show that further surgical intervention may be required for improvement. “We hope to leverage our findings to advocate for our patient’s functional need for orthognathic surgical treatment. With this study, we’re so close, and I feel like we’re on the cusp of being able to implement real change.”

Animal-assisted therapy is another research direction providing encouraging results for young patients scared of the dentist. “We’re hoping that animal therapy can make people less likely to develop dental anxiety and can enjoy dental visits,” she said. “We’re studying whether we can make going to the dentist more fun with canine therapists!”

The study is currently enrolling children between the ages of 4 and 8. Participants get a free dental exam, a toothbrush, a cleaning, a full dental report of findings and a gift card incentive.

Jacox is proud of her lab and the work they do, and she enjoys working with students and other ASOD faculty and researchers across departments to achieve exciting outcomes.

Members of the Jacox Lab work hard but also enjoy time celebrating one another.

“We have a great research community in the triangle, with UNC, NC State and Duke, and as a result, my collaborators and students are amazing,” she said. “In my group, we treat each other with respect, kindness and support. That was important in my training, and I value it in my own lab. I want to set students up for success in research and ensure they learn to value it and critically analyze new recommendations and products, particularly for clinicians. I want conducting research to be a positive experience to keep students interested in science and discovery.”

Jacox said her research community, and constantly learning through science, are what she enjoys most about her job. She also credits caring mentors and smart, thoughtful coworkers with making ASOD a great environment.

“It’s a unique community that I love being a part of. I like the ability to plan ‘big picture’ and work with a team of good, smart people to make things happen. I enjoy working with the excellent students and my collaborators to improve how we treat patients,” she said.

When she’s not in her lab or in the clinic, Jacox enjoys spending time with her husband and one-year-old daughter. Though they spend a lot of time locally at gardens, parks and nature preserves, they are a family of avid travelers. Jacox has travel plans on the horizon, as she will be speaking at a conference in Greece hosted by the European Orthodontics Society. She is also a musician and plays the violin as part of the Durham Medical Orchestra, a group of health care providers that get together to play music.

“We like to play in our free time to help with the stress of academic life and patient care!” she laughs.

Jacox and her daughter.

Adams School of Dentistry graduates celebrate 2024 Commencement

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Exploring the Role of Oral Health in Patient and Population Health

School of dentistry, training clinics, dentistry research.

With a focus on population health, research at the School of Dentistry focuses on improving oral health for the communities we serve and beyond. Researchers study a wide range of areas within oral health, from genetics to preventive education. Students and residents also have access to top-rate faculty and facilities, preparing them to become leaders in dentistry research.

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About the School of Dentistry

Nestled in Research Park on the south side of campus, the School of Dentistry offers an innovative curriculum and unparalleled views of the Salt Lake Valley.

Research Day 2024 was held on April 23 at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law. The Offices of Research and Education successfully put together an event that highlighted the importance and value of combining research and clinical practice through the Pathways Program. Dr. Brenda Heaton shared an impactful keynote,  "Seeing Beyond the Chair: The role of oral health care in shaping patient and population health."  In the address she described:

• The historical challenges faced in providing equitable oral health care,  
• How research is helping to reshape attitudes toward oral health and oral health care delivery, and   
• The importance of "seeing beyond the chair."

In her final comments, Heaton posed the question, “How do we keep history from getting in the way of our efforts to improve patient and population oral health?” Her answer, “See beyond the chair.” According to Heaton, “When you see beyond the mouth looking up from the chair, you see a person, you see cultural and social norms, you see the potential impact of your clinical choices on not only a person, but on populations of people.” She concluded her remarks with the following message of hope and inspiration. 

Following the keynote address, several pathway students from periodontics and prosthodontics presented some of their complex cases which showcased the School of Dentistry's robust clinical enterprise and our compassionate, responsive patient care.

In addition to the oral presentations, there were several excellent student and faculty posters. We are already planning for next year, and we look forward to this event growing in future years! 

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UB dental school professor discusses how AI can advance periodontic treatment

By LAURIE KAISER

Published May 28, 2024

When Nathalia P. Andrade joined the faculty of the School of Dental Medicine as a clinical assistant professor of periodontics and endodontics last September, she noticed that her department had impressive technological equipment and software with artificial intelligence capabilities. She also saw an opportunity to leverage the quickly evolving technology into her teaching.

Within a week of being hired, Andrade applied for and was awarded a $5,000 seed grant from UB’s Office of Curriculum, Assessment and Teaching Transformation to create a new course weaving AI into periodontics. This dental specialty focuses on the health of periodontium, the tissues that support teeth.

She taught “Transforming Periodontal and Dental Care Powered by Artificial Intelligence” for the first time this spring. While tailored specifically for periodontal residents, the course was open to all dental school residents and will be offered again in 2026.

Andrade, who started studying AI while completing her residency, published an article in the March 2022 issue of Clinical Advances in Periodontics about successfully using AI in a procedure to lengthen teeth shortened over time or because of teeth malposition, which causes the gums to be more exposed. “Dual Digitally Guided Crown Lengthening in Esthetic Area Compromised by Disharmonic Implant Crown” ranked as a top-cited paper for the publication.

Andrade recently spoke with UBNow about how AI is transforming periodontics and how dental students at UB are using it.

When did you first become interested in AI as it relates to dental care?

I was always passionate about technology of all kinds. I never took a course in using AI, but during my residency, I would sit in front of the computer and figure out how to do it. I saw how it would make periodontic surgery faster and more precise. I started to love using it, and I wanted to teach others how to use it, too.

What is the main focus of your AI research?

AI can be used in three different stages of care: diagnosis, treatment and maintenance. My work is mainly focused on diagnosis and treatment, such as the procedure on lengthening crowns. With AI, we precisely know where to cut the gum and where to remove the bone behind it. When you go freehand, it’s hard to get the measurements right. With AI, you do all the thinking process before the procedure and at the time of the procedure you just need to follow the guide.

How does the guide work?

For the crown-lengthening procedure, for example, we use AI to determine how the smile will look after the procedure. Once the patient signs off, we create a guide for the exact position where we need to cut. We print it and put it in the patient’s mouth. In another example, when doing an implant with a patient, a guide can show us the correct position and angulation of the implant. It’s particular helpful in cases with multiple implants.

What are other ways that AI aids in periodontic care?

It can highlight the treatments that the patient most likely needs by the X-rays, periodontal chart and the information that’s in the patient’s record. It can also tell you if the patient is missing a treatment or is due for a cleaning.

AI can also help diagnose a patient quicker and more accurately. For example, when an X-ray indicates a problem, there are a lot of variables. One clinician can look at the image and say, “There’s 50% bone loss,” while another clinician will say, “No, for me, it looks like 60%.”

I think AI is going to help us create a standard that will be the same for everybody.

What are some of the main points you’re teaching students about using AI?

My main goal is to teach students to use critical thinking while using AI tools. It is a technology in development and can make mistakes. Different kind of procedures have different kind of mistakes; we have to explore them so that we teach the machine how to do the procedures properly in the future.

Talk about the new course and how you used the seed grant to fund it.

The course is designed to supplement the clinical experiences of students in postgraduate programs in 3D surgical digital planning, microscope surgery and AI as applied to periodontics.

With the funding, I brought in experts from other schools who taught different aspects of AI. Four came in person and two presented the lectures virtually. They also worked with me on how to apply AI techniques on a larger scale and how to handle HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) regulations.

How do you think the course went overall?

I was very happy with it. I initially planned for 11 periodontic residents, but in the end, about 25 residents from other dental programs, as well as periodontics faculty, came in to observe the class. I did a survey with students at the end, and they really liked the lectures and the guides because it allowed them to be up to date on new technologies. I can tell that the lessons worked because I see students using AI now. They’re digitally planning the surgical periodontal cases of real patients, using it for crown-lengthening procedures, advanced bone graft cases — like a sinus lift — and implant placement.

When will the AI course be offered going forward?

We plan to offer the course every other spring. The activities and access to new software and intraoral scanners are expensive. So, we will look for solutions and support to have it available to the students more often. The students indicated in the survey that they would like to learn more procedures using AI software. I also would like to introduce the AI-based software to dental students by adding this component to the periodontal course they already take and focus more on the diagnosis of the patient and risk assessment.

Do you have questions or comments for the Office of the Provost? Let us know your thoughts and we’ll be happy to get back to you.

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