List of Poster Presentations - Journal of Dental Education

Poster Abstracts
that they found the visualization of their current oral condition on the
monitor as a valuable aid in understanding their dental needs. 88% of
the respondents understood the animated presentation of procedures
that would be used in their treatment. 99% of the respondents indicated
the mobile cart patient education system should be continued as an
aid in understanding their oral conditions and various treatment
modalities.
A self-contained mobile cart system composed of high tech
components can be used to demonstrate visually the existing oral
condition of a patient and also animated dental procedures needed to
restore oral health. This visualization greatly enhances the patient’s
understanding of their dental needs and dental techniques used to
restore them to oral health.
71. Utilization of Intraoral Photography as a Diagnostic
Tool and Aid in Assigning and Treating Patients in the
Dental School and in Establishing a Baseline of
Pretreatment Oral Conditions
Drahos, Gary L., University of Illinois College of Dentistry, Licari,
Frank W., University of Illinois College of Dentistry, Burger-Zellinger,
Rudolph, University of Illinois College of Dentistry
Purpose: To develop an intraoral photographic system to record
pretreatment oral conditions providing a valuable baseline tool in
assigning patients to students and developing treatment plans for
patients.
Customarily, in dental schools across the U.S., new patients are
given a general screening prior to admission and assignment to
students. Color photographs taken at the initial appointment, along
with dental charting and radiographs, provide a more complete
diagnostic package. This allows quicker assignment to students in
need of a particular type of dental patient. These photos consist of
full-face, right and left occlusion, anteriors, posteriors and any
additional photos that would show specific areas of oral needs. After
the photos are printed and made a part of the patient’s permanent
treatment record, all materials are archived on a CD. The photos
provide a visual representation of the patient’s needs. Photographs
taken at the screening appointment also establish a baseline for the
initial condition of the mouth and serve as a reference for future
treatment and possible legal considerations. Mid-treatment and
completed treatment photos will also be taken to finalize the records
for future treatment convenience. Patient response at the time of taking
the photos has been excellent when shown to them via a 17" monitor
used for educational purposes. The intraoral camera and monitor are
housed in a mobile cart for use throughout the school. The project
was evaluated by an anonymous questionnaire of 130 students, faculty
and staff. Ninety-nine percent (99%) of the respondents indicated
that the photographs provided valuable information on the patients
initial oral condition and should continue to be part of the patient’s
initial exam and retained as a permanent part of the patients record.
Eighty-six percent (86%) of the respondents indicated that the
photographs provided a valuable aid in assigning patients to students
and in the initial treatment planning phase.
Taking intraoral photographs at the initial screening appointment
provides a valuable diagnostic tool in providing a record of the initial
oral condition of the patient as well as providing an aid in assigning
patients and assisting students during initial treatment planning
appointments.
72. New Technologies in Dental Education: A Survey of
Second-year Tufts School of Dental Medicine Students
Concerning PCs and the Internet
Eisen, Debbie S., Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Eisen,
Steven E., Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
The past decade has seen revolutionary changes in information
technologies, which has made a significant impact on dental
education. In this study we sought to begin assessment of how dental
students are utilizing these new technologies.
During the spring term of 2001, 2nd year dental students at
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine were surveyed concerning
their reliance upon new information modalities like PCs, and the
Internet, as opposed to more traditional modalities such as lectures,
class notes, and textbooks. Respondents were also asked what advice
they would give incoming students concerning which modalities they
ought to rely upon during their studies of dentistry. Out of a class of
145 students, fifty-five responded to this survey. 23 (41.8%)
respondents reported owning a personal computer, 20 (36.4%) a
laptop, 3 (5.5%) both, while 9 (16.4%) owned neither. 28 (50.9%)
students reported their computer use in dental school to be about the
same as in college, 12 (21.8%) reported increased computer usage,
whereas only 10 (18.2%) said that their computer use was less than it
was in college, and only 4 (7.3%) reported no use of the computer.
Students were asked to rank sources of information, they would
consult concerning technical dental issues. Instructors were ranked
first by 24 (43.6%) respondents, lecture notes by 15 (27.3%),
textbooks by 13 (23.6%), the Internet by 1 (1.8%). Two (3.6%)
respondents included ‘other students’ as a first source of information.
17 (30.9%) respondents ranked textbook as their second most
important source of information, while 15 (27.3%) ranked lecture
notes second, 11 (20%) instructors second, and 5 (9.1%) the Internet
as their second most important source. 16 (29.1%) respondents judged
that learning via the Internet was a great time-savings benefit, 35
(63.6%) somewhat of a time-savings benefit and 4 (7.3%) found no
time-savings benefit.
New technologies like personal computers and the Internet are
beginning to impact the way dental students are learning dentistry
and are starting to replace reliance upon more traditional instructional
modalities. In this study, we found that students’ perceptions
concerning the Internet as having great time saving benefits does not
match their actual usage of it as a primary or secondary source of
information. Possibly, current availability of useful information on
the Internet may be a limiting factor as well as issues inherent with
Internet access. As the technology improves and more resources
become available on-line, then students’ usage may more closely
reflect their expectations of the Internet’s usefulness as a learning
tool.
73. Faculty Publication Patterns Relative to Academic
Rank and Tenure Status
Fields, W. Thomas, University of Tennessee College of Dentistry,
Scarbecz, Mark, University of Tennessee College of Dentistry
Twofold: Immediate - to describe patterns of faculty publication
output. Long term - to provide a baseline to assess changes in such
output following introduction of a new Post-Tenure Review process.
In 2000, the University of Tennessee instituted a new Post-Tenure
Review process, recurring every six years and closely mimicking
criteria for the initial award of tenure, i.e., assessment of tenured
faculty performance in the areas of teaching, scholarship, service
and patient care. The implementation of such a process suggests the
perception that additional encouragement may be needed to sustain
continued faculty growth and performance beyond the attainment of
tenure. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a discernible
pattern of faculty publication productivity as faculty move through
academic ranks and attain tenure. This initial descriptive study will
provide a baseline for a six-year follow-up to see if the current pattern
changes substantially following the introduction of the Post-Tenure
Review. Ovid Medlines were run on each faculty member (85% FTE
or greater). The Medlines were sent to the respective faculty for
280 Journal of Dental Education ■ Volume 66, No. 2