Australian Dental Journal

March 2007 - Volume 52 Number 1

DENTAL EDUCATION

Problem-based learning in dental education: what’s the evidence for and against ... and is it worth the effort?
All Australian dental schools have introduced problem-based learning (PBL) approaches to their programmes over the past decade, although the nature of the innovations has varied from school to school. Before one can ask whether PBL is better than the conventional style of education, one needs to consider three key issues. Firstly, we need to agree on what is meant by the term PBL; secondly, we need to decide what "better" means when comparing educational approaches; and thirdly, we must look carefully at how PBL is implemented in given situations.

T Winning
G Townsend

REVIEW

Recurrent aphthous ulcerative disease: presentation and management
Recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU) is the second most common type of ulceration seen in the oral cavity. Notwithstanding an extensive literature and numerous proposed aetiologies, the cause of the disease remains obscure. In addition to the current conservative management of RAU lesions with corticosteroids, new treatment options are available and some have proven successful in open trials. This paper reviews patient work-up and management.

V Vucicevic Boras
NW Savage

ADRF RESEARCH REPORTS

Differences between normal and demineralized dentine pretreated with silver fluoride and potassium iodide after an in vitro challenge by Streptococcus mutans The application of diamine silver fluoride (Ag(NH3)2F) and potassium iodide (KI) to demineralized dentine has been shown to inhibit the growth of Streptococcus mutans. The purpose of this study was to observe the differences between demineralized and non-demineralized dentine treated with AgF/KI.	GM Knight JM McIntyre GG Craig Mulyani PS Zilm NJ Gully
Non-working dental therapists: opportunities to ameliorate workforce shortages Workforce development is a critical factor allowing delivery on government health priorities. Against a backdrop of increasing demand for dental therapists being significantly higher than the levels of recruitment, it is widely acknowledged that rural and remote areas (having greater recruitment and retention issues) will face a significant shortfall in therapist numbers as the workforce shortages take hold in dentistry. This study analysed the reasons for dental therapists leaving the profession, and factors that would promote the recruitment and retention of dental therapists, especially in rural and remote areas.	E Kruger K Smith M Tennant
A longitudinal study of 0.2% chlorhexidine gel for removal of mutans streptococci infection in preschool children The purpose of the present longitudinal study was to determine the effectiveness of 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX) in removing mutans streptococci (MS) in a treatment cohort of caries-free, preschool children.	V Law WK Seow

SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES

Evaluation of a combined thiourea and hydrogen peroxide regimen to bleach bloodstained teeth Current techniques for intra-coronal bleaching of stained root-filled teeth employ oxidative bleaching with hydrogen peroxide. However, concern over the potential for invasive cervical resorption following the use of hydrogen peroxide has been expressed by many researchers, and recommendations have been made to limit the use of this agent. A reductive-oxidative bleaching process using a thiourea and hydrogen peroxide regimen is proposed as an effective and safer bleaching combination. The efficacy of this novel bleaching regimen is evaluated in this study.	K Maiolo PD Marin TE Bridges GS Heithersay
Comparative uptake of fluoride ion into enamel from various topical fluorides in vitro There are many forms of topical fluoride available today, making the decision as to which is most effective to manage the immediate caries risk problem at hand, very difficult. The objective of this project was to determine the concentration and pattern of fluoride ion uptake into enamel from a variety of categories of topical fluoride recently available in Australia.	N Pai J McIntyre N Tadic C Laparidis
Different bone loading patterns due to fixation of three-unit and five-unit implant prostheses It has been considered that implant prostheses ought to display passive fit. The objective of this finite element analysis (FEA) was to simulate the bone loading resulting from the fixation of implant-supported three and five-unit fixed partial dentures (FPDs).	M Karl W Winter AJ Dickinson MG Wichmann SM Heckmann
Periodontal disease among 45–54 year olds in Adelaide, South Australia The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence, extent and severity of periodontal disease among middle-aged adults, and to examine periodontitis by dental visit pattern, dental and health behaviour, socio-demographics and socio-economic status.	DS Brennan AJ Spencer KF Roberts-Thomson

CASE REPORT

The implications and management of acute odontogenic infection in association with Down and Eisenmenger syndromes and schizophrenia in a rural setting
This report describes the case management of a 32 year old special needs patient with life-threatening odontogenic infection. The combination of schizophrenia, Down and Eisenmenger syndromes presented significant challenges to managing his oral health, particularly within the rural context. In this case, dental treatment was limited to a full dental clearance during a high risk general anaesthesia session.

DR Butler
CR Chilvers
RJ Cane

DATA WATCH

Patterns of care in private general practice by main diagnoses
This paper describes the pattern of care provided to patients in private general dental practice in 2003–2004 by the most common main diagnoses or conditions.

Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, The University of Adelaide, South Australia

COCHRANE REVIEW

Home-based chemically-induced whitening of teeth in adults
During the last decade tooth whitening products have become widely available in the USA for sale over-the-counter or dispensed by dentists for use at home. With the current rapid growth in demand for tooth whitening it is imperative that the dental community base its recommendations to patients on sound scientific evaluations conducted in well-designed and independent studies.

H Hasson
AI Ismail
G Neiva

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Self-assessment Quiz - March 2007

34th Australian Dental Congress - Brisbane
30 Mar - 03 Apr 11

As part of a community campaign to promote good oral health care for babies and toddlers the ADA has developed oral hygiene tips for parents and carers of young children.

> Learn more

ADAVB’s Convention – Dentistry2010 – will
be bigger and better with the introduction of pre-Convention workshops and multiple concurrent sessions.

The ADA's 2010 Advertising Planner is now available.

Dental Health Week is a community awareness program coordinated and funded by the ADA. In 2009 the ADA is leading a campaign to target 55 year olds and over and has developed a range of Fact Sheets on oral health care. August 3rd - 9th is Dental Health Week.

> Click here for DHW 2009 Media Release.

>Click here for previous Dental Health Week material.

The ADA is once again conducting a Mouthguard Awareness campaign in 2009.

>Read More

Have you recently covered a story on dentistry or oral health?

Find out more information on the ADA's Journalism Award.

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