The purpose of this investigation was to examine the degree to which a multifaceted approach to formal ethics instruction including community-based service-learning can enrich the learning environment and how it influences students' attitudes and perceptions about their role as oral health care providers, access to care, disparity, and working in a diverse community. Students' attitudes were evaluated prior to and following the seven-week course to determine if community-based service-learning had any impact on their perceptions. Factor analysis was conducted; and based on the identified factor structure, subscales were computed and used for subsequent analyses of change in attitude over time (pre-and post-test results) and to compare assessment of experience between discipline groups (dental and dental hygiene) as well as gender. There was a statistically significant difference in student attitudes from the beginning of the course to the end about volunteering in the community (p=.036). Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference (p<.01) between male and female students related to course impact on career choice and personal ability. Female students reported the course had a greater impact on their career choice and personal ability than did males. Students were required to complete a reflection paper on their service-learning experience. Reflective papers were analyzed using the qualitative constant comparative method. Reflective papers served as a rich source of information for understanding student perceptions related to their role as oral health care providers, access to oral health care, disparity, and cultural competence. Both dental and dental hygiene students indicated a desire for additional opportunities to participate in community-based service-learning activities and a desire for addressing the current access to care issues in their curricula. We found that a multifaceted approach to ethics instruction incorporating a community-based service-learning component provided an enriched environment for the discussion of several ethical issues facing oral health care providers today.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of a service-learning course on special needs patients for dental hygiene students by considering student reflections, community site coordinators' feedback, and faculty reflections in a qualitative analysis. Twenty-three female dental hygiene students beginning their fourth semester in the program provided preventive oral health services at eight community sites serving six diverse groups of people having special health care needs. Students reflected on the experience via commentaries written in self-reflection journals. The investigators applied the constant comparative method to analyze and unitize the data, ultimately reaching consensus on three category topics: awareness, higher order thinking, and professionalism. End of course project assessments provided additional data that was used to triangulate with data from the reflective journals. Telephone interviews with the site coordinators and personal interviews with the course faculty provided data from multiple perspectives. The outcomes of this study suggest that service-learning pedagogy can facilitate a deeper understanding of the subject matter and provide an opportunity for students to use critical thinking strategies in addition to becoming aware of complex social and professional issues related to the oral health care of individuals with special needs.

THE CURRENT FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF GENDER-SPECIFIC STRATEGIES IN PREVENTION, SUCH AS ORAL HOME-CARE, TO REDUCE THE HIGH PREVALENCE OF PERIODONTAL DISEASE AND MAINTAIN GOOD ORAL HEALTH ARE VITAL, AND ARE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR MALE DIABETIC PATIENTS AND THOSE WHO ARE AT HIGH RISK OF DEVELOPING DIABETES, SUCH AS THOSE WHO ARE OBESE.

Evidence suggests that using magnification loupes will improve the posture of dental clinicians, thus decreasing work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this case study was to document the experiences of a dental hygienist during a four week acclimatization period. Methods: Documentation was comprised of self-reports from the dental hygienist's reflective journaling and postural measurements made by a trained observer using Branson's Posture Assessment Instrument (BPAI), a validated posture assessment instrument. Journal reports and postural measurements were made prior to the use of the magnification loupes and over the subsequent three week trial. Conclusion: Use of the magnification loupes was a positive experience. The BPAI results indicated a positive change in neck and low back posture. Further trials of the effectiveness of magnification loupes in reducing musculoskeletal disorders with this occupational group are recommended.

Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to describe the research identifying dental hygiene risk factors, outline the structural characteristics of the various tools that dental hygienists use and discuss the evidence to support ergonomic tool re-designs. Methods: Two databases, Medline and Cinahl, were used to identify epidemiological research studies from 1998-2008 that describe the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in dental hygienists. The length, diameter, mass and padding of twenty-one (n = 21) dental instruments and instrument grip combinations and twenty-two (n = 22) mirrors and mirror grip combinations are described. Results: The length, mass and diameter of dental instruments and dental mirrors ranged from 16.3 cm to 17.5 cm and 15.9 cm to 18.5 cm, from 10.0 g to 25.0 g and 5.0 g to 30.0 g, and from 6.5 mm to 11 mm and 6 mm to 14 mm, respectively. Padding instruments and mirrors increased the mass by approximately 5.0 g. The literature does not suggest an optimal length for dental instruments or dental mirrors. The literature suggests that the optimal diameter for dental instruments and mirrors is at least 10 mm, the optimal weight is 15.0 g or less, and padding decreases muscle activity. Conclusions: Dental hygienists should be educated to select a variety of instrument handles based upon the parameters described above.