Magnification Loupes in U.S. Entry-Level Dental Hygiene Programs - Occupational Health and Safety

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine policies and practices regarding magnification loupes among faculty and students in accredited dental hygiene programs as measured by a 31 item, self-designed questionnaire. In addition, the study compared policies among dental hygiene programs in 2 year versus 4 year programs in terms of requirements for the use of magnification loupes. Methods: After institutional review board approval, a 31 item self-designed questionnaire was emailed via Survey Monkey to 303 entry-level dental hygiene programs. An overall response rate of 75% was obtained. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square test of independence. Results: Results reveal the vast majority of programs do not require loupes for faculty or students, with only 23% of responding schools requiring students to purchase loupes and 8% requiring faculty to use loupes. More dental hygiene programs require students to wear loupes than require faculty to wear loupes. No statistically significant differences (p-value=0.54) in program policies were found requiring the purchase of magnifying loupes by students, based on 2 year and 4 year dental hygiene educational programs. Odds ratio (1.25) give the odds of students purchasing loupes in a 2 year program as 25% higher than a 4 year program. Almost two thirds of respondents reported loupes instruction as a curriculum component, although most respondents spent 2 or less hours teaching in this area. Most programs (90%) do not plan to require students to purchase loupes in the future, although the majority believes proper use of loupes should be integrated in the curriculum. Conclusion: Most respondents see advantages to loupes, but clinical policies on loupes do not appear to correlate with beliefs. Educational programs in dental hygiene seem slow to adopt and require the use of loupes. Current clinical polices on loupes should be reviewed to ensure graduates experience the potential ergonomic benefits magnification brings to clinical practice during their education

The Prevalence of Burnout Among Entry-Level Dental Hygiene Program Directors

Purpose: Workplace burnout in academia is a problem that affects career satisfaction and longevity. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of burnout among entry-level dental hygiene program directors. Methods: The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) survey was used to determine prevalence of burnout in 325 dental hygiene program directors from across the United States. The survey was disseminated electronically. The CBI contains 19 questions that measure overall, personal, work-related, and client/student-related burnout on a five-point Likert type scale. The survey also included nine demographic and three open-ended questions related to burnout. Descriptive statistics, one sample t-tests, and one-way ANOVA tests were used to analyze the data. Results: One hundred twenty-seven dental hygiene program directors completed the survey for a 39.1% response rate. Most participants (62.2%, n=79) indicated moderate to high burnout on the personal burnout subscale, approximately one half (51.2%, n=65) on the work-related burnout subscale, and one third (33.1%, n=42) on the client/student-related burnout subscale. No statistically significant differences were found when comparing mean scores between directors of two-year and four-year program or between participants under age 50 and those 50 years of age and older (p-values\u3e0.05). Program directors with teaching workloads of 51-60% had significantly lower burnout on the work-related burnout subscale when compared to participants with teaching workloads of 31-40% (p=0.045). Participants with the lowest workload allocations for administrative duties had higher overall mean burnout scores. Conclusion: Results from this study suggest one out of two dental hygiene program directors have symptoms of some type of burnout with the highest prevalence rate in the personal burnout subscale. Findings underscore the need for further research to identify stressors that lead to burnout as well as identify prevention strategies that promote a healthier work climate for dental hygiene program administrators

Sexual Harassment Issues Among Dental Hygienists

Purpose: The #MeToo movement has increased awareness of sexual harassment in the workplace and its detrimental effects on the work environment. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of sexual harassment in a convenience sample of dental hygienists in the state of Virginia (VA). Methods: A cross-sectional research design was used to determine the experiences of VA dental hygienists with sexual harassment in the workplace occurring over the previous twenty-four months. The revised Sexual Experiences Questionnaire (SEQ-W) measured three constructs: gender harassment, unwanted sexual attention, and sexual coercion and was administered electronically to a convenience sample of 238 dental hygienists attending a continuing education conference. Chi-square was used to determine significant associations between survey scores and demographics. Results: A total of 161 dental hygienists completed the survey (n=161) for a response rate of 68%. A little more than one-quarter of the respondents (27%) reported at least one experience of sexual harassment in the previous 24 months. Of the three constructs measured, 27.3% of participants reported gender harassment, 18.6% unwanted sexual attention, and 6.8% sexual coercion. The most commonly reported items were being told offensive sexual jokes or stories (21%) and hearing someone make crude and offensive sexual remarks (18%). A definition of sexual harassment was provided and participants were asked, During your career as a dental hygienist, have you experienced sexual harassment? to which 24.2% (n=39) responded yes. Conclusion: Sexual harassment is a contemporary problem in dental hygiene employment settings in the state of Virginia. Effective training and policies in sexual harassment is needed to prevent these behaviors from occurring in the workplace

Radiation Safety Practices of Dental Hygienists in the United States

Purpose: The As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) principle was developed to promote awareness and minimization of radiation exposure and is supported by radiation control and professional organizations. The purpose of this study was to determine licensed dental hygienists\u27 current radiation safety practices. Methods: Data were collected with a 22 item, online survey administered to a convenience sample of 1,500 dental hygienists in the United States. Questions focused on respondents\u27 use of the American Dental Association (ADA) radiographic examination selection guidelines, their individual dental practice policies, and hand-held portable x-ray device use and training. Cross tabulations were obtained using logistic regression and general linear models for significance at a 0.05 level. Results: A response rate of 38% (n = 566) was obtained. A majority of respondents had an associate\u27s degree (62%), were over the age of 55 (41%), and had over 30 years of experience. Respondents with more years of experience were more likely to follow the ADA selection criteria for radiographic need (p=0.0340; SE=0.1093) and respondents with a bachelor\u27s degree or higher were more likely to use techniques to reduce radiation exposure than those with an associate\u27s degree (p=0.0080; SE=0.0169). Respondents who had recently taken dental radiation safety continuing education courses were significantly more likely to wear a clinician lead apron when using a hand-held x-ray device (p=0.0093; M=1.571; SD=1.222). Conclusion: Dental hygienists with more years of experience, a higher level of education, and recent CE course work were more likely to follow ADA radiographic examination selection guidelines and use appropriate techniques to reduce exposure to ionizing radiation

Oral Health Promotion: Knowledge, Confidence, and Practices in Preventing Early-Severe Childhood Caries of Virginia WIC Program Personnel

Purpose: This study assessed the oral health knowledge, confidence and practices of Virginia personnel in the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Methods: In 2009, 257 WIC personnel were electronically emailed via an investigator-designed 22-item Survey Monkey® questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square and Fishers Exact tests compared personnel demographics and oral health knowledge, confidence and practices at the p≤0.01 and 0.05 significance level. Results: Response rate was 68%. WIC personnel were knowledgeable about basic oral health concepts. More than half of those reporting were not confident assessing for visual signs of dental decay and do not routinely assess for visual signs of decay. Only 4% of personnel apply fluoride therapy. Conclusion: Findings support the need for health promotion/disease prevention at WIC. This study supports the NDHRA priority area, Health Promotion/Disease Prevention: Validate and test assessment instruments/strategies/mechanisms that increase health promotion and disease prevention among diverse populations

Attitudes of Virginia Dentists Toward Dental Therapists: A Pilot Study

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to determine perceptions of Virginia (VA) dentists toward mid-level dental providers, specifically dental therapists (DT), and determine whether membership in the American Dental Association (ADA) membership affected attitudes. Methods: A convenience sample of 1208 dentists in the state of VA were invited to participate in an electronic survey. The instrument consisted of 11 Likert type scale questions assessing attitudes toward DTs. Additional items included the appropriate level of education and supervision of a DT, and five demographic questions. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. A one-sample t-test was used to determine statistical significance for the Likert scale items. Results:An overall response rate of 12% was obtained (n=145). Most respondents were male (73%), members of the ADA (84%), and over the age of 40 (65%). Results suggest that most participants did not perceive (M=1.90, p Conclusions: Virginia dentists surveyed did not perceive a need for DTs and generally reported unfavorable attitudes towards this mid-level provider. Findings support the need for more research with a larger, more diverse sample population

Effects of 5 Different Finger Rest Positions on Arm Muscle Activity During Scaling by Dental Hygiene Students

Purpose. This study was conducted to determine the effects of 5 different finger rest positions: opposite arch, standard intraoral, basic extraoral, cross arch, and finger on finger on the muscle activity of 4 forearm muscles (extensor carpi radialis longus, flexor carpi ulnaris, biceps brachii, and pronator teres) during a simulated periodontal scaling experience. Methods. A convenience sample of 32 consenting senior dental hygiene students who met inclusion criteria participated. Using a 4 x 5 counter-balanced research design, each participant used a Gracey 11/12 curet to scale one cc of artificial calculus from first permanent molar typodont teeth (#3,14,19,30). Five different typodonts were set up for each participant with fulcrums randomly assigned for use on each typodont. While scaling, the participant’s muscle activity was measured by surface electromyography. Two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to determine if significant differences existed in the amount of muscle activity generated with each fulcrum. Results. Results revealed no statistically significant interaction effect between area of the mouth scaled, muscle activity, and fulcrum used. Similar muscle activity was produced throughout the mouth regardless of the fulcrum used. The upper right quadrant produced the most muscle activity (p= 0.0101) and the lower left quadrant produced the least (p=\u3c .0001). When comparing the overall muscle activity generated with each fulcrum, only the cross arch fulcrum when compared to the opposite fulcrum produced statistically significant results (p=0.0110). Conclusions. Based on the results, similar muscle activity is produced when using any of the 5 fulcrums in each quadrant of the mouth. Clinicians appear to experience minimal ergonomic advantage in terms of fulcrums used and area of the mouth scaled during a simulated scaling experience