Traditional versus virtual interviews: A perspective of paediatric dentistry program directors and residents

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 pandemic restrictions necessitated changes in conduct of the interview process for the selection of candidates in paediatric dentistry residency programs.

AIMS

To examine the experiences and attitudes of paediatric dentistry program directors and residents regarding the virtual interview process during the 2020/2021 application cycle.

DESIGN

A survey was sent to 82 directors and 416 postdoctoral members of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry with data collected from individuals interviewed during the 2020/2021 cycle.

RESULTS

Response rates for directors and residents were 27% (N = 22/82) and 17% (N = 72/416), respectively. Seventy-three percent of directors (N = 16) believed that virtual interviews were not an adequate substitute for in-person interviews and made it difficult to present facilities, observe applicant interactions, and assess personality. Fifty-nine percent of the directors (N = 13) were not interested in using virtual interviews if restrictions were lifted. Residents reported that virtual interviews were accommodating but were unable to observe interpersonal interactions, assess the location and facilities, and understand the program culture. Sixty-one percent of residents (N = 44) prefer to interview in-person.

CONCLUSION

The majority of program directors (73%) felt that virtual interviews could not substitute for in-person interviews and 59% would not be interested in using virtual interviews in the future. Residents (94%) reported inability to evaluate the location and facilities, and 61% prefer to interview in-person for future interviews.

Association of Diabetes and Dental Caries Among U.S. Adolescents in the NHANES Dataset

Purpose: To investigate the association of diabetes and dental caries in U.S. adolescents in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods: NHANES 2005 to 2010 data represented 24.38 million U.S. adolescents. Outcome variables were dental-caries-experience and untreated dental decay. Analyses included descriptive statistics and logistic regressions. Multivariable models controlling for known common confounding variables using weighted estimates for odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Diabetes and prediabetes prevalence were 0.35 percent and 12.8 percent, respectively. Subjects with increased blood glucose and HbA1C had significantly greater dental caries (78.9 percent versus 56.3 percent) and (83.2 percent versus 56.2 percent, P<0.001) when compared to those with normal values. Fully adjusted models revealed that diabetic adolescents were more than twice as likely to experience dental caries compared to nondiabetic adolescents (OR=2.43, CI=2.39 to 2.47). Similarly, diabetic individuals were more likely to have untreated dental decay than non-diabetics (OR=3.37, CI=3.32 to 3.42). Conclusion: Diabetic adolescents, compared to nondiabetics, had higher odds of dental caries experience and untreated dental decay after controlling for age, race/ethnicity, gender, body mass index, family income-to-poverty ratio, and country of birth. This study highlights the need for continued interprofessional collaboration to address oral health in prediabetic and diabetic adolescents.

Attitude and willingness of pediatric dentists regarding dental care for children with developmental and intellectual disabilities

AIM

Children with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities (DD/ID) are considered to be at greater risk of developing dental disease and are more likely to have unmet dental needs than other children. The purpose of this study was to determine the attitude and willingness of pediatric dentists and residents to provide dental care for children with DD/ID.

METHODS

Two surveys were created and emailed via SurveyMonkey^® to pediatric dentists and post-doctoral student members of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

RESULTS

Five hundred and seventy-four pediatric dentists (9%) and 143 pediatric dentistry residents (13%) responded. Ninety-nine percent of the practicing pediatric dentists do provide dental care for children with DD/ID. Ninety-six percent of the practitioners are confident/very confident in treating these children with nonpharmacological methods, while 86% are confident/very confident with pharmacological methods. Among the residents, 99% are willing to provide dental care to children with DD/ID after they graduate. Eighty-six percent of the residents are confident/very confident in treating these children with nonpharmacological methods, while 70% are confident/very confident with pharmacological methods.

CONCLUSION

Pediatric dentist and resident respondents to the survey were overwhelmingly willing to provide dental care for patients with DD/ID and are confident with pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment modalities.

What Makes a Great Resident: A Perspective of Pediatric Dentistry Program Directors and Residents

PURPOSE

To obtain information regarding attitudes and perspectives of pediatric dentistry residency program directors (PD) and pediatric dentistry residents (PDR) about what makes a great resident.

METHODS

Surveys for PDs (36 questions), and PDRs (31 questions) were created and emailed via SurveyMonkey® to the 88 PDs and 906 residents of United States programs in 2015. Desirable characteristics identified during selection and attendance in the residency program were compared.

RESULTS

Forty-seven percent of the PDs (n equals 41) and 24 percent of the residents (n equals 221) responded to the survey. Both groups rated honesty to be of highest value during the selection process of applicants. During the residency, PDs still ranked honesty highest, whereas residents ranked teamwork highest. PDs (71 percent) would consider a standardized admissions test as part of their admission requirements. Twenty-three percent of PDs and 58 percent of residents believed social media would influence admission decisions.

CONCLUSIONS

The viewpoints of directors and residents showed similarities during the selection process but significant differences in ranking personal attributes during training, with residents valuing teamwork more than program directors. Program directors want a standardized test for the admissions process. Additionally, residents ranked social media higher for admission decisions than program directors.

Diagnosis of Hypofibrinogenemia After Dental Treatment Under General Anesthesia

Congenital hypofibrinogenemia is a rare coagulation disorder characterized by a deficiency in fibrinogen protein, which is critical to the normal coagulation process. This hematological disorder can go undiagnosed until an event leads to prolonged bleeding. The purposes of this report were to describe an incidental diagnosis of congenital hypofibrinogenemia after a dental procedure, discuss the importance of recognizing coagulopathies on the delivery of dental care, examine the multi-disciplinary clinical management of prolonged bleeding after a dental procedure, and evaluate the challenges health care practitioners may encounter when obtaining a thorough medical history.

Dental trauma management by New York City school nurses

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and ability of school nurses in NYC to manage and properly treat traumatic dental injuries.

METHODS

A survey questionnaire was sent to 160 randomly selected public schools and 40 randomly selected private schools in New York City. The questionnaire consisted of 24 multipart questions regarding background, personal experience, and knowledge of dental trauma.

RESULTS

Seventy-four percent (74%) of the nurses rated their confidence in handling dental trauma in the middle range on a scale from 1 to 10. Sixty-two percent (62%) of nurses knew liquid was the optimal transportation method of an avulsed tooth; however, 52% of participants responded incorrectly that it was not appropriate to replant an avulsed permanent tooth. Ninety percent of nurses surveyed were interested in receiving further education in the management of dental trauma.

CONCLUSION

This survey indicates that a gap of knowledge exists in the ability of school nurses to handle dental trauma.