A study investigated the quantity of alloy lost in the fabrication of three types of cast restoration by dental students, and identified the proportion of loss at each of the four principal stages of the fabrication process. Suggestions for reducing metal loss and related costs in dental schools are offered. (MSE)

Residents benefit from general practice dental residencies by getting training in areas not adequately covered in the undergraduate curriculum and having time to mature professionally. Patients benefit from improved care and increased access to services. Greater attention should go to the quality and types of services such programs make possible.…

A survey of 48 United States and 9 Canadian undergraduate dental school clinics investigated the extent of routine use of screening blood tests for patients, test types used, and plans to increase or decrease screening test use. Six responded that they routinely test asymptomatic patients, with 2-20 tests used per patient. (MSE)

A discussion of the dental school administrator's mentoring role looks specifically at the administrator's responsibility in creating an environment fostering faculty growth and productivity. The mentoring administrator is a central, integral, and positive force within the department and school, using teaching, facilitating, and coaching rather…

In the mid-1990s, the University Of North Carolina (UNC) School of Dentistry entered the digital era by publishing curricula, syllabi, and modules on the Web. The School took this step in part to give students greater access to materials that supplement the lecture-based courses in the program, and in part to help students prepare for examinations…

Analysis of characteristics of students (n=1,684) using the Postdoctoral Application Support Service found significant differences in applicants to various program areas. Applicants to pediatric programs had the most varied characteristics; applicants to oral and maxillofacial surgery were the most homogeneous. The study provides baseline data for…

Meta-analysis is proposed as an effective alternative to conventional narrative review for extracting trends from research findings. This type of analysis is explained, advantages over more traditional review techniques are discussed, basic procedures and limitations are outlined, and potential applications in dental education and clinical…

A study investigated the efficacy of glutaraldehyde and several other disinfectants for disinfecting teeth to be used for teaching and research, as an alternative to autoclaving for teeth with amalgam restorations. Results indicate that formalin was the only disinfectant that penetrated tooth pulp chambers in effective antimicrobial…

The theory of reasoned action is applied to dentists' behaviors toward and treatment of patients with or at risk for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Two belief components are seen as critical: (1) beliefs about consequences of treating these patients; and (2) perceptions of how his reference groups view such treatment. (MSE)

A 1990 survey of 196 first- and second-year dental hygiene students at 5 colleges and universities investigated their knowledge of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Incomplete knowledge and some confusion was found, but little difference was found between first- and second-year students. (MSE)

A study investigated patient attitudes toward different disease control measures taken in dental school clinics (n=272 patients) and private practices (n=107 patients). Variables examined included sex, age, educational background, and knowledge of infectious diseases. Patients tended to accept the control measures being used in each context. (MSE)

Ramifications of cheating include underqualified graduates and the probable continuation of unethical behavior into dental practice. Dental educators are encouraged to stress pride in professionalism, to reinforce positive student behaviors, and to administer swift punishment to violators. (DB)

Use of the Application Transfer Study (ATS), a method of assessing information systems, to evaluate a dental school's information system is described, and its results are reported. It is concluded that the ATS was a worthwhile undertaking for both direct and indirect benefits derived from the analysis and the implementation of resulting…

This article describes and presents evaluation results of a faculty promotion program initiated at the Medical College of Georgia. The program assists faculty in career development by facilitating faculty research and publication and in helping to secure extramural funding for its participants. (GLR)

A survey of 113 graduates of the State University of New York at Stony Brook dental school now in general practice found a high rate of self-reported use of preventive practices (oral hygiene instruction, pit-and-fissure sealants, fluorides, and diet analysis) included in the dental school's curriculum. (MSE)