Journal of dental hygiene : JDH
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The Use of Immersive Visualization for the Control of Dental Anxiety During Oral Debridement.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Immersive Visualization (IV) eyewear on anxious, adult patients during oral debridement. ⋯ Results from this study support the use of IV eyewear as an effective technique to reduce anxiety in adults during oral debridement. The use of the IV eyewear was well received by all subjects. The portable, affordable and easy-to-operate IV system makes this technique an appealing approach of reducing dental anxiety.
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Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most commonly undiagnosed sleep disorder and is gaining more recognition in dentistry. Dental hygienists are at a pivotal position to discuss risks, characteristics, medical referrals and treatment options for OSA, as well as detect if an individual has OSA through questionnaires and other tools that can be done during an examination. Dental hygienists need to receive appropriate education about OSA and should be well versed in their knowledge to educate patients. The purpose of this literature review is to identify the role of the dental hygienist in detecting the risk of OSA and gain knowledge on the topic in order to educate patients.
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To determine perceptions about dental hygiene doctoral education among dental hygiene master's degree program enrollees. ⋯ Most dental hygiene master degree learners in this study believed doctoral dental hygiene education is needed and important to the dental hygiene discipline and profession, and were interested in applying to such programs. Future research is needed in this area.
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The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a 3-week practicum experience on the clinical self-confidence of University of North Carolina (UNC) senior dental hygiene students. ⋯ The results suggest that a 3-week practicum experience in dental hygiene students' final semester increased UNC dental hygiene students' clinical self-confidence in the dental hygiene process of care. Dental hygiene administrators may want to consider the benefits of requiring students to participate in a practicum experience if they do not already do so.
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To assess the instruction of pathology content in entry-level and advanced practitioner dental hygiene educational programs and the program directors' perceptions whether their graduates are adequately prepared to meet the increasingly complex medical and oral health needs of the public. ⋯ Strengthening pathology instruction would ensure that future generations of dental hygienists would be adequately prepared to treat medically compromised patients.