Radiology instruction and use of ionizing radiation in U.S. dental schools

In fall 1980, the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association conducted a comprehensive survey of radiology instruction and the use of ionizing radiation in dental education. All 60 dental schools in the United States responded to the survey. Data were collected on course objectives, course content, clock hours of instruction, radiology content in other clinical courses, the number, educational background, and years of teaching experience of radiology faculty, clinical requirements in radiology and the measures used to assess student competency, and the use of radiographs in providing patient care. Attention was directed to practices used in monitoring radiation protection and hygiene. These data provide a frame of reference for evaluating the status of radiology instruction at the respective schools. More important, they provide faculty with a baseline for determining what changes, if any, are needed in the current radiology curriculum.     

Cytokeratin expression in oral cancer and its relationship to tumor differentiation

Although cytokeratin expression is said to alter with the state of tumor differentiation, few studies appear to have confirmed this in fresh tissues biopsies from oral squamous cell carcinomas. Previous studies have been limited by the number of antibodies utilized, small sample size, or lack of information regarding tumor differentiation. A panel of 8 antikeratin antibodies (of which five recognised the simple epithelial karatins, 8. 18 and 19) were applied to fresh tissue biopsies from 24 oral cancer and 15 normal oral mucosal biopsies. A standard immunocytochemical technique was followed (Vectastain Abc Method), with keratin expression graded on a 3 point scale. Our analysis indicated that simple epithelial keratins (K8. K.I8, K19) were not confined to the more poorly differentiated tumors. This may be relevant to tumor prognosis.     

Attitudes of dentists in British Columbia toward removable prosthodontics

A survey was sent to all registered dentists in British Columbia regarding their training and attitudes in removable prosthodontics. A reasonable number of the questionnaires were returned so that general comments can be made about perceived needs and suggestions to improve training and practice.There was a clear feeling among the dentists surveyed that dental school training had not prepared them adequately for the clinical practice of removable prosthodontics. It was suggested that increased emphasis be placed on both didactic and clinical instruction. Increasing the number and quality of faculty was frequently mentioned.There was a perceived need for integrated instruction with other disciplines and increased emphasis on total patient care, including areas such as nutrition and psychology.In general, removable prosthodontics was felt to be an important area of continuing education. Short courses, study groups, and programs at meetings were perceived to be desirable and necessary.Prosthodontic care was felt to be a significant need of the population. Inadequate training in dental school would be a disservice to both the practitioners and their patients. Access to high-quality dental care is an important aspect of the quality of life, and removable prosthodontics is an integral and important part of dental care.     

The relationship between radionuclide bone scans and dental examinations

Bone scans were evaluated in 57 patients referred from the nuclear medicine clinic. Areas of normal and abnormal radiopharmaceutical accumulation in the maxilla and mandible were correlated with a clinical and radiographic dental examination. There was an 80% agreement between the areas of normal and abnormal uptake with the clinical and radiographic findings. This was statistically significant (p less than 0.001). Twenty-one patients had clinical and radiographic dental examinations that were within normal limits and yet had abnormal bone scans. Five of these 21 patients were subsequently seen on an emergency basis for treatment of dental abnormalities. These positive areas on the bone scans may be indicating areas of pathosis not detectable by conventional clinical and radiographic diagnostic techniques.