David G. Dunning

Pre‐indexing and conversational organization

Pre‐indexing utterances function to set‐up, organize, and supply a context for turn‐taking sequences in everyday conversation. Four perspectives on pre‐indexing phenomena are reviewed (pre‐sequences, indirect speech acts, disclaimers, politeness forms) and extend with conversational examples indicative of five speech acts possessing “pre” status: hints, prompts, teases, conditional disclosures, and small talk. Particular attention is given to the forms and functions pre‐indexes might take, responses to pre‐indexes, and relationships among speaker intention and hearer inferences as utterances are indexed. As preparatory strategies, pre‐indexing methods are shown to be integral to the commonsensical management of identities, understanding, and a sense of social structure in face‐to‐face interaction.

Irreversible hydrocolloids: a comparison of antimicrobial efficacy.

The surface antimicrobial efficacy of four irreversible hydrocolloid materials against two common oral bacteria, Lactobacillus and Streptococcus mutans, was evaluated. Twelve reversible hydrocolloid (agar) plates for each bacteria were used. Five wells, 1 cm in diameter by 5 ml in depth, were punched into each plate that contained a known concentration of bacteria. An equal-sized but different type of irreversible hydrocolloid plug was placed into each of four wells. The fifth (center) well contained chlorhexidine (Peridex) as a positive control agent. Results indicated that the irreversible hydrocolloids Coe Hydrophilic Gel (CHG) with chlorhexidine and Jeltrate Plus with quaternary ammonium were both as effective as the positive control agent in reducing surface growth of the bacteria studied. The use of antimicrobial irreversible hydrocolloids thus may aid in reducing operatory to laboratory cross-contamination.

A Survey of Endodontic Residents’ Attitudes About a Career in Dental Education

There is an increasing demand for qualified educators throughout American dental schools. A survey designed to identify reasons for interest or lack of interest in education as a career was sent to all first and second year endodontic residents enrolled in the United States in 1999. Seventy-four percent of the 392 students responded (224 men and 65 women). The survey results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests. Ninety-three percent of the respondents reported an interest in teaching on a part time basis, and of those, 51% were willing to teach 1.5 days/week, but only 16% were willing to teach more than 1.5 days/week. The survey included a list of eight potential reasons for not being interested in a career in education and respondents were asked to mark their top three. Low salaries for teachers was the most frequently chosen reason (70%), 51% listed educational debt, and 31% listed desire to be their own boss or lack of interest in research. Students were also asked to choose the top three reasons for interest in dental education from a list of seven reasons. Enjoyment of clinical teaching was the most frequently selected reason (41%): 32% included enjoying working with others in the field and 24% listed enjoyment of the university atmosphere.

Suicide rate in the dental profession: Fact or myth and coping strategies

This article summarizes relevant scientific data on the alleged high suicide rate among dentists as compared to other health care professions. Potential contributing risk factors for the dental profession are identified. In addition, a brief review is provided for major depressive disorder, a contributor to increased suicide, along with its symptoms, underlying theory, drug treatment and coping skills to combat this disorder.

Qualitative and quantitative determination of dental amalgam restoration volume.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM Volume of tooth structure replaced by an existing restoration, as assessed by visual and radiographic examination, is one diagnostic measure used by dental practitioners and dental insurance agencies to determine the relative need to restore a tooth with a full-coverage cast restoration. However, use of these methods has not been validated. PURPOSE This study compared the volume of a range of dental amalgam restorations placed in typodont teeth, as estimated by dentists, dental students and laypersons, with the actual volume of each restoration. METHODS AND MATERIAL Sixty subjects (20 dental school faculty, 20 dental students, and 20 clerical staff [laypersons]) participated. After reviewing photographic images of typodont teeth with mesial-occlusal-distal dental amalgam restorations, subjects estimated the volume of each restoration using various restorations on different teeth as a percentage of its tooths coronal volume. The actual volume of each dental amalgam restoration and that of the coronal portion of the prepared teeth was calculated with a volumetric displacement technique. The single sample 2-sided t test with a.05 level of significance was used to evaluate the null hypothesis (H0 ): The survey participants estimates of each restorations percentage volume are the same as the measured volume values versus the alternative hypothesis (H1 ): estimates differed from the measured volume values. One-way analysis of variance was used to determine the significance of any difference between the estimates of the 3 survey test groups. RESULTS Average volumes reported by all 3 groups were significantly different than the measured volume values (P <.05). Experience and dental training did not significantly affect a participants ability to evaluate restoration volumes with greater accuracy. Results reported by dentists, dental students, and laypersons were not significantly different (P >.05). CONCLUSIONS The volume of a restoration is inaccurately assessed by visual and radiographic examination.

Satisfaction among early and mid-career dentists in a metropolitan dental hospital in China

A growing body of research has examined career satisfaction among dentists using a standardized instrument, dentist satisfaction survey (DSS). This project examined career satisfaction of early to mid-career dentists in China, a population whose career satisfaction, heretofore, has not been studied. This is an especially critical time to examine career satisfaction because of health care reform measures being implemented in China. A culturally sensitive Chinese-language version of the DSS (CDSS) was developed and electronically administered to 367 early and mid-career dentists in a tertiary dental hospital in Beijing, China. One hundred and seventy respondents completed the survey. The average total career score was 123, with a range of 82–157. Data analysis showed some significant differences in total career score and several subscales based on gender, working hours per week, and years in practice. A stepwise regression model revealed that two variables predicted total career score: working hours per week and gender. Stepwise regression also demonstrated that four subscales significantly predicted the overall professional satisfaction subscale score: respect, delivery of care, income and patient relations. Implications of these results are discussed in light of the health care delivery system and dentist career paths in China.

Dental student debt in the U.S.: A mountain to be scaled

Dental student educational debt in the United States continues to grow as a concern for both dental educators and dental students. While certainly warranted, this concern needs to be understood from the perspective of return on investment. The student debt issue remains a critical one. However, this debt is essentially good debt when viewed as an investment made by associates/employees of general dental practices and general dental practice owners.