Author(s): Ruth Rauca, DDS 2025; Jane Yu, DDS 2025Mentor(s): Micheal Le, Carli Casey, Dr. Rodrigo, Dr. Aouse Khalil, Dr. Mark Stevenson, Dr. Aniket Dhamorikar, Dr. Eric Crum OKU Community Health Service Award — 2nd Place
Author(s): Guneet Kaur Gill, DDS 2024; Gurleen Gill, DDS 2025Mentor(s): Dr. Parvati Iyer, Dr. Aneet Randhawa, Dr. Gary Grill, and Dr. Steve Curtis Personalized Instructional Program Teaching Material Creation Award — 2nd Place
Objectives: Tooth movement is caused by the application of force. In short, applied force strains structures present in the PDL space – cells, ligaments, blood vessels. Cells in the PDL are damaged by extension and by diminished oxygen supply due to compression of blood vessels. Compounds released from damaged or dead cells trigger an innate inflammatory response. One of the biomarkers of that response is increased formation of extracellular fluid (edema), specifically gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). Our goal is to monitor changes of GCF flow during the orthodontic treatment with Invisalign.
Drug-induced gingival hyperplasia (DIGH) is a common side effect of certain medications, resulting in an overgrowth of gingival tissue. This case study presents the use of immediate dentures for oral rehabilitation in a 69-year-old female patient on antihypertensive calcium channel blocker medication. The patient presented with extensive gingival overgrowth, resulting in difficulty eating and speaking, as well as poor esthetics. After a thorough evaluation and treatment planning, staged extraction was performed and and complete maxillary and mandibular immediate dentures were delivered on final extraction day. The dentures provided improved function, esthetics, and comfort for the patient, who reported a high level of satisfaction with the treatment outcome. This case illustrates the potential benefits of immediate dentures for oral rehabilitation in patients with Drug induced gingival hyperplasia, offering a viable treatment option for patients seeking to improve their quality of life.
As patients age and live longer, patients’ demand for non-removable options to replace teeth grows. In this particular case study, I evaluated and formulated a comprehensive treatment plan to restore form and function in a partially edentulous patient. Considering the patient’s preference for a fixed implant treatment option, I assessed the risks and benefits contributing to the long-term success of implants for this patient. I developed a surgical and restorative plan for implant placement involving both single unit and multi-unit implant prostheses. From implant planning, placement and restoration, I gained a greater understanding for similarities and differences between workflows for single unit and multi-unit implant prostheses. Thank you to my mentors Dr. Allen Wong, Dr. Debra Woo Dr. Michael Beckley, and the whole AEGD faculty team for their support and guidance.
Methods: A group of third year dental students developed a mentoring program for incoming second year students. The program involved a series of workshops and hands-on training sessions where the third year students shared their experiences and best practices for success in the dental school clinic. The program covered a range of topics, including patient communication, treatment planning, financial decisions and diagnostic principles.
Results: The Clinic transitions program was successful in helping incoming second year students navigate the challenges of transitioning into the clinic, as gathered by surveys. The second year students reported feeling more confident and prepared after participating in the program. The third year students also gained valuable leadership and teaching experience, which will be beneficial to them as they continue their dental education and future careers.
Conclusions: The Clinic transitions program was an effective way for third year dental students to share their experiences and knowledge with incoming second year students. The program not only helped the second year students succeed in the dental school clinic, but also provided the third year students with valuable leadership and teaching experience. The dental school plans to continue this mentoring program in the future to ensure that all students have the resources and support they need to succeed.
Acknowledgements: We would like to acknowledge the support of the dental school faculty and staff in making this program possible. The work of Dr. Gupta, Des Beltran and Marietta Daniel was critical to the success of the program. Additionally, we would like to acknowledge the participating second year students who arrived engaged and eager to learn at every session.
One of the biggest barriers to care in providing oral health care is the fear of dentists from the public. Patients with special healthcare needs may have sensory triggers, anatomical abnormalities, and face other barriers when seeking dental care. When dental needs are unmet, the periodontal condition worsen, and could lead to unwanted tooth decay. Early intervention and maintenance care is important to ensure the patient’s oral health is in good condition. Intervention such as sensory desensitization, caregiver education, removing the barriers to seek care, and utilization of alternative tools such as a universal soft tissue retractor will help increase patient compliance.
Objectives: Pediatric inferior alveolar nerve block landmarks are poorly defined and quantitative assessments of their efficacy are unavailable. We assessed landmarks/planes employed in pediatric IA blocks, and a new landmark, to establish their value.
The objective of this retrospective longitudinal study is to evaluate the treatment effects of clear aligners in patients with deep bite malocclusion by examining the dental and skeletal changes between the initial and final treatment time points. Our null hypothesis states that there are no significant differences between the two-time points for the variables studied.
