The facilitating role of mobile dental van programs in promoting professional dental education

The main goal of the University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHSCSA) dental van programs is to provide training in delivering care to diverse segments of the population. The UTHSCSA is the Academic Health Center for all of South Texas, a region with 25% of the State's population and 60% Hispanic. About 60% of the region's counties are federally designated dental health personnel shortage areas. Interdepartmental efforts with the participation of dental hygiene, community dentistry, oral diagnosis, periodontics and general practice carried out two programs during the 1994-95 academic year. At the Saint Philip of Jesus Clinic, a charity clinic, and at the Willows Development Center for Severely and Profoundly Mentally Retarded, the dental van was used to provide preventive and restorative care. A questionnaire to measure the value of the programs indicated that students perceived them as important educational activities which increased their confidence in treating persons in the community, especially persons with disabilities. Program output was quantitatively assessed. An average of 8 preventive procedures, 7 fillings, 2 sealants and 1 extraction or referral were provided each working day. Eighty patients were seen at the Saint Philip Clinic (2.5 visits per patient) and 130 patients were seen at the Willows Development Center. Overall, 80 students and 6 faculty participated in providing screening, treatment and referral services. Dental van programs promote access to dental care and increase the visibility of dental schools within the university and community. Current tendencies to halt new program initiatives and phase out existing programs due to shifting financial priorities should be carefully considered in view of the 1995 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report on the future of dental education.

Hydrogen peroxide decomposition in the oral cavity

PURPOSE

To determine the clearance of hydrogen peroxide from the oral cavity of infants (3-4 yrs of age), juveniles (7-12 yrs of age), adults (35-66 yrs of age), and adults with impaired salivary flow (34-71 yrs of age).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In all subjects, the amount of H2O2 present in the oral cavity was assessed following a 1-min brushing period with an experimental dentifrice formulated with 3% hydrogen peroxide for up to 9 mins postbrushing. In addition, the oral clearance of 3% hydrogen peroxide delivered in an experimental dentifrice formulated with 5% baking soda was determined in a control population of adults and adult subjects with impaired salivary flow.

RESULTS

Most of the hydrogen peroxide decomposed during brushing, with less than 30% of the prebrushing dose of hydrogen peroxide remaining in the oral cavity after 1 min of brushing. No differences between infants, juveniles, and adults were seen in levels of hydrogen peroxide recovered from the oral cavity after tooth brushing. When a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda was used for brushing, less than 5% of the hydrogen peroxide was recovered from the oral cavity after 1 min of brushing. In conclusion, clearance of hydrogen peroxide from the oral cavity was very rapid in children, adults, and adults with impaired salivary flow. Decomposition of hydrogen peroxide was enhanced approximately six-fold in adults by the presence of baking soda in the dentifrice. No substantial amount of hydrogen peroxide survived beyond the brushing period, and very little material would be present to interact with soft tissues in the oral cavity after expectorating any remaining dentifrice containing hydrogen peroxide.