Dental Practice-Based Research Network

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September 2010 DPBRN E-Update
Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Each month we highlight a recent DPBRN publication, recent study results, or other important DPBRN information. Please click here to view the pdf version. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please contact our Director of Communications.

DPBRN Summer 2010 Newsletter
Monday, August 16, 2010

The DPBRN Summer 2010 Newsletter is now available. Please click here to view the pdf version. If you would like to be added to the mailing list to receive the electronic version, please contact our Director of Communications.

DPBRN Executive Committee member co-authors article on ethics in the August 2010 issue of JADA
Friday, August 13, 2010

Dr. Pat Foy, DPBRN Executive Committee Member and practitioner-investigator from the MN region, co-authored the “Ethical Moment” section of the August 2010 issue of JADA entitled “What Is the Ethical Course of Action When a Third-Party Payer Denies Coverage for a Treatment I Recommend Simply Because the Treatment Is Not One of the Plan’s ‘Evidence-Based Best Practices’?”. In it, they discuss the relationship between evidence-based dentistry and third-party payers. Click here to view the PubMed link. Click here to visit the ADA website.

DPBRN posters and presentations at IADR meeting in Barcelona, Spain
Wednesday, August 04, 2010

DPBRN was well-represented at the 88th General Session and Exhibition of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR), held this year in Barcelona, Spain July 14-17, 2010. DPBRN had multiple abstracts, given as oral presentations or posters, which garnered a lot of interest in our network.

Dr. Valeria Gordan (Principal Investigator for the FL/GA region) participated in a symposium organized by the Dental Materials Research Group and Network for Practice-based Research. She gave an oral presentation entitled “Investigating reasons for and outcomes of repair and replacement of restorations: a comparison of practice-based and institution-based studies”. DPBRN posters at the meeting included the following topics: factors used to rate dentists’ technical skills; successfully engaging practitioners to present research from The Dental PBRN; value of in-office audits in DPBRN; caries risk assessment and treatment decisions; and adult caries risk factors. The posters were presented by The DPBRN investigators, research coordinators, and private-practitioners from the various regions.

In addition to these presentations, Ms. Deborah McEdward(Regional Coordinator for the FL/GA region) and Dr. Craig Ajmo(DPBRN practitioner-investigator for the FL/GA region) attended the Board meeting for the Network for Practice-based Research. They serve as Treasurer and Member-At-Large representatives, respectively. The DPBRN received positive remarks for its participation at the section meeting of the Network for Practice-based Research. The goal of “networks” in the IADR structure is to create opportunities for communication and collaboration among researchers and other interested groups under the umbrella of the IADR.

Congratulations to all the presenters for a job well done! Click here to view the entire list of presentations.

Click on the thumbnails to view the photos.

August 2010 E-update
Monday, August 02, 2010

Endodontists’ and orofacial pain groups jointly fund a Dental PBRN study
Tuesday, July 27, 2010

A follow-up study to DPBRN Studies 17 ("Peri-operative pain and root canal therapy") & 18 ("Persistent Pain and Root Canal Therapy") has been funded recently by the American Association of Endodontists Foundation and the American Academy of Orofacial Pain.

Dr. Richie Kohli, resident in the TMD and Orofacial Pain Division at the University of Minnesota, will lead the project, which will be performed only within DPBRN’s Minnesota region. The study is entitled "Diagnoses for persistent dentoalveolar pain following root canal therapy: a nested case-control study". Drs. Donald Nixdorf, Alan Law, John Look, and Brad Rindal of the University of Minnesota and the HealthPartners Research Foundation will serve as co-investigators. The study will derive detailed endodontic and orofacial diagnoses for consenting DPBRN patients who are experiencing pain at six months following their non-surgical root canal treatment, along with age- and gender-matched control patients.

The primary goal of the study is to determine the proportion of patients with pain who would be best managed with usual dental care, compared to those who actually have a non-odontogenic source for their pain and therefore may be better managed by directing treatment that is focused on the non-odontogenic source of their pain.

One of many measures of success for DPBRN studies is that they lead to additional research, including research that can be funded by sources other than the main funder of the network (the U.S. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research). This study is significant for DPBRN because it makes use of our network and our previous studies as the basis for important additional research – research that can be done more quickly and efficiently than would have been possible otherwise.

NIDCR receives approval to proceed with a Request for Applications for the next cycle of funding
Friday, July 23, 2010

Recall that the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) funded The Dental PBRN for 2005-2012. NIDCR recently received approval to provide a second cycle of funding for the PBRN initiative.

This entailed getting a “concept approval” by the National Advisory Dental and Craniofacial Research Council, which it received in May 20, 2010. In addition to assessing the progress made by the three dental PBRNs that NIDCR funded in 2005, the advisory council assessed the overall programmatic and scientific priority for dental practice-based research. As a result of this approval, NIDCR will release a Request For Applications to fund a second cycle to continue practice-based research networks. Because The Dental PBRN has been very successful and productive in its activities, we hope to be very competitive for this funding.

Click here to find out more information on this concept clearance.

July 2010 Monthly E-update
Thursday, July 01, 2010

Each month we will highlight a recent DPBRN publication, recent study results, or other important DPBRN information. Please click here to view the pdf version. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please contact our Director of Communications.

June 2010 Monthly E-Update
Monday, June 07, 2010

DPBRN Spring 2010 Newsletter
Friday, May 14, 2010

The DPBRN Spring 2010 Newsletter is now available. Please click here to view the pdf version. If you would like to be added to the mailing list to receive the electronic version, please contact our Director of Communications.

May 2010 Monthly E-Update
Saturday, May 01, 2010

Annual meeting of the Alabama/Mississippi region of DPBRN practitioner-investigators
Friday, April 16, 2010

Alabama and Mississippi DPBRN practitioner-investigators held their annual meeting April 9-10, 2010 at the Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort and Spa in Hoover, AL (http://www.rossbridgeresort.com). A total of 85 persons attended, including more than 70 practitioner-investigators.

During the reception, practitioner-investigators were able to view recent DPBRN research posters and related materials. Dr. Gregg Gilbert, DPBRN Network Chair, gave an update on DPBRN’s latest activities and how practitioner-investigators are actively participating in the publication and dissemination process. Dr. Donald DeNucci of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (http://www.nidcr.nih.gov), one of the institutes of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (http://www.nih.gov), presented important background information on dental PBRNs as well as the future of dental PBRNs, and provided a national perspective for the conference.

Dr. Gerald Anderson, a practitioner-investigator from Selma, AL, and representative of the AL/MS region on the DPBRN Executive Committee, presented results from the May 2008 DPBRN Network-wide meeting held in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Patrick Foy, a practitioner-investigator from Minneapolis, MN and representative of the MN region of the DPBRN Executive Committee, presented his journey from being a skeptic of the PBRN concept to being a fervent advocate. Dr. Allen Kessler, a practitioner-investigator from Fairfield, AL, presented the results of a DPBRN study on the outcomes of root canal treatment.

Attendees also participated in a rotating poster discussion session. Four practitioner-investigators gave five-minute presentations beside their DPBRN poster, followed by a question-and-answer session for 5-10 minutes. The attendees rotated through four DPBRN research posters. The practitioner-investigators presenting the posters were: Dr. Charles Yarbrough of Mobile, AL; Dr. Rick Redmond of Sylacauga, AL; Dr. Raymond Tso of Wetumpka, AL; and Dr. Jocelyn McClelland of Alabaster, AL.

Attendees separated into 8 small groups to discuss 7 topics: (1) ideas for the future of The DPBRN; (2) DPBRN study “Blood glucose testing in dental practice”; (3) DPBRN study "Hygienists’ internet tobacco cessation study"; (4) DPBRN study “Peri-operative pain and root canal therapy”; (5) DPBRN study "Prevalence of questionable occlusal caries lesions"; (6) DPBRN possible study “Permanent restoration or sealant for occlusal caries (PROSOC); and (7) DPBRN possible study “Saliva and oral health”. When the groups re-convened to summarize their discussions, the information from each breakout session was thought-provoking. Thanks to all attendees for putting so much energy into the breakout sessions! Thanks also to the 8 DPBRN practitioner-investigators who led each of the 8 groups (Drs. Gerry Walker of Trussville, AL, George Allen of Mobile, AL, Randall Palmore of Pinson, AL, Mary T. Wallace of Rainbow City, AL, Emery Cole of Sumiton, AL, Roberto Pischek of Robertsdale, AL, Wendy Holder of Alexander City, AL, and Jared Murrell of Warrior and Gardendale, AL).

Practitioner-investigators were very interested in future opportunities to discuss practice-based research with practitioners from the other DPBRN regions and to compare procedures and outcomes. Overall, based on evaluation forms completed by the attendees, the event was a big success and provided a fun opportunity to share information about ongoing and planned studies. Many thanks to DPBRN staff for their hard work, as well as to all of the practitioner-investigators, for making the AL/MS meeting a great success! Click on the thumbnail photos below to view photographs of the meeting.

April 2010 Monthly E-Update
Monday, April 05, 2010

DPBRN posters and presentations at AADR meeting in Washington, DC
Wednesday, March 31, 2010

DPBRN was well-represented at the 39th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental Research in Washington, DC March 2-5, 2010. DPBRN had multiple abstracts, given as oral presentations or posters, which garnered a lot of interest in our network. Congratulations to all the presenters for a job well done! Click here to view the abstract list. Click on the thumbnails to view the photos.

DPBRN studies progressing well in Norway
Friday, March 12, 2010

DPBRN studies “Longitudinal study of dental restorations placed on previously unrestored surfaces”, “Reasons for replacement or repair of restorations”, and “Patient satisfaction with dental restorations” were very successful in Scandinavia. The photos below are from a recent trip to Hamar, Norway, where data collection forms for these studies were collected.

March 2010 Monthly E-update
Thursday, March 11, 2010

DPBRN Executive Committee Member writes an article on DPBRN and Evidence-Based Dentistry
Thursday, March 11, 2010

Dr. Pat Foy, a full-time private practitioner in Minneapolis, MN, DPBRN practitioner-investigator, and member of the DPBRN Executive Committee, wrote an article for Dental IQ entitled "Evidence-based dentistry: are we there yet?" In it, he discusses his perspective as a member of DPBRN and its role in evidence-based dentistry. Click here to view the article.

Feature Article in Northwest Dentistry: “Doctor, Why Does My Tooth Still Hurt?”
Thursday, March 11, 2010

Members of DPBRN wrote a feature article for the January/February 2010 issue of Northwest Dentistry, the journal of the Minnesota Dental Association. In it, they discuss the common problem of post-operative sensitivity after root canal treatment and a new DPBRN study that is geared towards investigating this problem. Click here to view the article.

DPBRN study “Blood sugar testing in dental practice” underway in Sweden
Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Dr. Cecilia Blom, a Swedish Public Dental Health Service dentist in Åkersberg, Sweden is one of the practitioner-investigators participating in the DPBRN study “Blood sugar testing in dental practice”. The photo below was taken just after a successful training session in Åkersberg, Sweden and include (from left to right): Dr. Blom, Pia Nørrisgaard (Regional Coordinator for Scandinavia), Dr. Vibeke Qvist (Principal Investigator for Scandinavia), and Dr. Liselotte (Lotta) Persson (Scandinavian Executive Committee Member).

February 2010 Monthly E-update
Wednesday, February 03, 2010

DPBRN Article in Today’s FDA (Florida Dental Association)
Monday, February 01, 2010

The January/February 2010 issue of Today’s FDA (Florida Dental Association) featured an article on the current and future studies in DPBRN. The article discusses the status of “Prevalence of questionable occlusal carious lesions”, “Blood sugar testing in the dental practice”, and “Primary management of TMJD pain”. Please click here to read the article.

DPBRN Collaborative Group contributes a chapter on Dental Practice-Based Research Networks to Clinical Research in Oral Health book
Friday, January 29, 2010

Dr. Gregg Gilbert (DPBRN Network Chair), Ms. Andrea Mathews (DPBRN Program Manager), Dr. Dan Pihlstrom (DPBRN Executive Committee member), Dr. Brad Rindal (Principal Investigator of the Minnesota region) and Dr. Dale Williams (Principal Investigator of the DPBRN Coordinating Center) all contributed sections to a chapter entitled “Dental Practice-Based Research Networks” in Clinical Research in Oral Health. In it, they describe practice-based research in large group dental practices, data acquisition and analysis, study deployment, participant protection, and scientific peer review in dental PBRNs. To find out more information on the book, please click here to visit the publisher's website.

DPBRN Winter 2010 Newsletter
Wednesday, January 13, 2010

The DPBRN Winter 2010 Newsletter is now available. Please click here to view the pdf version. If you would like to be added to the mailing list to receive the electronic version, please contact our Director of Communications.

January 2010 Monthly E-Update
Monday, January 04, 2010

Dental PBRN publication cited as “notable publication for the year” by the American Medical Informatics Association
Friday, January 01, 2010

As part of its annual “Year in Review”, the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) selected a recent Dental PBRN publication as one of its “high impact publications in clinical informatics”. The AMIA is the professional home for biomedical and health informatics and comprises an interdisciplinary and diverse group of individuals and organizations from more than 65 countries. Click here to visit the AMIA website. The article cited was: Houston TK, Richman JS, Ray MN, Allison JJ, Gilbert GH, Shewchuk RM, Kohler CL, Kiefe CI, for the DPBRN Collaborative Group. Internet-delivered support for tobacco control in dental practice: randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research 2008; 10(5): e38.

This internet-delivered intervention encouraged and provided tools to discuss tobacco use with dental patients. This randomized clinical trial was successful. During the study period, there was a greater increase in tobacco cessation advice in intervention practices, compared with control. This article was detailed at the DPBRN web site as the news item entitled “The latest results from DPBRN’s first clinical trial are now publicly available”. Click here to go to this news items page. Details about the “AMIA Informatics 2009 Year in Review” are available by clicking here.

Congratulations to all the investigators associated with the “Dental Tobacco Control Trial”!