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2006 News

Collection of DPBRN study "Reasons for placing the first restoration on permanent tooth surfaces" data in the electronic dental record at HealthPartners
Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Data collection for DPBRN study "Reasons for placing the first restoration on permanent tooth surfaces" will take place within the digital environment at HealthPartners in the Minnesota Region of DPBRN. The capabilities of the electronic dental record required only very slight modifications to capture data for the study. These "screen mods" have been made in blue to differentiate them from routine charting since not all dentists in the HealthPartners Dental Group are DPBRN enrollees. Roll-out of this study began the week of December 11.

Click here to see an example of the screen mod.

First annual meeting for Kaiser Permanente Northwest (KPNW) and Permanente Dental Associates (PDA) DPBRN practitioner-investigators
Monday, December 11, 2006

KPNW and PDA DPBRN practitioner-investigators held their first annual meeting in Portland, OR, on October 21, 2006. Participants gathered to discuss the DPBRN studies and share their experiences. This Saturday meeting was well-attended and provided a great opportunity for practitioners to discuss clinical practice and research issues amongst themselves and with Dr. Bruce Pihlstrom and Dr. Donald DeNucci from NIDCR, Dr. Gregg Gilbert from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Dr. Ivar Mjor from the University of Florida.

The Tigard clinic was the first to implement and complete DPBRN study "Reasons for placing the first restoration on permanent tooth surfaces". Dr. Dan Pihlstrom, who was the Master of Ceremonies, presented this study restoration data from the Tigard Clinic. Drs. Pihlstrom, Jeff Houtz, Mike Grishman, and Greg Bowers (see photo) received certificates of participation for completing this study. Drs. Bruce Pihlstrom and DeNucci discussed NIDCR’s role in promoting dental practice-based research networks. Dr. Gilbert updated PDA practitioners on the overall progress of the network, and Dr. Mjor presented preliminary data from DPBRN study "Assessment of caries diagnosis and caries treatment". Dr. Jeffrey Fellows, Principal Investigator for the KPNW region, described two DPBRN studies about the incidence and risks of osteonecrosis of the jaws. Also attending the meeting were Dr. John Snyder, Associate Director for Clinical Effectiveness, and Nancy DeRoos from PDA. Attendees from KPNW’s Center for Health Research (CHR) included Sally Jo Little, KPNW Regional Coordinator and Gail Morgan, KPNW Project Manager in addition to Dr. Fellows.

Attendees separated into small groups to discuss either the studies; transition of research into practice; or using the DPBRN website. When the groups came back together to summarize their discussions, the information from each breakout session was electrifying. Practitioner-investigators were very interested in receiving study results (overall, regional, and individualized) as soon as practicable. They would welcome opportunities to discuss practice-based research with practitioners from other regions and compare procedures and outcomes. The groups also generated suggestions for several future studies: cracked tooth syndrome, materials used to repair fractured teeth or teeth at risk for fracture, attrition wear on anterior teeth, and treatment of abfraction lesions. Overall, the event was a big success and attendees had a great chance to share information about ongoing and planned studies.

First annual meeting for Florida and Georgia DPBRN practitioners
Thursday, November 30, 2006

The first annual meeting for Florida and Georgia DPBRN practitioners will be held January 5th and 6th at the Best Western Gateway Grand Gainesville, FL. This meeting will provide you the opportunity to meet other practitioners in the network. You will also be able to discuss important clinical questions that you feel should be addressed in future DPBRN studies. If you have any questions, please contact the Florida Regional Coordinator, Deborah McEdward, at [email protected] or by telephone at (352) 273-5848.

First annual meeting for HealthPartners and Minnesota DPBRN practitioner-investigators
Monday, November 20, 2006

HealthPartners and Minnesota DPBRN practitioner-investigators held their first annual meeting on October 19, 2006. The meeting provided a forum for members to discuss important clinical questions that should be addressed in DPBRN studies, and to share their experiences about participating in DPBRN. Because DPBRN is committed to being a practitioner-driven network, this meeting was designed to help shape DPBRN's future activities.

Practitioner-investigators interacted in small groups during "breakout" sessions. Evaluations of the meeting provided by attending practitioner-investigators indicated that these discussions were the highlight of the meeting. These discussions also led to suggestions for future DPBRN studies:

• Assessment and guideline development for cracked tooth syndrome • Long-term prognosis for endodontically treated maxillary teeth • Excessive wear – causes, role of diet, how to treat sensitivity • Diagnosis (including technology) and treatment of incipient occlusal lesions • When to place a crown to prevent cusp fracture • Risk factors for oral disease • Staging process for fracture • Progression of pulpitis • Oral – facial disease such as sleep apnea • Longevity of large intracoronal restorations • Patient compliance and patient experience • Bisphosphonate treatment • Dry mouth and medications, when are they a significant risk for caries? • Long term quality care vs. short term fix • 3rd molar extraction criteria including morbidity issues • How much tooth structure should be removed for cavity preparation? • At what depth should we restore caries? • What preventive measures work best for caries? • When is biannual prophylaxis and scaling of value? • Comparison of endodontic treatment to implant • When should you restore vs. extract? • Long-term success of bridges • Repair vs. replacement of restorations • Impact of oral habits on health • Fluorosis: prevalence and issues related to fluoride use • Occlusal interferences: what is their impact? • Variation of host response to oral diseases • Toxic issues with dental materials • Dental cements, tooth whitening and what appears to be increasing prevalence of sensitivity • Sinuses and relationship to dental issues • Salivary diagnostics • Oral cancer • Impact of economics and reimbursement on decision-making and dental care

Practitioner-investigators were welcomed by Andrew Nelson, Executive Director of the HealthPartners Research Foundation. Dr. Bruce Pihlstrom of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) spoke on the NIDCR’s national role in promoting the dental practice-based research networks and introduced Dr. Donald DeNucci, NIDCR’s new liaison to DPBRN. Dr. Gregg Gilbert of the University of Alabama at Birmingham updated practitioner-investigators on the overall progress of the network and Dr. Ivar Mjör of the University of Florida presented preliminary results from DPBRN study "Assessment of caries diagnosis and caries treatment".

Local speakers included Bobette Godding, manager of the HealthPartners Office of Research Subjects. She addressed the group regarding human subjects issues, including the elements of informed consent. Merry Jo Thoele, Regional Coordinator, presented an update on recruitment, enrollment and DPBRN studies "Asessment of caries diagnosis and caries treatment" and "Reasons for placing the first restoration on permanent tooth surfaces" activities. Dr. Brad Rindal, Principal Investigator for the Minnesota region of DPBRN, led an open discussion. Post-meeting evaluations of the meeting by the attending practitioner-investigators were very positive. The meeting underscored the importance of having practitioner-investigators lead DPBRN activities and chart its future directions.

Protocol Review Committee approves DPBRN studies "Longitudinal study of dental restorations placed on previously unrestored surfaces" and "Longitudinal study of repaired or replaced dental restorations"
Tuesday, October 31, 2006

On October 31, 2006 the Protocol Review Committee approved DPBRN studies "Longitudinal study of dental restorations placed on previously unrestored surfaces" and "Longitudinal study of repaired or replaced dental restorations". These studies will follow the restorations placed in DPBRN study "Reasons for placement of restorations on permanent tooth surfaces" and DPBRN study "Reasons for replacement of restorations" for up to 3 years. Click here to learn more about the studies.

Update on DPBRN study "Assessment of caries diagnosis and caries treatment"
Friday, October 20, 2006

To date, we have received over 400 questionnaires. Many thanks for making this study a success! If you have not completed your questionnaire, you still have time. We are accepting them until the end of November. Remember, you need to have completed this study in order to participate in DPBRN studies "Reasons for placing the first restoration on permanent tooth surfaces" and "Reasons for replacement or repair od dental restorations". By completing the questionnaire, though, you are not obligated to participate in the other two studies.

DPBRN registered with the PBRN National Resource Center
Friday, October 20, 2006

In October 2006, DPBRN became officially registered with the PBRN National Resource Center. Additional information is at the PBRN portion of the web site of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Click here to visit the website.

Fall 2006 DPBRN newsletter
Tuesday, October 17, 2006

The Fall 2006 DPBRN Newsletter will be mailed out this week. Click here to read the newsletter.

Orientation session held October 6, 2006 for practitioners in the AL region
Friday, October 06, 2006

Drs. Gregg Gilbert, Sonia Makhija, and Martha Wallace Dawson presented an Orientation Session on October 6, 2006 in Birmingham, AL. A total of 12 practitioners attended. Many great ideas were generated as a result of this session! After the Orientation Session, practitioners stayed to attend a course entitled "Practical Applications for Doing Clinical Research in Your Daily Practice". This course familiarized the practitioners with DPBRN study "Reasons for placing the first restoration on permanent tooth surfaces", which will begin in the AL region shortly.

"Assessment of caries diagnosis and caries treatment" questionnaire has been mailed
Sunday, July 30, 2006

The study packet was mailed to all eligible DPBRN practitioners the last week in July. To be eligible you must have completed the enrollment questionnaire and perform some restorative dentistry. If you have not received your study packet, and are interested in participating, please contact your Regional Coordinator, found in the "Contact Us" section of this website.

ADA's Evidence-based Clinical Recommendations for Topical Fluoride
Thursday, July 20, 2006

The ADA recently made available the evidence-based clinical recommendations for professionally-applied topical fluoride. These recommendations were developed through evidence-based assessments. Click here to see the Evidence-based Clinical Recommendations report of the Council on Scientific Affairs. Click here to visit the ADA's website.

DPBRN booth at Alabama Dental Association meeting
Friday, July 07, 2006

During the week of June 13, 2006 Sherry Wilson, Regional Coordinator for DBPRN, showcased an exhibit at the Alabama Dental Association convention at Orange Beach, Alabama. Practitioners from all over the state of Alabama as well as other states were represented at this meeting. Many practitioners enrolled in DPBRN stopped by the exhibit to gather the latest information about the studies slated to begin soon. One of the studies, "CONDOR study of ONJ", which addresses osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) received many favorable comments.

Special Edition DPBRN study "Assessment of caries diagnosis and caries treatment" DPBRN newsletter
Thursday, June 29, 2006

The Special Edition DPBRN study "Caries diagnosis and caries treatment" Newsletter will be mailed out this week. It contains all the information you will need to participate in this sutdy. Click here to read the newsletter.

DPBRN presentation at the American Dental Hygiene Association meeting
Thursday, June 29, 2006

On June 22, 2006, Dr. Sonia Makhija and Ms. Deborah McEdward gave a presentation to the American Dental Hygiene Association's annual meeting held at the Contemporary Resort in Orlando, FL. The presentation discussed recent activities of the DPBRN, basic principles in doing clinical research, and the importance of recruiting dental hygienists for future studies. Approximately 40 hygienists attended the presentation and the number of hygienists enrolled in the network increased as a result of this presentation!

Trans-PBRN Protocol Review Committee approved DPBRN studies "CONDOR study of ONJ" and "Retrospective cohort study of ONJ"
Wednesday, June 14, 2006

On May 30th, the Trans-PBRN Protocol Review Committee met in Bethesda, MD and approved both DPBRN study "CONDOR study of ONJ" and DPBRN study "Retrospective cohort study of ONJ". Click here to view summaries of these studies, which are found in the "Current Studies" section of this website.

DPBRN booth at Alabama Dental Society Meeting

Sherry Wilson, Regional Coordinator for DPBRN, exhibited a table at the 87th Annual Conference of the Alabama Dental Society (ADS) at Ross Bridge Resort on June 2, 2006 in Birmingham,AL. The ADS is the Alabama component of the National Dental Association. There were over 40 attendees (dentists and staff) and our newest member of DPBRN was introduced, Kellen Spivey, a UAB dental student who will be working as a research intern.

NIH Inventory and Evaluation of Clinical Research Networks (IECRN) Conference
Friday, June 02, 2006

Drs. Gregg Gilbert and Sonia Makhija attended the NIH Inventory and Evaluation of Clinical Research Networks (IECRN) conference May 31st and June 1st at the Doubletree Hotel in Rockville,MD. It was a conference about how PBRNs and other clinical research networks operate. Dr. Makhija presented a DPBRN poster at this conference. Click here to view the poster on the Publications section of our website. Click here to view the report. Click here to view the 2-page Executive Summary.

NIDCR PBRN Monitoring Committee meeting
Thursday, May 18, 2006

NIDCR established a PBRN Monitoring Committee to provide feedback to NIDCR and the three dental PBRNs that it funded. Elements of this feedback include: (1) the general organization and operation of the PBRNs; (2) informatics, data sharing capabilities, and network interoperability; (3) clinical relevance; (4) demographic and ethnic diversity; (5) network outcomes and progress; and (6) knowledge transfer to practitioners and the public. Click here to view a presentation that Dr. Bruce Pihlstrom (Acting Director, Center for Clinical Research at NIDCR/NIH) made to the NIDCR PBRN Monitoring Committee on March 27, 2006.

DPBRN display booth at Alabama Dental Association Fifth District Meeting
Friday, May 12, 2006

DPBRN presented an exhibit booth at the Alabama Dental Association Fifth District meeting in Anniston, Alabama May 12, 2006 at the Anniston City Center. There were over 80 attendees (dentists and staff) for the conference. One topic of interest among the dentists attending was the DPBRN study of osteonecrosis of the jaws (ONJ), and attendees were curious about the number of responses to the ONJ survey. To date, we have received responses from 309 DPBRN practitioner-investigators (other than practitioners with the Permanente Dental Associates or HealthPartners -- because ONJ cases in these organizations can be identified electronically) who reported having seen 99 cases of ONJ in their offices. The abstract for this project will soon be posted at the "Current Studies" tab. Click here to view our current studies.

DPBRN presentation about doing clinical research in your busy dental practice
Tuesday, May 02, 2006

On May 2, 2006, Dr. Gregg Gilbert gave a presentation to the Birmingham (Alabama) District Dental Society entitled "Doing clinical research in your busy dental practice". The presentation discussed recent activities of the DPBRN, basic principles in doing clinical research, and gave details about DPBRN studies "Assessment of caries diagnosis and caries treatment" and "Reasons for placing the first restoration on permanent tooth surfaces", the recruitment for which will begin in the coming months. Ms. Jacqueline Love, Research Specialist at UAB, hosted a DPBRN booth and poster and answered questions from attending practitioners.

Journal of the Canadian Dental Association's "Point of Care"
Wednesday, April 19, 2006

The Journal of the Canadian Dental Association has begun a "Point of Care" section that is designed to answer "everyday clinical questions by providing practical information that aims to be useful at the point of patient care." DPBRN practitioner-investigators may find this Point of Care section useful. Click here to access the journal. This month's Point of Care section has been added to the Literature Watch section of the DPBRN web page.

Spring 2006 DPBRN newsletter
Friday, April 14, 2006

The Spring 2006 DPBRN Newsletter will be mailed out next week. To view an electronic copy, click here.

Minnesota PBRN presentations
Thursday, March 30, 2006

Dr. Brad Rindal, a DPBRN practitioner-investigator, presented a poster on the Dental PBRN at the two major dental meetings (Minneapolis District and St. Paul District). Merry Jo Theole RDH, MPH, the regional coordinator for the Minnesota DPBRN, presented to the dental hygiene students at the University of Minnesota.

Winter 2006 DPBRN Newsletter
Tuesday, February 21, 2006

The Winter 2006 DPBRN Newsletter was mailed out to all members. To view an electronic copy, click here.

New article added to Literature Watch
Monday, February 20, 2006

A new article, co-authored by one of the practitioner-investigators in the DPBRN, Dr. Brad Rindal, has been added to the Literature Watch section. The article discusses the role of scientific evidence in daily clinical practice, addresses concerns that some dentists may have about evidence-based dentistry, and discusses opportunities for the future of dentistry. Click here to visit the Literature Watch section.

DPBRN orientation session held
Saturday, February 04, 2006

On February 4th, 2006 an orientation session was held at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry Annual Alumni Weekend. A total of 10 practitioner-investigators attended the session. Drs. Gregg Gilbert, Sonia Makhija, and Ivar Mjör gave presentations and discussed DPBRN's activities to date and planned activities. This orientation session resulted in new research topic ideas for future projects!