Newsletter

April 2023

Dental sealants are safe and effective for preventing dental caries. To develop theory-based interventions, more research is needed addressing dental provider attitudes related to dental caries prevention and arrest. We invite you to complete a Quick Poll about dental sealant use in your practice.

Bruce Cunningham, DMD, MAGD

Jacksonville Comprehensive Dentistry, Jacksonville, AL

Nicolaas Geurs, DDS, MS

UAB Department of Periodontology

Dr. Nico Geurs, the principal investigator for the dental implant restoration registry, was interviewed for the UAB News. “The knowledge gained from this registry will guide clinicians on what therapies are best for preventing dental implant complications and help improve treatment outcomes,” Geurs said.

“Patients will benefit from these findings, because the data will help us increase the success of dental implants, crowns and dentures and help us improve how we restore dental function and aesthetics, all while maintaining oral health for patients who have lost teeth.”

Participate in this study investigating management of pain up to 3 weeks after dental procedures. Aided by an mHealth text messaging platform, practitioners monitor pain experiences of their patients undergoing potentially painful dental procedures. Do not miss the chance to better communicate with your patients and contribute to the science of dental pain. Join now!  Read more

Consider joining the dentists who are creating the first National implant registry funded by NIDCR. You will enroll 10 to 15 patients with dental implants, at the time of prosthesis placement, and conduct one clinical examination every year for 3 years to investigate the success of implant therapy. Read more

Inviting all practitioners from the Network’s Midwest and Northeast Regions (only) to participate in this trial to help their patients quit smoking. Dentists will enroll patients who smoke, and then deliver a brief intervention called Ask-Advise-Refer. Patients will receive a free bag containing an electric toothbrush or Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) samples. If you are a network member from the Midwest and Northeast regions, register for the webinar on Jan 27th to learn more about the study. Read more

Practitioners from the Network’s South Central Region (only) will participate in this study to investigate the feasibility of integrating mental health screenings and treatment referrals into dental practice workflows. If you are a member from the South Central Region and want to participate, contact us.

Improving the nation's oral health by improving

the knowledge base for clinical decision-making

and moving the latest evidence into routine care

The National Dental Practice-Based Research Network is supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), grants U19-DE-028717 and U01-DE-028727