A 30-year review of a geriatric dentistry teaching programme

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00471.x A 30‐year review of a geriatric dentistry teaching programme Objective: To review the development of the Geriatric Dental and Special Needs Education programme at the University of Iowa over the last 30 years. Background: The programme at Iowa evolved from a didactic elective programme taught by a single faculty person to a required didactic and clinical programme, which includes a Special Care Clinic in the dental school and a mobile unit with portable dental equipment which serves ten area nursing homes with comprehensive care. Materials and methods: Changes have been made in the programme over time based on formal and informal feedback from students and graduates, and we have also looked at the impact of the programme on dental services to our target population. Results: The factors influencing the curriculum development are identified and discussed. Conclusion: As no dental schools are the same, some general applications are suggested from the Iowa experience.     

Geriatric dentistry in Brazilian universities

The World Health Organization has predicted an increase in the population of elderly people. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the teaching of geriatric dentistry in Brazilian universities. Materials and methods: This study consisted of questionaires regarding the training in geriatric dentistry in 104 dental schools included in the National Institute of Education Research (INEP) in 2001. In order to calculate the sample (a random stratified one), the confidence interval was set at 99% and a maximum permitted error of 3% was adopted. Pearson's chi‐square test was used in the inferential analysis. Results: From the 64 dental courses which were studied, only 25 included geriatric dentistry in the curriculum. From 1857 students who were involved in the study, 41% sought knowledge outside the dental school and 98% considered that it was important that this subject should be included in the curriculum. There was statistical significance between geriatric dentistry teaching and the students’ preference as well as the prospect of working with this group of the population. Geriatric dentistry as an individual subject was absent from the curriculum in two‐thirds of the dental courses investigated. Knowledge was often transmitted as part of dental prosthetics and most of the students stated that they would want to be able to treat elderly people. It was relevant to note that senior students expected to work in this field. Conclusion: Dental students in Brazil do not have adequate training in geriatric dentistry.     

Frey's syndrome: diagnosis in geriatric dentistry

Frey's syndrome, is characterized by warmth, flushing and sweating of the face, most of time in the preauricular region, initiated by any gustatory stimulus. It is frequently related to parotid surgery. A case of Frey's syndrome in a 81‐year‐old female whose long‐delayed clinical onset post‐parotidectomy is presented.     

Geriatric dentistry: a new specialty in Brazil

Objective: To present the current status of geriatric dentistry in Brazil. Background: In 2001, the Brazilian Dental Council established a new specialty: geriatric dentistry. This decision was based on the increase in both the elderly population and the demand for dental treatment of this cohort. Materials and methods: Data were obtained through online searches of the Brazilian Dental Council and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Results: Brazil has 170 dental schools offering around 14 000 undergraduate vacancies every year. At the postgraduate level, there are 19 recognised dental specialties, one of which is geriatric dentistry, comprising 18 certificate programmes, with the potential to produce 216 new specialists every 18 months. The dentist/habitant ratio was 1:870, higher than that recommended by the Word Health Organization. The Brazilian population consists of around 14.5 million elderly people (8.6%). There were 124 specialists in geriatric dentistry distributed irregularly throughout the country. The specialist/elderly population rate was 1:117 249. At the undergraduate level, this new specialty is not included in the curricula of most dental schools in Brazil. Conclusions: Geriatric dentistry should be included in the undergraduate curricula of dental schools in Brazil. Postgraduate degree courses should be developed to produce more clinical academics and researchers in this field.     

The Yad Sarah geriatric dental clinic, a different model

Introduction: There are not sufficient dental services for elderly people around the world. Yad Sarah is an Israel‐wide network of volunteers aiding sick, elderly, isolated and housebound people with an array of services aimed at making home care possible. It provides medical and social services to more than 380 000 elderly persons per year and in addition, lends medical equipment free of charge, has day rehabilitation centres, legal aid council for seniors, provides transportation for the disabled, meal deliveries and geriatric dental services. Materials and methods: The latter are equipped with five dental units (one mobile unit) and a dental laboratory. During the 5 years from 2000 to 2004 the dental services provided dental care for 3890 elderly patients with the main clinic located in Jerusalem. Patients pay an average of 70% of the cost price of their dental care, with the difference being subsidised by Yad Sarah. Of the 515 patients who applied for treatment in 2004, 54% possessed natural teeth in both jaws, 28% were fully edentulous, 12% were edentulous in the maxilla and 6% were edentulous in the mandible. Females applied for dental treatment more often than the male population. Older patients (75–101 years old) required oral care at their homes or at old age residences, more frequently than the younger age groups (60–74 years old). Conclusion: Dental treatment was administered by 70 volunteer dental surgeons, two certified dental hygienists and dental hygienist students. The clinical staff was provided with a comprehensive in‐service training in geriatric dentistry during the 3‐year service learning period. A survey in 2004 showed that 83% of the selected patients were satisfied, compared with 14% who were not. The reasons for satisfaction were, mainly, the personal relationship with the attending staff (41%) and the professional ability of the dental team (46%).     

Dance Education Matters: Rebuilding Postsecondary Dance Education for Twenty-First Century Relevance and Resonance

Postsecondary dance education is at a crucial juncture in its history in academe. Emerging from women's physical education programs in the 1930s, the profession's realignment with the arts broadly and arts-based education specifically has been characterized by ambitious goals and steady growth through the 1990s. However, a number of critical developments over the past decade have displaced many previous gains and undermined the overall stability and integrity of the field. Four primary challenges are investigated in this article: curricular equity, expansive dance education programs, graduate study opportunities, and national leadership. I urge dance educators and administrators to re-envision and expand P–12 dance education in the liberal arts tradition to include private studio, commercial-sector dance in community and related teaching professions. This article provides recommendations and strategies for developing relevant and resonant twenty-first-century dance education programs beyond current confines.     

生物统计学专业课教育融合劳动教育的初步设计北大核心CSCD

当前大学教育中,劳动教育的实际施行与劳动教育的重要性仍不匹配,主要表现为劳动教育观念未与时俱进、劳动教育形式单一和劳动教育资源缺乏,与当前社会的专业性、创造性劳动需求仍有较大差距。将劳动教育与专业教育相融合将是解决上述问题的有效途径之一。两者的融合不仅可以丰富劳动教育和专业教育的教学形式,使专业教育和劳动教育互相促进,而且可以使劳动教育结合专业知识和专业技能,兼具传统劳动教育的要素和创造性劳动的时代需求。文中重点介绍了生物统计学课程教育中融合劳动教育的设计和实践方法,并分析了两者互相促进的途径及效果。     

Need for gerodontology education in India

Objectives: To evaluate the status and need for education in Geriatric Dentistry in India. Materials and methods: The status of dental education in India was studied. India has 185 dental schools producing 12 000 dental graduates every year. At postgraduate level, there are nine recognised specialities in Dentistry, and approximately 58 institutions offer 1160 places for postgraduate degree courses. Dental education is shaped and administered by the Dental Council of India. Results: So far, Geriatric dentistry has not developed as a separate, independent speciality at postgraduate level. The undergraduate curriculum does not have any significant component of geriatric dentistry. The lack of training results in poor understanding of special needs of older adults in young graduates. Without adequate training and personal experience of growing old, young graduates may not be able to understand the physical, socio‐economic and psychological problems of the elderly and the complexities involved in treatment planning for patients with multiple chronic diseases and medication. Conclusions: It is emphasized that geriatric dentistry should be included in each of the pre‐clinical, para‐clinical and clinical subjects at the undergraduate level. Graduate students should be encouraged to treat elderly patients in clinics under supervision using a multi‐disciplinary approach. Also, postgraduate diploma and degree courses in geriatric dentistry should be developed to address the needs of the vast elderly population in India.     

Undergraduate geriatric education through community service learning

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2010.00444.x Undergraduate geriatric education through community service learning Introduction: Despite the exponential growth of the elderly population worldwide, geriatric education has been a formal component of only a few dental schools’ curricula. Objective: To describe the geriatric community service learning (CSL) component of the professionalism and community service (PACS) module, and to explore a CSL project carried out by a group of first year dental students at a long‐term care facility. Methods: A literature review was performed to present and describe the CSL component of the PACS module. Students’ personal reflections were used to illustrate some of the joys and challenges of experiencing a long‐term care facility environment. Results: The newly developed PACS module combines community service learning with the long‐term care experience. Students develop, apply and evaluate an educational health promotion activity in a long‐term care facility. Conclusions: The PACS module has encouraged students to acquire comprehensive knowledge and awareness of the needs and dynamics of a long‐term care as they collaboratively interacted with personnel from the facility to develop their projects. The authors would like to engage other schools in discussing the need to integrate community‐based geriatric education into their dental curricula.     

师资队伍培养是国家精品课程建设的关键

精品课程是具有一流教师队伍、一流教学内容、一流教学方法、一流教材、一流教学管理等特点的示范课程。精品课程建设的关键是一流教师队伍的培养。何谓"一流教师"?一流的教师应具有宽宏的气度、高深的学术造诣、精湛的教学艺术、较高的人文素养和良好的心理素质。     

Social problems in geriatric dentistry: an overview

Many studies have reported on the dental status of elderly patients. The results demonstrate consistent differences between normative and perceived needs in addition to varying levels of awareness of dental education among carers. This review article attempts to integrate a range of social factors which must be considered if holistic and comprehensive care is to be delivered to elderly patients.     

Oral and general health status in patients treated in a dental consultation clinic of a geriatric ward in Bern, Switzerland

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00529.x Oral and general health status in patients treated in a dental consultation clinic of a geriatric ward in Bern, Switzerland Introduction: This audit reports on the oral and general health of patients who were treated in a dental consultation clinic of a geriatric hospital. Material and Methods: Dental and medical records were obtained from 112 female and 80 male patients (mean age, 83.7 ± 8.2 years) who attended a dental consultation. Data analysis included the general health [American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, number of diagnoses, cognitive function] and dental state in the age strata 60–69, 70–79, 80–89 and 90–99 years. Results: Seventy‐four per cent of patients were aged over 80 years. The prevalence of ASA‐P4 and P3 varied between age groups. Most patients (>86%) had more than three chronic diseases. Cognitive impairment was present in almost half of both older age cohorts (43 and 50%). Half of the patients (52%) were edentulous. In dentate patients, the average number of teeth was 12 ± 6 and differed in the maxilla significantly between age groups (p = 0.005). There was no significant association between dental state, ASA classification and systemic conditions. Conclusions: The profile of this cohort reflects a poor oral and general health status. The results underline the importance of an interdisciplinary consultation in a geriatric ward where oral health care is an integral part.