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One third of patients diagnosed with cancer develop oral complications during cancer treatment. Health care professionals play an important role in the management of patients undergoing cancer therapies; however, optimal oral care for cancer patients is often missing from nursing and dental hygiene curricula. A quasi-experimental mixed-methods study was conducted with accelerated bachelor of nursing and dental hygiene students following a presentation and small-group case review. Pre/post surveys and findings from a debriefing session showed increased confidence to screen, counsel, and refer patients between disciplines compared to a control group.

Background Periodontal disease and diabetes are widespread comorbid conditions that are detrimental to oral and overall health. Dentists' performing chairside screenings for undiagnosed diabetes mellitus (UDM) can be beneficial to both patients and providers. The authors determined UDM rates in a population-based study and whether UDM and periodontal disease were independently associated. Methods Data from 7,343 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study visit 4 were used to determine rates of UDM by periodontal status, edentulism, and body mass index. The authors used a χ2 test or analysis of variance, along with a 2-stage logistic regression model, to determine relationships with UDM. UDM was defined as no self-reported diabetes and blood glucose levels (fasting glucose ≥ 126 milligrams/deciliter or nonfasting glucose > 200 mg/dL). Periodontal disease was defined using the Periodontal Profile Classes system adapted to stages and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and American Academy of Periodontology index. Results UDM rates overall were 5.6%. The highest rates occurred in patients who were obese and edentulous (12.6%) and obese and had severe periodontal disease (12.2%). Significant associations were found for UDM and severe periodontal disease (Periodontal Profile Classes system stage IV) (odds ratio, 1.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.10 to 2.88). Edentulism was significantly associated with UDM in the Periodontal Profile Classes system model (odds ratio, 1.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.27 to 2.75) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and American Academy of Periodontology index (odds ratio, 1.70; 95% confidence interval, 1.08 to 2.67). Hyperglycemia was found in participants of all body mass index categories. Conclusions UDM is significantly associated with obesity, edentulism, and periodontitis. These characteristics could help dentists identify patients at higher risk of developing DM. Patients without these characteristics still have UDM, so dentists performing chairside diabetes screening for all patients would yield additional benefit. Practical Implications Dental offices are a major point of contact within the US health care system. Diabetes screening in this setting can provide important health information with direct relevance to patient care.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry is developing a transformative curriculum that prepares students to enter contemporary practice. The Advocate, Clinician, and Thinker (ACT) framework will provide the basis for developing a resilient workforce capable of meeting emerging health care needs over the next 40 years.

Background A virtual oral health care help line was established to provide consultation and triage for people with dental questions and concerns. Its goal during a pandemic was to keep patients from seeking unnecessary in-person care from emergency departments and urgent care clinics, especially when dental practices were closed or limited to providing essential urgent and emergency oral health care. Methods The Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, developed the Carolina Dentistry Virtual Oral Health Care Helpline using a quality improvement framework with faculty and staff member feedback. The process included establishing infrastructure (phone, video, protocols, referrals, documentation), personnel (scheduling, training, calibration), and internal and external communication. The authors collected retrospective information for descriptive evaluation of the first month’s operations. Results There were 337 telephone calls answered, of which 65 (19%) were administrative and 272 (81%) were related to dental concerns. Dental pain (54%) was the most prevalent reason for calling. Triage and Providers referred 107 of 175 callers (61%) to the school’s urgent care center. Of the 79 callers who received teleconsultations from virtual providers, 33 (42%) did not require additional follow-up, and 7 (9%) needed a follow-up phone call. Overall, 4 people were referred to community clinics, and 4 were referred to the emergency department. Conclusions The Helpline was launched quickly and improved through quality improvement cycles, and it provided a needed community dental service. The process resolved some patient concerns without their seeking urgent or emergency care. Practical Implications The pandemic has increased teledentistry practice. The authors describe establishing a dental school’s virtual oral health Helpline, which provides a framework for dental practices seeking to use this patient communication modality.

The oral cavity is frequently involved in conditions that affect the skin or other multi-organ diseases. In many instances, oral involvement precedes the appearance of other symptoms or lesions at other locations. Anatomically, the mouth is easily accessible. An astute dental provider has the opportunity to observe physical and oral conditions that might include undiagnosed or poorly managed systemic disease. This article reviews four less common oral disease of medical significance.

Background: The elderly, especially those who reside in institutions and have a minority or low-income background, often have unmet oral health needs. As life expectancy increases, so will the need for oral health providers skilled in addressing the unique challenges presented by geriatric patients. Methods: Dentists for Della is a student organization at the Dental College of Georgia that aims to improve the oral health status of residents at the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home (GWVNH) in Augusta, Georgia. The students conduct fundraising activities so that third and fourth year students can provide needed dental treatment at no cost to the residents. Students also regularly rotate at GWVNH in order to provide tooth brushing help, denture cleanings, and head and neck examinations, including oral cancer screenings. Results: Dentists for Della has funded approximately $40,000 worth of dental work since 2013. The program also provides an educational experience valued by students: the ability to interact with patients as early as their first semester of dental school. Conclusions: Dentists for Della is a vital program which not only provides educational opportunities in institutional public health dentistry and geriatrics for dental students, it also provides a much needed safety net for Georgia veterans with no ability to access other means of dental care.

Schools of medicine and dentistry on the same geographical campus have an opportunity to promote oral health by training physicians to become more skilled in screening for oral disease in addition to counseling and referring patients to dental health professionals.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) has become widely known as the causative agent of cervical cancer and some oropharyngeal cancers. The development of HPV vaccines has further piqued public interest. As a result, dentists will have increasing numbers of patients who will inquire about oral HPV infection and its prevention by means of vaccination. Dental professionals must be informed. This review provides an overview of HPV, its association with HIV and oropharyngeal cancer, and information on HPV vaccinations.