Research and Innovations

Same but different

As though a virtual Research Scholars Day wasn’t already next level. Now dental hygiene students have traded out the traditional trifold posters for bulletin board and onscreen presentations. And the results are in.

For a second consecutive year, dental hygiene students worked despite social distancing protocols to move their research forward at the annual research poster presentation event. Two teams that tied for first place look forward to moving to nationals. And students have a new edge that is gaining attention.

“We have made significant changes to how students develop their posters,” says Dr. Faizan Kabani, assistant professor in dental hygiene, who also oversees student research. “We have modernized the layout of posters to include more scientific components, such as how topics align with the national dental hygiene research agenda, listing of objectives and references, and balancing of content with visuals that further enhance the poster and presentation.”

That change in presentation has paid off in spades, he says. Dental hygiene students’ presentations are currently riding a five-year winning streak in state and national competitions.

“We have noticed that more schools are starting to use our templates in the competitions, which is a measure of the impact we are having in the community,” he says.

Two teams that tied for first place will compete in the virtual American Dental Hygienists’ Association Annual Conference in June. Earlier this year, the research by Ehlers, White and Howerton placed second at the Texas Dental Hygienists’ Association’s informative poster competition.

Here are this year’s Research Scholars Day and Dallas Dental Hygienists’ Association (executive leadership) winners:

Dental hygiene student poster presentations

• 1^stPlace (tied)

Students: Keely Ehlers, Kali White and Allyson Howerton

Poster: “An Alternative Approach to Conventional Regenerative Therapies: Cultivating Stem Cells from Deciduous Teeth”

Mentors: Lisa Mallonee, MPH, RDH, RD, LD and Maureen Brown, RDH, MS

• 1^stPlace (tied)

Students: Ashley Heim, Flor Eguia and Shermy Thomas

Poster: “Enriching the Scope of Cultural Perceptions: Integrating Diversity and Inclusion within Dental Hygiene Education”

Mentors: Eric Fox, RDH, MS

• 2^ndPlace

Students: Sereniti Gary, Taylor Price and Ali Nelson

Poster: “Peptide-Based Biogenic Products: A Conservative Approach to Treat Dental Caries”

Mentors: Leigh Ann Wyatt, RDH, MA, MS and Jane Cotter, RDH, MS

• 3^rdPlace

Students: Eyra Salazar, Candace Earp and Andrea Rader

Poster: “Mental Health and Wellbeing: An Occupational Hazard in Dental Hygiene”

Mentors: Lisa Mallonee, MPH, RDH, RD, LD and Mary Vu, RDH, MS

Dallas Dental Hygienists’ Association (executive leadership)

• 1^stPlace

Students: Diane Tang, Sophia Jang, Anna Trujillo and Sana Anwar

Poster: “Personalized Oral Health Care: The Future of Dentistry on a Chip”

Mentors: Eric Fox, RDH, MS and Maureen Brown, RDH, MS

• 2^nd Place

Students: Keely Ehlers, Kali White and Allyson Howerton

Poster: “An Alternative Approach to Conventional Regenerative Therapies: Cultivating Stem Cells from Deciduous Teeth”

Mentors: Lisa Mallonee, MPH, RDH, RD, LD and Maureen Brown, RDH, MS

• 3^rdPlace

Students: Makayla Glosson, Connor Mackenzie and Claire McMahon

Poster: “Silence Hides Violence: Be the Voice for Victims of Domestic Abuse in the Dental Setting”

Mentors: Tracy King, RDH, MS

• Honorable Mention

Students: Madison Busch, Jordynn Palmer, Taylor Bickford and Nancy Medina-Zamora

Poster: “Bromelain: A Natural Approach to Whitening Teeth”

Mentors: Kathleen Muzzin, RDH, MS and Kayla Reed, RDH, MS