News

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2005 News

DPBRN display booth at Alabama Academy of Pediatric Dentists
Friday, December 02, 2005

On December 2, 2005 Ms. Jackie Love, Research Specialist, presented a display booth with information about DPBRN. She distributed flyers and enrollment questionnaires to over 50 pediatric and general dentists that attended the meeting. DPBRN is actively recruiting pediatric dentists to participate in future research projects that are being proposed. There are 40 pediatric dentists currently enrolled in DPBRN from the state of Alabama.

DPBRN Protocol Review Committee meeting
Thursday, December 01, 2005

On December 10th the first meeting of the DPBRN Protocol Review Committee will be held at the Hilton hotel at the Miami International Airport. Click here to view a presentation that will be made to the committee by Dr. Bruce Pihlstrom, Acting Director, Center for Clinical Research at NIDCR/NIH.

Abstracts for proposed studies "Assessment of caries diagnosis and caries treatment", "Reasons for placing the first restoration on permanent tooth surfcaces", and "Reasons for replacement or repair of dental restorations"
Friday, November 18, 2005

The abstracts for studies "Assessment of caries diagnosis and caries treatment", "Reasons for placing the first restoration on permanent tooth surfcaces", and "Reasons for replacement or repair of dental restorations" have been posted to the Discussion Forum. The purpose of the abstracts is to provide a synopsis of the first three studies planned for DPBRN. We welcome your comments about these proposed protocols, each of which recently received approval by the DPBRN Executive Committee. Update: The Protocols were approved and have been moved to the "Current Protocols" section.

DPBRN interview with the ADA
Tuesday, November 15, 2005

The American Dental Association recently interviewed all three awardees of the NIDCR grants. Click here to read the interview.

DPBRN presentation to dental hygienists
Monday, November 14, 2005

On November 14, 2005 a lecture was presented to the Birmingham Dental Hygiene Study Club. Approximately 20 hygienists attended the session. Dr. Sonia Makhija gave a presentation and discussed DPBRN's activities to date and planned activities. She answered questions and distributed flyers, the newsletter, and the enrollment questionnaire.

Letter to JADA on Practice-Based Research
Friday, October 28, 2005

This letter, found in the October 2005 issue of JADA, is written by Drs. Burke and Stewardson from Birmingham, England. In it, they praise the NIDCR's award of 3 Practice-Based Research grants. Please click here to view the letter.

DPBRN lecture given at the Norwegian Dental Association
Monday, October 24, 2005

Dr. Ivar A. Mjör lectured about Practice-Based Dental Research at the Annual Meeting of the Norwegian Dental Association on October 15, 2005. He also participated in a Panel Discussion on "Visions for the Future" on October 14, 2005 where he emphasized the importance of practice-based research.

Alabama Dental Society orientation session held
Saturday, October 15, 2005

On October 15, 2005 an orientation session was held for the Alabama Dental Society, which is the Alabama chapter of the National Dental Association. A total of 10 practitioner-investigators attended the session. Drs. Gregg Gilbert and Sonia Makhija gave presentations and discussed DPBRN's activities to date and planned activities. This orientation session resulted in an increase in our number of enrollees to the network as well as new research topic ideas for future projects!

The first DPBRN newsletter
Saturday, October 01, 2005

The first DPBRN Newsletter was mailed out to all members. To view an electronic copy of this newsletter, click here .

DPBRN newsletter
DPBRN newsletter

Our first DPBRN Newsletter is nearly complete. This newsletter will provide information found on this website. Every person who has completed the enrollment questionnaire will receive the newsletter. Look for it in your mailbox in the next few weeks!

The Alabama Academy of General Dentistry 32nd Annual Review of Dentistry
Thursday, September 15, 2005

The Alabama Academy of General Dentistry 32nd Annual Review of Dentistry was held September 5-9 at the Sandestin Beach Hilton in Destin, Florida.

Dr. Ken Tilashalski incorporated information about DPBRN during two CE courses he taught. He encouraged everyone to visit the DPBRN booth. This approach had a tremendous positive effect. Everyone who visited the exhibit was very receptive about the Dental PBRN concept and was excited to hear that the research will be done by private practice dentists and will be relevant to daily clinical practice.

The conference was a great environment to be used as a recruitment tool and helped to ensure that we are well-known in the dental community.

Research in general dental practice
Monday, August 15, 2005

This article, by four DPBRN investigators, found in the Feb 2005 issue of Acta Odontologica Scandinavica, presents the need for a change in clinical dental research towards practice-based research. Click here to view the abstract. Click here to view the full paper.

Primary Care Practice-Based Research Networks
Monday, August 15, 2005

An article from the Annals of Family Medicine describes PBRN research as working at the interface between research and quality improvement. Click here to view the article found in the June 2005 issue.

Permanente Dental Associates/Kaiser Permanente orientation session held
Monday, July 25, 2005

A DPBRN orientation session was held with Permanente Dental Associates (PDA) and the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Oregon on July 21. A total of 51 PDA dentist practitioner-investigators attended. Drs. Ivar Mjör and Gregg Gilbert gave presentations and discussed the Dental PBRN's activities to date and planned activities. Drs. Dan Pihlstrom and John Snyder of PDA also made comments and provided an update to the attending PDA dentists. Ms. Sally Jo Little and Dr. Jeffrey Fellows of the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research also provided an update about the process that KP-PDA will use for getting practitioner-investigators certified in conducting human subjects research. As part of the an ongoing effort to improve and measure the impact of these presentations, a pre- and post-presentation survey was completed by the dentists in attendance. The survey was the first attempt at such an effort and asked three questions regarding dentists' clinical judgement in treating recurrent caries. The results of the pre- and post-presentation surveys suggested that the presentation had a significant impact on how dentists answered the post-presentation survey. Click here to visit Kaiser Permanente's website. Click here to visit Permanente Dental Associates' website.

DPBRN orientation session held
Wednesday, July 06, 2005

A DPBRN orientation session was held in Orlando at the FNDC meeting on July 6. A total of 8 dentist practitioner-investigators attended. Drs. Ivar Mjör and Gregg Gilbert gave presentations and discussed DPBRN's activities to date and planned activities.

New articles added to Literature Watch
Wednesday, July 06, 2005

New articles have been added to the Literature Watch section of this website.

DPBRN interview with NIDCR
Saturday, July 02, 2005

NIDCR recently spoke with the principal investigators of the three Practice-Based Research Network grants to hear their thoughts on PBRNs, their organization, and how they will improve oral health. Click here to see the article.

Dental Product Evaluations
Tuesday, June 14, 2005

The United States Air Force Dental Investigation Service evaluates methods, techniques, procedures, equipment, and materials as identified by military dental activities and by the office of the Air Force Surgeon General. Click here to see new product evaluations that may be important to practitioners.

HealthPartners enrollment and orientation session held
Monday, April 11, 2005

A DPBRN enrollment and orientation session was held at the HealthPartners corporate headquarters in Bloomington, MN on April 7th with 28 dentists in attendance. Drs. Ivar Mjör and Gregg Gilbert gave powerpoint presentations and discussed DPBRN's activities to date and planned activities. Dr. Brad Rindal, Dr. Craig Amundson, and Ms. Merry Jo Theole of HealthPartners made comments about HealthPartners' plans and role in DPBRN. Click here to see more information about HealthPartners.

DPBRN just received a $25 million grant from NIH-NIDCR
Saturday, April 02, 2005

We have been selected by NIH-NIDCR to receive one of three $25 million grants to fund DPBRN. Click here to view the news release.

First Executive Committee meeting to be held by videoconference
Friday, March 25, 2005

The Executive Committee held its first videoconference meeting on March 21, 2005. The list of research ideas suggested by DPBRN dentists was discussed. Many of the topics involved restorative dentistry; therefore, the Executive Committee members have decided to focus on this area for the first research project.

DPBRN orientation session held
Saturday, February 05, 2005

A DPBRN orientation session was held at the UAB School of Dentistry on Feb 5 during Alumni Weekend. A total of 25 dentist practitioner-investigators attended. Drs. Ivar Mjör and Gregg Gilbert gave presentations and discussed DPBRN's activities to date and planned activities.