College of Dental Medicine Lasting Impressions Magazine

NSU COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE © 23 Student research is a requirement in several advanced education programs at the CDM, but many students tackle work that goes beyond the university. Student research of topical, trending subject matters could prove to be import- ant contributions to dental professionals and public health. CDM student research includes the orthodontists’ role in discussing vaccinating children to prevent the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) and studies about the use of silver diamine fluoride to treat cavities in children who cannot cope with traditional drill-and- fill procedures. Debora Shapiro, D.D.S., M.S., became interested in the human papillomavirus vaccine during a clinical skills class when she was pursuing her Master of Science in Orthodon- tics and Dentofacial Orthopedics at the CDM. “For a mini-research project, my group decided to look at how informed dental students were about the HPV vaccine, and if they would feel comfortable or prepared to talk to their patients about it,” Shapiro said. “We created a mock curriculum focusing on how dental students could be better prepared to speak about HPV to their patients.” When Shapiro began working on her thesis seven years later, she looked at the role of the orthodontist in recom- mending the vaccination. She collected data from 253 adolescent patients being treated at the CDM postgraduate orthodontic clinic. The survey assessed, among other information, perceptions about HPV and parents’ willing- ness to allow their children to receive the HPV vaccine. In developing her thesis, Shapiro worked with Richard Singer, D.M.D., M.S., director of the master’s degree pro- gram and postgraduate orthodontic and dentofacial ortho- pedics at the CDM. “In order to do this kind of study, you need someone who is going to properly guide you,” said Shapiro of Singer, who was chair of her thesis committee. “Dr. Singer was a great mentor and resource because he has such an interest in public health studies.” Students such as Shapiro often mention how passionate they are about the subject of their research. That kind of enthusiasm propelled Kelly Cundy, D.M.D., a pediatric dental resident at the CDM. Cundy focused on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the use of silver diamine fluoride (SDF)—a minimally invasive treatment option for dental caries. She surveyed parents of children with ASD who attended NSU’s Baudhuin Preschool at the Mailman Segal Center for Human Development about their acceptance of SDF. Mitchell Miller, D.D.S., also a CDM pediatric dental resident, conducted his research on nonspecial-needs children at NSU’s two pediatric dental clinics for the underserved. Miller surveyed 100 parents whose CDM STUDENTS TAKE ON PUBL IC HEALTH TOPICS TO EFFECT CHANGE BY MICHELLE F. SOLOMON Research Benefits Children