Topics at a glance: UTDB to test vibration’s effect on tooth realignment: First human trials begin here in May    … DENTAL OLYMPICS Dental athletes from throughout Texas coming here April 11-12  … Chosen by the students: Teaching award winners announced  … ADEA honors Dr. Koh with Presidential Citation  … Wetmore honored with scholarship, fellowship at ADEA conference … Inspire by Example: United To Serve needs you! … Health Information Privacy and Security Week is April 13-19 … Orthodontics Department welcomes new research assistant … Half-Day Workshop — ‘Podcasting 101’ scheduled for April 17 … Senior Awards Banquet coming April 23 … Gift certificate winner … ‘Dunk a Dean’ at UTHSC Student Spring Mixer this Friday

UTDB to test vibration’s effect on tooth realignment:

A gently vibrating mouthpiece worn for as little as 10 minutes per day may be able to increase bone density and cut in half the months or years needed for braces to realign teeth.

Tested so far only in animals, the technology is now ready for human testing, with the first clinical trial to begin in May at The University of Texas Dental Branch (UTDB) at Houston. The school’s Orthodontics Department will recruit up to 30 volunteers for the pilot study to test the vibrating mouthpiece developed by OrthoAccel Technologies, Inc. of Houston.

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago found that mild vibration accelerates the bone remodeling process — a discovery that is now being used to treat osteoporosis and heal long-bone fractures. Orthodontists in particular have been intrigued by the prospect of a faster way to realign teeth. “If it does in fact cause teeth to move quicker and we get more bone, then we’ve hit a grand slam home run,” said Jeryl English, D.D.S., chairman of the Orthodontics Department at UTDB.

Brent Tarver, vice president for clinical affairs and technology development at OrthoAccel, said the company is optimistic about the technology’s potential. “It’s been validated in several animal models but has never been tried in humans, and that’s why we’re working with UTDB,” he said. “We licensed the intellectual property, formed a company, relocated to Houston and spent most of last year getting our financing in order. Now, clinical trials with the Dental Branch are right around the corner.”

The prototype to be tested at UTDB is shaped like a mouthguard used in sports, but will have a lightweight compartment outside the mouth to contain a miniature motor, weights and a microprocessor to track use of the device, giving the orthodontist a way to know exactly how often and for how long the patient used it. read more...

DENTAL OLYMPICS
Dental athletes from throughout Texas coming here April 11-12

The UT Dental Branch at Houston will host the 2008 Dental Olympics April 11-12 with a full slate of events, bringing students from the three dental schools in Texas to socialize and compete in an array of sports. More than 250 students have signed up to participate.

The festivities will begin with a welcome party sponsored by Zimmer Dental at 7 p.m. Friday, April 11 at Brian’s O’Neill’s, 5555 Morningside Drive, in Rice Village. Food, beer and wine (two drinks per person) will be provided.

Sports competition gets underway at 7 a.m. Saturday, April 12. Most events will take place at the UT Recreation Center, 7779 Knight Road, but golf competition will be at Hermann Park, 2155 N. MacGregor. The fee is $50 plus tax and includes the cart, green fee and range balls. Times and events at the UT Rec Center include the following:

• 7 a.m. Swimming relays, 5K
• 8 a.m. Men’s softball, women’s basketball and tennis (men’s and women’s singles and mixed doubles)
• 9 a.m. Men’s soccer
• 10 a.m. Men’s volleyball, women’s volleyball
• 11 a.m. Billiards, men’s basketball
• 11:30 a.m. Coed softball
• 1 p.m. Washers
• 2 p.m. Men’s football, women’s football
• 3 p.m. Coed volleyball, dodgeball

Most equipment will be provided; however, all athletes are asked to bring their own equipment for tennis and golf. Soccer players should bring shin guards.

A catered lunch (Jason’s Deli) will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the main tent in the parking lot; however, only athletes and volunteers will be served. The awards ceremony will begin at approximately 6 p.m. at the UT Rec Center, and an evening social and “happy hour” for all the schools is planned for 9 p.m. at The Red Door, 2416 Brazos St.

UTDB Student Council Vice President Tiffany Tredway-Ransom said 14 sponsors are supporting the Dental Olympics, not including those who are providing water, fruit and sport drinks on the day of the event. Anyone interested in volunteering to help should contact Student Council Secretary Erika Johnson. For general questions, contact Tredway-Ransom. Volunteers are welcome, as are supporters who want to cheer on the students as they compete for the championship trophy.

Congratulations to three faculty members chosen by our students to receive teaching awards. The awards and their winners, who will be profiled in a future edition of eFlash, are:

The Lorna Bruning Award for Clinical Teaching Excellence:
     Harold A. Henson, R.D.H.
     Assistant Professor
     Department of Periodontics
     School of Dental Hygiene .

The John P. McGovern Award for Outstanding Teaching:
     John R. Ludington, Jr., D.D.S.
     Associate Professor and Chairman
     Department of Endodontics

The John Freeman Award for Outstanding Non-Clinical Teaching:
     Robert O. Dosch, D.D.S.,
     Associate Professor,
     Department of Restorative Dentistry
     and Biomaterials.

Ann O’Kelley Wetmore, R.D.H.

Ann Wetmore receives
scholarship, fellowship
at ADEA conference

Ann O’Kelley Wetmore, R.D.H., clinical assistant professor in the School of Dental Hygiene, Department of Periodontics at the UT Dental Branch, brought two awards home from the 85th American Dental Education Association Annual Session and Exhibition in Dallas in March.

She was one of three allied dental educators in the country chosen to receive an ADEA/GlaxoSmithKline Dental Hygiene Fellowship. The fellowship program provides an opportunity for dental hygiene educators to enhance their teaching skills, develop or refine their presentation methods, and also provides support to attend the ADEA Allied Dental Faculty Leadership Program.

Wetmore, who is pursuing a master of science degree in dental hygiene through Idaho State University, also received an ADEA/Crest Oral-B Scholarship for Dental Hygiene Students Pursuing Academic Careers. The scholarships support dental hygiene students who are pursing education beyond an associate’s degree and who have an interest in an academic career. Wetmore already has a bachelor of science in dental hygiene from Eastern Washington University.

“ADEA is pleased to partner with Crest Oral-B in developing this award and congratulates the recipients on their accomplishments and dedication to an academic career,” said ADEA President James Q. Swift, D.D.S. For more information about allied dental education, visit the ADEA Web site.

‘Podcasting 101’
Thursday, April 17

Learn everything you need to know to create a podcast and get hands-on experience in making your own podcast at a half-day workshop from 1-5 p.m., Thursday, April 17, in Room 1412 at University Center Tower. The event is sponsored by the UT School of Health Information Sciences and the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences. From the first steps to uploading your files to iTunesU, you will learn to create a basic video or audio podcast. For information, visit the SHIS Web site or contact Cynthia Phelps at 713-500-3926.

SAVE THE DATE
Senior Awards Banquet
April 23 at Hornberger

ADEA honors Dr. Koh with Presidential Citation

Sheila H. Koh, D.D.S., R.N.

Sheila H. Koh, D.D.S., R.N., associate professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry and director of government-funded training projects at the UT Dental Branch, was one of nine leaders chosen to receive a 2008 Presidental Citation from the American Dental Education Association at the 85th ADEA annual Session and Exhibition in Dallas in March.

As ADEA vice president for hospitals and advanced education programs, Koh was recognized for promoting ADEA to specialty and general dentistry associations and for participation in the development of the Second ADEA Summit on Advanced Dental Education.

ADEA is the voice of dental education. Its members include all U.S. and Canadian dental schools and many allied and postdoctoral dental education programs, corporations, faculty and students. For more information, visit www.adea.org.

Inspire by Example: United To Serve needs you!

Mark your calendars for the fourth United To Serve, the UT System-wide outreach day, Saturday, April 19. All UT System schools will participate in the volunteer initiative during National Volunteer Week.

Students, faculty, staff and family members are invited to volunteer two hours of time at one of the designated sites, most in the Texas Medical Center. The event kicks off at 9 a.m. with a free breakfast for volunteers at the Dental Branch (free parking at the Mental Sciences Institute), where they also pick up a United To Serve T-shirt, meet other volunteers and enjoy music.

For volunteer information, visit the United to Serve Web page. Please also consider being a team coordinator for one of the volunteer sites, if you are interested or have questions, contact Jillian Webb or Audrey.R.Ester.

Health Information Privacy and Security Week

To raise public awareness about issues related to the privacy and security of health information, the American Health Information Management Association is sponsoring its annual Health Information Privacy and Security Week, April 13-19. The theme for this year’s event is, “Confidential Is Essential — Protect Health Information.”

While the health care industry’s steady evolution toward electronic health information management systems has significant benefits, health care consumers need to address the risks associated with technology and take an active role in monitoring the privacy and security of their health information. Consumer rights are also detailed in the Notice of Privacy Practices that each provider or health plan is required to provide to consumers at the time of service or upon request. Read the notices not only to understand your rights but also to learn what type of information is maintained and how it is used. For detailed information on consumer privacy rights, visit myPHR.com.

New research assistant in Orthodontics Department

Lettye Dismukes Research assistant, Orthodontics

The UT Dental Branch Orthodontics Department has a new employee, Lettye Dismukes, who will be working as a research assistant to Associate Professor Chung How Kau, B.D.S., Ph.D.

An employee of the UT Health Science Center since 2002, she held grant-funded positions at the Medical School and the School of Public Health before transferring to the Dental Branch in March. She has 30 years’ experience in the Texas Medical Center, having held jobs at the UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine and in the St. Luke’s Medical Tower, where she worked for two surgeons. Through occasional part-time jobs, she also gained experience in consumer marketing and public health field work.

A native of Liberty (Texas), Dismukes earned a bachelor of science degree in education and psychology from The University of Texas at Austin and currently lives in central Houston with her two cats. Her office at the Dental Branch is in Room 3.080, phone Ext. 4237, e-mail is Lettye.Dismukes@uth.tmc.edu. And in case you’re wondering how to pronounce her first name, just remember it rhymes with “Betty.”

‘Dunk a Dean’ at UTHSC Student Spring Mixer this Friday

All UT Health Science Center students are invited to the annual spring mixer from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 11 at the UT Recreation Center. This free event is sponsored by the Student Intercouncil and is also open to faculty members. A student ID is required to attend the event. Each student may bring a spouse or one guest. Parking is available on the adjacent lot. This year’s carnival theme will be evident in the food (hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy, pickles, etc.) and in the entertainment, ranging from ring tossing to rock climbing to a “Dunk a Dean” booth. A deejay will provide music, and karaoke is also on the schedule for the first time this year. Libations will include soft drinks, beer and margaritas.

UTDB Dean Catherine Flaitz, D.D.S, has agreed to be a “dunkee,” along with deans from the School of Public Health, the Graduate School of Biological Sciences and faculty members from the UT Medical School. If you want a shot at dunking Dr. Flaitz, be at the dunking booth by 5:15 p.m. But be warned, she’ll be armed with “a high-powered water gun,” so don’t get too close if you don’t want to risk getting wet. The entire “Dunk a Dean” event begins at 4:30 p.m. with SPH Dean Guy Parcel, Ph.D., on the hot seat.

Volunteers are welcome to help with the event; contact Auxiliary Enterprises, Ext. 8400. For more information, contact Ronda Gillie at Ext. 8402.