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Biomedical subjects

L M Rucker

Publications and source records attributed to L M Rucker.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

The infinity of opportunity: breaking barriers to technological change in dentistry.

This essay characterizes the nature of the technologically current dental office and identifies challenges to be overcome in accelerating the introduction of technology. These challenges include dentists' preference for serial introduction of incremental change, lack of a network for communicating information on technology, the dental market of small and independent offices that make it difficult for manufacturers to finance innovative products, and the need to integrate technological change in dental education.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2000

Technology meets ergonomics in the dental clinic: new toys for old games?

Although there have been considerable advances in dental equipment, the introduction of such technology has often been piecemeal and "rushed to market." As a result there has been insufficient attention paid to ergonomic considerations and a systematic approach to, and theory of, dental ergonomics have not yet emerged.

Commerce↗
PubMed1999

Declination angle and its role in selecting surgical telescopes.

BACKGROUND: Clinicians usually expect manufacturers to provide properly adjusted surgical telescope products. However, to ensure optimal selection and adjustment, the clinician must understand certain contributing factors, particularly the optical declination angle. METHODS: The authors have developed a simple, stepwise approach for determining a clinician's optimal working posture and declination angle. This information is then applied to each specific surgical telescope to assist the clinician in ascertaining whether the telescopes comply, or can be made to comply, with the individual needs of the clinician. RESULTS: After the optimal working posture and declination angle have been identified and defined, any surgical magnification system can be evaluated for suitability and proper adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Declination angle is a key feature in the selection and adjustment of surgical telescope systems, permitting telescopes to be adjusted to meet the clinician's needs instead of forcing the clinician to make compromises to fit the telescopes. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Properly selected and well-adjusted surgical telescopes can enhance dental operating postures and positions, resulting in sound clinical ergonomics. Poor selection and adjustment can result in poor postures and positions.

Ergonomics↗
PubMed1991

Palpation as a method for evaluating occlusal discrepancies.

In this study, 30 dentists were surveyed about their methods of palpating teeth for the evaluation of premature contacts. Thirty-eight dentists were then tested to determine their ability to discriminate degrees of prematurity using each of two different methods of palpation. The degree of digital pressure used by each dentist during palpation was also measured. The majority of dentists chose the same method for palpation: a single forefinger overlaying the facial surfaces of the central incisors being evaluated. In the discrimination test, the majority of dentists were able to identify reliably occlusal interference of greater than or equal to 50 microns regardless of the palpation method used.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Application of balance index standards.

The Balance Index is a list of standards by which instructors can assess the postures and position in the clinical performance of dental students. The purpose of this study was to examine the basic reliability of clinical instructors' understanding and application of the Balance Index. Certain reference Balance Index standards (Back Vertical, Head Position, Elbow/Arm Position and Wrist Bend) were learned and applied by eighteen clinical instructors, and the effectiveness of one instructor training method was evaluated. The results indicated that a simple graphic and numerical presentation of the Balance Index can be a useful tool to help clinical instructors learn how to assess postural and positional balance. It was also found that a feedback exercise using measured, graded variations of performance imbalances is likely to promote higher intra-rater (and inter-rater) reliability for evaluation of certain postural/positional components of dental clinical performance.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Porcelain and resin veneers clinically evaluated: 2-year results.

A clinical comparison of two different types of dental veneers--baked porcelain veneer and heat-and-pressure processed urethane resin veneer--was made after 2 years. Although the esthetic appearance and gingival response were equal for both systems, the resin veneers had a greater tendency to chip and fracture. By the end of 2 years, 20% of the resin veneers had failed, whereas all of the porcelain veneers remained.

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMed1990

Getting the "feel" of it: the non-visual component of dimensional accuracy during operative tooth preparation.

The purpose of this study was to determine what portion of a dentist's dimensional accuracy in the use of the high-speed rotary handpiece for operative tooth preparation can be attributed to visual control during the preparation. Dental students in a performance simulation laboratory recorded an 87.5 per cent handpiece control accuracy during a maxillary occlusal preparation, using normal intraoral mirror vision. When visual contact was eliminated during preparation, the accuracy declined only 13 per cent, to 74.5 per cent. The results of this study lend support to the development and use of dental clinical simulations and approaches which encourage proprioceptive and other non-visual skills, in addition to visual skills, during preclinical and clinical dental education.

Dental Cavity Preparation↗
PubMed1987

Effects of immediate introduction of indirect vision on performance and posture.

When students are taught psychomotor skills in the mandibular arch and transfer to the maxillary arch, there is a continued desire to depend upon direct vision, which results in early acquisition of poor postural habits. This study examined differences in psychomotor performance between dental students beginning with direct and indirect vision exercises. The investigation was conducted in a preclinical Performance Simulation Laboratory that allowed a high degree of accuracy in the evaluation of operator posture. No significant differences in performance were found between the groups. Within group variances indicated that there was a more uniform transition from maxillary to mandibular preparations than from the lower to upper arch preparations. Analysis of the postural data showed no significant relationship to the quality of cavity preparation, but indicated that student posture was better for the arch in which they first learned. The study was unable to substantiate the assumption that mirror management is better taught after direct vision skills are learned.

Clinical Competence↗