Biomedical subjects

M E Packer

Publications and source records attributed to M E Packer.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

A comparison between videotaped and live demonstrations, for the teaching of removable partial denture procedures.

AIM: This study was devised to test the effectiveness of videotaped demonstrations as opposed to live demonstrations, to small groups of undergraduate dental students. The outcome was assessed by comparing the students' understanding of the clinical and laboratory technical stages of the altered cast impression technique, which is used in the construction of removable partial dentures. METHOD: 31 students watched a series of videotaped demonstrations and 30 received a similar series of live demonstrations. The altered cast procedure was divided into 5 distinct stages, each of which was assessed with the aid of agreed criteria, initially by the students and then by 2 staff assessors and these results were compared. The students were subsequently asked to rate how helpful the videotaped or live demonstration had been on a 5-point scale. RESULTS: The live demonstration group showed better agreement between the students' assessment and the assessors' assessment of the quality of the work for the first part of the clinical stage. There was no difference in the groups' assessment of the final outcome of this clinical stage and the subsequent laboratory technical stages. Students who observed the live demonstrations indicated higher scores for its helpfulness in performance of all the stages of the technique, when compared to those who had observed a videotaped demonstration. CONCLUSION: Both teaching methods developed a similar level of understanding of the principles behind the exercise, although the students preferred the live demonstrations. A carefully produced videotaped demonstration can be a useful alternative to a live demonstration in teaching the short and clear cut technique selected for this study.

Chromium Alloys↗

PubMed2000

The long-term management of patients with tooth surface loss treated using removable appliances.

The causes of tooth surface loss are multi-factorial and hence can be difficult to eradicate. This paper identifies the problems that may be anticipated during the long-term management of patients where tooth surface loss has been treated using removable appliances, where the number of teeth is often reduced. Wear and tear are inevitable and patients should therefore be made fully aware of the possibility of the gradual deterioration and failure of restorative work. Treatments should be planned, which would enable the dentist to recover the situation, with minimal inconvenience to the patient.

Dental Restoration, Permanent↗

PubMed2000

A comparison of the early postoperative care required by patients treated with single and two stage surgical techniques for the provision of Brånemark implant supported mandibular overdentures.

Patients who underwent a single stage surgical procedure to place two Brånemark implants to stabilise complete mandibular overdentures with bar attachments, required no more postoperative follow-up visits before definitive prosthesis construction than patients who had their implants placed at two separate surgical stages. However, the visits of the single stage group, occurred over a shorter time-scale and more attention was required to tighten or replace their healing abutments.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

The maintenance requirements of mandibular overdentures stabilized by Astra Tech implants using three different attachment mechanisms--balls, magnets, and bars; 3-year results.

Thirty seven people were provided with mandibular overdentures stabilized by Astra Tech implants. Thirteen people were provided with ball attachments, 12 with magnet attachments and 12 with bar attachments. The patients were followed for 3 years and detailed records were kept of the extent of maintenance required after placement of the dentures. The bar attachment mechanism required 9 episodes of maintenance, compared to 38 for the ball attachment mechanism and 23 for the magnet attachment mechanism. There was no difference between the three groups for the amount of maintenance required by the overdentures. The design of the ball attachment changed during the study from a two piece to a one piece abutment. It is likely that had this "all in one" attachment been available from the beginning of the study, the amount of maintenance required by the ball attachment mechanism would have been considerably less.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

An assessment of the influence of clinical demonstrations on the confidence of undergraduate dental students, when treating patients requiring removable partial dentures.

AIM: This study was designed to assess the influence of clinical demonstrations, on the confidence of undergraduate dental students, when treating patients requiring removable partial dentures. METHOD: The confidence of 45 undergraduate dental students treating their first patient requiring removable partial dentures was assessed using questionnaires. 23 students were given demonstrations prior to carrying out the treatment; the remainder did not receive a demonstration. Outcome was assessed by the time taken to complete the procedures to a clinically acceptable standard. RESULTS: All the students indicated high levels of agreement with a statement expressing their confidence in coping with the clinical procedures undertaken. The more confident students completed their clinical procedures more quickly than other students, irrespective as to whether they had received a demonstration or not. There was a higher proportion of more confident students in the groups who had received a clinical demonstration; it can therefore be concluded that these groups performed better, as measured by the time taken to achieve the required clinical standard. All the students who had received a demonstration believed they had benefited from it, whilst 67% of the students who had not received a demonstration believed they would have benefited from one. Analysis of the students' comments indicated that demonstrations facilitated confidence, communication skills, understanding and recall in the clinical situation. Students who did not perceive a benefit from the demonstrations believed that they had more time for one to one teaching. CONCLUSION: This study showed that those students who had received a clinical demonstration immediately prior to treating their patients believed they were more confident and as a result their performance was improved. Clinical demonstrations are time consuming, but they would appear to be time well spent.

Clinical Competence↗

PubMed1996

The challenge of replacing complete dentures: Part 2.

The purpose of this article is to consider the challenges that arise in replacing complete dentures. The use of conventional techniques incorporating successful features of the existing dentures appropriate to general practice will be discussed and the problems peculiar to the replacement of implant-retained overdentures considered.

Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported↗

PubMed1993

Criterion based audit in prosthetic dentistry.

A criterion based retrospective audit into the provision of complete dentures in an undergraduate teaching programme has been produced. This consisted of a series of questions related to the treatment of the patient and the satisfaction or otherwise expressed about the treatment. The audit revealed where treatment had been successful according to the established criteria. It has been found that an audit of this nature is demanding of clinicians' time but does show where improvements can be made in patient management which will result in better health care. Clinical audit is now recognized as forming an important part of health care. It is applicable to all areas of dentistry, ie general dental practice, the community dental services and the hospital services, and to all specialities eg prosthetics, orthodontics etc. An audit programme needs careful planning and a pilot study is worthwhile to indicate areas of difficulty. This audit has been used in an undergraduate training programme, however, the process by which the audit has been assembled is an example of how an audit could be established in any area of dentistry, provided that the criteria are modified to make them relevant to the clinical speciality.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Mandibular overdentures stabilized by Astra Tech implants with either ball attachments or magnets: 5-year results.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this work was to report on the use of implant-stabilized overdentures in the mandible using the Astra Tech implant system with either ball attachments or magnets as the retentive mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mandibular overdentures that used ball attachments on 2 implants were provided for 13 edentulous patients; 12 edentulous patients were provided with mandibular overdentures with magnet retention, using 2 implants in 10 patients and 3 implants in 2 patients. Once they were comfortable, the participants were placed on annual recall. Any other visits were initiated by the patients. Detailed records were kept for all visits. At the annual recall the following parameters were monitored: plaque levels, mucosal health, marginal bone levels, and the patients' assessment of the treatment. The patients were followed for 5 years. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference between the 2 groups for mucosal health and postinsertion maintenance. The magnet group had more abutment surfaces covered with plaque. Statistical analysis of the patients' subjective assessment of their treatment showed that the magnet group was less comfortable and chewing was less effective. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that both ball attachments and magnets used on isolated Astra Tech implants in the mandible are viable treatment options. Both attachment mechanisms provided patient satisfaction, although the ball attachments were better in this respect than the magnets.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The extent of maintenance required by implant-retained mandibular overdentures: a 3-year report.

Astra Tech implants were used to support implant-retained mandibular overdentures for 25 edentulous patients (12 with magnet retention and 13 with stud retention). The patients were followed for 3 years, and a detailed record was kept of the extent of maintenance required after placement of the dentures. There were 64 episodes of maintenance related to the overdentures in the magnet retention group and 63 episodes of maintenance in the stud retention group. Episodic maintenance was greatest during the first year, with the magnet group having 30 episodes and the stud group 34. The number of visits required for maintenance related to both the maxillary and mandibular dentures was 117 for the magnet retention group and 86 for the stud retention group. There was no statistically significant difference in the amount of postplacement care between the two groups.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The challenge of replacing complete dentures: Part 1.

Complete dentures need to be replaced at suitable intervals-either because of changes in the denture-bearing tissues, usually due to alveolar resorption, or because of general deterioration of the existing dentures. The purpose of this and the following article is to consider the challenges that arise in replacing complete dentures. The rationale for using techniques in which features of existing dentures can be employed in the construction of replacement complete dentures will be discussed, together with methods suitable for clinical practice. In the first part diagnosis and treatment planning will be considered and a variety of copying techniques reviewed. The limitations of these techniques will be discussed and alternative treatment strategies will be considered.

Dental Restoration Wear↗