Professionals Day event highlights dentistry research

The 31st annual College of Dentistry Professionals Day and 50th annual Student Scientific Program was held March 31 at UNL’s East Campus Union in Lincoln.

Senior dental hygiene students Ashley Keim and Michelle Tinglum

The day-long event provides students, staff and faculty with the opportunity to share professional and scholarly activities with each other and with the greater dental community.

The Student Scientific Program featured 50 research posters by junior dental, senior dental hygiene, postgraduate students and faculty members. A panel of faculty members judged each table clinic and winners were announced at an afternoon awards ceremony.

Senior dental student Devin Irene

Winners were selected in three categories:

• Dental Hygiene: Ashley Keim and Michelle Tinglum, “The Use of Sesame Oil Compared to Chlorhexidine and Listerine in Reduction of Streptococcus Mutans”
• Dental: Devin Irene, “eLearning’s Effect on Dental Student Understanding, Satisfaction, and Retention vs Traditional Lecture”
• Postgraduate: Paul Johnson, D.D.S., “Evaluation of the Emerging Subgingival Microbiome and Inflammatory Mediator Profile after Dental Implant Placement”

Postgraduate student Paul Johnson, D.D.S

First-place winners in each category will have the opportunity to present their research at various national conferences later in the year.

First-, second- and third-place finishers in each category received cash awards totaling more than $1,000. These awards are made possible by the support of Dentsply, International College of Dentists, Lincoln District Dental Association, Nebraska Dental Association and the Alpha Lambda Chapter of Sigma Phi Alpha, the national dental hygiene honor society.

“Professionals Day is an opportunity for our entire collegiate community to gather and celebrate our faculty, staff and student accomplishments, the inspirational inquiry of our student researchers and their mentors, and to stimulate our continued professional growth as individuals and as an organization,” said Janet Guthmiller, D.D.S., Ph.D., dean of the UNMC College of Dentistry.

The event also featured Patrick Ferrillo, Jr., D.D.S., as the 2017 Richard E. Bradley Memorial Lecturer. Dr. Ferrillo has more than 30 years of experience in dental education. Most recently, he was the former dean at the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry.

Dr. Ferrillo spoke about the importance of humanism in dental education. He also spent time talking with student leaders, faculty and staff about the humanistic approach, which, at its core, means creating an environment that brings out the best in students.

The day culminated with an awards ceremony and honors convocation celebrating our student researchers as well as faculty, staff and student accomplishments.