DECEMBER 2007
Dear
friends,
During this second
year of our research project we had some really good news. After a
hectic start in February with the first round of data collection,
we were trilled with
very positive feedback from the assembled research and general dental
community during
Brad’s presentation at the Australian Dental Association Conference in
March.
In July, our second paper was accepted
for publication in the Australian Dental Journal, which will be
published this month. Then, it was time for Brad to join us in August
for our second round of data collection. This time we were able to visit
14 practices in 2 weeks! This was a fantastic opportunity to catch up
with all friends that we made through this journey.
Sunset
in Coolangatta
In September, we had
the chance to present a poster called “Geographic
location and indirect costs – a patient perspective” at the
International
Association for Dental Research (IADR) Australian and New Zealand
Division 47th Annual Meeting in the
wonderful Barossa Valley-South Australia. A PDF file of the poster
presented will be available to download from our website soon.
During this outstanding meeting, one of
the topics discussed was the need for practice-based research from
general dental practices to enhance the findings of experimental setting
investigations. More importantly, dentists’ clinical experience should
be considered as a resource for dental research and help to develop
alternative directions to dental research.
Therefore,
we should feel really proud of being part of the first dental research
project to address this issue – the Monitor Dental Practice Program.
Moreover, we were delighted to meet some of our research team members
during this event. A highlight of the meeting was the Conference dinner,
when our Chief Investigator, A/Prof Wendell Evans became the President,
IADR ANZ Division.
Wendell, Deborah Greenspan and Rod Marshall
As a researcher life is
always full of discoveries and time on the field, in October we
visited 4 practices and friends in south and north NSW. However, this
time we were not able to reach Gunnedah, which is scheduled for next
semester.
News from Brad in
Indiana
After
nearly 2 years away from the fair shores of Australia the Curtis Family
is well settled in their new home in Indiana. However, this research
project has been a great
excuse to return home on a regular basis to keep up with friends and
family; and I include you all in those sentiments.
As Alex has alluded to, we
will shortly have the second paper related to this work published and
I’m just finishing off Paper 3 which will detail the 2-year efficacy
results. Copyright restrictions imposed by the journal preclude me from
divulging the results but I can say that we are very encouraged.
The
next step will be to formally combine the results from the cost analysis
with the efficacy results to produce the economic (cost-effectiveness)
data. We are working closely with Christine Pollicino, a Health
Economist, and will engage the services of a professional modelling
research organization to build the model.
The winter is rapidly
approaching which is always depressing for an Australian in the Northern
Hemisphere (thinking of all that lovely beach weather back home)
although we have had no snow fall to date. Our family is heading to
Whistler for a White Christmas which will be special for the kids.
The
Curtis family
The summer was spent
exploring many of the (surprisingly) beautiful State Parks in our newly
acquired Kayaks along with evenings watching the local baseball team
(the mighty Indians).
Work at Lilly is going
well although I’ve decided corporate America is definitely not for me.
The work is very patient-focussed; it’s just all the rah-rah and
“bonding” sessions I’m having trouble with. I look forward to seeing you
all either in March or August/September 2008 which are the two visits
Alex has planned for me.
Finally, I’d like to thank
you all once again for the trust, perseverance, and foresight that each
and every one of you has shown by allowing this research to progress. We
are in the homeward stretch now for sure; however I want you to know
that the research team are as committed as ever to finding better ways
to use the enormous skills and experience that you offer to further the
science (and art) of our profession.
A message from Wendell
Dear Staff at Dental Practices taking
part in the MPP, I was able to visit several practices with Alex in
February to see at first hand how you are coping with the protocols.
Thank you for your warm welcome; I was very pleased with what I saw.
At the IADR meeting I
organized a symposium on cariology and asked teachers at each of the
dental schools in our region to explain how they teach their students to
manage caries. The outcome was that students at all schools are given a
comprehensive theoretical training on caries pathology, including
details of the demineralization and remineralisation process that occurs
daily on the surfaces of erupted teeth. Yet, while the potential for
enhancing remineralisation is stressed, in reality the focus of students
clinical experience is on the restorative treatment of both cavitated
lesions and lesions that are about to cavitate. This, of course, is a
deficiency. Students need to have an appropriate experience in the
non-invasive management of the early non-cavitated lesions. This brings
me to the main point; the encouraging results that Brad has mentioned.
We now have data that
demonstrates how general practice can substantially reduce caries risk
in their patients. This is a world first - congratulations! I will now
be pressing for our students to be actively involved in this aspect of
patient care.
Happening in 2008
As mentioned in our previous newsletter, one of our aims is to evaluate
the perceptions and expectations of patients, dentists, and practice
staff during the MPP implementation process.
In brief, we want to
know how the participants felt about being involved in this study and
whether we can improve the way we manage the treatment protocols to
bring about better oral health outcomes. You will receive more
information about this further analysis in the near future.
Finally, and most importantly, thanks to all and every one of our friends
participating in this research! Dentists, practice staff, and patients
are a crucial and valuable part of this study. We have really
appreciated the way you welcome us into your practices! We did enclose a
small gift for you and your staff to show our appreciation.
We hope that you and your
families are all keeping well and have a safe and merry Xmas and a great
start to 2008!
Warm
regards, Alex, Brad and Wendell.
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