Caroline K Carrico

• Virginia Commonwealth University

Background Moderate sedation is a behavior guidance technique in pediatric dentistry, and evaluating existing regimens can improve sedation outcomes and safety. Aim To determine if behavior at consult and sedation medication dosages is associated with sedation success and the patient's behavior using diazepam, meperidine, and hydroxyzine (DMH) reg...

The prescription of a course of oral antibiotics following bone grafting procedures is a common practice in clinical periodontics to reduce surgical site infections. The goal of this study is to characterize the release profile of antibiotics via local delivery using dendrimer hydrogels (DH) and to analyze the effect of two different particulate bo...

Objectives Guided implant systems can be used as a training approach for placing implants. This in vitro prospective randomized pilot study evaluated the learning progression and skill development in freehand placement of two implants supporting a three‐unit fixed prosthesis on a simulation model among novice operators. Material and Methods Four s...

Aim To evaluate the average age and primary reason for the first dental visit among patients with special health care needs (SHCN) as well as to examine barriers related to accessing care for children with special health care needs. Methods This is a cross‐sectional survey that was distributed to caregivers of children with special health care nee...

Background: The neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser has various therapeutic applications in dentistry, including the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity and the bacterial reduction therapy in periodontology. The addition of antimicrobial agents may enhance the impact of the laser on bacterial viability. Objectives: This in vi...

Aim To determine the effects of RVX‐208, a selective bromodomain and extra‐terminal domain (BET) inhibitor targeting bromodomain 2 (BD2), on periodontal inflammation and bone loss. Materials and Methods Macrophage‐like cells (RAW264.7) and human gingival epithelial cells were challenged by Porphyromonas gingivalis ( Pg ) with or without RVX‐208. I...

Objective Periodic examination of the head and neck includes screening for oral cancer, which is largely performed in dental offices by vigilant oral healthcare providers. The aim of this study was to assess practice patterns among Virginia dentists in performing head and neck exams and the referral rates of biopsies after completion of head and ne...

Introduction: Effective aligner hygiene is recognized as an important part of orthodontic treatments and oral hygiene. However, there is no effective cleansing method to clean and disinfect the removable aligners. Methods: In this study, we incorporated tannic acid (TA) with cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) to develop the TA-CPC complex. The antib...

Introduction: Extrusion of maxillary lateral incisors during aligner treatment is a difficult movement to achieve accurately. Despite recommendations regarding attachment design, few studies and no prospective trials compare predictability among attachments. This study aimed to compare the efficacy between optimized and horizontal attachment desig...

Purpose: To examine the impact of dental operatory room color on the level of anxiety in committed youth at a juvenile correctional center. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at a juvenile correctional center using an approved continuous quality assurance survey. The dental assistant collected self-reported anxiety scores from 164...

Purpose: It has been suggested that follow-up visits for pediatric patients after full-mouth dental rehabilitation (FMDR) under general anesthesia (GA) are important to evaluate healing and restorative treatment, review oral hygiene instruction, provide nutritional counseling and address guardians' concerns. The purpose of this study was to evaluat...

Objectives: Perceptual ability test (PAT) is a valid determinant for spatial perceptions. However, proven psychomotor skill tests for dentistry do not currently exist. This study aimed to determine whether performance on the PAT, Operation game, mirror tracing, and wax carving exercises correlate to preclinical laboratory performance in Dental Ana...

Introduction: This study evaluated current trends and perspectives among orthodontists regarding clear aligner therapy in the mixed dentition (CAMD), including insights into perceived indications, compliance, oral hygiene, and other factors. Methods: An original, 22-item survey was mailed to a randomized, nationally representative sample of prac...

Introduction: This study aimed to determine adaptations orthodontists made during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic to maintain safety and determine which adaptations will remain after the pandemic. Methods: An original 34-question survey was sent by mail to a randomized selection of practicing orthodontic specialists (n = 1000). Questions i...

Purpose: The main objective of this study was to determine patient attitudes toward resident participation in their facial cosmetic treatment. Materials and methods: The study design was a cross-sectional study which consisted of an anonymous questionnaire regarding the patient's opinion of resident involvement in their care. Patients who presen...

Objective: Professionalism is a hallmark of health professions education. Professional identity formation is a growing field of exploration in medical education, and the dental literature is sparse on just how professional identity formation is developed and assessed within dental education. Methods: The validated professional role orientation i...

(1) Lasers have been used for the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity and bacterial reductions in periodontology. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Erbium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Er:YAG) lasers with chlorhexidine (CHX), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), or sodium...

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the perceived efficacy of aligners (Invisalign; Align Technology, Santa Clara, Calif) at performing extrusive movements of maxillary lateral incisors and to evaluate and compare differences in treatment planning protocols and other interventions used when required between orthodontists and general dentists...

Introduction Teledentistry in orthodontics is growing, yet patient preferences for its use is unknown. This study aimed to determine the perceived value of doctor-to-patient face-to-face interaction, convenience, and attitudes toward specific uses of teledentistry among orthodontic patients. Methods Private practice orthodontists emailed an electr...

Purpose: This study examines the relationship between student performance measures during practice and exams using advanced dental simulation. Methods: Data from 11 classes of first-year dental students were extracted from Advanced Simulation software (DentSim™) related to Class I and Class II preparations including: total number of practice ses...

This study compared the laser and rotary removals of prefabricated zirconia crowns in primary anterior and permanent posterior teeth. Sixty-two extracted teeth were prepared for prefabricated zirconia crowns cemented with resin-modified glass-ionomer cement. Specimens underwent crown removals by a rotary handpiece, or erbium, chromium: yttrium-scan...

Introduction: Various guiding methods are used to place implants. This ex vivo pilot study used a convenience sample to examine time and accuracy for placement of two dental implants supporting a three-unit fixed prosthesis on a simulation model using a freehand and three guided placement techniques. Material and methods: Four operators with no...

Introduction This study aimed to evaluate the differences in the precision, trueness, and accuracy of 3-dimensional (3D) printed clear orthodontic retainers fabricated using printer systems with different printing technologies. Methods Retainers (n = 15) were 3D printed using 4 different printers: stereolithography (SLA), digital light processing...

Purpose Oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMSs) frequently encounter patients who require extractions following exposure to head and neck radiation, and they must assess the risk of extraction and consider alternatives such as deliberate root retention. The purpose of this study was to determine whether dose volume would be a better predictor of ost...

Introduction The study aimed to (1) compare the accuracy and precision of 3-dimensional (3D) printed retainers at various angulations and (2) evaluate the effect of angulation on printing time and the amount of resin consumed. Methods Using a stereolithography 3D printer, 60 clear retainers were printed at 5 angulations (n = 12, each): 15°, 30°, 4...

Extracted human teeth provide the closest approximation to teeth in situ and play important roles in dental education and materials research. Since extracted teeth are potentially infectious, the Centers for Disease Control recommend their sterilization by autoclaving or disinfection by formalin immersion to ensure safe handling. However, autoclavi...

Background: Inadequate vitamin D levels may increase the risk of caries during childhood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status and severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) in preschool children. Methods: Data were obtained from children <72 months of age in two case-control studie...

Purpose: (1) Implementation of teledentistry in a private pediatric practice during COVID-19 pandemic, (2) Evaluate dental care that was assessed and managed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Urgent dental care provided during the recommended deferment of elective dentistry (3/16/20-5/17/20) was documented. Encounters were documented by type a...

Introduction The aims of this study were to (1) investigate and compare the educational value of the most popular YouTube (www.youtube.com; Google, San Bruno, Calif) orthodontic patient testimonials between braces, in-office aligners (IOA), and direct-to-consumer aligners (DTCA), and (2) classify the emotional response of the viewers through sentim...

Purpose/objectives This study aimed to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dental school faculty's self-reported burnout, loneliness, and resilience. Methods A 34-item questionnaire composed of three previously validated scales – adapted Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, the brief resilience scale, and a short loneliness scale – and demo...

Objectives: Oral health is an integral part of women's health, yet many women face barriers and go without necessary dental care. The objectives of this study were to (1) examine and compare pregnancy-related oral health knowledge and barriers to dental care access during pregnancy among women with private and public insurance and (2) estimate awar...

Objectives Sampling error in incisional biopsy can lead to under/overtreatment. Aim of this study is to determine incidence of sampling error/discordance between incisional biopsy and final diagnosis and consequences on treatment outcomes. Study design A retrospective cohort study on patients treated for ameloblastoma at an academic medical center...

Background: Reduced tooth structure in the pediatric and adolescent population is frequently restored with prefabricated zirconia crowns. On permanent teeth, these restorations may need to be removed and replaced with permanent restorations. Objectives: To explore and compare the use of 2 high-powered erbium lasers for removing prefabricated zir...

Purpose: Objective of this study was to determine if perceptual abilities test (PAT), quantitative reasoning (QR), and academic average (AA) scores predict performance in a rudimentary dental anatomy laboratory exercise. Methods: First-year dental students (n = 88) completed two identical wax carving exercises during the first and last weeks of...

(1) Background: Prefabricated zirconia crowns are used to restore teeth in children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the removal of these crowns with the erbium, chromium: yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser; (2) Methods: A total of 12 primary and 12 permanent teeth were prepared and prefabricated zirconia crowns were passi...

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate if the addition of biologic agents to a particulate bone graft enhances horizontal ridge augmentation outcomes in terms of bone dimensions, bone density, and successful implant placement. Materials and methods: A retrospective chart review was done to assess the clinical and radiographic outc...

Purpose This study examined knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and awareness regarding antibiotic use among students and academic faculty in US dental schools. Methods Two questionnaires, 1 for third‐year/fourth‐year dental students and the other for academic deans/department chairs were administered electronically. Questions on demographics, anti...

Introduction: Patients and parents want shorter treatment times, but it is unclear whether they would compromise outcome quality to shorten treatment. The purpose of this study was to compare orthodontists' and parents' perceptions of finished occlusion and their willingness to extend treatment time to achieve improved outcomes. The effects of ela...

(1) Background: Prefabricated zirconia crowns are used to restore teeth in children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the removal of these crowns with the erbium, chromium: yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser; (2) Methods: Twelve primary and 13 permanent teeth were prepared and prefabricated zirconia crowns were passively fi...

Introduction: This study presents a novel method to deliver intraosseous anesthesia using dynamic navigation technology. The study aimed to evaluate its safety and 3-dimensional (3D) accuracy in comparison to traditional freehand injection of intraosseous anesthesia. Methods: Six identical sets of 3D-printed surgical jaw models (TrueJaw, DELendo...

Introduction The training of dental students and eventual practice of dentistry involves multiple components of the 'person'; therefore, understanding the personality of dental students is critical for creating a supportive student culture. Aims Our objective was to examine the personality traits of students attending Virginia Commonwealth Universi...

The aim of this randomized in vitro study was to compare the time and accuracy of implant site preparation and implant placement using a trephine drill versus a conventional drilling technique under dynamic navigation. A total of 42 implants were placed in simulation jaw models with the two drilling techniques by two operators with previous experie...

Introduction The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the speed, qualitative precision and quantitative loss of tooth structure with freehand and dynamically navigated access preparation techniques for root canal location in three-dimensional (3D)-printed teeth with simulated calcified root canals. Methods Forty maxillary and mandibular centr...

Introduction The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of a publicly available facial recognition application program interface to calculate similarity scores for presurgical and postsurgical photographs of patients who underwent orthognathic surgeries. Our primary objective was to identify which surgical procedure(s) had the greatest e...

Introduction This study aimed to evaluate the factors that influence potential orthodontic patients choosing an orthodontist, general dentist, or direct-to-consumer (DTC) aligners for their treatment, and to determine the level of interest in each provider type. Methods An electronic survey was administered to 249 adults among the general populati...

Introduction This study aimed to present a novel dynamic navigation method to attain minimally invasive access cavity preparations and to evaluate its 3-dimensional (3D) accuracy in locating highly difficult simulated calcified canals among maxillary and mandibular teeth. Methods Three identical sets of maxillary and mandibular 3D-printed jaw mode...

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of two intraoral scanners (IOS) in terms of different preparation designs and scan angulation limitation due to the presence of adjacent teeth. Materials and methods: Eight different complete coverage (CC) and partial coverage (PC) tooth preparations were scanned by two IOS, the 3Shape Trios (TRI) and the 3M Tru...

Objectives: Resilience is the ability to bounce back or recover from major life stressors. The aim of this study was to investigate resilience in dental students and how it may or may not vary across demographic characteristics such as gender, socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, self-reported health, and parental educational level. Methods: Da...

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate if the prescription of oral post-operative steroids has an effect on clinical outcomes of horizontal ridge augmentation including implant placement and characteristics of the grafted bone. Methods: A retrospective chart review of 73 horizontal ridge augmentation cases was completed to assess t...

Statement of problem: Implant guided surgery systems promise implant placement accuracy and precision beyond straightforward nonguided surgery. Recently introduced in-office stereolithography systems allow clinicians to produce implant surgical guides themselves. However, different implant designs and osteotomy preparation protocols may produce ac...

Purpose: Studies have shown that an asymmetrical smile is a relatively common problem. Yet, many patients are unaware of having this condition. Because having an asymmetrical smile can affect the final esthetic result of orthodontic therapy or orthognathic surgery, such patients need to be aware of the problem. The purpose of this study was to det...

The aims of this study were to describe patient utilization of an urgent care clinic (UCC) in a dental school for one year and to assess dental students' perceptions of the benefits of training in this clinic. Aggregate clinic data from July 3, 2017, through July 6, 2018, were used to determine number of patients, number of new patients, number of...

Purpose This prospective randomized study was designed to evaluate the learning progression, defined as accuracy in placement of dental implants on a simulation model, when a computer-guided dynamic navigation was used to train senior dental students with no previous implant training. The study was designed to define the learning curve and the mini...

Purpose: The aim of this survey was threefold: 1) describe the demographics of periodontists and their practices in Virginia; 2) explore periodontists' perceptions of the impact that changes in the field of dentistry (i.e. increasing corporate dentistry, graduate debt, digitalization, and volume of periodontal procedures done by GPs) are having on...

Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) aims to regenerate the lost attachment apparatus caused by periodontal disease through the use of a membrane. The goal of this study is to create and characterize a novel hybrid membrane that contains biologically active fibrin matrix within a synthetic polycaprolactone (PCL) electrospun membrane. Three-dimensional...

The present study investigated whether a brief yoga intervention would be feasible and acceptable for dental students. Based on empirical evidence about state mindfulness (SM), change in self-reported SM was assessed as a measure of the intervention’s feasibility and acceptability. A repeated-measures within-subjects design was used. Participants w...

Objectives From casual observation of our colleagues, only a few individuals use the dental dam for operative procedures in their faculty practice. The purpose of this study was to obtain faculty perceptions of the dental dam, quantify its utilization in their intramural faculty practice, and determine the factors that influence dental dam usage....

A common predictive measure of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is the Apfel score. Although tested in many different operations, it has not been tested extensively in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS). This study was designed to determine whether it applied to OMFS and whether there were other factors in this population that would impr...

Introduction: Recent computer-guided dynamic navigation systems promise a novel training approach for implant surgery. This study aimed to examine learning progress in placement of dental implants among dental students using dynamic navigation on a simulation model. Materials and methods: Senior students with no implant placement experience were...

Introduction: In the literature, there is little information available on 3D-printed orthodontic retainers. This study examined the accuracy of 3D-printed retainers compared with conventional vacuum-formed and commercially available vacuum-formed retainers. Methods: Three reference models (models 1, 2, and 3) were used to fabricate traditional v...

The Isovac system was introduced into the Virginia Commonwealth University dental curriculum with the intention that it would be used as a substitute when the dental dam could not be placed. The aim of this study was to determine the usage and factors that influenced dental students' decisions to use the dental dam or Isovac. All third-and fourth-y...

Self-assessments were introduced into a third-year clinical periodontics course to enable dental students to self-assess and receive faculty feedback prior to technical assessment. The aims of this study were to determine if there was an improvement in the pass rate and average grade on the technical assessments following implementation of self-ass...

Objectives: To investigate the reliability and accuracy of a monitoring system in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with a rapid maxillary expander. Specifically, the amount of tooth movement calculated by the software was compared with the actual measurements taken on plaster models obtained during an in-office visit. Materials and metho...

Purpose To evaluate differences between orthodontists and general dentists in experience with clear aligners (CA), patients’ demand and perception, types of patients, and malocclusion treated with CA and to compare the two groups of clinicians not using CA in their practice. Methods A Web-based survey was developed and sent to the 129 members of t...

Some dental students preferentially schedule graded assessments with adjunct faculty members in expectation of obtaining a higher grade. The aim of this pilot study was to compare the grades given by full-time and adjunct faculty members in clinical periodontics to determine if a difference in grading existed. Grades for students given by seven ful...

Aims This was a pilot study assessing the impact of a sensory adapted dental environment (SADE) on children with developmental disabilities (DD) receiving routine dental care. Methods A crossover study of 22 children with DD, aged 6 through 21, was conducted at a University Pediatric Dental clinic. Each participant was randomized to a sequence of...

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of and factors that contribute to sibling-recurrent dental general anesthesia (DGA) at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va., USA. Methods: Subjects were recruited from July 25, 2017 to March 15, 2018. The guardian of patients with sibli...

Background Burnout and work-related stress in health-care professionals (HCPs) is a growing concern to the optimal functioning of the health-care system. Mindfulness-based interventions may be well-suited to address burnout in HCPs. Objective The purpose of this study was (1) to quantitatively evaluate the effect of a mindfulness-based interventio...

Objective: Considerable emphasis has been placed on the fear that patients undergoing oral surgery have of the local anesthetic injection. However, other potential factors such as fear of pain during the operation, fear of the operation itself, and fear of postoperative pain are often not considered. The purpose of this study was to determine how...

Purpose Letters of recommendation are currently part of the application process for residencies in oral and maxillofacial surgery. However, the value placed on the information contained in such letters by program directors is unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine what role letters of recommendation play in the decision-making process....

Purpose: Before having impacted third molars removed, patients are frequently asked to view a brief video describing the operation and its benefits and risks. The purpose of this study was to determine whether such information reduces or increases patients' anxiety level. Patients and methods: In this prospective cohort study, 100 patients prese...

Digital dental technology is increasingly becoming an integral part of the modern orthodontic practice. The accuracy of digitally articulated models is critical when developing orthodontic treatment plans. Objective: to determine the accuracy of model articulation generated by extraoral and intraoral scanners. Design: One extraoral scanner with a w...

Administration of safe and effective local anesthesia is a cornerstone of dental practice, but there is some discrepancy in recommendations for maximum doses, with the Council on Dental Therapeutics and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's guidelines differing from the guidelines of manufacturers and contemporary textbooks. The aim of this stu...

Purpose: To assess pediatric dentists' choice for restoring Class II carious lesions in primary molars. Methods: A survey with eight cases of class II carious lesions was emailed to American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry members, who were asked to choose either a stainless steel crown (SSC) or composite resin as a final restoration, or no treat...

Introduction: The popularity of adventure recreation in wilderness areas across the world continues to increase. Nevertheless, the risk of injury and illness remains significant. The purpose of this study is to analyze the mountain rescue operations performed in Slovenia between 2011 and 2015. Methods: This retrospective study reports mountain r...

Purpose: There is considerable controversy in the literature concerning the indications for frenectomy for treating a maxillary diastema and for timing of the procedure. The purpose of this study was to survey pediatric dentists, orthodontists, and oral and maxillofacial surgeons on their opinion of this matter to develop a consensus. Materials a...

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to: (1) assess children's preferences for their pediatric dentist's attire; (2) assess guardians' preferences for their child's pediatric dentist's attire; and (3) determine which attributes are associated with different types of attire. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study using survey methodology...

Introduction and Objectives: An operating room rotation for predoctoral dental students can have many potential benefits, both for the students and for the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS). The purpose of this study was to determine the relevance and value of such a rotation for a group of 3rd year dental students. Subjects and Met...

Purpose: Experience has shown that in malpractice cases patients often claim certain information was not provided during the informed consent process. The purposes of this study were to determine how much of an informed consent video patients initially remember and how much is recalled when there is a hiatus from viewing the video to the surgery....

Purpose: The tent screw pole technique is one of the methods available for practitioners to perform horizontal ridge augmentation to facilitate dental implant placement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the tent screw pole technique for horizontal ridge augmentation and to compare the results with those of the tunnel techn...

Purpose: The more informed a patient is about a given procedure, the better the ultimate outcome. This study was designed to compare general public awareness and knowledge regarding oral implant treatment with those of patients presenting for such treatment and to determine the sources from which they may have obtained such information, as well as...

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between burnout, depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in dental and dental hygiene students and to evaluate the influence of gender, programme type and year of study. Subjects and methods: Third- and fourth-year dental (DS) and first- and second-year hygiene students (DHS) c...

Objective: To examine the orthodontic patient experience having braces compared with Invisalign by means of a large-scale Twitter sentiment analysis. Materials and methods: A custom data collection program was created that collected tweets containing the words "braces" or "Invisalign" for a period of 5 months. A hierarchal Naïve Bayes sentiment...

Objective: To investigate differences in case selection, treatment management, and aligner treatment expertise between orthodontists and general practitioners. Materials and methods: A parallel pair of original surveys with three sections (case selection, treatment management, and demographics) was sent to orthodontists (N = 1000) and general de...

Purpose: The use of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for evaluation of patients for dental implants has gained considerable popularity. This retrospective cohort study was designed to determine whether using a clinical examination and a panoramic radiograph (Panorex) for implant selection and determining the need for bone grafting would be com...

Accurate caries risk assessment (CRA) plays a pivotal role in managing the disease of dental caries. The aim of this quality assurance study was to determine if faculty calibration training using a specific set of guidelines in a single session would improve the faculty members' CRA decision making. A calibration seminar was held in December 2014 a...

Purpose: During the past 2 decades, there has been a marked decrease in the willingness of community-based oral and maxillofacial surgeons to participate in trauma call. Although many factors can influence the decision not to take trauma call, 1 primary disincentive is the perception that managing facial trauma might be profitable for the hospital...

Purpose: Previous studies have shown that there may be a bias among some male oral and maxillofacial surgeons regarding women practicing in the specialty. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a similar bias in the general public. Patients and methods: We performed a survey of 65 patients of various genders, educational levels,...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a three-hour hands-on workshop for medical students and residents on their pre- and postcourse knowledge and confidence in managing dental emergencies. A 1-hour lecture followed by four 20-minute “hands-on” skill stations on dental mannequins was administered to a group of 30 medical students...

Purpose: Studies have shown that horizontal ridge augmentation with a nonresorbable membrane is subject to a relatively frequent occurrence of dehiscence and loss of the graft. This study was designed to compare the outcomes of a tunnel technique versus an open technique using a titanium-reinforced polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane. Materia...

Purpose: To determine the perceived utility and demand for the application of telemedicine for improved patient care between nonsurgical dental practitioners (GPs) and oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMS). Materials and Methods: Two distinct questionnaires were made, one for GPs and one for OMSs. The GP questionnaire was sent to practicing Virgini...