By School of Dentistry - March 13, 2011

Three amphitheaters in Loma Linda University’s Centennial Center were the site of 45 School of Dentistry student research presentations Friday afternoon March 4. The authors of the studies were third-year dental and senior dental hygiene students. Their audiences were overflow crowds of peers and faculty.

Student researchers cheer their peers

Almost exclusively in teams of three, the students presented digital slide shows that provided an overview of their projects in one of three categories: clinical, educational, laboratory.
 

In each of the amphitheaters a moderator facilitated the process and three School faculty members served as judges who asked probing questions at the conclusion of each presentation.

Moderators (from left) Ron Dailey, PhD, MA, executive associate dean; Yiming Li, DDS, PhD, MS, director, Center for Dental Research; and Robert Handysides, DDS, chair, Department of Endodontics

When the three-and-a-half hours of presentations concluded, the judges caucused to assess the relative merits of the presentations and arrived at first, second, and third place winners in each category. This year’s winners are pictured within categories below.
 

CLINICAL CATEGORY
 
Clinical Category judges (from left): Leif Bakland; DDS, Larry Trapp, DDS, MS; Mike Meharry, DDS, MS

Dental Students 1st Place (Clinical)
Sterilization of Used and Contaminated Implant Healing Abutments and Impression Copings: A Cost benefit analysis.
STUDENTS: Vanessa Browne, Mike Flewelling and Mark Wierenga with MENTORS: Drs. Neal Johnson, Raydolfo Aprecio, Paul Richardson, Nikola Angelov, and Ms. Alisa Wilson
 

Michael Flewelling, Vanessa Browne, and Mark Wierenga

Dental Students 2nd place (Clinical)
Gender Differences of Multiple Canals in Mandibular Incisors Using CBCT
STUDENTS: Yehoon Ahn and Soon Rye Kwon
MENTOR: Dr. David Jaramillo

Soon Rye Kwon and Yehoon Ahn

Dental Students 3rd place (Clinical)
The Effects of Arginine Prophy Paste on Tooth Sensitivity Following Tooth Whitening
STUDENTS: Andrew Elmasri, Sarah Hopps, and Thy Nguyen
MENTOR: Dr. Sean Lee

Andrew Elmasri, Thy Nguyen, and Sarah Hopps
Dental Hygiene Students 1st place (Clinical)
Case Study of a Patient with Post-Polio Syndrome
STUDENTS: Trisha Aprecio, Chris Chu, and Danae Davis
MENTORS: Dr. Adrian Mobilia and Ms. Darlene Armstrong
 
Trisha Aprecio, Danae Davis, and Chris Chu
 
LABORATORY CATEGORY
 
Laboratory Category judges (from left): Bob Kiger, DDS, MA; Neal Johnson, PhD, DDS; and Jim Kettering, PhD
 
Dental Students 1st place (Laboratory)
A Comparison Study: The Sealing Properties of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate and Root Repair Material
STUDENTS: Jung Yoon Chang, Dongjin Sah, and Michelle Shin
MENTOR: Dr. David Jaramillo
 
Michelle Shin, Dongjin Sah, and Jung Yoon Chang
Dental Students 2nd place (Laboratory)
Comparing Marginal Accuracy of Metal Copings and All Ceramic IPS e.max Copings
STUDENTS: James Mashni, Artin Meserkhani, and Quinn Montgomery
MENTOR: Dr. Nadim Baba

  

James Mashni, Quinn Montgomery, and Artin Meserkhani
 
Dental Students 3rd place (Laboratory)
Evaluation of Caries Risk Diagnostic Tools
STUDENTS: John Chae, Alex Matosian, and Allan Reeder
MENTOR: Dr. Brian Novy and Mr. Raydolfo Aprecio
 
Allen Reeder, John Chae, and Alex Matosian
 
Dental Hygiene Students 1st place (Laboratory)
Measuring the Concentration Effect of Xylitol
STUDENTS: Erika Nelson, Angela Wakefield, and Dulce Zavala
MENTOR: Mr. Raydolfo Aprecio
 
Dulce Zauala, Erika Nelson, and Angela Wakefield

Dental Hygiene students 2nd place (Laboratory)
Antimicrobial Potential of Fluoride, Arginine and Triclosan on Three Oral Microorganisms
STUDENTS: Ashley Eggeter, Suzanne Finch, and Cynthia Gutierrez
MENTORS: Dr. Wu Zhang and Mr. Raydolfo Aprecio
 

Suzanne Finch, Ashley Egetter, and Cynthia Gutierrez
Dental Hygiene students 3rd place (Laboratory)
The Antimicrobial Effects of a Novel Cranberry Extract Dentifrice
STUDENTS: Julianne Asbury, Rebecca-Ann Roquiz, and Caroline Schneider
MENTORS: Dr. Brian Novy and Mr. Raydolfo Aprecio
 
Caroline Schneider, Rebecca-Ann Roquiz, and Julianne Asbury

 

EDUCATIONAL CATEGORY
 
Educational Category judges (From left): Graham Stacey, Phd; Darlene Cheek, RDH; and Leroy Leggitt, DDS, MS, PhD

Dental Students 1st place (Educational)
Learning axiUm: Facilitating the Transition from Classroom to Clinic
STUDENTS: Josh Renk, Nyeland Newel, David Westerhaus
MENTOR: Dr. Heidi Christensen
 

David Westerhaus, Josh Renk, and Nyeland Newel

Dental Students 2nd place (Educational)
Ergonomics and the Administration of Local Anesthesia in Dentistry
STUDENTS: Chad Nosek, Geoff Robinson, Andrew Taylor
MENTOR: Dr. Barry Krall

Chad Nosek, Andrew Taylor, and Geoff Robinson

Dental Students 3rd place (Educational)

Educational Materials on PNAM Appliance for Parents of Children with Orofacial Cleft
STUDENTS: Brian kang, Kiddee Poomprakobsri, and Dave Srikureja
MENTORS: Drs. Wesley Okumura and Jung-Wei Chen
 
Brian Kang, Kiddee Poomprakobsri, and Dave Srikureja
 
Dental Hygiene Students 1st place (Educational)
Oral Health Instructions for Implant Patients
STUDENTS: Shirin AghaMirkarimi, Rachel Morris, and Jinwoo Pak
MENTORS: Dr. Jaime Losada and Ms. Kristi Wilkins
 
Rachel Morris, Shirin Agha Mirkarimi, and Jinu Pak

Dental Hygiene Students 2nd place (Educational)
Oral Care Instructions for the Care Provider of a Patient with Alzheimer’s
STUDENTS: Yasaman Aryaee, Heather Dunn, and Jessica Szutz
MENTOR: Dr. Ann Steiner

 
Heather Dunn, Yasaman Aryaee, and Jessica Szutz