Students participate in dental
and dental hygiene research competitions

Dental hygiene students Angela Kendall (second from left), Christin Wells Wesslen (third from left), and Jennifer Cutts (second from right) accept their award at the ADHA meeting in Beverly Hills. Also pictured are Jennifer Jackson, CEO, Omni Oral Pharmaceuticals (left) and ADHA president Ann Naber (right).

Students continue to fare well in research competitions. In April at the California Dental Association convention in Anaheim, dental hygiene students Alana Gorbenko, Heather Seheult, and Alisa Wollens were awarded first place for their table clinic, "Occupational exposure of dental hygienists to mercury vapor due to coronal polishing."

Two table clinics by senior dental hygiene students tied for third place. They are: Lilliana Ruiz, Apryll Freeman, and Yvette Robertson for "The effectiveness of antimicrobials on DUWLs," and Preethi Dara, Ambra Linnenkamp, and Hans Lemky for their study, "Efficacy of a surface disinfectant (CHX/ETOH)."

In the same competition four groups of fourth-year dental students made it into the finals. They are: Gary Hszieh, Christina Do, and Melinda Pealatere for "Toothtales," Shayne Hover, Marlon Peter, and James Jeffrey for "Effect of different irrigation systems on heat generation during implant osteotomies," Timothy Seidenstricker, Jessica Sabo, and Darren Rich for "Effect of laser etch on bond strength and microleakage," and James Gibson, Steven Karmy, and Matthew Ellison for "Facial profile preference among Hispanics."

ADHA competition—Senior dental hygiene students Amanda Bowker, Jennifer Cutts, Angela Kendall, and Christen Wells Wesslen won first place (and $1,000) in the American Dental Hygienist's Association competition during the 79th session June 19 to 26, in Beverly Hills. Kris Wilkins, DH'80, chair, dental hygiene, was faculty mentor. Their research project was titled, "A comparison of mechanical and manual sharpening techniques on universal curets." The School received a matching award of $1,000 for their win.

Publications—Three dental hygiene research abstracts were submitted to Journal of Dental Hygiene for the Fall, 2002, issue:

• "Hearing impairment in association with ultrasonic use," Kellie McNeil, DH'02, RDA, OMSA; Leslie Nazaroff, RDH, DrPH; and Karen Simpson, DH'66, RDH, MPH, immediate past chair, dental hygiene.
  
• "Transmission of bacteria to the patient's oral cavity via dental student's handling of disposable supplies," Joann Grosso, DH'02, RDH; Susanne Lieberman-Pepper, DH'02, RDH; and Steph-anie Sobieski, DH'02, RDH; with James Kettering, PhD; Jay Kim, PhD; Carlos Muñoz, DDS, MSD, director, Center for Dental Research; and Karen Simpson, DH'66, MPH, immediate past chair, dental hygiene, faculty mentors.
  
• "The effectiveness of antimicrobials on bacteria from dental unit waterlines," Kristen Berry, RDH; Joanna Blood, RDH; and Danna Kim, RDH, BS; with James Kettering PhD; and Karen Simpson, DH'66, MPH, immediate past chair, dental hygiene, faculty mentors.