UF Dental Public Health …Changing Lives One Smile at a Time CONTENTS

TODAY gatordentistA Publication of the University of Florida College of Dentistry Fall 2005 UF Dental Public Health …changing lives one smile at a time www.dental.ufl.edu CONTENTS Gator Dentist Today FALL 2005 Published twice annually for the alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends of the FROM THE DEAN University of Florida College of Dentistry In the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the Dean human suffering she inflicted on our nation’s Gulf features Teresa A. Dolan, D.D.S., M.P.H. Coast communities, this Gator Dentist Today UF DENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH: issue’s theme of dental public health is both rele- Editor CHANGING SMILES Communications Director vant and poignant. Lindy McCollum-Brounley As Katrina’s devastation demonstrated, it is too 7 Sometimes it really does often the poorest and most vulnerable in our com- take a village 2004 - 2005 Editorial Board munities who bear the brunt of human suffering. Laurence Grayhills, The Academy of Those who could ill afford to evacuate remained in Alumni and Friends 8 Selling survival their homes during Katrina and paid a terrible toll. Teresa A. Dolan, Dean These are the same people who suffer even during Jeffrey Fleigel, Student times of prosperity. As the Centers for Disease 10 Rural residents with oral pain Tom Fortner, Health Science Center Control recently reported, America’s poor and suffer too long before seeking help News and Communications minority populations continue to carry the burden of oral health disease, even Kathy Galloway, Research while the oral health of the rest of the country improves. 11 Old objections to water Jay Garlitz, Alumnus Certainly, health disparities exist in Florida as they do elsewhere in the nation, but the College of Dentistry and its partners are making a difference for many of fluoridation die hard Sue Guido, Alumni Affairs Florida’s residents. James Haddix, Faculty In this issue, you will read of oral health screenings conducted by college fac- TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA Cathy Jenkins, Development ulty and students on more than one thousand school children in one of the state’s Bill Martin, Alumnus poorest counties; of a unique social marketing initiative to reduce oral cancer 12 UF facial pain team tackles most Will Martin, Faculty deaths in Jacksonville’s African-American population through early detection; and baffling cases of the ‘world’s most a story on the problem-based oral health approach too many of Florida’s rural Melanie Ross, Health Science Center acutely painful disorder’ News and Communications residents assume, attempting to self-medicate to avoid a dental visit, even when suffering from extreme pain. Ted Spiker, UF College of Recognizing the tremendous need for improved dental public health in Journalism and Communications departments Florida, the college is in the process of creating a new Department of Community J.R. Taylor, Alumnus Dentistry and Behavioral Science. This new department will encompass commu- 4 In Brief nity based programs, dental public health epidemiology and research, as well as 15 Research Photography teaching and research in ethics and the behavioral sciences of dentistry. As the Lisa Baltozer 18 Education Sam Brill department’s newest faculty member, we are fortunate to have recruited Dr. Robert Lindy Brounley Selwitz, former chief of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research 24 Faculty Linda Kubitz branch on population research and health promotion. Dr. Selwitz will be based in Jacksonville, where he holds joint appointment as the dental director for the Duval 27 Alumni Design County Health Department. JS Design Studio The point of this issue’s stories of suffering and recovery is to demonstrate that continuing dental Printing each of us has an opportunity and responsibility to contribute to the health of our Storter Childs Printing communities. The college is working hard and doing its part to improve oral health education through teaching, research and service. For additional copies, contact: My challenge for every reader is to make a positive impact on the public’s See back cover for course list. UF College of Dentistry health in your own back yards, one person at a time –volunteer your services, get Communications Office involved in the ADA’s Give Kids a Smile program, participate in oral health issues P. O. Box 100405 Gainesville, FL 32610-0405 at the local and state levels, or serve as a courtesy faculty at one of the college’s (352) 273-5782 dental facilities. FAX: (352) 392-3070 Opportunities to make a difference for the underserved people in your community are endless, and the rewards are great. www.dental.ufl.edu (352) 273-5800 Teresa A. Dolan, D.D.S., M.P.H. Professor and Dean College of Dentistry IN BRIEF Dental licensure exam Now offered four times annually The Florida Department of Health (DOH), in have been shown to be three to four times less likely a continued effort to improve access to dental to have a dental visit and have two to three times care for everyone in the state, has arranged for the dental needs of higher income persons, were the dental licensure exam to now be offered four feeling the greatest impact of limited access to den- times each year. tal care. Agwunobi said additional measures to “The Department of Health is committed to increase the number of dentists in the state were finding ways to improve access to dental care for being considered, including possible use of a nation- everyone in our state,” DOH Secretary John O. al clinical licensure examination, which members of Agwunobi, M.D., M.B.A., M.P.H., said. the Florida Board of Dentistry are assisting in devel- “Finding ways to increase the number of licensed oping, for future licensure. dentists in Florida should directly and positively Agwunobi also pointed to the continued impact that access.” efforts by DOH to facilitate an integrated, coor- UF Craniofacial Center Director William Williams, Ph.D., (pictured second from left) hosted the group of 22 Brazilians Beginning in March, the Dental Clinical dinated oral health system between the public Craniofacial Center hosts from the University of Sao Paulo at Bauru (USP). Program co- Licensure Examination will be given by the North and private sectors as the key to reducing oral organizers and USP faculty Maria Ines Pegoraro-Krook, Ph. D., Generations (far left) and Jeniffer Dutka-Souza, Ph.D. (third from left). East Regional Board of Dental Examiners, Inc. health disparities throughout the state. DOH Five dentistry deans joined the College (NERB). NERB will offer the examination four continually works to expand community and international program of Dentistry during the Sept. 10 Dental times annually in March, June, September and school-based preventive, education, and treat- Fall Weekend alumni homecoming and The University of Florida Craniofacial of speech-language pathology. The UF December at the University of Florida and Nova ment programs; several mechanisms – temporary Philanthropy Center dedication activities. Center hosted its 12th Annual International Craniofacial Center and University of Sao Paulo Front row, from left sit Jose E. Medina, Southeastern University. In addition, as a service to certificates, non-profit corporation permits and Program on “Speech, Language, Hearing and will host a dual program in 2006 with a speech D.D.S. (1969-1973) and Teresa A. Dolan, the applicants for licensure, preliminary scores are limited licenses - also exist to allow dentists Swallowing Disorders: Advances in Diagnosis pathology course and a workshop, directed by D.D.S., M.P.H. (interim 2003-2004, dean being given to them immediately upon completion unlicensed in Florida to provide care to those in and Treatment” in partnership with the Facial Pain Center Director Henry Gremillion, 2004 to present). Back row from left, of the examination, making Florida the first in the most need. University of Sao Paulo at Bauru College of for dental specialists interested in temporo- Donald L. Allen, D.D.S., M.S., (interim nation to offer this service. For more information, contact Lindsay Hodges Dentistry and Department of Fonoaudiology. mandibular joint dysfunction and facial pain. 1973-1974, dean 1974-1982), Frank A. Agwunobi said lower income individuals, who at 1-800-245-4111. The week-long summer program attracted 22 For additional information on this UF/Brazil Catalanotto, D.M.D., (1994-2003), Brazilian private practitioners, University of Sao program please call (352) 846-0801 or visit and Donald M. Legler, D.D.S., Ph.D., Paulo faculty and graduate students in the field www.cleft.ufl.edu. (1983-1994). International Educational Exchange Class of 2005 gets high board marks Final results are in for the performance of “Dime con quien andas y te dire quien eres.” Tell me who the Class of 2005 on Part II of the National your companions are and I’ll tell you who you are. Board of Dental Examinations. Their perform- In early September, the college hosted 12 Mexican dental ance was ranked 11th out of 54 dental students and one faculty member, Dr. Sylvia Morales schools participating in the examination. This (pictured third from left in back row) as part of its ongoing outstanding achievement placed University of international educational exchange with sister dental Florida dental graduates in the top quintile in institution, Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan Facultad de the nation for the first time in five years, during Odontologia (UADY). The UADY students arrived in Gainesville Sept. 5 for a week of curricular instruction, which time UF’s ranking ranged from 18th to clinic shadowing and cultural exchange with UFCD students 21st in the nation. In addition to their out- and faculty. UADY and UFCD students – who bonded during standing efforts on the NBII, the Class of 2005 the March UFCD visit to Yucatan – were thrilled to be reunit- achieved a 100 percent pass rate on the ed, and it was often difficult to identify UFCD from UADY Florida State Licensure examination.

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