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CAPD/ACDP and RCDC/CRCDC
Dr. Norman Levine Graduate Student Research Presentations |
Dr. Norman Levine Graduate Student Research Presentations
CAPD/ACDP members generously sponsor the attendance of Canadian Pediatric Dentistry graduate students presenting original research at the Annual Conference. Details at https://capd-acdp.org/Students/Graduate
The top graduate student presenter receives $1000.00.
The 2026 Presentations will take place on Saturday September 19 from 08:00 to 09:30.
Présentations de recherche des étudiants diplômés du Dr Norman Levine
Les membres de l'ACDP/ACDP parrainent généreusement la participation d'étudiants diplômés en dentisterie pédiatrique canadienne présentant des recherches originales à la conférence annuelle. Plus d'informations sur https://capd-acdp.org/Students/Graduate
Le meilleur présentateur étudiant diplômé reçoit 1 000,00 $.
Les Présentations 2026 auront lieu le samedi 19 septembre de 08h00 à 09h30.
The 2026 Graduate Student Presenters |
Les étudiants de cycles supérieurs présentateurs de 2026 |
Dr. Bushra Alotaibi University of British Columbia | Systemic inhibition of Cathepsin K impacts physiological tooth replacement in geckos Bushra J. Alotaibi* and Joy M. Richman Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Canada Objectives: In humans, physiological root resorption takes place when primary teeth are shed, while pathological root resorption occurs in permanent teeth following trauma and infection. Odontoclasts are the main cell type involved in root resorption. These large, multinucleated cells express enzymes to mediate the resorptive process such as cathepsin K (CTSK) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). One possible route to treating resorption is to inhibit odontoclast activity. There is a specific antagonist of CTSK, Odanacatib (ODN), that was used in RCTs for osteoporosis in post-menopausal women however, there was no investigation of root resorption in the subjects. Here we carry out the first drug trial using ODN to test whether physiological root resorption and tooth replacement can be blocked. We use the Eublepharis macularius (leopard geckos) because these lizards have lifelong tooth replacement and have large numbers of CTSK-expressing odontoclasts. Methods: Experimental geckos (n=4) were treated once a with with oral ODN (5mg/kg in DMSO; based on the human and mouse doses). The control geckos (n=4) were given the vehicle DMSO. Wax bites were taken twice a week before, during, and after treatment to assess the interval between tooth eruptions at each tooth position. The maxillary impressions were photographed and images were analyzed using a custom program which records the midline and presence or absence of teeth at each position. The program aligns the data according to the midline and using the date of the photograph, calculates the interval between eruption of each tooth at each position (approximately 75 teeth were scored per bite). Results: In controls, teeth are replaced every 40-50 days and are arranged in a smooth arch. However, all 4 treated animals had misaligned teeth that were out of the normal arch. These changes in position first appeared 4-6 weeks after starting treatment. There were other animals that had gaps in the dentition where teeth failed to erupt for 2 months. The right and left sidemirror image symmetry was also disrupted by ODN treatment. Animals returned to normal tooth replacement patterns 2 months after the cessation of drug treatment. Conclusions: The study validated the gecko as a preclinical model for studying the molecular controls of tooth replacement in longitudinal studies. Our data suggests that ODN reversibly inhibits tooth replacement by interfering with eruption and blocking alveolar bone remodeling. The exact mechanism of action of ODN will be determined in the gecko using the parameters defined in this study. Funding: Supported by the Faculty of Dentistry, UBC - NSERC grants RGPIN-2016-05477, RGPIN-2023-05145 and NIH grant 5R21DE026839-02 to JMR. JMR is a Canada Research Chair in Dental and Craniofacial Development (CRC-2021-00441). |
Dr. Yen-Chau Nguyen University of Montreal | Competency of pediatric dentists in identifying and diagnosing pathologies on panoramic radiographs: a cross-sectional study Dr. Yen-Chau Nguyen University of Montreal Background: Panoramic radiography is an essential tool in pediatric dentistry and can reveal pathologies and incidental findings outside of a patient’s chief complaint, that may influence patient management and prognosis. Despite its routine use, the diagnostic performance of pediatric dentists in interpreting panoramic radiographs has not previously been evaluated. Objectives: This cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of pediatric dentists and pediatric dentistry residents in the interpretation of panoramic radiographs. Methods: An online questionnaire containing 10 pediatric panoramic radiographs with various pathologies was completed by 86 pediatric dentists and pediatric dentistry residents. Participants were asked to analyze these radiographs and provide a provisional diagnosis, as well as answers regarding lesion localization, categorization, urgency, and appropriate referral. Answers were compared with a reference standard established by consensus between an oral and maxillofacial radiologist and an oral and maxillofacial pathologist. Descriptive statistics and independent-samples t-tests were used to assess the influence of demographic characteristics (years of practice, country, location of practice, etc.) on diagnostic performance. Results: The overall diagnostic accuracy was 61.8%. Common dental anomalies were identified more accurately (69.3%) than incidental findings involving other maxillo-facial structures (38.3%) and rare syndromic conditions (30.0%). The highest scores were obtained for referral recommendations (8.01/10) and urgency assessment (7.13/10), whereas localization (4.80/10) and categorization (5.24/10) showed the lowest scores (p < 0.05). Only 60% of participants correctly identified the normal panoramic radiograph. Conclusions: The diagnostic performance of panoramic radiographs in pediatric dentistry is moderate and varies depending on the type of pathology. Developmental dental anomalies are better identified than incidental findings and syndromic conditions. Pediatric dentists’ decisions in referring and assessing urgency are appropriate, suggesting a clinical approach based on recognizing abnormalities rather than identifying a precise diagnosis. These results highlight the importance of targeted continuing education in panoramic radiograph interpretation for pediatric dentists, with an emphasis on incidental findings, syndromes, and rare pathologies. |
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Dr. Alyson Ruan University of Toronto | A Survey of Current Teaching Practices Related to Special Health Care Needs Dentistry in Undergraduate and Graduate Pediatric Dentistry Programs in Canada and the United States of America Dr. Alyson Ruan (Pediatric Dentistry MSc Student, University of Toronto) Alyson Ruan, Olaf Plotzke, Paul Andrews, Sonica Singhal University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry Objectives: To describe current teaching practices related to Special Health Care Needs (SHCN) dentistry in undergraduate and graduate pediatric dental education programs in Canada and the United States of America (U.S.A.). To report programs’ perceived compliance with the Commission on Dental Accreditation’s applicable standards. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was distributed to educators or program directors responsible for SHCN dentistry teaching in accredited undergraduate and graduate pediatric dental programs in Canada and the U.S.A. using REDCap. A total of 190 programs were included. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Exploratory comparisons between pooled undergraduate and pooled graduate records were conducted, with country-specific subgroup results presented descriptively. Results: 42 programs have participated in the survey (22% response rate). SHCN training was reported in 21/22 (95.5%) undergraduate and 18/20 (90.0%) graduate programs. At the undergraduate level, training hours were variable but overall limited, with Canadian programs reporting lower median didactic exposure than U.S.A. programs (<10 hours vs 10-19 hours). Treatment exposure was significantly greater in graduate programs, with reported treatment time of 50 or more hours compared with 10-19 hours in undergraduate programs. Graduate programs more often reported hospital-based training settings than undergraduate programs (94.4% vs 38.1%). Autism spectrum disorder, medical syndromes, intellectual impairments and developmental delays were universally covered across programs, while Alzheimer’s disease was among the least commonly taught SHCN conditions, particularly in graduate programs. Tell-Show-Do, positive reinforcement, and distraction were universally taught across responding programs, while oral sedation and active protective stabilization were among the least commonly taught behavior management techniques. Full compliance with the accreditation standards was reported more often by graduate than undergraduate programs (90.0% vs 59.1%), while undergraduate programs more often cited curriculum overload and limited faculty expertise as barriers. Conclusions: Although SHCN dentistry was reported by most responding programs, undergraduate training appeared more limited and variable than graduate training. Standardization of curricular content and clinical exposure, particularly at the undergraduate level, may help better prepare future dentists to care for patients with SHCN. |
Dr. Yu Xin Shen University of British Columbia | The Impact of Prolonged Recall Intervals on Oral Health Outcomes at a Pediatric Hospital Dental Clinic Yu Xin Shen 1,2, Jennifer C. Park2 and Joy M. Richman 1,2 Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia1, British Columbia Children’s Hospital2, Vancouver, Canada. Objectives: There is currently weak and uncertain evidence regarding the optimal duration between dental recall visits for children. The goal of this study is to determine whether the time interval between dental recalls significantly affects oral health outcomes in a hospital dental clinic setting. Methods: A retrospective chart review (H25-01120; Jan 2018 – Dec 2025) identified 315 patients who had at least two dental recall visits drawn from 1,882 patient charts. Patients who experienced a prolonged recall interval of 23 months (Long Interval), exacerbated by COVID-19 service interruptions, were compared to patients seen at the standard of care interval ≤ 12-month intervals (Standard Interval). A sub-analysis within the Long Interval group compared patients who required a mid-interval dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia against those who did not. Independent variables include ASA classification, age, the need for support for daily living (high vs. low), oral hygiene practices. Dependent variables included DMFT, gingivitis. Data were analyzed using Fisher’s Exact and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Of the 315 charts reviewed, 129 patients experienced a Long Interval, reflecting pandemic-related suspensions. Long Interval patients were significantly more likely to exhibit higher DMFT than the Standard Interval group. The reason for this difference is that 32.6% of the long interval group had a full mouth rehabilitation under general anesthesia between the first and second recall. In contrast the standard recall interval group had lower caries risk and only 3.2% required general anesthesia. We noted that those in the long recall interval were significantly more likely to require greater supports for daily living (p = 0.0036) and to require supervised brushing (p = 0.03). Within the Long Interval cohort, those that experienced treatment under general anesthesia prior to their second recall had less active decay than the non-restored group (0.10 vs. 0.69; p = 0.01). Conclusion: We have determined that recall intervals of less than 12 months support better oral health outcomes. However, there are family related reasons underlying the longer recall intervals that have been uncovered here. We showed that dental caries experience was significantly greater for a subset of children with high support needs, underscoring the clinical necessity of prioritizing standardized recall intervals to mitigate disease progression (with regular fluoride application, diet counselling, tooth brushing instructions). |
Dr. Dana Smith University of Toronto | Previous dental intervention among emergency patients presenting with facial cellulitis of odontogenic origin to a tertiary pediatric hospital Dr. Dana Smith Smith D, Oxner JE, Singhal S, Barrett EJ, Garisto GA Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto Department of Dentistry, The Hospital for Sick Children Objectives: Although facial cellulitis of odontogenic origin (FCOO) is a common pediatric dental emergency, little is known about the dental treatment history of offending teeth prior to presentation. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of previous dental intervention among offending teeth in children presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) with FCOO. Methods: Retrospective data from SickKids ED visits were collected between January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2025. Children aged 0–18 years who were residents of Ontario and presented to the ED with FCOO were included. Demographic and clinical variables including age, sex, socioeconomic status, offending tooth, trauma history, radiographic findings, restoration type, restorative material, and previous pulp therapy were collected. Information about socioeconomic status was also collected using the Ontario Marginalization Index (ON-Marg). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, t-test, logistic regression and Fisher’s exact test. Results: A total of 1,228 patient encounters were reviewed, of which 571 met the inclusion criteria for FCOO. A previous dental intervention involving the offending tooth was identified in 275 (48%) cases. Among teeth with a history of previous dental intervention, 185 (67%) were a multi-surface restoration, and 225 (82%) were composite resin material. In the posterior primary dentition, multi-surface restoration had significantly higher odds of use than one-surface restoration (OR = 18, 95% CI = 5.17 – 61.39), and extra coronal restoration (OR = 19, 95% CI = 5.65 – 62.44). Children with lower socioeconomic status, measured by the ON-Marg material resource dimension, had lower odds of having a previous dental intervention before presenting with FCOO (OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.68 - 0.93). Conclusions: Having a previous dental intervention contributed to nearly one-half of children presenting to SickKids ED with FCOO. The high prevalence of previous dental intervention suggests that receiving initial dental treatment alone may not be sufficient to prevent progression to severe odontogenic infection. Children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds were less likely to have received previous dental intervention, highlighting known disparities in access to dental care. Characterizing the dental treatment history of offending teeth may help clinicians with strategies to improve pediatric dental care and reduce emergency presentations. |
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| The Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (CAPD) is the membership organization representing over 300 pediatric dentists across Canada. L'Académie canadienne de dentisterie pédiatrique (ACDP) est l'organisme d'adhésion qui représente plus de 300 dentistes pédiatriques à travers le Canada. | Contact Info
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