COMING UP

Indiana University School of Dentistry
Calendar of Events

September 2007

Expand Your Horizons: Join the INAADR This Month
(And Students: Your Membership Is Free!)

During the month of September, the Indiana Section of the American Association for Dental Research (INAADR) is accepting membership applications for the 2007-2008 academic year. The organization's officers are: President -- Dr. Andréa Ferreira Zandoná, associate professor of preventive and community dentistry; Vice President -- Dr. Burak Taskonak, assistant professor of dental biomaterials; and Secretary-Treasurer -- Dr. Masatoshi Ando, assistant professor of preventive and community dentistry.

The INAADR offers students, faculty, and staff an excellent opportunity to receive the most up-to-date information and advancements in a wide range of dental specialty areas. "Members of the INAADR are a part of a network of dental professionals," says Dr. Taskonak. "The INAADR is an integral sponsor of the IUSD Research Day and sponsors or co-sponsors on average one scientific seminar per month."

INAADR members can apply for funds to support travel for invited speakers, and dentist and dental hygienist members are eligible for CE credits.

The association is also currently accepting requests for guest speakers for September programming.

INAADR membership is open and free to all IUSD students, and annual dues are quite reasonable for everyone else: $10 for faculty and $5 for staff. Application forms will be in the mail soon.

 3 (Mon.)

LABOR DAY HOLIDAY (school, including library, closed)

4 (Tues.)

IUPUI FACULTY COUNCIL, 3-5 p.m. in IH 100

5 (Wed.)

CONVERSATIONS AT TEA TIME, the first tea-time gathering on campus this academic year, features as host Dr. Uday Sukhatme, executive vice chancellor and dean of the Faculties, IUPUI; 4-5:30 p.m. at the IUPUI Faculty Club in the University Place Conference Center. All faculty and staff are welcome. RSVP at 274-7014 or facclub@iupui.edu.

7 (Fri.)

IU ORTHODONTIC ALUMNI ASSOCIATION (IUOAA) annual conference, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in DS212. Featured speaker is Dr. Birte Melsen, professor and head of the Department of Orthodontics at the University of Aarhus, Denmark, and her topic is "The Miniscrew Dilemma: Efficacy, Overuse, and Abuse." The program is open to everyone, and fees are $225 (IUOAA donors), $350 (IUOAA non-donors), and $65 (orthodontic staff). Registration deadline is Sept. 4. To register and for more information, call 274-8959.

11 (Tues.)

IUSD FACULTY ENRICHMENT/FACULTY COUNCIL in DS S117. Grand Rounds are 9-10 a.m., and departmental activities are 10 to noon. The Faculty Council meets after lunch from 1 to 2.

DEVELOPING AN OFFICE PROCEDURE MANUAL, a special training program presented by Donna Burkhardt of University Human Resource Services, IU Bloomington; 10 a.m. to noon in DS212. Open to staff and faculty. Register with Elizabeth Hatcher, ehatcher@iupui.edu.

IUPUI CHANCELLOR'S 2007 EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION CONVOCATION, 2:30-5 p.m. in the auditorium of the University Place Conference Center. By invitation.

During this event, we are pleased to report that our own Dr. L. Jack Windsor of Oral Biology will be among the recipients of the Glenn W. Irwin, Jr., M.D., Experience Excellence Recognition Award, which honors full-time faculty and staff for their extraordinary service "above and beyond" to IUPUI.

Dr. Windsor holds a PhD in biochemistry from, and is a former faculty member and researcher at, the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He joined the IU School of Dentistry faculty at the close of 1998, and shortly thereafter accepted an additional adjunct position with the medical school. Today, he is an associate professor of oral biology and adjunct associate professor of anatomy and cell biology. He also holds full membership, with endorsement, on the Indiana University Graduate Faculty. He recently began a three-year term on the editorial board of the Journal of Dental Research.

There is clearly a designated spot in the "above and beyond" department for Dr. Windsor when it comes to guiding students through all sorts of research projects associated with IUSD's PhD, MS, postdoc, and predoc programs. He has served on, and in many cases, chaired, numerous graduate student committees and mentored graduate students' rotations.

And Dr. Windsor has something any teacher would envy to show for the extraordinary amount of time he has devoted to student researchers: A lengthy list of names of talented young scholars who have received honors and awards for their achievements in research while working under his mentorship and in his laboratory. Nothing says "job well done" better than that.

During his career with IU, Dr. Windsor has also directed much of his time and energy to a wide variety of school and campus committees. He has chaired IUPUI's Faculty Council Planning Committee, and will spend the 2007-2008 academic year serving as president-elect of the IUSD Faculty Council in preparation for the top office, which he will assume next summer.

We congratulate Dr. Windsor on his well-deserved recognition from IUPUI.

The Chancellor's annual convocation also recognizes IUPUI staff who are celebrating employment milestones (every 5th year), beginning with the 15th year of service. We salute the 15 IUSD staff members who are among those being recognized on campus today:

35 YEARS
Gayle Massa
Administrative Support Specialist
Orthodontics and Oral Facial Genetics

Dr. Charles Palenik
Research Laboratory Manager
Oral Biology

25 YEARS
Melinda Ball
Patient Accounts Coordinator
Cash Operations

Blake Keillor
Sterilization Clerk
Central Sterilization and Services

Sheri Puckett
Supervisor
Comprehensive Care Clinic

20 YEARS
Andrew Beiswanger
AV/Computer Support Specialist
Technology Services

Latonya Kirkland
Purchasing Specialist
Preventive and Community Dentistry/Oral Health Research Institute

Debra Lanning
Administrative Assistant (Clinical Affairs)
Comprehensive Care Clinic

Julie LeHunt
Administrative Support Specialist
Oral Pathology, Medicine, and Radiology

15 YEARS
Vicky Jennings
Budget Coordinator
Preventive and Community Dentistry/Oral Health Research Institute

Pamela Lovejoy
Annual Funds and Special Events Director
Development

Liliya Lukantsova
Dental Hygienist
Preventive and Community Dentistry/Oral Health Research Institute

Linda Maxey
Patient Accounts Representative
Cash Operations

Sharon Powers
Dental Assistant with Administrative Duties
Oral Surgery and Hospital Dentistry
(University Hospital)

J. William ("Bill") Wilson
Building Manager
Service and Supply Center

14 (Fri.)

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE for Student Research Subcommittee's Sept. 28 meeting

INDIANA DENTAL ASSOCIATION's 12th annual MENTOR DINNER welcomes IU's DDS Class of 2011; 7:30 p.m. at the Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington. Dinner is preceded by a reception at 6:30, and followed by entertainer Ross Johnson. By invitation.

20 (Thurs.)

IUSD Staff Dental Assistant Lunch and Learn Series presents DIGITAL RADIOLOGY, by Gail Williamson, professor of dental diagnostic sciences; 12:10-1 p.m. in DS S116.

21 (Fri.)

RESEARCH COMMITTEE, 9 a.m. in DS S421

Volunteers are rolling up their sleeves and spreading out all around campus this morning from 9 to 11 to make their mark on the annual BEAUTIFY IUPUI project. For all the details and registration form, go to the Campus Facility Services Website www.iupui.edu/~cfs (and submit your registration no later than Sept. 17).

25 or 27 (Tues. or Thurs.)

PAYROLL AND ATTENDANCE POLICIES AND PRACTICES, an introductory session to discuss TIME, the new Web-based attendance program for bi-weekly and hourly staff that the dental school is transferring to. Presented by Juletta Toliver and David Bouton of the IUPUI Human Resources Administration. Mandatory for supervisors of bi-weekly and hourly staff as well as for TIME approvers and processors. Choice of two sessions -- Tuesday's is 9-11 a.m. in DS S117, and Thursday's is 2-4 p.m. in DS S116. More details coming soon to the appropriate personnel from Elizabeth Hatcher, director of Staff Development and Support. Registration with Elizabeth is required (ehatcher@iupui.edu).

26 (Wed.)

PROFESSIONAL STAFF COMPENSATION PROGRAM by David Bouton of the IUPUI Human Resources Administration; 10-11:30 a.m. in DS S117. All university PA staff will be placed into classifications in a new university system that will be launched on Oct. 1. Mr. Bouton will present information about the new system and conduct a Q&A session. All PA staff and their supervisors as well as school administrators are welcome to attend. Registration is not required.

26, 27 (Wed., Thurs.)

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF DENTISTS annual meeting, San Francisco

27 (Thurs.)

DEMONSTRATION OF THE LATEST VERSION OF ENDNOTE by Donna Kirking of the ISI Thompson Company, EndNote's owner; noon-1 p.m. in DS S116. This is a lecture hall setting with data projection, and not a hands-on experience. Everyone at IUSD is welcome to attend, and no registration is required.

27, 28 (Thurs., Fri.)

INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE OF DENTISTS annual meeting, San Francisco

27-30 (Thurs.-Sun.)

Annual sessions for the AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN DENTAL ASSISTANTS ASSOCIATION, and DELTA SIGMA DELTA, San Francisco

28 (Fri.)

STUDENT RESEARCH SUBCOMMITTEE, 8 a.m. in DS B29

Dean Lawrence Goldblatt, the IU School of Dentistry, and the IUSD Alumni Association invite you to the dental school's annual IUSD RECEPTION at the ADA meeting, 5:30-7 p.m. in the Modernist Room of the St. Regis Hotel, 125 Third Street, San Francisco. RSVP to Karen Deery-Jones (kdeery@iupui.edu; 274-8959).

People, Places, and Things

7,208 IU FROSH THE SMARTEST YET. The Indianapolis Star's front-page headline and story on August 30 ("IU Freshmen Raise SAT Bar") says the university's newest class of incoming undergrads represents "the smartest ever to land on campus." You can read the story in full at http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007708300468 (this link will remain active for only the first few days into September).

ROOTING FOR RENEE. Undergraduate endodontic clinic coordinator Renee Hieston is the latest recipient of the dental school's monthly "Pass It On" award recognizing dental assistants. The award was announced at the Dental Assistants Lunch and Learn in August.

In a letter of commendation submitted by Dr. Joseph Legan, clinical associate professor of endodontics, Renee was applauded in particular for the exceptional job she's been doing the last few months, says Patricia Huff, dental assistant administrator. "In addition to her regular busy schedule, she has accepted additional duties which have contributed significantly to our department and undergraduate endodontic program," Dr. Legan stated.

A few of Renee's new duties include entering the obturation grades into the computer for each pre-doc student; typing, printing, and sorting handouts for the endodontic intramural pre-doc courses; scheduling intramural courses; and assisting with the department's hands-on laboratory rotary courses. "Her regular clinic coordinator duties are done well, and she always lets faculty know that she is available for additional duties," Dr. Legan added.

MAYOR'S LATINO FEST MAKES ROOM FOR IUSD VOLUNTEERS. One of the city's fastest growing annual community events offered participants dental screenings, fluoride treatment, and oral hygiene instruction -- services made possible by a team of dedicated volunteers from the IU dental school.

Dr. Armando Soto, assistant professor of preventive and community dentistry, reports that a group of students, staff, and faculty contributed to the Mayor's Latino Fest, held Aug. 18 in Garfield Park.

This not-for-profit event strives to promote Latino family values and to help integrate Latinos into the Indianapolis community at large. According to the indygov.org Website, between 2002 and 2006 the Mayor's Latino Fest (formerly known as the Mayor's Latino Forum) jumped in attendance from a few hundred participants to more than 12,000.

When the SEAL INDIANA program was asked to become involved with the event, Dr. Soto coordinated the dental project with the help of SEAL INDIANA team members Dr. Karen Yoder, Jan Miller, Lynn Mills, and B.J. Hoge.

Others volunteering for the Latino fest were dental assistant Elvia Reyes-Martinez of Pediatric Dentistry; dental students Tracy Jenkins, Cristina Lara, Rebecca Obrecht, and Diana Teverbaugh; and faculty: Dr. Ana Gossweiler of Periodontics and Allied Dental Programs, Drs. Angeles Martínez-Mier and Gerardo Maupomé of Preventive and Community Dentistry, and Dr. Odette Zero of Oral Biology.

"The team screened 44 children, of whom 50 percent had dental caries," says Dr. Soto. The families were given oral hygiene instruction as well as information on dental services at IUSD.

Festival goers were also given a chance to learn more about the services and research activities of the Oral Health Research Institute and the Binational/Cross-Cultural Health Enhancement Center, which is part of the IUPUI Signature Center Initiative involving dental school researchers.

NIH FUNDS OHRI STUDY OF DENTAL SEALANTS. Dental sealants have long been an effective tool in preventive dentistry, and their use through school-based initiatives such as IUSD's statewide SEAL INDIANA program has helped bring low-cost preventive care to underserved populations at high risk for dental disease.

However, methods are needed to ensure that if the surfaces of the teeth are covered by dental sealants, they can continue to be reliably monitored for the development and/or progression of dental caries.

"Research has shown that caries in its early stages can be sealed without harming the tooth, and that sealants are in fact a very effective means of stopping the disease's progression," says Dr. Margherita Fontana, associate professor of preventive and community dentistry. "The problem is that 'early' caries has not yet been clearly defined or uniformly agreed upon, so that leaves dentists without practical guidelines to use in their practices. Research is needed to help determine which tooth surfaces are the most appropriate to seal, what amount of decay can be safely sealed, and which sealants do the most effective job of protecting teeth."

Dr. Fontana will use a recently awarded grant of $416,625 from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research to conduct a two-year exploratory study. As the principal investigator, she will work with a team of researchers at the Oral Health Research Institute to look at dental sealants' effectiveness at arresting caries, and to evaluate the ability of new techniques in caries detection to pinpoint and monitor decay when it occurs underneath dental sealants.

Dr. Fontana's co-investigators are Dr. Jeffrey Platt, Division of Dental Materials, and Preventive and Community Dentistry faculty Drs. Masatoshi Ando, Armando Soto, Carlos González-Cabezas, Karen Yoder, and Domenick Zero. Others who have key roles to play on the project are Dr. Hafsteinn Eggertsson, Sharon Gwinn, Sue Kelly, Liliya Lukantsova, B.J. Hoge, Lynn Mills, Jennifer Tran, and Dr. Keith Yoder, all of Preventive and Community Dentistry; Dr. Judith Chin of Pediatric Dentistry; and George Eckart of the Department of Medicine's Division of Biostatistics.

The researchers will seek the assistance of northern Indiana's Amish community in choosing the study's participants. Representatives from that community will serve on an advisory board for the duration of the study.

The IU dental school has had a long association with the Amish people of Indiana. Through one of the school's Community Dentistry programs, faculty and students have been traveling to Shipshewana, near Elkhart, since 1996 to help provide dental care to economically disadvantaged Amish children from the surrounding area.

 "We are interested in further developing the partnership," says Dr. Fontana. "The state's Amish population is extremely underserved, and has major dental needs."

Beginning in 2008, the researchers will place dental sealants on the permanent molars of 60 Amish schoolchildren in grades two through four and then monitor the development and progression of dental disease in the youngsters for one year.

The team will use a new clinical assessment technique called the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) to determine caries prevalence and incidence as well as the severity of carious lesions. Designed by a global team of scientists including dental researchers at IU, ICDAS proposes a new international criteria standard to help dentists and researchers accurately and reliably assess early caries by visual means. The results of the ICDAS technique will be compared to those obtained by traditional radiography and two currently marketed diagnostic imaging instruments, Quantitative Light-induced Fluorescence (QLF) and the DIAGNOdent system.

"Our long-term goals are to determine the effectiveness of dental sealants in managing different stages of the caries process," says Dr. Fontana, "and, ultimately, to help equip dentists with evidence and techniques they can use in their practices to make the best preventive treatment decisions for their patients."

End September 2007 Calendar

Send items for October calendar by Sept. 25: Indiana University School of Dentistry, Room DS B32, 1121 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis IN 46202-5186. Fax: (317) 274-7188. E-mail: smcrum@iupui.edu