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Student research program builds future leaders and advances science

Last year’s six SCADA Student Clinician award winners, from left: Thomas R. Bailey, Peter Yamamura, Sara Hinds, Alexandra Forest, Marc Manos and Moataz Elkasrawy. (Photo: DENTSPLY International)

Mon. 28 October 2013

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NEW YORK, N.Y., USA: In more than 450 dental universities across the globe, more than 5,000 dental students each year dig into the foundations of dental science. The International Association of Student Clinicians — American Dental Association (SCADA) program was first presented in 1959 at the centennial session of the American Dental Association in New York City as a joint venture between DENTSPLY International and the ADA.

Thanks to this now global research program, dental students work with faculty advisors to prepare and present their scientific discoveries at a series of local, regional and international dental meetings and venues.

The ADA hosts an SCADA program at each annual meeting as a popular feature of the scientific session in which students at each U.S. dental school are selected by their individual schools to compete and present their work. DENTSPLY International sponsors the students’ attendance at the ADA Annual Session and World Marketplace Exhibition to present their research.

The program also invites student winners who competed in their national dental association meetings across the world. In addition to the 60 U.S. dental students, 17 more students representing dental schools throughout the world also will present their research results this year.

Based on a philosophy that “better dentistry depends on research,” the SCADA teaches students the discipline of scientific inquiry needed to search for better methods and better materials.

The students are exposed to the rigors of laboratory-based research, and, in turn, the entire profession benefits. In fact, many of today’s dental educators were first drawn to research through SCADA.

“When you look at our researchers, when you look at our department chairs, when you look at our deans, many of them are former [SCADA] clinicians,” said Richard Tatum, DDS, MPH, SCADA past president.

According to DENTSPLY representatives, the company’s history of innovation in dentistry has continued to advance the practice of dentistry. And one way DENTSPLY encourages innovative thinking is through its long-standing support of SCADA. DENTSPLY has been the program’s sole sponsor since the program’s inception in 1959.

According to DENTSPLY representatives, the ongoing sponsorship supports the company’s mission, “For Better Dentistry,” by developing the next generation of dental scientists, educators and visionary leaders — while advancing the science of dentistry.

Attendees at the ADA Annual Session in New Orleans can meet the 2013 SCADA student clinicians, view their research and earn C.E. credit from 1–4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at the 2013 ADA Student Research Poster Exhibit, in Hall B, Level One, Room B21, of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. For C.E. credit, reference course No. 7399 and verification code No. 9117.

(Source: DENTSPLY International)

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