Date of Award

Fall 2018

Rights

Access is available to all users

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS) in Dental Hygiene

Department

Dental Hygiene

Abstract

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to determine if using the dental endoscope altered dental hygienists’ perception of periodontal disease, changed their instrumentation skills, helped increase self-efficacy, and if multiple uses had an effect on participants’ self-efficacy in debridement skills. Methods: This mixed-method convenient sample study included dental hygienists (N = 34) recruited from Eastern Washington University Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene or Master of Science in Dental Hygiene Program. EWU Alumni with at least one experience using the dental endoscope during patient care completed an anonymous self-efficacy survey through SurveyMonkey®. The survey included seven demographic questions, two binary questions, 12 5-point Likert scale items, and five open-ended questions. Results: Results suggest use of the dental endoscope made a difference in dental hygienists’ debridement skills and self-efficacy. There was a positive correlation between clinical debridement proficiency and multiple uses with the dental endoscope, (r = .26) and statistical significance (p < 0.002). There was a statistical significance with multiple uses of the dental endoscope influenced the modification of participants view of periodontal disease with (r = -0.371 and p < .003). Conclusion: Results of this study suggest an increase in students’ self-efficacy and instrumentation skills after utilizing a dental endoscope during periodontal debridement on a patient with periodontal disease.

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