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Updated: Aug 6, 2026

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Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Trends in clinical dentistry skills observed by board examiners: a 15-year comparison
S P Herrera1, F E Pink, C P McHugh
1University of Detroit Mercy, School of Dentistry, MI 48207-4282, USA.
Operative Dentistry
|June 4, 1998
Abstract:
This study compares and analyzes the clinical performance of recent dental graduates over a 15-year period. A majority of the 981 board examiners, cumulatively surveyed, observed an increase in diagnosis/treatment planning and periodontal skills, and a decrease in operative and prosthodontic skills, while many other skills were performed at approximately the same level.
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The formation of teeth, also known as odontogenesis, is a complex process that begins in utero, around the sixth week of embryonic development. There are three stages to this process: the bud stage, the cap stage, and the bell stage.
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...
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The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.
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