Joseph Flaherty DMD 10 Presents Intriguing Grand Rounds
Joseph Flaherty DMD 10 presented “Restoration of Four Endodontically Treated Maxillary Incisors,” at Grand Rounds on April 14. Professor and Chair of General Dentistry Dr. Judith Jones, Professor Dr. Carl McManama, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Dr. Cataldo Leone, and Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter hosted Grand Rounds, located in room 301 of the Dental School.
Flaherty conducted his externship at the Mid-Upper Cape Community Health Center, in Hyannis, Massachusetts. The Center is one of three community dental health centers located in Barnstable County. Flaherty’s externship preceptors were Dr. Gerry Keen and Dr. Cezar Martini. The 10-week externship began October 5 and lasted through December 11.
Flaherty’s presentation discussed the treatment plan for a 53-year-old, HIV positive, white male. The patient received trauma to his face several years ago, and as a result lost the clinical crowns on his four maxillary incisors: 7, 8, 9, and 10. Flaherty noted that while the patient has had anti retroviral treatment for his HIV condition in the past, he surprisingly had no primary caries. He regularly saw the dentist up until about 15 years ago when anxiety over the amount of potential dental work deterred him. The patient is college-educated and a member of a grant program that provides limited dental care to patients, excluding orthodontics, at a minimal cost.
The patient’s chief complaint was the aesthetic appearance of his missing front teeth. Flaherty diagnosed the patient with malocclusion, supragingival fractures on 7, 8, 9, and 10, and chronic gingivitis. He recommended a treatment plan that included the patient returning every three to four months for continuing care. The genetic malocclusion that Flaherty highlighted during the static occlusal evaluation of his presentation will play a factor in the proposed treatment plan. Unfortunately, since orthodontics is not covered by the patient’s limited dental care plan, he chose to not have orthodontic procedures included in the proposed treatment plan. The accepted treatment plan included the following areas of dental medicine: endodontics, restorative dentistry, periodontics, and oral surgery.
After Flaherty’s presentation Dr. McManama, the moderator of the event, lead an engaging discussion with faculty and students. In response to a question raised by Dr. Jones, Chair & Anthony A. Gianelly Professor in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics and Director of the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics Dr. Leslie Will provided insight into the orthodontics portion of Flaherty’s proposed treatment plan.
This was the final Grand Rounds presentation for Goldman School of Dental Medicine for the 2009-2010 academic year.