Summary
In this episode, Salme Lavigne, scientific editor of the Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene (CJDH), interviews Ilena Yim, lead author of two articles published in the June 2024 issue of the journal (Volume 58, Number 2). Learn about Ilena’s quest to identify and explain the controversies surrounding oral lichen planus and lichenoid-dysplastic lesions, and how e-cadherin and beta-catenin are involved in the malignant transformation of oral lesions.
Practical Implications for Dental Hygienists:
Article 1: Controversies regarding oral lichen planus and lichenoid-dysplastic lesions
- Greater familiarity with the literature and controversies surrounding the malignant potential of oral lichen planus and lesions with both lichenoid and dysplastic features can help raise awareness of such lesions.
- Understanding the malignant potential of oral lichen planus and lesions with both lichenoid and dysplastic features highlights the importance of monitoring and following-up such lesions for prevention and early detection of oral malignancy.
Article 2: Biomarkers of epithelial–mesenchymal transition: E-cadherin and beta-catenin in malignant transformation of oral lesions
- Understanding the complex biological mechanism, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and its relationship to oral cancer and potentially oral epithelial dysplasia is important for oral health professionals.
- Understanding the role of the molecular markers of EMT, specifically E-cadherin and beta-catenin, in oral malignant progression may improve the accuracy of lesion risk assessment.
- Future research on EMT and oral dysplasia should be undertaken to guide lesion risk assessment and clinical management
Also, browse past issues of CJDH for research on similar topics. Individual journal articles can be easily viewed, downloaded, and printed from cjdh.ca.
CDHA members who wish to receive a certificate of completion for this learning activity should click the Access Now button and complete the curriculum. After responding to a feedback survey, your certificate will be available in your online CDHA profile.
Learning Outcomes
Following the learning activity, participants will be able to:
- Identify areas of their dental hygiene practice requiring improvement
- Use knowledge sources to inform dental hygiene practice and enhance service provision
- Reflect on challenges of applying new scientific research to practice
Relevance to Practice
CJDH Between the Lines is a video interview series highlighting current scientific research of relevance to the dental hygiene profession. It explores how research findings impact dental hygiene care and supports evidence-informed practice.
According to the Entry-to-Practice Canadian Competencies for Dental Hygienists, “dental hygienists [must be] committed to excellence in practice through critical thinking, continuous learning, and application of evidence-informed decision making. The integration of evidence-informed practice optimizes oral health care”.1
Members are encouraged to assess gaps in current knowledge and evidence, transfer knowledge to others, and explore complex issues from different points of view. This new learning activity also encourages critical thinking and consumption of scientific research, and provides access to reliable sources of information.
1Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada. Entry-to-practice Canadian competencies for dental hygienists. Ottawa (ON): FDHRC; 2021. Available from: www.fdhrc.ca/sites/files/EPCCoDH_FDHRC_November_2021.pdf
Format for Learning
The recorded interview is available in English with French closed captioning. The research article is available in English.
The interview is approximately 15 minutes in length; access to the accompanying research articles is provided along with a set of self-reflection questions. The learning is self-directed, and the articles can be downloaded and printed. The self-reflection questions must be completed prior to receiving a certificate of completion. It is expected that viewing the recording, reading the articles, and answering the questions will take you at least 2 hours.
A certificate of completion will be provided. After watching the video, reading the article, answering the questions, and responding to a feedback survey, you can access a certificate of completion from your online CDHA profile.
Speakers
Ilena Yim, BDSc, MSc, DHP(C)
Ilena Yim obtained her bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 2020. She completed her master’s degree in craniofacial science in 2023 and is now a PhD student in the Faculty of Dentistry at UBC and BC Cancer Research Institute. Ilena’s doctoral research, funded in part by the Canadian Foundation for Dental Hygiene Research and Education, is focusing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of oral cancer in British Columbia
Salme Lavigne, PhD, RDH
Salme Lavigne was appointed scientific editor of the Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene, effective
December 1, 2015. She
holds a diploma in dental hygiene from the University of Toronto, a bachelor’s degree in biomedical
anthropology from
Lakehead University, a master’s degree in dental hygiene education from the University of Missouri-Kansas
City, and a
doctorate in community health sciences from the University of Manitoba. Salme was the founding director of
the dental
hygiene program at Confederation College, Thunder Bay, and served as director of the School of Dental
Hygiene,
University of Manitoba, for 13 years where she developed and initiated the first BScDH program at that
institution. An
internationally recognized researcher and educator, Salme has received Alumni of Distinction awards from the
University
of Toronto and the UMKC School of Dentistry, and a Life Membership Award from the Canadian Dental Hygienists
Association.