Doing the Research on Balbo Day

Adam Hashemi won first place in the Student Summer Research Program category at Balbo Day.

The patient’s facial pain was so excruciating, she stopped brushing her teeth and lost weight because it hurt to eat. Other symptoms seemed unrelated, but they weren’t: loss of facial hair, including eyebrows and eyelashes. RSDM faculty diagnosed her with complex regional pain syndrome, a rare condition that normally affects the limbs.

On Balbo Day, Nmandi Anosike’s second-place poster told the story of the patient's diagnosis and treatment at the school’s Orofacial Pain Center, where Anosike and Safa Dalwai worked with faculty researchers. “It’s one of the only case studies of this syndrome affecting the orofacial area,’’ explained, Anosike, a resident at the center, who, along with Dalwai,  won  second place in the postdoctoral case study category.

Balbo Day, an annual exposition, showcases RSDM’s research and clinical work and helps students hone their presentation skills. It’s named for Michael Balbo, a faculty member and student advocate who started the event 40 years ago. This year, students presented posters on everything from oral biology research on periodontitis to the impact electronic record-keeping has on patient care.

Faculty member Carla Cugini, one of the judges, gave high marks to posters with good graphics and well-organized information. “Photos and charts always help,’’ said Cugini, an assistant professor in the Department of Oral Biology. She was also looking for a presenters who could explain their research and its relevance in terms that were easy to understand. “It shouldn’t be dumbed down so much that you lose the science, but it should still be somewhat accessible,’’ she said.

Nnamdi Anosike poses with his winning poster, a case history on a woman with severe orofacial pain.

“It’s all about the packaging,’’  declared Adam Hashemi, whose poster explored the effects of silver diamene fluoride on dental caries. It won first place in the Student Summer Research program category.

The compound, which was newly approved as a preventive treatment for caries, contains silver, which kills bacteria. Hahshemi’s research, overseen by Kenneth Markowitz, associate professor in Oral Biology, showed that the treatment adhered well to dentin affected by caries, which increased its potential for effectiveness.

Although Hashemi never aspired to be a researcher, his work on the study gave him insight into the clinical lessons of dental school. “It was all really practical. As a dentist, that’s what we study – teeth. It can be applied to the profession,’’ he said.

Student Peter Carey, who won first place last year at Balbo Day and has gone on to win national and regional awards for his 2014 poster, said participating in research has taught him to be a more critical consumer. When products are advertised with references to clinical studies, he takes a second look. “I want to see the methodology,’’ he said.  “Show me the numbers.’’

Here are the winners:

Student Summer Research Program

1. Adam Hashemi
2. Susun Kim
3. James Park

Postgraduate Research

1.  Rita Lu
2. Devisree Nekkanti
3. Naruthorn Tanaiutchawoot

Postgraduate Clinical

1.  Malanie Lee and Yaniris Figueroa
2. Nnamdi Anosike and Safa Dalwai
3. Ankit Malhotra and Khalil Assiri