Novel Sedative Gummy Bears Improving Pediatric Dental Care

Judith R. Chin DDS, MS is a Professor and Pediatric Dental Residency Program Director within the College of Dental Medicine. Additionally, Dr. Chin is a reviewer for 5 international peer-reviewed highly respected dental journals, is a committee member on several national committees including the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and is the Medial Director for pediatric Dental Services at Joe DiMaggio Hospital. Dr. Chin serves as the Principal Investigator of a clinical trial where they examine the use of novel gummy bears with 2 different types of sedation medication for children who need dental care.

 

Please tell us briefly about your study

Some children need additional help to tolerate their dental procedures. When needed and after following all national safety standards, we offer the opportunity to sedate a child to get treatment.  Currently the liquid medication used to sedate patients does not taste good.  The goal of our study is to improve dental treatment in a safe way by providing another option that tastes better and is fun.

All funding sources have been internal grants sponsored by the NSU-Health Professions Research Grants and College of Dental Medicine for Pediatric Dental Residents.

Our study results using these one-of-a kind sedative gummy bears have been promising.  We have been able to present our findings at national and international dental conferences.  In a rare opportunity as well, the Food and Drug Administration also invited me to give a presentation regarding the promising results in Washington, DC.  This opportunity to showcase the research being done at Nova was one of the highlights of my career as a pediatric dentist.

 

Why is it important to discover alternative drug delivery methods for pediatric dental patients?

Many children still get cavities in the Unites States with over 50% of children over the age of 6 have a cavity in their baby tooth.  Over 50% of children over the age of 12 also have a cavity in an adult tooth.  Sometimes bad dental experiences as a child can create an adult who may have a phobia to needed dental work. The more options we have as a dentist to provide quality care in a safe fun environment, the better!

 

 

Are you collaborating with any other faculty, institutions, organizations, etc. on this study?

Very fortunately we have used many of our NSU faculty to help with this clinical study. In fact, due to NSU interprofessional collaboration, which is how this idea came up! Back in 2018, NSU hosted a luncheon for faculty from all departments.  Over lunch Dr. David Mastropietro, formerly with NSU Pharmacy, asked what I did to help children get care when they were anxious.  I discussed all the different options including sedation.  I told him how just that morning we were unable to treat a child because the child did not want to drink the sedative medication which did not taste very good.  He asked if we had ever thought about using a gummy bear.  That was the origin of this entire study.

Also, along the way we had the support of many other faculty including but not limited to:

 

• David Pino from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, NSU College of Pharmacy was on board with this from the moment we started. His expertise and enthusiasm have been appreciated.
• Oscar Padilla from the Department of Pediatric Dentistry has helped with sedating patients who have autism.
• Patrick Hardigan, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and
  Professor for Public Health as well as Maria Levi-Minzi from NSU Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice has been helpful for statistical support of the program.
• Jennifer Chung from the Department of Pediatric Dentistry has helped with statistical support and research guidance for residents.
• Cristina Garcia-Godoy, Interim Dean of Research at the College of Dental Medicine has assisted tremendously with issues related to IRB.

 

How are the efforts from this study able to enhance the quality of life for children and families?

We have been successfully able to treat children using these novel sedative gummy bears.  We have reduced the pain that a child might have with untreated cavities or the need to take the child to the operating room to have dental work done in a safe environment.

 

 

How does this study connect with your other work at NSU?

As a pediatric dentist, my goal is to improve the overall health of a child.  One person can make a difference in the life of the child.  Our impact on the children of our community has been recognized and highlighted on a national and international level.

 

How has NSU helped you pursue and/or achieve personal and professional goals you have set for yourself?

I have been with NSU for the past 8 years as the Pediatric Dental Resident Director.  I have always loved what I chose as a career because I can make a difference.  I continue to try achieving the best for pediatric dentistry and our patients. When the FDA invited me to present our research on sedative gummy bears, I was honored to have the Director not only of the FDA, but also the CDC and multiple other government officials hear about our research. For me, that achievement is like winning the Nobel Prize for dentistry.

 

What is the next project/study that you are going to pursue or have already started working on? 

We continue to finish our clinical trials and hope to publish results soon.