Publications and Research

Eating Disorders and Oral Health, Infographics

Bree's Publications and Research

Academic Publications

Eating Disorders and Oral Health

Published in the New York State Dental Journal

Eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric illnesses, second only to opioid overdoses. Dental providers are one of the first healthcare providers who maybe able to detect signs of eating disorders, yet often fail to do so due to insufficient confidence of suspicious, failure to initiate conversation, and lack of office protocol. This article discusses risk factors, oral manifestations on eating disorders, and tips for communication.

"Does the position of a bottle during infant feeding influence the jaw's postural position?"

Published in the Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry

Early correction of anterior crossbite in the primary dentition can encourage proper growth and development of the maxilla and mandible, reducing the need for future orthodontic therapy. Correction is typically initiated after the age of 3 when a fixed or removable appliance can be fabricated and worn. This case study describes an instance of exceptionally early intervention without the use of an appliance. A bottle-fed 10-month-old boy presented with anterior crossbite, and a contributing factor may have been the position of the bottle's nipple during feeding. Correction of the anterior crossbite was achieved in 5 months by changing the bottle position to a counterbalancing angle. Although this technique warrants further investigation, it has the potential to reduce the need for and length of future procedures.

Harvard School of Dental Medicine Global Health Starter Kit Co-author

Published in Module 7 Harvard School of Dental Medicine's Global Health Starter Kit, a competency-based global health ‘starter’ curriculum designed for dental educators and students. The Global Health Starter Kit is a free accessible curriculum that has registered users across 30 countries and was published as an mOralHealth case study in the recently released WHO Mobile Technologies for Oral Health Implementation Guide. COVID-19: Global Lesson for a Global Profession" (Module 7) was developed under the mentorship of Dr. Brittany Seymour, the Global Health Discipline Director at Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

Research and Grants in Progress

Oral Health and Pregnancy

Research in Progress

Awarded the Columbia Center for Teaching and Learning Grant for developing an educational module teaching medical students about oral health in their Ob/Gyn clerkship.

"Oral Health and Pregnancy" aims to improve oral health knowledge among medical students and Ob/Gyn residents. It also encourages the inclusion of dental care as a regular part of prenatal care, as oral diseases during pregnancy can lead to pain, tooth loss, and other complications that impact a woman’s quality of life and strongly predict her child’s future risk of cavities and related health challenges. To support this goal, the team created an asynchronous online module using Articulate Rise, paired with pre- and post-surveys to measure learning outcomes. The module is designed to improve trainees’ knowledge of oral health in pregnancy and strengthen their understanding of oral care as an essential component of health across the lifespan. The project also introduces a streamlined dental referral process for pregnant patients in the Ambulatory Care Network clinics, where students and residents provide care.

Mental Health Interprofessional Mural

Awarded ~$5000 grant by the President’s Office for the Columbia University Mental Health Initiative. My proposal, “Interactive Mental Health Mural Capturing Interprofessional Perspectives” is meant to capture different interpretations of mental health by healthcare professions across CUIMC Campus. The first phase of this project is to first conduct interviews with students and faculty from medicine, nursing, nutrition, occupational therapy, pastoral care, physical therapy, public health, genetic counseling, and social work. The end goal of this mural is to feature artwork and embedded QR codes linking to these interviews, creating an interactive, evolving definition of mental health across the professions.

The mural will be divided into 10 interwoven sections, incorporating themes and motifs from interviews. The mural will feature healthcare professionals working together to “paint” an interactive cumulative ever-changing definition of mental health. This mural will be painted in the spirit of IPE, collaborative spirit, and using creative mixed methods (painting + technology) and storytelling to talk about mental health and the experience of students across our profession.

Art and Writing Publications