Creating email alerts in article databases

One of the first things you do as when you embark on a new research project is to get a lay of the land by doing an extensive literature search.  You go to your favourite database and create a perfect (or near perfect) search strategy that retrieves the key articles in your research area.

You design your research project and then are swept away in collecting data.  A few months (maybe even years later!) you come up for some air and realize that you should probably find out what other researchers are doing in your field.  You think back to your initial search strategy created, which you likely have forgotten and have to spend significant time recreating it from scratch. 

Wouldn’t it be nice if someone could just tell you every time new article is published in your field instead of having to search for it yourself? 

You are in luck! The alerting systems found in most databases will keep you up-to-date by sending you an email letting you know when a new article that fits your search criteria has been published. Email alerts are useful for those interested in staying current on a particular topic or working on a long-term project. Whenever a new article is added to the database that meets your search criteria, an email will be sent flagging it for you.

Alerts can be very quickly set up after you do a search in the database.  Many of these alert systems allow you to set certain parameters, such as the frequency of email alerts (e.g. monthly or weekly).

Most databases require that you first set up a free account – most of which require a valid email address.  If you are interested in setting up an alert, please sign up for the account and login before you do your search as in some databases search results will be lost if you login after the search.

Please refer to our Creating email alerts research guide for instructions on how to create alerts in Ovid Medline, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science.

So create an alert, sit back with a cup o’ java and let the database do the work for you!

*Warning! Before setting up an alert, make sure you have created a search strategy that retrieves a few targeted articles.  Setting an alert for a very broad topic, (e.g. a search for ‘pediatric dentistry’ or ‘dental caries’) will result frequent or extensieve email alerts as many articles are published in very broad research areas daily.  These alerts can become overwhelming in your eamil inbox.  If you need help creating a search strategy that retrieves a small subset ofarticles that are targeted to meet your specific research project or research interest, please visit us at the Dentistry Library.

New Books - November 2013

eBooks

A dictionary of dentistry / by R. Ireland

Oxford University Press, c2010

"This first edition of A Dictionary of Dentistry provides over 4,500 definitions covering all the important terms and concepts used in dentistry today. Entries are written in clear and concise English without the use of unnecessary dental or medical jargon, and many entries are supplemented by detailed line drawings. The dictionary defines terms in a broad range of dental specialist areas including primary care, anatomy and comparative anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, radiography, radiology, orthodontics, periodontology, restorative dentistry, dental public health, paediatric dentistry, oral surgery, embryology, homeopathy, pharmacology, sedation, histology, implantology, ethics, and oral medicine. For completeness, some drugs, techniques, and instruments of historical interest have been included. It also includes a number of biographies of those who are considered to have made a highly significant contribution to dentistry. The principal muscles, nerves, arteries, veins, foramina, and sinuses of the head and neck together with illustrations are grouped together as appendices: also included is a further reading list, and a list of common symbols and abbreviations used in both the UK and America. A key feature of this book is the Dictionary of Dentistry companion website, which provides quick access to recommended web links for many entries, plus over 100 full-colour illustrations. An essential guide for dental practitioners and dental students, it is also an invaluable reference source for all members of the dental team, medical practitioners, lawyers involved with members of the dental profession, and the general reader." Text taken from Publisher Description

Basic guide to dental sedation nursing / by N. Rogers

Wiley-Blackwell, 2011

"The ‘Basic Guide to Dental Sedation Nursing' is a must have book for all dental nurses seeking to develop their knowledge and understanding of this core area of clinical practice. Written in a clear and accessible style, chapters reflect the Certificate in Dental Sedation Nursing syllabus with chapters on such key topics as legal aspects, anatomy, equipment, patient assessment, types of sedation, medical emergencies and resuscitation." Taken from Published Description

Sedation: a guide to patient management / by S. F. Malamed

Mosby-Elsevier, 2010

"Combining essential theory with "how-to" technical instruction, this concise guide is the leading reference for basic techniques in sedation and anxiety control in the dental office. The latest guidelines from the ADA and the American Society of Anesthesiologists keep you up-to-date with the latest medical standards. Content on patient management for pediatric, geriatric, physically compromised, and medically compromised patients helps you successfully treat any patient population." Taken from publisher description

Head and neck imaging: a teaching file / by A.A. Mancuso and S. Bidari

Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2012 

"Teaching Files are one of the hallmarks of radiology education, providing the kind of personal consultation with experts normally found only in the setting of a teaching hospital. This teaching file contains 164 cases, covering all areas of head and neck imaging. A consistent format is used to present each case. Chapters are organized by anatomical region. Included are cases on the temporal bone, skull base, eye and orbit, sinuses and nasal cavity, neck, trachea, salivary glands, hypopharynx and cervical esophagus, oropharynx and larynx. The book can be used both as an independent study and review tool for board-exam preparation and as a companion to Dr. Mancuso's majesterial, two-volume text, "Head and Neck Radiology" (2010), chapters from which are referenced following each case for further reading" Taken from publisher description

Books

Outlines, Notes & Highlights for medical emergencies in the dental office by Stanley F. Malamed / by Cram101 Textbook Reviews

Content Technologies Inc., c2012.

A multidisciplinary approach to head and neck neoplasms: otorhinolaryngology: head and neck surgery series / by M.V. Kirtane and C.E. de Souza

Thieme, 2013.

"A multidisciplinary approach to head and neck neoplasms is a comprehensive how-to guide that addresses the medical and surgical treatment of the most common and chellenging neoplasms in head and neck surgery. It describes the latest surgical techniques, including intraoperative navigation, robotic surgery, image guidance for sinus tumors, and edoscopic skull base procedures." Take from back cover.

Controversial issues in implant dentistry / by Federico Hernandez Alfaro

Quintessence Publishing, 2013.

"Dental implantology has seen a revolution in the last decade. Reasons for this include the universal incorporation of 3D tools for diagnosis and planning, new surfaces and macro designs of implants, bioactive materials, tissue engineering techniques, and minimally invasive surgical procedures. This new paradigm is still evolving, and will doubtless change the way we treat edentulous patients in the forthcoming years. This book focuses on several controvertial topics in implant dentistry. Controversial Issues of Implant Dentistry is aimed at the clinician who deals with implant therapy and needs deep insight into topics that are still the subject of debate" Taken from back cover

Dental biotribology / by Z.-R. Zhou, H.-Y. Yu, J. Zheng, L.-M. Qian, and Y. Yan 

Springer, 2013

"Dental biotribiology summarizes the latest achievements in dental wear and is designed to help the reader better understand the relationship between structures and tribological properties of human teeth. This book provides guidance on the biomimic design of anti-wear engineering systems based on human teeth and also explains mechanisms of occlusal wear and erosion as well as fretting wear related to dental implants and orthodontics." Taken from back cover

Oral hard tissue diseases : a reference manual for radiographic diagnosis, 3rd ed. / by J.R. Newland

Lexi-Comp, 2012.

"Oral hard tissue diseases, 3rd edition, serves as a quick reference manual for the visual recognition and diagnosis of common bone lesions. Each tabbed section is devoted to a specific diagnostic lesion category and illustrated with black and white images of typical radiographic features." Taken from back cover.

Dental board busters: NBDE I: the ultimate study guide for conquering the National Board Dental Examination, 2nd ed. / by R. J. Rubin and A. Y.  Saad.

Braintree Publishing, 2008.

Porth Pathophysiology: Concepts of altered health states, 1st Canadian ed. / by R. A. Hannon, C. Pooler, and C. M. Porth.

Canada Nursing Publisher, Wolters Kluwer | Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, c2009.

"The well respected textbook Pathophysiopathology: Concepts of altered health states has now been fully adapted for Canadian undergraduate nursing and health professions students. Like the original text, this Canadian edition includes a review of anatomy and physiology and treatment information for commonly occurring disease states." Taken from back cover

20 minute lunch hour express workshops

What are you doing at 12:30?

20 minutes could change your life

November is workshop month at the Dentistry Library! The last three Mondays and Tuesdays during the lunch hour break the Dentistry Library will be holding 20 minute lunch hour express workshops to help you learn how to search for articles more efficiently and accurately, manage your citations better; learn about new and exciting on line resources that could help you with your studies, research or teaching!

Each workshop (description and dates below) will be 20 minutes in length giving you plenty of time to eat your lunch after the workshop (outside of the library of course!)  Talk about your power lunch! So whether you want to learn something new or have questions about something you already know please come and join us!

All students, staff and faculty are welcome to attend! No sign up is required. Simply come down to the Alumni Reading Room at the Dentistry Library (not sure where that is? Ask us at the Service Desk in the library) at 12:30 and get ready to learn and have some fun on your lunch break!

Workshops:

Monday 11^th: Savvy with Scopus*

Tuesday 12^th: Ready with RefWorks*
Monday 18^th: Masterly with Metrics and Hand with H-Index*
Tuesday 19^th: Experienced with Endnote Web*
Monday 25^th: Well-informed with Web of Science*
Tuesday 26^th: On-the-ball with OVID*

* For descriptions of workshops, please see below.

 Monday 11^th: Savvy with Scopus

Using medical databases like Medline is an ideal way to find good quality dental articles.  But, not every database contains every article.  Need some information about a topic like ethics in dentistry? Starting research on a new topic and want to get the lay of the land (finding review articles or identifying major articles in your area of study)? Come learn how an interdisciplinary database like Scopus can help you with your research.

Tuesday 12^th: Ready with RefWorks

Starting your research and need to find a citation management system to help you store references and create bibliographies? Want to know which system would be best for your needs? Come and learn about the basics of RefWorks over lunch and see if it is a match made for you. (Also, you can attend our EndNote Web workshop to compare the ins and outs of these popular systems).

 Monday 18^th: Masterly with Metrics and Handy with H-Index

Thinking of publishing a paper and want some information on some of the ways to compare journals? Thinking of doing graduate school and want to get the scoop on the research of potential advisors (or even just want to spy on your profs and see what they are doing in research).  Or already published and want to see what your metric is? Come visit us at lunch and learn about some simple methods of estimating H-Index, citation counts, and journal impact factors.

Tuesday 19^th: Experienced with Endnote Web

Picking a citation management system can be tricky.  Different mangers are better for different things and no one citation management system is the best for every person. Want to find out if Endnote Web is the right system for you? Come join us while we learn the basics of using Endnote Web.  (Also, please attend our RefWorks workshop to learn see if that fits your referencing style!)

Tuesday 25^th: Well-informed with Web of Science

Web of Science is an interdisciplinary database that contains articles from a multitude of disciplines. Interdisciplinary databases can be great places to  search for grey literature, articles about ethics and often contain review articles on many topics. Come this lunch hour and learn the basics of a Web of Science search and see how it can help you in your own research.

Monday 26^th: On-the-ball with OVID

Come and learn some neat tricks on how to make searching using OVID easier and how to find articles more on topic with your research needs.  Do you have questions about how to use OVID to search Medline or Embase? We’d be happy to discuss them at this lunch hour workshop. Need a refresher on MeSH or Emtree? Come and learn with us!