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Contributions of fluoride to the sensitivity of oral isolates to some anti-microbial agents
No full textObjective: Plaque formation on teeth surfaces, gingivitis and caries has been associated with the presence and activities of oral flora; and several agents have been demonstrated to exhibit anti-plaque potentials. This Study is designed to evaluate the inhibitory potentials of some agents on fluoride-exposed and non-exposed oral isolates capable of causing dental plaque and infections.
Method: Agar dilution method was used to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of triclosan, ampicillin and chlorhexidine against fluoride-exposed and non-exposed Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida albicans.
Results: All the agents showed remarkable antimicrobial activities against fluoride-exposed oral isolates. Our study also showed a 75% decrease (p<0.05) in the MICs of all the agents used against the test organisms after 4 weeks of exposure to 0.11w/w% fluoride. In contrast, the MIC of the non-exposed isolates were significantly higher(p<0.05) and did not change throughout this period. Triclosan and chlorhexidine showed, in addition to their antibacterial activities, outstanding antifungal action resulting in more than 93% increase in the susceptibility of Candida albicans. These observations may be attributable to the synergistic effect of fluoride on the antimicrobial activity of these agents.
Conclusion: It can be inferred from this study that regular daily use of fluoride containing dentifrice having antimicrobial agent such as triclosan or in conjunction with mouthwash containing chlorhexidine will aid in the prevention of plaque formation
Canal pattern in mesiobuccal root of maxillary molars of Nigerians
No full textObjective: This in vitro study was carried out to investigate the variation (if any) in canal outline and number(s) in the mesiobuccal root (MBR) of maxillary first and second molar teeth of Nigerians, and its possible influences on the prognosis of root canal treatment.
Method: One hundred and three (103) and eighty seven (87) extracted, root-planed maxillary first and second molars respectively were sectioned transversely at three different points corresponding to the cemento-enamel junction, the peak of the external outline of the furcation and the margin of the middle and apical thirds of the mesiobuccal root. The root canals were identified using size 15 K-files and the canal number noted for each sectioned piece. The canal number(s) obtained at the three levels were projected to determine the canal types.
Result: Twenty- seven (26.2%) and 7(8%) of the MBR of maxillary 1st and 2nd molars showed double canals respectively at the chamber floor level. This figure increased to 44(42.7%) for the maxillary 1st molar at the cervical third of the root (p<0.05). The increase in the number of root canals below the chamber floor of the mesiobuccal root of the maxillary first molars, with the retained infected pulp tissue, could contribute to the failure of root canal treatments in such teeth.
Conclusion: There is 26.2% and 8% occurrence of double canals in the MBR of maxillary 1st and 2nd molars respectively in Nigerians. There is a need for a deliberate search for, and the obliteration of the additional MBR canals in clinical practice, using the improved techniques of biomechanical preparation
Knowledge and Attitude of clinical level dental students concerning HIV/AIDS
No full textObjective: To determine the knowledge and attitude of clinical level dental students concerning Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS).
Methods: Two hundred and fifteen clinical level dental students from three Nigerian universities were requested to complete a self- administered questionnaire related to knowledge and attitudes about HIV/AIDS. Parameters assessed included the aetiology and modes of transmission, high- risk groups, common oral and general manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS.
Results: The male to female ratio was approximately 1:1, with an age range of 20-36 years. The respondents exhibited excellent knowledge of the aetiologic agent, the modes of transmission, high- risk groups, common oral manifestations and prevention of HIV/AIDS. However, they were less knowledgeable about the general features, diagnosis, treatment, aims of treatment and infection control measures. One hundred and sixty (70.4%) of the respondents stated that they did not have any reservations dealing with patients with HIV/AIDS while 55 (29.6%) felt that with improved knowledge they would be more confident in issues related to HIV/AIDS.
Conclusion: Although Nigerian dental students exhibited good knowledge and positive attitude concerning HIV/AIDS, this study showed that knowledge of laboratory investigations and infection control measures were poor. These areas need emphasis in the dental school curriculum
Periodontal treatment needs of urban and rural populations in Edo State, Nigeria.
No full textObjective: To determine the Periodontal Treatment Needs of urban and rural population in Edo State, Nigeria, and ascertain if there is any difference, using the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN).
Method: All patients who reported at the venue selected rural and urban centres during a sixteen month period participated in the study. A questionnaire was used to obtain socio-demographic information of each subject after which oral examination was carried out.
Result: A total of 2161 subjects (769 urban and 1392 rural), aged 10 years and above participated in this study. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of periodontal disease between urban and rural areas (P < 0.05), which spanned across all age groups and sexes. There was no significant difference in the mean number of sextant by age and sex. Only 0.9% of rural subjects had no periodontal disease, compared to 7.7% urban subjects. More of the rural subjects (94.4%) needed scaling and polishing plus oral hygiene instructions (TN2) when compared to urban subjects (74.8%).
Conclusion: The study showed that, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the Periodontal Treatment Needs (TN) between urban and the rural areas. The type of treatment most required by both urban and rural populations was scaling and polishing and oral hygiene instructions
Fear and anxiety in patients undergoing minor oral surgery
No full textObjective: This study was carried out to determine the causes of fear and anxiety in consecutive patients who attended the University of Benin Teaching Hospital for minor oral surgical treatment.
Method: All consenting consecutive patients referred for minor oral surgery were studied. Information on all the patients was entered into a pre-designed data form. The treatment procedures were carefully explained to the patients in English, \u27Pidgin\u27 English, and the local languages of the patients. The patients were interviewed before and after treatment with regard to fear and anxiety relating to the treatment procedure.
Results: One hundred and fifty patients aged 18-85 years, (mean age 33.4 years) were studied. Fifty-eight percent and Forty-two percent of the patients reported being anxious and fearful respectively, about the treatment they were about to receive. More patients (40.3%) feared the dental nurse than the needle. More females (36.4%) were anxious about treatment than males (20.1%). The patients in the age range of 21-30 years (32.6%) expressed fear and anxiety more than the other age groups. About half of the patients that attended for exodontia expressed more anxiety about treatment. Less than one half of the patients (44.2%) thought their fears were justified after treatment. Verbal communication allayed fear and anxiety in 70.8% of the patients studied.
Conclusions: Fear and anxiety about what will happen to the patient\u27s teeth are barriers identified in this study for undertaking of minor oral surgical procedures at the centre. This study reinforces the need for verbal communication as an effective means of allaying the patient\u27s fear and anxiety before treatment
Utilization of dental services in a population of Nigerian University students
No full textObjective: The aim of this study was to assess the utilisation of dental services among Nigerian university students.
Method: A questionnaire based on modified World Health Organisation questions on utilisation was administered to 375 second-year undergraduate students of the college of medical sciences of the University of Benin to determine their utilisation of dental services.
Results: The results revealed only 14.1% of the subjects had utilised dental services in the past one year with a significant higher dental care use by the females than males (p<0.01). The major reasons for visiting dentist in the past 12 months among the subjects were pain from teeth (20.8%) and the need for cleaning of teeth (18.9%). The commonest reason given for not obtaining dental care was that nothing was wrong to necessitate a visit (77.3%) while 7.5% could not afford dental treatment. There was a gender difference in self-perception of oral status with 29.9% indicated something was wrong with their teeth, gums or mouth while more than half felt nothing was wrong (p<0.05). However, 77.9% of the subjects indicated they need dental treatment or advice of which 37% wanted cleaning of their teeth.
Conclusion: This study revealed low utilisation of dental services among this sample of Nigerian university students with a gender difference in utilisation. The majority of the subjects seek dental care for symptomatic reasons. The implementation of oral health education programme to improve dental awareness among the university students is recommended
Frequency of endodontic treatment in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital
No full textObjective: To determine the frequency of endodontic treatment in dental patients treated in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital.
Method: A survey of 470 patients undergoing endodontic treatment at the conservative clinic of the department of restorative dentistry of Lagos University Teaching Hospital was conducted to determine the frequency of endodontic treatment for each tooth, number of males versus females that needed endodontic treatment and the frequency of root canal therapy in the maxilla compared to mandible. The data on age, sex of patients, date of treatment and tooth treated were retrieved from patients\u27 dental records.
Results: Endodontic treatment was carried out on a total of 490 teeth. The frequency of endodontic treatment was more in the females (56.4%) compared to males (43.6%). 58% of the treated teeth were maxillary teeth and 42% were mandibular teeth. There was predominance of endodontic treatment in the molars (49.8%) with the lower first molar being the most frequently treated and accounted for 18.8% of teeth treated.
Conclusion: A high proportion of endodontic treatment was now frequently performed on molars in patients treated at Lagos University Teaching Hospital dental centre which suggested the availability of more dentists with better facilities to attend to patients that needed endodontic treatment
Knowledge and attitude of some Nigerian dentists concerning the use of space maintainers in Dentistry
No full textObjective: This study was carried out to determine the knowledge and attitude of some Nigerian dentist concerning the use of space maintainers in dentistry.
Method: Structured and self administered questionnaires were sent to 60 dentists in Ibadan and Ile -Ife towns in the South - West region of Nigeria. Information required include respondent\\u27s biodata, year of graduation, specialty, knowledge of space maintainer, how often it is recommended, reasons for not recommending, and the types usually recommended.
Result: Forty Six (70.6%) dentists comprising 63% females and 37% males responded to the questionnaire. All respondents were familiar with space maintainers but 28 (60.8%) claimed that they had never recommended it before. A number of reasons were given for not recommending space maintainers Fifty percent (50%) of those who had never recommended claimed that there was no orthodontic technician to fabricate it and that it was an expensive procedure, 39.2% claimed it was due to lack of appropriate dental materials needed for its fabrication, 7.1% claimed that the children may not cooperate and 7.1% claimed that parents did not want it for their children. The commonest space maintainer used by the dentists was the removable partial denture (71.8%) followed by Band and Loop (28.2%). None used lingual arch and distal shoe.
Conclusion: The most commonly used space maintainer in this environment is the removable partial denture. All 46 dentists agreed that space maintainers help in preventing malocclusion and subsequently agreed to recommend space maintainers if the required materials were available and whenever it was necessary to do so
Talon cusp: clinical features, diagnosis and orthodontic consideration in management
No full textTalon cusp is a rare odontogenic anomaly of tooth shape comprising of accessory cusp-like structure often present on the palatal surface of maxillary or mandibular incisor. This developmental anomaly causes clinical problems including unsightly dental appearance, occlusal interference, and displacement of the affected tooth, irritation of the tongue, caries and malocclusion. Few cases have been reported in this environment. Management of the talon cusp varies according to the circumstances of the individual case and should be as conservative as possible. This report presents a case of a 15-year -old Nigerian girl with talon cusp on the maxillary left central incisor. The talon cusp was managed conservatively and orthodontic treatment was concurrently carried out. It is concluded that when talon cusp occur in association with an occlusal anomaly, careful evaluation of the patient is crucial for successful talon cusp occur in association with an occlusal anomaly, careful evaluation of the patient is crucial for successful orthodontic treatment
Are Nigerian dentists willing to treat patients with HIV infection ?
No full textObjective: HIV/AIDS is a modern day plague, which is a challenge to dentistry. The willingness of dentists to treat HIV positive patients is crucial in the provision of oral health care to this increasing population of patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the willingness of dentists and factors that influence willingness of Nigerian dentists to treat HIV infected patients.
Method: A descriptive study of two hundred and fifty dentists practicing in both private and public dental clinics in Southwest Nigeria was carried out.
Results: The majority of the dentists (63.6%) expressed willingness to treat HIV infected patients. Willingness of the dentists was significantly associated with gender (p = 0.021), awareness of known HIV patient attending the clinic (p = 0.000), having treated a known HIV patient (p = 0.00), not having fears about HIV (p = 0.001) and attendance at postgraduate courses (p = 0.025).
Conclusion: Willingness on the part of the dentists in this study is commendable and it is similar to other African countries. However there is room for more improvement, as any form of unwillingness constitutes a barrier to oral health care for the increasing population of HIV infected patients. There is need for continuing education for dentists to remove the fear of acquiring HIV/AIDS occupationally and improve cross - infection control