Missile-related Lead Exposure and Blood Pressure in Patients with Retained Pellets in the Craniomaxillofacial Region

Background: Environmental and occupational lead exposures are known to cause an elevated blood pressure but can this concept be applied to missile-related lead exposure? Methods: We implemented a controlled, cohort study design to examine study samples with long-standing missiles in craniomaxillofacial region using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and standard sphygmomanometry to measure the blood lead levels and blood pressure respectively. The predictor variable was blood lead levels and the outcome variable were blood pressure. Other variables were age, number of pellets, and duration of retention. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate statistics were computed and the P-value was set at 0.05. Results: There was a significant, strong and positive association seen between diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.34;P< 0.001) unlike systolic blood pressure that showed an insignificant, weak and negative associations with blood lead levels(r = - 0.01, P = 0.82). Binary logistic regression showed that blood lead levels, though less significant, (OR= 1.24, P = 0.01, 95%CI = 1.04-1.42) had a higher likelihood to cause hypertension than the age of the patients (OR = 1.03, 95%CI=1.01-1.04, 0.003). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest an association between missiles-related lead exposure and the diastolic blood pressure

Pattern of utilization of dental services among Nigerian population in the University of Benin community: A prospective study

Introduction: Underutilization of dental services is a global concern that is frequently reported in developing countries among different groups of subpopulations but it is unclear if the same have been studied among population in the university community. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the pattern and barriers to the utilization of dental services among Nigerian population in the University of Benin. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted between October 2021 and January 2022 that involved all consecutive staff of the University of Benin, Benin City. The data were collected with an 18-item, structured, close-ended, self-administered questionnaire which was pretested for feasibility. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed. Data were entered into a computer and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 (IBM, Chicago, USA). Results and Discussion: The age range was 25–55 years, with a mean age of 42.8 ± 8.8 years. There were more males (51.8%) than females. Higher (58.4%) proportions of the respondents claimed to have visited the dentist before this study compared to those who claimed never to have visited for any dental services. Long waiting time was ranked highest (27.1%) as the barrier to good utilization of dental services, and this was followed by high cost of treatment (21.1%), fear of dental treatments (12.8%), and poor staff–patient interaction (11.2%). Most (28.5%) of the respondents answered that a reduction in the cost of treatment can help to improve the utilization of dental services, and this was followed by adequate staff–patient interaction (25.3%) and procurements of hospital equipment (24.2%). More males significantly poorly utilized dental services compared to their female counterparts (P = 0.01). Furthermore, more Christians poorly utilized dental services compared to Muslims (P = 0.03). Conclusion: The prevalence of university staff with poor utilization of dental services is relatively high, and this was significantly more in males and among Muslims. Long waiting time and high cost of treatment were the most common barriers mitigating the optimal utilization of dental services

Dental Attendance Among the Elderly in Benin-city, Edo state

Background: Despite the increase in the elderly population globally, it appears that several studies focused on dental clinic attendance by other age groups and with sparse data on the elderly. Aim: This study therefore, aimed to determine the rate of dental clinic attendance among the elderly in Benin-city. Materials and methods: This was a half year multi-center, prospective cross-sectional study. This study conducted among dental patients at the outpatient departments two tertiary health facilities in Benin-city.&nbsp; A three-sectioned questionnaire was used to collect data. The data collected were sex, age, and level of educational, marital status, occupational level, religion, and ethnicity. Other collected data were co-morbidities, previous visit to dental clinic, time of&nbsp;&nbsp; last visit, reason for last visit, intention to visit the clinic again, presenting complaints and barriers to dental attendant.&nbsp; Both descriptive and inferential statistics were analyzed. Results: a total number of patients seen were 1450. The prevalence of the elderly patients was 27.7 %. Mean age was 70.4 ± 5.7 years with age range of 65- 97 years. The female elderly were more (52.9%) than their male counterparts. More than half (53.6%) had hypertensions. Less than half (30.2%) rate their dental health as good. More than half (56.9%) have never visited the dental clinic. &nbsp;Of all the presenting complained asked of the respondents, highest (18.5%) proportion was for toothache. Majority (71.3%) of the respondents affirmed that cost of transportation and long distance was the barrier for attending dental clinic. The rate of attendance (χ = 8.9; p = 0.03) and time of last visit (T =2.84; p = 0.01) was affected by the age of the respondents Conclusions: There was poor attendance to dental clinic by elderly in Benin City mainly due to cost of transportation and long distance. Age was related to poor attendance and time of visitation for attendance. Key words: Dental clinic, attendance, elderl

The perception and practice of routine lingual flap retraction in lower third molar surgery among oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Nigeria

Background: Lingual nerve injury is a known complication of mandibular third molar (M3M) surgery, and retraction of the lingual flap is reported to reduce the incidence of this complication. However, there is no global consensus on the routine retraction of lingual flap. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the perception and practice of lingual flap retraction amongst oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional national survey was conducted amongst 122 oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Nigeria from January 2023 to March 2023 using a validated, structured, self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire had three sections and 14-item questions. Section A consists of the sociodemographic questions, Section B comprises questions on perception towards lingual flap retraction, whereas Section C consists of questions on the practice of lingual flap retraction. These questionnaires were deployed as an online survey and as hard copies. Both qualitative and quantitative data were analysed. A critical probability level (P 0.05). A total of 95 participants (77.9%) did not raise nor retract the lingual flap during lower third molar surgery. The rate of practice of lingual flap retraction during third molar surgery was not influenced by any of the factors studied (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The majority of oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Nigeria do not agree that routine retraction of the lingual flap is necessary to reduce lingual nerve injury and majority, too, do not practice this in their management of impacted lower third molar