Endodontic Treatment of Unusually Long Discolored Maxillary Central Incisor: A Case Report

Background: Success in root canal treatment is achieved after thorough biomechanical preparation followed by complete obturation of the canal system together with prompt and adequate restoration. Therefore, the endodontic therapy requires specific and complete knowledge of the internal and external anatomy, and its variation in presentation. Such treatment may be performed in root canal systems that do not comply with normal anatomic features described in standard textbooks. This article presents a case of endodontic treatment in an unusually long discolored maxillary central incisor.Case Presentation: A 31 year-old male patient was referred to conservation clinic for endodontic treatment of discolored left maxillary central incisor with associated history of recurrent swelling. Root canal therapy was performed and patient was found to have an unusually long working length of 29mm. This was then followed by enucleation of apical cyst without apical resection.Conclusion: Though the patient presents a maxillary central incisor with canal length in the upper limit of some reported cases, it is unusual in our environment.Keywords: Endodontic, Maxillary central, Unusually long, Treatmen

Assessment of Current Cross-Infection Control Practices Among Dental Technologists in Nigeria

Background/Aim: Transmission of infectious agents could occur within a clinical dental environment between patients and patients and between patients and staff if preventive measures are not taken. This study aims at assessing the current infection control practices among dental technologists in Nigeria.Materials: A structured anonymous questionnaire was self-administered among dental technologists in Nigeria by one of the authors during two consecutive national programmes. The questionnaire requests for information on gender, compliance with standard dental laboratory cross-infection prevention procedures, understanding of the concept of universal precaution and adequacy of cross-infection prevention measures provided by their hospitals.Results: There were 81 respondents out of which 57 (70.4%) were males. Twenty-eight respondents (34.6%) regularly wear gloves while handling dental impression. Only 20 respondents (24.7%) wear eyeglasses and face masks regularly. Most of the respondents always or often change pumice slurry, curing bath water and most rarely disinfect pliers. Most of the respondents (59.3%) had not received Hepatitis B vaccination. About 30% of the respondents did not understand the concept of universal precaution. Majority of the respondents (77.8%) were dissatisfied with the cross-infection preventive measures provided by their institutions.Conclusion: Compliance with infection control procedures among dental technologists in Nigeria is still far from acceptable. Key Words: Cross-infection, Dental Technologists, Preventio