Current Trends In The Management Of Diabetes Mellitus: The Dentist’s Perspective

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic, non-communicable disease with concomitant oral manifestations that impact on dental care. Approximately 40-80 persons in 2,000 adult population visiting dental practice are diabetic and about half are unaware of their condition. The average dentist attends to over 100 diabetic patients per year. It is important for dentists to be familiar with the medical management of patients with DM, and to recognize the signs and symptoms of undiagnosed or poorly controlled disease. Oral diseases and their treatments are known to affect glycemic control and insulin resistance in diabetic patient. By taking an active role in the diagnosis and treatment of oral conditions associated with DM, dentists also may contribute to the maintenance of optimum health in patients with this condition. Improved knowledge of this condition among dental practitioner will translate to enhanced management of oral diseases, prevention of complication and overall improvement in quality of life of diabetic patients. Emphasis should therefore be placed on the multidisciplinary and team approach in diabetes mellitus patient management

Cameroonian Dentists’ Opinion On Training And Quality Of Dental Services Rendered By Dental Auxiliaries

Objective To assess Cameroonian dentists’ opinion on training and quality of dental services rendered by dental auxiliaries. Material and Methods: The questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey was conducted amongst randomly selected dentists from six provinces in Cameroon in the first quarter of 2010. Results More than half (51.4%) of the 37 respondents have worked with dental auxiliaries for more than 4 years with higher interaction between the respondents and dental therapists (59.5%). Majority approved scaling and polishing and tooth extraction, few approved root canal therapy and none approved minor surgical procedure like salivary stone removal for the dental auxiliaries. Most respondents (86.5%) agreed that dental auxiliaries work well with 30 (81.1%) opining that the quality of services rendered by the dental auxiliaries were very satisfactory. A total of 15 (41%) of the respondents thought that dental therapists should work in specific areas with 80% recommending rural areas. Majority of the respondents 30 (81.1%) thought that dental auxiliaries are important in oral health care delivery in Cameroon and 33 (89.2%) of the respondents thought that government should continue the training of dental auxiliaries. Conclusion The study revealed high level of interactions between dentists and dental auxiliaries in Cameroon. The respondents’ opinions about dental auxiliaries were mostly positive. There existed variability in opinion of respondents about procedures that dental auxiliaries should perform. The is need for establishment of regulatory agency which would tap and harmonize all the derivable potential from dental auxiliaries

Periodontal Disease Awareness and Knowledge among Nigerian Primary School Teachers

Background: Teacher‑led oral health education is equally effective in improving the oral health knowledge and oral hygiene status of adolescents as dentist‑led and peer‑led strategies. Aim: The aim was to determine periodontal disease awareness and knowledge among Nigerian primary school teachers. Subjects and Methods: This cross‑sectional study was conducted among primary school teachers in Edo State, Nigeria. A self-administered questionnaire which elicited information on demography, awareness of the periodontal disease and source of information, knowledge of etiology, and symptoms of the periodontal disease, was the data collection tool.. The test of association was done using either Chi‑square or Fisher’s exact statistics. P value was set at 0.05 for significance level. Results: Out of 180 teachers recruited from seven public primary schools in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, 151 of them fully participated by filling the study questionnaires giving a 83.9% (151/180) response rate. The majority 74.2% (112/151) of the participants reported having heard of the periodontal disease and the leading source of information was television. A total of 29.8% (45/151) of participants considered periodontal disease as the main cause of tooth loss among adult Nigerian. Only 12.6% (19/151) of the participants knew dental plaque as soft debris on teeth and 29.1% (44/151) attested that plaque can cause periodontal disease. The majority of the participants were not aware of age 81.5% (123/151) and gender 96.7% (146/151) predisposition to periodontal disease. The perceived manifestations of the periodontal disease reported by were mainly gum bleeding 35.1% (53/151) and swollen gum 20.5% (31/151). A total of 70.2% (106/151) of the participants considered periodontal disease as a preventable disease and about half 49.0% (74/151) of the participants considered daily mouth cleaning as the best preventive method. The majority 95.4% (144/151) of the participants expressed interest in learning about the periodontal disease and the most preferred methods were workshops and lectures. Conclusion: A significant proportion of the participants heard about periodontal disease from nondental clinic sources. There existed a poor awareness of etiology, age and gender predispositions, manifestation, complications, and the preventable nature of periodontal disease among the participants. However, the majority of them indicated interest in learning about periodontal disease which should be utilized in optimizing their knowledge.Keywords: Knowledge, Periodontal awareness, Periodontal disease, Teachers, Tooth los

The Impact Of Dental Auxiliaries In Oral Health Delivery In Cameroon

Objective: To assess the impact of dental auxiliaries in oral health delivery in Cameroon.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of 47 dental auxiliaries recruited from six of 10 provinces in Cameroon was conducted in 2010. A self-administered questionnaire elicited information on demography, training received and role in the clinic and opinion about their job.Results: Most of the respondents carry out amalgam fillings, dental prophylaxis, composite fillings, extractions, atraumatic restoration (ART), fabrication of partial and full dentures. Few respondents carry out wound suturing, root canal treatment (RCT), treat minor injuries and mandibular reduction. More than half (52.5%) of the  respondents treat 6-10 patients per day while 13 (29.5%) of respondents work without any direct supervision. Out of the respondents, 80.9% were formally trained and 25.6% were trained in Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital. A total of 61.7% received training for <3 years, 26.1% have not received any additional training after qualifying and 77.8% signified interest in further training. Most respondents (80.9%) considered their work rewarding and interesting, 57.4% think their work is useful to the society and 38.3% find their work, tasking.Conclusion: This study highlighted the importance of dental auxiliaries in the oral healthcare delivery, their responsibilities, strength and limitations. The training and job specification was highly variable necessitating the establishment of regulatory agency to standardize the training and job description of dental auxiliaries in Cameroon

Self-medication with antibiotics among Nigerian Dental Students

Introduction: Health workers are societal role models. Self-medication by health workers could result in an extraordinarily negative impact in the society. Objective: To determine the prevalence of self medication with antibiotics among Nigerian dental students. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey of 200 dental students of University of Benin, Nigeria was performed between April and June, 2009. A self-administered questionnaire was used to enquire on self-medication by antibiotics. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 15.0. Associations were tested using Chi square, significance set at P<0.05. Results: Response rate was 96.2%. The age range of the respondents was 16 to 35 years and Female: male ratio was 1:1.9. The prevalence of self medication with antibiotics in the 6 months preceding the survey was 53.5%. Amoxicillin was the most commonly self medicated antibiotics. The main factors influencing the choice of antibiotics were previous experience with the same illness and advice from pharmacy staff. Diarrhea, sore throat and common cold were the major reasons for self-medication with antibiotics. The predominant reason for self-medication among the respondents was previous experiences with similar ailments. Conclusion: The prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics among Nigerian dental students was high and amoxicillin was the most commonly self medicated antibiotics.Keywords: Self-medication, antibiotics, Dental student

Factors Influencing The Selection Of Dental Nursing As A Profession

Objective: To provide a current description of dental nursing students and to assess the reasons for choosing the dental nursing career. Methods: Between 2008 and 2009, a questionnaire survey was administered to 85 dental nursing students from 3 Colleges of Health Technology undergoing external clinical posting in University of Benin Dental Clinic. The questionnaire requested information on age, gender, place of residence, type of school attended, previous employment, reason for choosing dental nursing as a career, career plans, parents' highest level of education and parents' occupations. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 23 ± 4.4 years and the male: female ratio of was 1:7.5. Three-quarter (75.3%) of the respondents attended government secondary school and 87.1% were products of mixed school. Teaching was the commonest job among 27.1% of the respondent that had previous employment. Three-quarter (75.6%) of the respondents attested that their education was being sponsored by their parents. Caring for the health of others was the main reason for pursuing dental nursing career. The decision to study dental nursing was taken by 44.7% of the respondents after their secondary education and 50.6% were influenced in their choice of the career with parent being a strong force. More than half (56.5%) plan to work in Teaching hospital on completion of their training. The educational backgrounds of parents varied widely with mothers being reported to have less formal education than fathers. Three-quarter (75.3%) and one-third (35.3%) respondents' mother and father were traders respectively. Conclusion: The study findings provide relevant information on the students' characteristics, factors influencing the selection of dental nursing career and will serve as a template, on which changes in the social composition of dental nursing students can be compared with over time. Key words: Factors, selection, dental nursing, professio

Perception of HIV/AIDS among preclinical dental students

Objective. To determine the knowledge, attitude and willingness of preclinical dental students to treat HIV/AIDS patients in the future. Method. The sample comprised 150 students of both genders drawn from the third and fourth year dental students of the University of Benin, Benin City. One hundred and fifty questionnaires were self-administered, with 139 (92.6%) retrieval. The parameters measured were knowledge, status, immunization against hepatitis B virus, willingness to treat, knowledge of post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and its protocol in the of University of Benin Teaching hospital (UBTH). Results. Data analysis showed that 100 (71.9%) students rated their knowledge of HIV/AIDS as high and very high. Sixty-three (45.3%) students thought that HIV was a contagious disease while 46 (33.1%) felt HIV was more infectious than tuberculosis or any of the strains of hepatitis virus. Only 59 (42.4%) students knew their HIV status. One hundred and twenty seven (91.4%) students felt that professional oral health care will be beneficial to HIV/AIDS patients; while fifty-one students (36.7%) are not prepared to administer dental care to HIV/AIDS patients in future. Majority of respondents adjudged health workers to be more at risk than sex workers. Forty students comprising 28.8% of the study population had been immunized against Hepatitis B. Ninety- four (67.7%) students had no knowledge of PEP while 122 (87.8%) students did not know the PEP protocol in UBTH. Conclusion. Although a large number of these students claim to be knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS. It is obvious that a true understanding is lacking. Concerted effort should be made to change their perception by implementing a curriculum designed to enhance the knowledge of dental students; if we hope to save HIV/AIDS patients from the discrimination of future healthcare givers

Smokeless tobacco use, tooth loss and oral health issues among adults in Cameroon

Background: Tobacco use in smokeless and smoked forms is preventable cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide.Objective: To determine the prevalence of smokeless tobacco use and the association with tooth loss and oral health problems among adults in Cameroon.Methods: Adults dwelling in the Fokoue area of West Region of Cameroon were studied.Results: Out of the 226 participants studied, 119 of them reported smokeless tobacco use giving a prevalence of 52.7% with majority-74 (62.2%) chewing it. Three-quarters (77.3%) of the respondents use it more than than thrice-daily and more than half of them respondents have been using it for 6-10 years. The smokeless tobacco users were more of those aged 50-59 years, females, farmers, those with less than post-primary education, non alcohol consumers and those that have notreceived previous dental care than smokeless tobacco users. However, it was only age (p=0.006) and educational attainment (p=0.009) that were significantly associated with smokeless tobacco use. Smokeless tobacco user were more likely to have poor oral hygiene, dental caries, gingival recession, leukoplakia, erythroplakia, abnormal growth, tooth wear lesion, experienced tooth loss and edentulousnss than non smokeless tobacco users. However, the significantly associated lesions with smokeless tobacco use were tooth loss (p=0.008), edentulousness (p=0.016), gingival recession (p=0.006) and leukoplakia (p=0.001).Conclusion: The prevalence of smokeless tobacco use was high among adults in Cameroon and it was associated with more likelihood of oral health problems. There is therefore a need for health education on the health consequences of the smokeless tobacco use with demonstrations by the dentist.Key words: Smokeless tobacco, tooth loss, mucosal problems, adult

Assessment of Sharp Injuries among Cameroonian Dental Professionals

Objective To assess the prevalence of sharp injury among Cameroonian dental professionals. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study of 41 dental professionals recruited from 4 out of 10 provinces in Cameroon was conducted in the second half of 2009. A self-administered questionnaire was used to capture information on demography, nature, frequency and causes of sharp injury, post-exposure prophylaxis practice and methods of sharps disposal. Results Thirty-nine dental professionals (95.1%) had experienced sharp injury with 35.9% being once in the preceding 12 months. Needlestick was the most common sharp injury experienced by the respondents. Most of the injuries occurred during recapping of the needle. Activity during which injuries occurred was not significantly associated with type of practice. Twenty three (59.0%) respondents received post-exposure prophylaxis after sustaining sharp injury. Proper disposal of sharps in a special container was observed by 35 (85.4%) of the respondents. Conclusion The prevalence of sharp injuries among Cameroonian dental professionals was high. This justifies an urgent need for concerted effort to reduce sharp injuries in Cameroon dental practices through a comprehensive sharp injury prevention program including work place safety, employee training on guidelines adherence, safe recapping and disposal systems

Nigerian dental students? compliance with the 4As approach to tobacco cessation

Objective. To assess the Nigerian dental students? present effort at tobacco cessation assistance using the simple stepwise 4As model. Methods. A cross-sectional survey of all the final level dental students in the Nigerian premier dental schools was carried out using a pretested self administered questionnaire. Results. The response rate was 98.9%. Majority (95.6%) of the respondents routinely take history of tobacco use. A total of 93.9% of the respondents routinely advice patient who smoke to quit but only 46.1% actually counsel patient on how to quit. Sixtenth of the respondents knew about nicotine replacement therapy but only 36.1% knew the role antidepressant therapy in tobacco cessation. Majority (87.2%) want cigarette sales to adolescents banned, 73.9% want adverts of cigarettes prohibited, 81.1% want cigarette smoking banned in public areas and only 2.8% will permit smoking in a dental office. Conclusions. The survey revealed deficiency in compliance to the 4As approach to tobacco cessation among Nigerian dental students. The incorporation of proper tobacco counseling cessation protocol, with emphasis on the pharmacological therapy, into the dental curriculum is therefore desirable. Dental professionals at all levels should be involved effectively with tobacco cessation to significantly reduce the morbidity and mortality of tobacco use