A comparative analysis of the level of cortisol and the number of teeth extracted among patients undergoing routine dental extraction

Background and Objective: A postextraction comparative (cohort) study was carried out to determine whether the number of teeth extracted has an effect on salivary cortisol and by extension on stress.Subjects and Methods: Sixty‑three consecutive patients comprising 27 males (42.9%) and 36 females (57.1%) with a male: female ratio of 1:1.3, divided into two groups of A and B with a mean age of 25.8 ± 4.9 years, and age range of 18–37 years took part in the study. Fifty (79.4%) of them in group A (22 males and 28 females) each had a tooth extracted while 13 (20.6%) in group B (5 males and 8 females) had two teeth removed. One ml of resting saliva was collected from each patient 10 minutes after the procedure and analyzed for cortisol. All extractions and sample collections were done between 10 am and 2 pm to standardize the study and control for the diurnal variation of cortisol. Statistical analysis of the generated data was performed by using Student’s t‑test on SPSS version 17.0. The level of significance was set at 0.05 with P < 0.05 regarded significant.Result: The result showed mean salivary cortisol level of 12.914 ± 2.4684 ng/ml for group A and 12.108 ± 1.7192 ng/ml for group B though not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Females had more extractions in the two groups when compared with males. Male gender had a statistical significance difference (P < 0.05).Conclusion: This study shows that the number of teeth extracted did not have effect on mean salivary cortisol, as a result two teeth extraction does not impart more stress to the patient when compared with one, and as such no additional adjuvant stress relieving measures are needed in two teeth extractions.Keywords: Extraction, number of teeth, salivary cortisol, stres

Prevalence and Behaviour Effects of Psychoactive Substance Use Among University Students in South-Eastern Nigeria

Background: Psychoactive substances can alter consciousness, mood and behaviour of an individual user.Objectives: To determine the pattern of psychoactive substance use and its mental and behavioural effects on university students in Enugu, Nigeria.Methods: A descriptive study was conducted among 422 undergraduates of the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. A simple random sampling technique was used in sample selection. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Analysis was done using Epi-info version 3.3.2 computer software.Results: Psychoactive substance indulged in by the students in decreasing order were alcohol 212(50.2%), coffee 200(47.4%), kolanut 128(30.3%), tobacco (smoke) 51 (12.1%) and marijuana 6(1.4%). When disaggregated by sex, the pattern of use of these substances between male and female students respectively was as follows: alcohol 196(92.5%) and 16(7.5%), coffee 122(61.0%) and 78(39.0%), kolanut 98(76.6%) and 30 (23.4%), tobacco (smoke) 49(96.1%) and two (1.0%) and marijuana 6(100.0%) and 0(0.0%). Most students, 194(46.0%) had used these substances for over five years from the time of the study. The observed difference in the use of psychoactive substance between male and female students was highly statistically significant (

Case Report: Oral liposarcoma in a 28-year old Nigerian woman.

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Mandibular fracture and complications associated with different treatment methods: Review of Literature.

Mandibular fracture sometimes is associated with complications which influence its prognosis. Aspects of the complications of mandibular fracture investigated are those emanating from the methods of treatment employed in its management. Such methods of treatment include conservative, closed reduction with intermaxillary fixation and open reduction with inter-maxillary fixation or rigid internal fixation. It is expected that with improvement in the knowledge of this condition and its management protocols complications will be reduced to the barest minimum. But, this is not so as there are many confounding variables that influence treatment outcome. This paper examined those complications associated with the various treatment methods and recommends that the older methods of treatment like closed reduction technique and transosseous wire osteosynthesis are still relevant in the current day practice.Keywords: Mandible, fracture, treatment methods, complications.  &#160

Telemedicine and biomedical care in Africa: Prospects and challenges

The use of information and communication technology for health care delivery, particularly in poor settings where access to medical services is inadequate, holds promise in expanding health care access. In rural or impoverished environment, where disease is prevalent, doctors are scarce, and health care infrastructure is inadequate, telemedicine holds a good prospect in improving the health conditions of the people. However, telemedical practice in Africa cannot be without challenges because some aspects are often difficult to implement in underdeveloped settings where ignorance and poverty are rife. Apart from nonavailability of facilities and poor communication, most Africans have different understanding of ailments, which often affect the health system. Considering the increasing disease burden in Africa and the need for tremendous progress in achieving the health component of the millennium development goals, telemedicine should be of concern to health policy makers. This paper critically examines the prospects and challenges of telemedical practice in Africa through a systematic review of 31 relevant publications which, in addition to the authors’ knowledge and experience in biomedical care in Africa, supported the information as presented.Keywords: Africa, challenges, medical care, prospects, telemedicin

Occupational Stress in Dental Practice amongst Government-employed and Private Dental Practitioners in Eastern Nigeria: A comparative survey

Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare the level of occupational stress amongst government-employed and private dental practitioners in eastern Nigeria. Materials and methods: A total of 62 questionnaires were randomly distributed among government-employed and private practicing dental surgeons with five years and above working experience in eastern Nigeria. The information collected included: years of practice; mode of remuneration; causes of stress during clinical practice; signs of onset of stress; reactions of individual practitioner during stress condition; and patient’s management during practitioner’s stressful moment. Fifty-seven questionnaires were returned anonymously representing 92% response rate, these were used in the data analysis. Results: Forty-two (73.3%) out of the 57 respondents were government employed dental practitioners while 15 (26.7%) were in full private practice. Thirty-three (78.5%) government-employed respondents, indicated patients’ management and type of clinical procedures as the main cause of their stress. Staff and practice management were the main cause of stress amongst all 15 respondents in full private practice. It was also observed that most dental surgeons (73.3%) in full private practice were affected by time pressure and environmental factor. Irritability and impatience was high (69%) among government-employed practitioners compared to (26.7%) among private practitioners. Conclusion: Our findings showed that private dental practitioners experience more stress in dental practice than government-dental practitioners in our environment. This could be explained in terms of time pressure, environmental factor and remunerations. This calls for an establishment of more government owned dental centers, government employment and good remuneration for dental surgeons to reduce the level of occupational stress in our daily dental practice. Keywords: Occupational stress; Dental practice; Government-employed and Private dental practitioners; Eastern Nigeri

Ankylosis of the mandible: a study of 32 cases.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to clinically evaluate ankylosis of the mandible amongst 32 Nigerians who presented at the Dental & Maxillofacial Surgery clinic, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital Calabar, southsouth Nigeria. Methods: We carried out a prospective study on the 32 patients with mandibular ankylosis. The focus was on the ages at onset of limitation in mouth opening, time of presentation for treatment, gender, aetiological factors, clinical features, radiographical findings, type of ankylosis, anaesthetic technique, surgical treatment, complications, results and follow-up review. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using EPI Info 2000 version software Results: There were 18 (56.3%) males and 14(43.7%) females giving a male-to-female ratio of 1.3:1. Patients’ ages ranged from 3.5 years to 54 years with mean age of 34 + SD 6.4 years. All the patients complied with the follow-up appointments as scheduled within the first one year after commencement of treatment. Six (20.0%) absconded thereafter, while 7 (29.2%) had varying reductions of interincisal distance achieved at surgery. No relapse of ankylosis was recorded. Conclusion: Trauma and infection are the main aetiological factors in temporo-mandibular joint ankylosis. The technique of surgery and conservative treatment employed in each case depended on the site, extent, and type of ankylosis. There was no relapse in all the cases treated. It is expected that this effort would further increase the understanding in the management- of this disabling condition among oral & maxillofacial surgeons.Keywords: Ankylosis, mandible, temporomandibular joint, Nigeria