Oral health treatment needs of HIV/AIDS patients in Ife-Ijesa zone, Nigeria

The objective of this study was to determine the oral health status and needs of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Ife-Ijesa zone, Nigeria. Materials and methods: An anonymous, administered questionnaire survey among 209 PLWHA who provided informed, written consent was conducted. Information on socio-demographics, perceived oral health status and professional care obtained. Clinical oral examinations were conducted using a dental explorer and mirror in natural daylight. The oral examinations were carried out to determine, presence of oral HIV lesions, normative needs-oral hygiene and periodontal status, restorative and surgical needs. Results: There was a statistically significant relationship between the presence of an oral HIV lesion and perceived oral health status. Patients that reported the need for oral health care are more than those of medical needs (

Utilization of dental services among secondary school students in Lagos, Nigeria

Objective: This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of dental visits among secondary school students in Lagos State and to identify factors influencing the use of these services. Materials and Method: The study was a cross- sectional one comprising of secondary school students aged 10-19 years in Lagos State. They were selected by a multistage sampling method from 4 secondary schools in 2 (1 Urban and 1 Rural) Local Government Areas of the state. After obtaining an informed consent, a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire was filled after by each student. Data were collected on their demographic characteristics, visit(s) to the dentist in the previous 12 months, reasons for these dental visits, factors preventing subsequent dental visit and barriers to visiting the dentist for those who made no previous visit. The data collected were analyzed with an SPSS version 11.5 using Chi square statistics to test for association and differences. Results: Five hundred and two students aged 10-19 years (mean 14.1 ± 0.22) participated in the study. The students had a dental visit prevalence of 14.9% in the previous 12 months, with 69.3% of the visits prompted by pain. The dental visit prevalence varied significantly with age (p = 0.019), being higher (18.1%) in the younger age group (10-14 years) than 10.5% in the older age group (15-19 years). Reasons for no previous visits ranged from “No dental problem” to “fear of the dentist. Eighteen out of the 75 who made previous dental visits were dissatisfied with the treatment received hence refused to visit again. Conclusion: The level of utilization of dental services was very low and the standard measure of one visit per year to the dentist was not met. There is need for a “School oral health program” which will promote oral health awareness and encourage routine dental checkups among these students

Two Years Survival Rate of Occlusal ART Restorations Placed Without Tooth Surface Conditioning in a Primary Oral Health Care Centre

The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability and effectiveness of ART restorations placed without tooth surface conditioning on occlusal caries in the permanent dentition in a primary oral health care centre in Nigeria. A total of 93 ART restorations were placed without tooth conditioning in children and adolescents aged 13.1 (±3.0) years by a dentist trained in the ART approach. This study was carried out in a primary oral health care centre in a low socioeconomic community, Southwestern Nigeria. The restorations were evaluated every 6 months for 2 years by one independent examiner. The cumulative survival rates were determined by the coded scores and standard criteria for evaluation of ART restorations. Over 95.0% of the children reported that the treatment was not painful and 94.8% responded that they would make recall visits. A similarly high proportion reported that they would encourage others with dental caries to come for the ART. The cumulative 2- year survival rate of single surface occlusal ART restorations placed without conditioner was 88.5% (SE=2.9%). The ART restorations placed without tooth conditioning were shown to be acceptable and effective in the management of single-surface occlusal caries in the permanent dentition of children and adolescents in a primary care setting

Are Nigerian dentists willing to treat patients with HIV infection ?

Objective: 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

Periodontal treatment needs of urban and rural populations in Edo State, Nigeria.

Objective: 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

Original Article - THE RELATIONSHIP OF CHILDRENS PREDICTED BEHAVIOUR TO THEIR OBSERVED BEHAVIOUR DURING DENTAL PROCEDURES

The objective of this study was to assess the relationship of some Nigerian children’s predicted behaviour to their observed behaviour during dental treatment. Two hundred and sixty children aged 2-15years, participated in this study. They were treated at the three government dental establishments in Ibadan, a city in southwestern Nigeria over a six-month period. The children’s behaviour during the different phases of treatment were determined by the Frankl’s Behaviour Rating Scale (Frankl et al, 1962). The findings revealed a direct relationship between the predicted behaviour and the actual manifested behaviour during dental appointments. During clinical examination 42.7% of presumed difficult children manifested positive behaviour in comparison to 95.1% whose mothers believed would be cooperative (p<0.05). In the process of administering local anaesthesia, 21.9% of children who had been predicted to be uncooperative by their mothers complied, while 63.5% of those expected to be of good behaviour showed a positive response (p<0.05). This study thus shows the importance of a mother being asked to make a prediction of the possible behaviour of her child before the dental treatment. This information will enable the dental practitioner take precautionary measures against untoward behaviour, which may be manifested. Appropriate behaviour management skills such as behaviour shapping, Tell-Show-Do, modeling and reinforcement instituted in children likely to behave poorly will enable each child come out with a positive impression at every attendance

Postgraduate Dental Research in Nigeria: A Retrospective Appraisal of the Scope and Suggestions for Future Progress

Background: Research is the systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of data to answer questions and solve problems. This study was aimed at assessing the types and scope of researches being conducted by the postgraduate dental students of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the West African College of Surgeons, and their relevance to solving oral health problems in Nigeria. Method: The study was conducted by reviewing all Nigerian dissertations submitted to the faculties of Dental Surgery of the two postgraduate colleges between 1984 and 2004. Results: Ninety two di.ssertations were included in the study of which 86 were descriptive studies. 37 of these were retrospective, 33 were cross-sectional, and 22 were prospective. Limitations identified by the researchers included lack of funding, low oral health awareness among the populace, lack of appropriate technology and poor social infrastructure. It however appeared as if these researches have not proffered solutions to the problems facing oral health care in Nigeria. Conclusion: There is a clear need for a shift of the focus of research from epidemiological to analytical and experimental studies. To achieve this, the level of funding needs to be improved. Interactions with Faculties of dentistry in developed countries are also vital. NQJHM Vol. 16 (2) 2006: pp. 66-6