Maternal and infant risk factors and risk indicators associated with early childhood caries in South Africa: A systematic review

Objectives To evaluate the risk factors and risk indicators associated with early childhood caries in South Africa. Design A systematic review of aetiology was performed. From 1366 papers found, 23 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included. All study designs were included. Healthy children under six who live in South Africa were eligible for the study. The study was registered with PROSPERO, registration number CRD42020216455. Data extraction Eligible studies were selected, and data extracted independently by two reviewers. Published data on socio-economic status, dietary factors, oral hygiene knowledge and practices, breastfeeding and bottle-feeding practices, oral bacterial flora and other risk indicators were collected. Two authors appraised the studies independently using the Joanna Briggs Critical Appraisal tools. Data analysis Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistics, and due to heterogeneity, extracted data were mostly presented narratively. Results Meta-analysis was performed using random-effects models and concluded that parents of children who had a tertiary education had a 1.77 [1.22–2.57] odds of experiencing dental caries compared to the children of parents with a secondary education. However, the unclear risk of bias of most included cross-sectional studies precluded definitive conclusions. Conclusions More high-quality cohort studies need to be performed to evaluate actual risk factors for ECC in a South African setting. Parental/caregiver oral educational knowledge needs promoting before the emergence of their children’s teeth. The social determinants of health need to be incorporated in future studies, and suitable targeted interventions need to be developed and implemented to mitigate early childhood caries in South Africa

Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Dental caries (DC) is highly prevalent condition affecting mostly young children. There has been no systematic review done on the prevalence of DC amongst 12-year -olds in Africa. Although some African countries have reported a decrease in DC prevalence, others have shown an increase and it is essential to measure current trends in order to identify strategies and programmes that could assist in reducing DC in Africa. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the prevalence of DC (condition) amongst the permanent dentition of 12-year-old children (population) in Africa (context)

An epidemiological analysis of patients diagnosed with periodontitis at a tertiary institution

An analysis of the epidemiological factors associated with the diagnosis of periodontitis is important baseline evidence for the study of this disease within our population. This evidence will be valuable baselineinformation to inform intervention protocols that are contextual to our society. There is a scarcity of studieson periodontitis in South Africans. To describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of periodontitis patients diagnosedbetween 2014-2019 at a tertiary institution in SA. A retrospective records-based study wasconducted. Data from 450 patients diagnosed with periodontitis were extracted. Data sets including age, sex, smoking, presence of diabetes, and other systemic diseaseswere analysed. Periodontal parameters such as plaquescore, plaque index, gingival bleeding score, gingivalindex, number of missing teeth, probing depths, andclinical attachment loss were included for analysis. Males had higher bleeding index (p=0.035), deeperpockets (p=0.003), and more attachment loss(p<0.001), compared to females. Deeper periodontalpockets were observed in patients with systemicdiseases (p=0.018). Smokers had a lower bleeding percentage (p=0.039). There was a higher plaque percentage (p=0.031), and bleeding index (p=0.043),deeper pockets (p<0.001) and more attachment loss(p<0.001) in patients with diabetes mellitus. Worse periodontal status was observed in males,and patients with diabetes or other general diseases.Additional research is required to elucidate the role ofsex and systemic conditions as predisposing factors to periodontiti

Prevalence of early childhood caries in South Africa: Protocol for a systematic review

Young children are at the highest risk of developing dental caries as they have a lack of autonomy over their diet and oral hygiene practices. Dental caries develops over time due to demineralization of tooth substance (enamel), which results from acid production during sugar metabolism by bacteria. Early onset of dental caries often results in asymptomatic presentation, but if left untreated, it can result in severe pain, infection, and dentoalveolar abscesses. Early childhood caries (ECC) is defined as dental caries in children aged 6 years and younger and is a significant public health problem in South Africa. According to the Global Burden of Disease study, untreated dental caries of primary teeth affects 532 million children. Untreated dental caries has many detrimental effects which can affect the physical development and reduce the quality of life of affected children. Furthermore, long-term untreated dental caries can result in school absenteeism, low BMI, and poor educational outcomes

The prevalence of food insecurity in South African dental schools: A cross sectional study

Food security is an important factor which can promote academic outcomes and general health and wellbeing of dental students. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of food insecurity among dental students across all dental schools in South Africa

Development of academic staff in faculties of dentistry by means of mentorship programs: Protocol for a scoping review

Globally, the demands on dental educators continue to diversify and expand. Due to their importance and value, mentoring programs have been acknowledged as a means of recruiting, developing, and retaining academics in dental education. Objective: This protocol is for a scoping review that aims to identify the goals of mentoring programs for academic staff in dental faculties and determine how these programs were structured, delivered, and evaluated.The review will be performed in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute’s methodology for scoping reviews, which covers both qualitative and quantitative scientific literature as well as grey literature written in English and published between 2000 and 2020. The databases will include PubMed, Ovid, the Educational Resources Information Center database, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, Trove, Web of Science, Openthesis.org, and the website of the American Dental Education Association. A manual search will also be conducted by using the reference lists of included studies to identify additional articles. Working independently, the authors will participate iteratively in literature screening, paper selection, and data extraction. Disagreements between the reviewers will be resolved by discussion until a consensus is reached or after consultation with the research team. Key information that is relevant to the review questions will be extracted from the selected articles and imported into a Microsoft Excel file. The PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) will be used to guide the reporting of this protocol

In vitro antibacterial activity of three root canal sealers against Enterococcus Faecalis

The antibacterial activity of root canal sealers may contribute to the eradication of remaining bacteria in root canals following canal shaping and debridement. The aim of the study is to assess the antimicrobial effect of 3 endodontic sealers: Sealapex™, EndoREZ™ and Guttaflow bioseal™ against Enterococcus faecalis. This was a laboratory-based comparative study testing the antimicrobial activity of three endodontic sealers against Enterococcus faecalis. The endodontic sealers were tested unset 20 minutes after mixing and after setting. Testing after setting enabled the assessment of the antimicrobial activity of aged sealers after 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. A total of 150 samples were used for the study. The tested sealers were divided into 3 groups: • Group 1 (EndoREZ™) n = 45 plates, n = 5 control plates. • Group 2 (Guttaflow bioseal™) n = 45, n = 5 control plates. • Group 3 (Sealapex™) n = 45, n = 5 control plates. All the materials exhibited some activity against the bacteria. The overall greatest antibacterial activity can be seen by Guttaflow bioseal™ (4.46, 0.01) on day 21, followed by Sealapex™ (5.12, 0.05) on day 7 and EndoREZ™ (6.37,0.08) on day 14. Under the conditions of this study all the endodontic sealers exhibited some antimicrobial activity against E. faecalis with different behaviour patterns at different times

Maternal and infant risk factors and risk indicators associated with early childhood caries in South Africa: A systematic review

To evaluate the risk factors and risk indicators associated with early childhood caries in South Africa. A systematic review of aetiology was performed. From 1366 papers found, 23 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included. All study designs were included. Healthy children under six who live in South Africa were eligible for the study. The study was registered with PROSPERO, registration number CRD42020216455. Eligible studies were selected, and data extracted independently by two reviewers. Published data on socio-economic status, dietary factors, oral hygiene knowledge and practices, breastfeeding and bottle-feeding practices, oral bacterial flora and other risk indicators were collected. Two authors appraised the studies independently using the Joanna Briggs Critical Appraisal tools

Tooth loss in relation to serum cotinine levels - A cross-sectional study from the Belville South area in South Africa

Tooth loss constitutes a major public health challenge, sharing common risk factors with non-communicable diseases. To report the relationship between tooth loss and serum cotinine levels in a population sample of mixed ethnic heritage from the Belville South area in South Africa. Cross-sectional epidemiological study.Subjects were invited from 2014 to 2016 according to a consecutive sampling technique and all those who met the inclusion criteria were included. In all, 1876 individuals were included, being 1416 females (75.5%), with a combined average age of 49.5 ± 15.3 years. In total 46.7% of the sample was edentulous, with females presenting a higher proportion than males (50.7% vs. 34.1%, p < 0.001). The relative risk (RR) of being edentulous was higher for females (RR=1.8, 95% CI=1.35-2.41, p<0.001) and for participants with cotinine levels 15-299 ng/ml (RR = 1.37, 95% CI=1.02=1.83, p=0.04) and ≥300 ng/ml (RR=1.51, 95% CI=1.09-2.08, p=0.01). Maxillary incisors and mandibular molars were the most prevalent missing teeth. The burden of tooth loss is high in the studied population sample, as well their unmet needs for dental care. Female gender, tobacco exposure, and aging were associated with partial and total edentulism

The attitudes and perceptions towards the Covid-19 vaccine among dental staff at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa

Despite the well-known increased risk of exposure to the Covid-19 virus in a dental setting, vaccination rates among staff members are low. This information, as well as the possible associations to demographic profiles, may be useful for authorities to adequately address specific concerns and uncertainties. To determmine the attitudes and perceptions towards the COVID-19 vaccine among dental staff at the UWC Oral Health Centers. A cross-sectional design was used. An anonymous, online, validated questionnaire was used to collect the data. Majority (91.4%) of the participants had received the Covid-19 vaccine while just over 12% stated that they would not take the booster vaccination. Significant associations between the level of education and the attitudes and perceptions of staff were found. While the majority had a positive attitude towards the Covid-19 vaccine, specific concerns and uncertainties were identified and will need to be addressed in order to improve vaccination rates among staff member