4 research outputs found

    COVID – 19 Pandemic: The Implications for the Practice of Restorative Dentistry

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    Objective: To assess the implication of COVID-19 pandemic on the practice of restorative dentistry in Nigeria.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study regarding the impact of COVID-19 on restorative dental practice was carried out among dentists across different cadres working in either private or public practice. Data was obtained using an online survey questionnaire regarding the infection control practice, availability and use of personal protective equipment, practice modifications to combat COVID-19 outbreak and the impact of COVID-19. Data was analysed using the chi-square test and p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Amongst 137 dentists that participated in the study, majority of respondents were males (58.4%), a greater proportion (49.6%) were in the age range 35-44 years and 78.1% worked in public hospitals. A significantly higher number of male respondents (p=0.019) and public dental workers (p=0.036) immediately changed their mode of dental service delivery following the COVID-19 outbreak. Majority of respondents (60.6%) carried out restorative dental procedures despite the pandemic; most of these procedures being emergency dental treatment and non-aerosol generating dental procedures. About half of respondents had respiratory masks (51.8%) and isolation gowns (54.0%) available. Majority reported that the pandemic had decreased patient flow (88.3%), increased treatment fee (53.3%) and had an impact on the income generated (92%). Only 20.4% of respondents hadproblems with their staff; the problems being emotional problems, work abandonment and demand of salary increase. The pandemic has had a negative impact on most respondents (74.5%) and only 31.4% respondents were optimally prepared to render dental services.Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic has changed the mode of restorative dental practice in Nigeria; resulting in a psychological impact on dentists and a financial burden on dental practice. &nbsp

    An evaluation of root and canal morphology of maxillary premolars in a Nigerian tertiary hospital: An in-vivo study

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    Aim: To evaluate the root morphology of maxillary first and second premolars and identify any gender variation in a Nigerian population using direct digital radiography. Materials And Methods:Twenty-four maxillary first premolars and 29 maxillary second premolars from 53 consenting Nigerian adults indicated for root canal treatment were studied. All teeth received pre-treatment evaluation before endodontic treatment. Digital radiographs obtained during treatment and follow-up reviews were stored and evaluated using the Kodak Dental smart software Results: The majority of the treated participants were young adults with a mean age ± SD of 34.1 ± 12 years. Maxillary first premolars were mostly two rooted (66.7%), while the maxillary second premolars predominantly had one root (72.4%) (p=0.004) in the studied population. However, two-rooted second premolar teeth occurred more frequently among males in this study. Most of the maxillary first (87.5%) and second (79.3%) premolar teeth had two root canals with a mean working length of 21.85mm and 21.75mm, respectively. The proportion of two canals in male participants was higher in the first than in the second premolars but the difference was not significant (p≥ 0.05). The Vertucci type IV canal configuration was predominantly seen in both genders' maxillary first and second premolars.Conclusion: Maxillary first premolars mainly were two rooted while the second premolars predominantly had single root with a high prevalence of two canals in the studied population. Gender difference in the studied maxillary premolars was not statistically significant

    Masticatory efficiency of shortened dental arch subjects with removable partial denture: A comparative study

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    Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the masticatory efficiency in subjects with shortened dental arch (SDA) before and after restoration with removable partial denture (RPD).Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study carried out on 36 consecutive patients. The subjects were asked to chew 5 g of a measured portion of fresh raw carrot for 20 specified numbers of strokes. The raw carrot was recovered into a cup and strained through a standard mesh sieve of 5 mm by 1 mm, it was air dried for 30 min and weighed with FEM digital series weighing scale. The masticatory performance ratio was then determined.Result: The age range of the subjects was 34–64 years with the mean age being 52.2 ± 8.2 years. The difference between the total masticatory performance score at the post- and pre-treatment phases was statistically significant (P = 0.001). The improvement in masticatory performance was marked among the younger age groups (P = 0.001), unilateral free end saddle subjects (P = 0.001), and among the male gender (P < 0.05).Conclusion: Masticatory performance improved with the provision of RPD. However, the improvement was marked among the younger age groups, unilateral free end saddle subjects, and the male gender; thereby supporting the need for RPDs in patients with SDA.Keywords: Masticatory performance, removable partial denture, shortened dental arc
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