A pilot survey of impression materials and techniques used by dentists in the fabrication of fixed indirect restorations

Objective: To assess the choice of impression material and impression technique used by Nigerian dentists for the fabrication of cast restoration. Method: A self administered questionnaire was distributed to dentists present at two national dental meeting held at Abuja and Lagos in 2011. The questionnaire assessed their choice of impression materials and technique. Result: Fifty one out of 70 questionnaires were returned filled giving a response rate of 73%. There were 54.9% of the respondents who reported addition curing silicone impression as their first choice material for cast restorations, while 27.4% use alginate as first choice impression. The use of stock plastic trays by the respondents was significantly higher than metal and custom trays. Two-third of the respondents poured their impressions within one hour. All the respondents poured alginate impression after 15 minutes. A significantly high percentage (76%) of the respondents did not retract the free gingival before taking impression. Conclusion: The use of alginate impressions to produce cast restorations was common among the respondents. Since no previous study has documented the use of alginate to produce accurate fitting cast restorations, there is need to investigate the accuracy of alginate impressions in a clinical setting.Keywords: Impression material, impression technique, impression trayNig Dent J Vol 20 No. 1 Jan - June 201

Antimicrobial and phytochemical analysis of leaves and bark extracts from Bridelia ferruginea

Five bacteria and three fungi were grown and tested against the effects of crude ethanolic, methanolic and water extracts of Bridelia ferruginea leaves and bark. The leaf water extract had zero antimicrobial activity. The overall antimicrobial activity recorded zones of inhibition ranging between 9 and 20 mm. The crude extracts were not active against the fungi tested. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the active extracts was determined. Half strength (10 g/ml) concentrations of the bark ethanol and methanol extracts were the MICs against Citrobacter sp. and Bacillus subtilis. While quarter strength (5 g/ml) concentrations of the bark methanol and ethanol extracts were the MICs against Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus luteus. The phytochemical analysis carried out on B. ferruginea leaves and bark detected the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannin, cardiac glycosides, anthraquinone, phlobatinnin and saponins and was negative for anthocyanin

Parents' Acceptability and Health Workers' Perspectives of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccination for Under-Fives in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Background: Pneumococcus, apart from being the commonest bacterial cause of Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) also causes a wide array of morbidities which can all be prevented with the administration of potent Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Despite its effectiveness and availability, Pneumococcal vaccines are not part of routine immunization in Nigeria. This study assessed parents' acceptability and health worker's perspectives of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccination for under-fives.Methods:  The cross-sectional survey was conducted in Ife Central Local Government Area, Osun state. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information from 400 parents of under-fives selected via multi-stage random sampling. In-depth interviews were conducted for the heads of immunization units in four selected facilities in the local government area. Data were analysed using SPSS version-16.Result: More respondents were females, married and had tertiary education. About three-fifth (59.2%) of parents had good knowledge about RTIs though majority (79.00%) were unaware of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV). most parents (93.5%) were willing to accept PCV for their children but only 43.5% of them could afford to pay for the cost of the vaccine at the prevailing market price. Most health workers (three out of four) interviewed were not aware of PCV. Most parents (96.25%) and all health workers interviewed wanted PCV incorporated into the National Program on Immunization (NPI). Parents with good knowledge about respiratory tract infections (RTIs) were significantly willing to accept PCV for their underfives (p= 0.005). Younger parents less than 35years, parents with lower educational attainments and low income groups significantly could not afford to pay for the cost of vaccines. (p=0.014, 0.001 and <0.001 respectively).Conclusion: Though almost three fifth of parents surveyed had good knowledge about RTIs, awareness about PCV was poor and most of them were unable to afford PCV. There is an overwhelming need to incorporate PCV in to the NPI, as both parents and health workers agreed. Aside from overcoming a major financial barrier to vaccine access, this will also make PCV widely available to parents who are already willing to accept the vaccine for their children.Keywords: Parents' Acceptability, Pneumococcal conjugate Vaccinatio

Recent advances in understanding hypertension development in sub-Saharan Africa

Consistent reports indicate that hypertension is a particularly common finding in black populations. Hypertension occurs at younger ages and is often more severe in terms of blood pressure levels and organ damage than in whites, resulting in a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease and mortality. This review provides an outline of recent advances in the pathophysiological understanding of blood pressure elevation and the consequences thereof in black populations in Africa. This is set against the backdrop of populations undergoing demanding and rapid demographic transition, where infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus predominates, and where under and over-nutrition coexist. Collectively, recent findings from Africa illustrate an increased lifetime risk to hypertension from foetal life onwards. From young ages black populations display early endothelial dysfunction, increased vascular tone and reactivity, microvascular structural adaptions, as well as increased aortic stiffness resulting in elevated central and brachial blood pressures during the day and night, when compared to whites. Together with knowledge on the contributions of sympathetic activation and abnormal renal sodium handling, these pathophysiological adaptations result in subclinical and clinical organ damage at younger ages. This overall enhanced understanding on the determinants of blood pressure elevation in blacks encourages (a) novel approaches to assess and manage hypertension in Africa better, (b) further scientific discovery to develop more effective prevention and treatment strategies, and (c) policymakers and health advocates to collectively contribute in creating health-promoting environments in Africa

Eye Safety Practices Among The Dental Personnel Of University Of Benin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of use of protective eye wear and hazards related to non compliance with recommended eye safety practice among the dental personnel of University of Benin Teaching Hospital.Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to the dental personnel of University of Benin Teaching Hospital to determine how regularly they use protective eye wear while working in the clinic and laboratory. The prevalence of foreign body to the eye, ocular injuries and conjunctivitis among the dental personnel was also determined.                        Results: 152 questionnaires out of 155 were returned filled giving a response rate of 98%. Twenty nine (19.1%) of the dental personnel are regular wearers of protective eye wear. There was no significant difference in the use of protective eye wear among the dental personnel (p>0.05). Forty one (27%) had experienced foreign body to the eye out of which eight (19.5%) and thirty three (80.5%) are regular and irregular wearerrespectively. Twenty six (17.1%) had experienced ocular injury at least once in a month in the clinic out of which three (11.5%) and twenty three (88.5%) are regular wearer and irregular wearer respectively. Thirteen (8.6%) had experienced conjunctivitis at least once a month out of which one (7.7%) and twelve (92.3%) are regular wearer and irregular wearer of protective eye wear respectively.Conclusion: The frequency of use of protective eye wear among the dental personnel was low. As such, there is a need to promote awareness on the importance of protecting the eyes while working in the dental clinics and laboratories to prevent ocular injury and infection.Keywords: Eye safety practices, ocular injuries, dental personnel, occupational hazard

Prevalence of ocular injury and the use of protective eye wear among the dental personnel in a Teaching Hospital

No Abstract

Frequency of endodontic treatment in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital

Objective: To determine the frequency of endodontic treatment in dental patients treated in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital. Method: A survey of 470 patients undergoing endodontic treatment at the conservative clinic of the department of restorative dentistry of Lagos University Teaching Hospital was conducted to determine the frequency of endodontic treatment for each tooth, number of males versus females that needed endodontic treatment and the frequency of root canal therapy in the maxilla compared to mandible. The data on age, sex of patients, date of treatment and tooth treated were retrieved from patients\' dental records. Results: Endodontic treatment was carried out on a total of 490 teeth. The frequency of endodontic treatment was more in the females (56.4%) compared to males (43.6%). 58% of the treated teeth were maxillary teeth and 42% were mandibular teeth. There was predominance of endodontic treatment in the molars (49.8%) with the lower first molar being the most frequently treated and accounted for 18.8% of teeth treated. Conclusion: A high proportion of endodontic treatment was now frequently performed on molars in patients treated at Lagos University Teaching Hospital dental centre which suggested the availability of more dentists with better facilities to attend to patients that needed endodontic treatment. Keywords: Endodontic treatment, root canal therapy, frequencyNigerian Dental Journal Vol. 15 (2) 2007: pp. 98-10

Utilization of dental services in a population of Nigerian University students

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the utilisation of dental services among Nigerian university students. Method: A questionnaire based on modified World Health Organisation questions on utilisation was administered to 375 second-year undergraduate students of the college of medical sciences of the University of Benin to determine their utilisation of dental services. Results: The results revealed only 14.1% of the subjects had utilised dental services in the past one year with a significant higher dental care use by the females than males (