Ferdinand Machibya

The aim of this study was to compare the pain experience among orthodontic patients treated with self-ligating brackets SmartClip® (3M Unitek, Monrovia, California, USA) and conventional brackets Victory series (3M Unitek, Monrovia, California, USA). We used a controlled clinical trial study design to compare 69 patients treated with self-ligating to 70 patients treated by conventional brackets. The nickel-titanium archwires 0.012-in were engaged after bonding both arches on the first day; and the visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the pain experience of subjects for the first seven treatment days. The pre-treatment dental study models were assessed by the Little's irregularity index to quantify the groups' malalignment characteristics. The self-ligating brackets reported lower pain experience than the conventional group on the first five treatment days. However, the sixth day showed 1.75 mm higher visual analogue score than conventional brackets, with almost eq...

Background: The success of an oral health service can be assessed by the degree of satisfaction/dissatisfaction of its patients. In Tanzania, patients’ satisfaction with dental services has received only minor attention. Objectives: To assess patient satisfaction with dental care among patients at Mnazi-Mmoja Dental clinic. Methodology: A cross sectional study conducted at Mnazi-mmoja dental clinic for two months to determine patients’ satisfaction with dental services offered at Mnazi-mmoja dental clinic. A total of 145 patients of different sex were the subjects during the time of study. The study included all the patients attended at Mnazi-mmoja dental clinic during the time of data collection who were aged from 18 to 65 years. Results: There were more female respondents than male (53.1% versus 46.9%) and majority (62.1%) of the respondents were young adults (between 18 and 35 years). Most (93.4%) respondents showed overall satisfaction with service offered. The level of educatio...

Background: Some life-threatening medical emergencies do occur in dental setups. Hence, timely diagnosis and prompt management of these conditions by skilled dental practitioners can save lives of patients. Aim: To evaluate the dental practitioners' knowledge, experience and preparedness regarding medical emergencies on dental chair. Methods: Cross section descriptive survey involving 105 public and private dental practitioners in Dar es Salaam City. Pre-tested structured questionnaire gathering information pertaining to socio-demographic characteristics, experience on medical emergencies, knowledge on management of medical emergencies and preparedness for managing medical emergencies was used as a data collection tool. Results: Out of 105 participants (34, 32.4%) reported to have encountered one or more medical emergencies during the past four years. Syncope (23.8%), hypoglycemic attacks (12.4%), and post extraction bleeding (10.5%) were the most reported encountered medical em...

There is irrefutable inter-relationship between orthodontics and periodontal conditions that calls for interdisciplinary approach in comprehensive management of patients with periodontal diseases who seek for orthodontic treatment. Alveolar ridge augmentation is among the periodontal treatment procedures undertaken to facilitate achievement of orthodontic treatment goals. English articles published between January 1990 and September 2015 regarding the practical applications of bone regeneration (BR) in clinical orthodontics and the possible associated complications were searched through MEDLINE and EMBASE data bases for compilation and analysis. A limited number of publications were retrieved. A combination of BR and orthodontic treatment was successfully used in severe periodontal defects, dento-alveolar trauma, pathological tooth migration and osseous dehiscence associated with incisors proclination. The combined treatment had very high success rate regardless of the type of bone ...

Dental caries is prevalent in communities of all socio-economic status affecting most children and adults worldwide [1,2]. The current treatment of caries largely rests on filling technology, with alloys, ceramics and composite resin being the main restorative materials. Due to their improved mechanical strength and aesthetic appearance, light-cured composite resins have gained worldwide popularity in dental clinics [3]. Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the pain experience among orthodontic patients treated with self-ligating brackets SmartClip® (3M Unitek, Monrovia, California, USA) and conventional brackets Victory series (3M Unitek, Monrovia, California, USA). We used a controlled clinical trial study design to compare 69 patients treated with self-ligating to 70 patients treated by conventional brackets. The nickel-titanium archwires 0.012-in were engaged after bonding both arches on the first day; and the visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the pain experience of subjects for the first seven treatment days. The pre-treatment dental study models were assessed by the Little’s irregularity index to quantify the groups’ malalignment characteristics. The self-ligating brackets reported lower pain experience than the conventional group on the first five treatment days. However, the sixth day showed 1.75 mm higher visual analogue score than conventional brackets, with almost equal pain...

To evaluate the effects of bone regeneration materials and orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) timing on tooth movement through alveolar bone defects treated with guided bone regeneration (GBR) utilizing xenografts (Bio-Oss) and alloplast (β-TCP). Twenty-four standard alveolar bone defects in six male beagle dogs were treated by GBR using either Bio-Oss or β-TCP (experimental), whereas the control defects were left empty. The defects were further grouped into early or late subgroups, depending on OTM timing after GBR (ie 1 month or 2 months, respectively). Rates of OTM were measured intraorally, while computed tomography scan images were used to assess bone density, alveolar bone height, second premolar displacement, and tipping tendency. Generally, the Bio-Oss early and Bio-Oss late subgroups recorded the lowest amount of tooth movement compared with other modes of GBRs assessed. Before OTM, the control group registered significantly lower bone height compared with the Bio-Oss and β-T...

To evaluate the short-term effect of fangchinoline, an antiinflammatory drug widely used in Asia, on root resorption that is associated with orthodontic tooth movement. Twenty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups. Mesial forces of 0, 50, or 100 g were applied to the maxillary first molar of the rats in each group for 14 days by activating nickel-titanium closed-coil springs. One-half of the rats receiving each of these treatments also received injections of 200 µL fangchinoline every 2 days. Finally, movement of the maxillary first molars was measured using digitized radiographs. The molars were extracted and the surfaces of the root resorption craters were recorded using a scanning electron microscope. The distance the molars moved and resorptionarea ratio was measured, and results were analyzed using 2-way ANOVA tests. There were no statistical differences in the distances the first molars moved under 50 or 100 g force, regardless of treatment with fangchinoline. H...

Introduction: An en-masse retraction with mini implant (MI) anchorage may be associated with unwanted intrusion/extrusion and uncontrolled tipping of anterior teeth. An optimum combination of MIs and hooks heights is required for proper treatment results. Materials and Methods: Maxillary finite element models were constructed from a cone beam CT scan of a patient’s orofacial region. The initial tooth displacement at 200g force with 0.019 × 0.025-in stainless steel working archwires engaged in 0.022 brackets slot was assessed. The three-dimensional displacement was examined at various MI and AAH heights. Results: The lower MI position caused extrusion of the central incisors, but the teeth were intruded at higher (6- and 8-mm) MI heights. While the shorter (2- and 4-mm) hooks extruded the central incisors, the higher (6- and 8-mm) intruded the teeth. The higher MI and hooks reduced the palatal tipping of central incisors. The distobucal cusp of the first molar was intruded, while the...

Objective: To compare the treatment time, outcome, and anchorage loss among orthodontic patients treated by self-ligating brackets (SLBs) and conventional brackets (CBs). Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study compared 34 patients (SLB group) treated by SmartClip brackets (3M Unitek, Monrovia, Calif) to 35 patients (CB group) treated by conventional preadjusted Victory series brackets (3M Unitek) and ligated by stainless steel wire ligatures. Pretreatment (T1) and posttreatment (T2) lateral cephalograms were traced and analyzed using Pancherz sagittal-occlusion analysis to obtain skeletal and dental changes in the maxilla and the mandible. The dental cast models were assessed by the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) Index for the treatment outcomes. Results: The mean treatment time for SLBs (19.19 months) did not show a statistically significant difference from 21.25 months of CBs; the treatment time and pretreatment PAR scores were strongly correlated. There was no differen...