Julie Omo

Introduction: The objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) is regarded as the gold standard for evaluating students' skills and competencies. Aim: This study aimed to assess the perceptions of postgraduate dental residents toward OSCE. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among fifty postgraduate dental residents' doctors (senior and junior residents) during one of their update courses in February 2015 with a self-administered questionnaire to probe their perceptions about OSCE. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 17.0 statistical software. Results: A total of fifty questionnaires were administered to consenting residents, and all questionnaires were filled and returned giving a 100% response rate. There was a male preponderance with a male: female ratio of 1.5:1. The respondents' ages varied with 58% belonging to the 31–35 years' age group. More than half (56%) of the respondents agreed that they understood the aim and objectives of OSCE. With regard to OSCE being a valid assessment tool for clinical competence, 46% agreed and 6% strongly agreed that it was a valid tool. More than half (52%) of the respondents had favorable perceptions about OSCE. There was a statistically significant relationship between the status of respondents and their perception with regard to preparation for OSCE and impact on knowledge. The most objective and reliable form of examination was reported to be multiple choice questions by 56% and 58% of the respondents, respectively. Conclusion: Perceptions of postgraduate dental residents about the OSCE were favorable. However, there is a need to adjust the postgraduate curriculum to accommodate specific training modules for OSCE.

Background: Oral rehabilitation using removable dental prosthesis for patients with maxillofacial defects and missing teeth could pose a challenge while trying to achieve prosthetic treatment goals. It is important therefore to determine how complex the case is before proceeding with treatment. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the complexity of removable dental prosthesis at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria using the Restorative Index of Treatment Need (RIOTN) System. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of patients who sought for removable prostheses. Data were collated by means of an interviewer-administered question which collated data on biodemographic characteristics of the participant, indication for removable prosthesis, tooth to be replaced with removable prosthesis. Following a clinical examination, the RIOTN System was applied to assess the complexity of the treatment needed. Results: Ninety-eight adult patients with age ranging from 18 ...

Maxillary defects are created by surgical treatment of benign or malignant neoplasms, congenital malformation and trauma.[1] Their occurrence is also associated with the enucleation of maxillary cysts.[2] Patients with acquired maxillary defects

Objective: To determine the prevalence and pattern of use of anterior immediate removable partial denture.Methods: This was a retrospective study of all patients requesting for immediate removable partial denture.The data of interest retrieved from patient's case notes were: age, gender, occupation, missing teeth, shadeand arch involved. The data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 21. The results were presented in the formof frequencies and table. Statistical level of significance was set at p < 0.05Results: The prevalence of patients who requested for immediate dentures was 5.1%. The age range of thepatients was 19 to 92 years with a mean age of 36 years while the male female ratio was 1:1. Majority (97.1%)of the patients requested for all anterior teeth replacement. Twenty five (74%) of the patients requested formaxillary anterior teeth replacement while nine (26%) of the patients requested for mandibular anteriorteeth replacement. Shade A3 was the predominant shade.Conclu...

BACKGROUND Amalgam is one of the most reliable dental restorative materials. Health and environmental concerns associated with the mercury content of amalgam have necessitated an amalgam phase down in clinical practice. OBJECTIVES This study investigated the level of awareness and preparedness for the planned amalgam phase down recommended by the Minamata Convention among Nigerian dental students and dentists. METHODS This cross-sectional national survey was performed across all geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Data regarding awareness, practice and level of preparedness for amalgam phase down were obtained using a questionnaire that was distributed among clinical dental students and dentists of different cadres, who routinely place dental restorations, in public and private practice. The questionnaires were administered online or were hand delivered. Data was analysed using the Chi-square test and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. A p value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS Notably, 845 dental students and dentists participated in the survey. Mean age (±standard deviation) of participants was 30.15±7.67 years, 33.8% were students and 66.2% were dentists (most dentists [77.1%] were employed at public hospitals). A significant percentage of respondents had poor knowledge of the Minamata Convention (87.7%) and lacked training in the use of alternatives to amalgam (72.0%). Amalgam continues to be commonly used by 39.1% and 31.3% of dental students and dentists, respectively. Only 4.7% of the respondents admitted to following good amalgam phase down practices. Awareness (p=0.013) and amalgam phase down practices (p=0.011) were significantly higher among dentists than among dental students. CONCLUSION We observed low levels of awareness regarding the Minamata Convention, amalgam phase down, mercury hygiene practices, and training in alternatives to amalgam use among Nigerian dental professionals and students.

Objective: To investigate the effect of shortened dental arch (SDA) and its restoration with metal based removable partial denture on speech intelligibility Method: The study was an interventional study comprising of 36 patients that attended Prosthetic out-patient dental clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital Benin City, Nigeria. The speech intelligibilities of the subjects were assessed using direct sentence test method. Each patient was given a text to read and the response was tape recorded before commencement of treatment and three months after the insertion of removable partial denture. Each speech recording was evaluated by a group of 5 listeners through earphones one after the other. Result: There was no statistically significant difference in the mean speech intelligibility score by gender (p>0.05). Subjects with unilateral free end saddle were observed to have a significantly higher mean score compared to the subjects with bilateral free end saddle (p<0....