Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is considered a major pathogen in periodontal disease. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of A. actinomycetemcomitans from 46 subjects aged 20-24 years old of who were all periodontally healthy Malays.
Quality radiographs of diagnostic value are important in root canal treatment. The dentist who has knowledge and skills in the use of radiographs for diagnostic purposes has a professional responsibility to ensure that the radiographs are obtained with minimum risk of radiation dose to and for the benefit of the patient. This article reviews the effectiveness of radiography techniques required for successful root canal treatment with the patient’s interest in mind. Awareness of effectual radiographic techniques, their constraints and applicable techniques for improvements are discussed. It seeks to reduce potentially harmful ionising radiation dose to patients and optimise the use of X-rays to produce diagnostic radiographs during root canal treatment.
Congenitally missing teeth creates significant challenges to the clinicians in both diagnosis and management. The need for interdisciplinary involvement is essential for optimum dental care. The purpose of this clinical report is to describe an interdisciplinary management of a 15-year-old adolescent presented with non-syndromic oligodontia. The principle of management is presented with special emphasis on prosthodontic aspects. Various restorative treatment modalities specified for oligodontia patients are outlined.
Collaborative learning: a peer group teaching in oral hygiene instructions activity
Introduction: The objectives of this survey were to investigate whether an oral health education activity through collaborative learning and peer group teaching by students would give a positive impact and to evaluate its effectiveness, sufficiency and relevancy of the activity content.
Methods: Three third year dental students in each group were assigned to demonstrate to their group mates the myriad of oral hygiene device for plaque removal and how they are used. Fifteen students were appointed each as a ‘toothbrushing specialist’, ‘flossing specialist’ and interdental toothbrush specialist’ respectively. The others acted as participants in the group. The students then teach each other in the group on how to use these oral hygiene measures. A self-administered questionnaire assessing the activity outcome was given to fifty-two third year dental students who attended the demonstration. The data were entered in the computer using the SPSS version 12.0 for analysis.
Results: Overall response rate was 100%. Slightly more than half of the students felt confident to teach their patients effective toothbrushing and flossing and able to indicate the usage of interdental toothbrush. Most of the students preferred a small group teaching rather than a larger one. The result shows that student’s knowledge, attitudes and practices on effective oral hygiene has gained.
Conclusion: Collaborative learning in the clinical environment appears to give positive impact on the dental student’s ability to impart oral health education to their patients.
This clinical case report describes an aspect of restorative management of worn teeth. It illustrates the use of diagnostic overlay removable partial denture or DORPD, which has the same function as occlusal splint but with advantages of providing immediate aesthetic improvement and function.
A case report of a 16 year old male oligodontia patient who presented with a Class I malocclusion on a skeletal I base. He had multiple missing teeth of upper lateral incisors and all premolars except for lower right first premolar. Treatment involved fixed appliance with the aid of mini-implants to mesialize posterior teeth in order to reduce the number of prosthodontic replacement of the remaining missing teeth planned for the future. The application of the mini-implants in the sequence of treatment is presented
This study aims to determine the prevalence of hand-held ProTaper® files system among UKM final year dental undergraduates and to assess their perception in performing endodontic treatments.
Methods: 85 final year dental students from 2006/2007 academic session participated in the questionnaire survey. All students underwent didactic endodontic teaching of conventional stainless steel files throughout a 2-year course and a 2-day ProTaper® hand files seminar on canal preparation. Each student had a total of 6 months clinical period before the survey was distributed to the subjects and returned for data analysis.
Results: A 100% response rate was received. About 58.8% (n=50) used hand ProTaper routinely while 41.2% claimed themselves as non-users. Amongst the users, 52.5% were moderate users and about 33.6% were frequent users. Tooth type and size of canals were the selected criteria for file use. Majority of users used ProTaper® hand for posterior teeth and regarded it as user friendly. Although almost all users expressed concern of instrument fracture during use, very few did break. Procedural errors were not experienced by 51.3% users.
Conclusion: About 2/3rd majority of UKM undergraduate dental students use ProTaper® hand-held system as an alternative for canal preparation. Procedural errors were perceived to occur much less when using the NiTi files. The system can be initiated to novice users and can be taught as part of endodontic curricula.
Cosmetic surgery and aesthetic dentistry go hand in hand. As dentists, we are trained to analyze aesthetics from the features of the skeletal pattern and dental malocclusion, symmetry of the face, measurement of golden proportions and the features of the smile line. However, several facial ethnic features such as a ‘single eyelid’ may cause a person to be deemed as aesthetically challenged due to Western influence. This article reviews the prevalence of single and double eyelid in Asians and explains why some present with either one or double eyelids. The readers are also introduced to the term “Asian Blepharoplasty”.
Background: Mothers play an important role in preventing fluorosis due to inadvertent swallowing of fluoridated toothpaste and enhancing the effectiveness of toothbrushing amongst preschool children through proper supervision.
Aim: To investigate the knowledge of mothers with regards to the benefits and risks of fluoride toothpaste usage among preschool children and to assess the level of parental supervision during toothbrushing. In additional, we wish to investigate the toothpaste purchasing behaviour of mothers in relation to brand, price, flavour, fluoride content and the influence of advertisement.
Methodology: Cross-sectional study of a representative random sample of 373 mothers of 5-6 year old preschool children through self-administered questionnaires.
Result: The response rate was 90.3% (337). The majority (61.7%) of the mothers reported that the amount of toothpaste their children used was half-length. Most mothers (70.6%) claimed they usually apply toothpaste for their child. About one-half (50.4%) reported the children applied the toothpaste themselves. Only 41.2% of the respondents supervised their children every time during toothbrushing. The mean age at which the child started brushing and using toothpaste was about 34 months (S.D. 14.9) and 37 months (S.D.14.8) respectively. Almost all (95.8%) reported that their children rinsed their mouth after toothbrushing. The mothers’ choice of toothpaste for their child was influence by brand (91.4%), flavour (91.4%) and fluoride content (84.6%) with price being the least of the factors. The majority of the respondents (82.7%) had average to good overall knowledge scores. There was significant association (P=0.034) between the level of education of the mothers and their level of knowledge on fluoride toothpaste usage.
Conclusion: Future oral health messages for preschool children and mothers in Perlis should target areas found lacking in terms of knowledge and practices with regards to fluoride toothpaste usage. This includes regular supervision of preschool children during toothbrushing by parents and using only a small amount of toothpaste for young children.
An audit of broken/lost removable appliances was carried out. This study aimed to measure the occurrence of broken/lost appliances over a period of 6 months. It also assessed whether there was any difference in the occurrence rate between patients who paid for treatment and those who received it free of charge. The results indicated that the total number of broken/lost removable appliances was 183, from a total of 472 appliances issued. For paying patients, 59 of 177 patients had at least one broken/lost appliance, giving an occurrence rate of 33.3%. For nonpaying patients, 60 of 112 patients had at least one broken/lost appliance, giving an occurrence rate of 53.6%.
Gingival overgrowth is a well-recognized unwanted effect associated with three major drugs / drug groups - phenytoin, cyclosporine and the calcium channel blockers. Cyclosporine is the first-choice immunosuppressant for preventing allograft rejection in patients who have received organ or bone marrow transplants. This report aims to highlight a case in which the patient on cyclosporine therapy had also contracted Hepatitis C virus infection.
The objective of this study is to report the occurrence, demographic and clinical findings of lip mucoceles in children. A restrospective study was conducted at the paediatric dental clinic situated at Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor Bahru. The period of study was 3 years beginning 2003 to 2005. Out of 1407 new cases seen over the period of study 17 (1.2%) patients presented with lip mucoceles. All lesions occurred in the lower lip. There was no sex or racial predilection. The average duration of the lesion prior to seeking treatment was 2.8 ± 2.8 months. Most patients (76.5%) first saw a medical practitioner for the problem. No spontaneous resolution of the lesions in any of the patients was noted. The preferred method of treatment of lower lip mucoceles in children is surgical excision of the involved minor salivary glands. Salivary gland mucoceles in children predominantly involve the lower lip and can be treated successfully by complete removal of the involved and associated minor salivary glands.
This case report presents a combined surgical – orthodontic approach to the management of an unerupted maxillary right permanent central incisor in a 13 year-old Chinese male. Radiographic investigations revealed that the tooth was severely dilacerated, most likely as a result of trauma sustained to the upper maxillary right deciduous central incisor at the age of 3 years. After securing adequate space for the unerupted tooth by fixed appliance therapy, surgical exposure of the crown was carried out under local anaesthesia and oral sedation.
A gold chain was bonded to the exposed crown of the tooth. Traction was then carried out and the tooth was successfully brought to its final and correct position in the arch after 36 months of active orthodontic treatment.
The aim of this literature review is to review the current care setting for conscious sedation for dentistry in the primary and secondary care sectors in the United Kingdom (UK) and to recommend a plan for setting up a service for the provision of conscious sedation in Malaysia based on the UK models. An electronic search using various databases and web-based search engines were conducted during the period from January to March 2016. Various combinations of keywords were used to help the literature search including dental care settings, conscious sedation, equipment for conscious sedation, referral pathway for sedation and training in sedation. The findings have shown that, although there are specific requirements for the facilities practising sedation, the majority of the requirements are common to all dental practices, such as health and safety, infection control, emergency drugs etc. The good integration between primary and secondary care in providing conscious sedation relies on the compliance with the referral pathway. It is recommended that the practice of conscious sedation in the dental setting in Malaysia begins at the Special Needs Dentistry (SND) Unit, Kajang Hospital because the unit has been partly equipped for conscious sedation and the specialist in charge has received appropriate training in Conscious Sedation for Dentistry at King’s College London Dental Institute. Ensuring safety, effectiveness and appropriateness of the sedation techniques used are the major aims when delivering care to fit individual needs. It is highly recommended to look into the country in which the service has been well established such as United Kingdom as a reference for future development of the conscious sedation service in Malaysia.
Forensic odontological examination of a disputed bitemark can furnish the police and the prosecutor with useful evidence to either implicate or exonerate a person in relation to a crime, on the basis that each person’s bitemark is as distinctive as his or her dentition. The aims of this article are (a) to evaluate the extent of which bitemark evidence is reliable as a proof of identification of a biter for the purposes of criminal investigation and prosecution in Malaysia and (b) to make the necessary recommendations (if any) for the purpose of improving the reliability of such evidence. Where a questioned bitemark is not sufficiently detailed, any findings made from its examination shall be highly unreliable and prejudicial. On the other hand, where a bitemark is sufficiently detailed, then any findings made from its examination may be reliable, provided that the forensic odontologists and other practitioners in the criminal justice system are professionally trained to handle the said bitemark. Therefore, police officers must be given a basic training in the field of forensic odontology so that they will be able to appreciate the evidential value of bitemark and contribute to the development of bitemark cases in Malaysia. The relevant authorities governing the dental practice in Malaysia should standardize the methodology and terminology used in bitemark examination and in the reporting of its findings so that confusion and inconsistency among the forensic odontologists are kept absolutely low. Finally, forensic odontologists must be given specialized training in bitemark examination so that the probative value of their findings can be improved.
Certain beverages e.g. coffee, tea, soft drinks, fruit juices, alcoholic beverages, may affect the physical properties of composite resins. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to: (1) evaluate the effect of different beverages and chilli sauce on the wear resistance of composite resins, (2) evaluate effect of the duration of immersion in the beverages and chilli sauce on the wear resistance of composite resins.
Materials and methods: Disc specimens were fabricated using two different types of composite resins: (i) Filtek Z350 (3M ESPE, USA, nano-filled composite, 40 specimens) and (ii) Solare P (GC Dental Products Corp, Japan, microhybrid composite, 40 specimens). After polymerization, all the specimens were polished using Enhance Polishing System (Dentsply International Inc.,USA). The specimens were air-dried before weighing using Sartorius BP 221S weighing balance (Sartorius AG, Goettingen, Germany). Ten specimens from each type of composite were immersed in distilled water (control group), Coca cola®, orange juice (Peel Fresh®) and chilli sauce (Maggi®) respectively. The duration of immersion was 6 hours and 1 week. A reciprocal compression-sliding system was used to evaluate the wear resistance of the specimens. The specimens were moved back and forth with a loaded counter-body (235g) against sand paper (P1000, 3M ESPE, USA) in running water. The weight of the specimens were measured after 6 hours of immersion and 20,000 wear cycles and also at 1 week of immersion with further 20,000 wear cycles. The wear resistances were tabulated as percentage of weight loss from the specimens. Results were statistically analyzed using one way ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey’s test (p= 0.05).
Results: The results showed that Solare P has significantly lower wear resistance compared to Filtek Z350. There was no significant difference in wear resistance for Filtek Z350 when immersed in chili sauce, Coca-cola® and orange juice in comparison with control group for 6 hours and 1 week. Similar findings were observed for Solare P.
Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, it was concluded that Solare P has poorer wear resistance than Filtek Z350. The soaking medium investigated and duration of immersion have no influence on the wear resistance of Solare P and Filtek Z350.
The assessment of pulp vitality is a crucial diagnostic procedure in the practice of endodontics. Dentists should establish their treatment decisions based on good sound information and in the best interests of the patients. Therefore, a definite diagnosis must be established with comprehensive investigation and records before any treatment is carried out1. Since the dental pulp is enclosed in an opaque tooth, the assessment of tooth vitality is undertaken indirectly by: looking for clinical or radiological evidence of pulp necrosis or apical periodontitis; investigating nerve conduction; or examining the blood flow. (Copied from article).
Objectives: To assess pattern of toothpaste usage among young children under 6 years old.
Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out at the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Parents of children below 6 years old were involved. 200 questionnaires were distributed and 136 (68%) were returned for analysis. The questionnaire covered the following parameters: type, frequency, and quantity of toothpaste usage among children, level of parental knowledge of fluoride concentration in toothpaste and selection criteria of suitable toothpaste for their children.
Results: Majority of the respondents (83.1%) said they used children’s toothpaste to brush their child’s teeth and 62.5 % of them knew that the toothpaste used had fluoride in it. Slightly more than half of the respondents (53.7%) said they started brushing their child’s teeth one year after eruption of the first tooth. Almost an equal proportion of the respondents reported using toothpaste twice daily (50.7%) and only 44.1% of them supervised their children’s brushing. Respondents generally used more than a pea-sized toothpaste quantity (53.6%). Taste, fluoride concentration and brand of the toothpaste appeared to be the main criteria that influenced the selection of the toothpaste (55.9%). Income and educational levels of the respondents did not influence the type of toothpaste used.
Conclusion: These findings indicated that although parents were brushing their childrens’ teeth with children toothpaste, they were still unaware of the proper usage and importance of fluoridated toothpaste.
Deviations from normal occlusion are known as malocclusion. Orthodontics treatment usually is the choice of management of irregularities and abnormalities of their relation to the surrounding structures i.e malocclusions. Patient or parent commonly seeks orthodontic treatment for aesthetic reasons rather than functional problems such as temporomandibular joint dysfunction. With greater demand for orthodontic treatment due to greater awareness of the people towards dental health, good orthodontic treatment outcome would be expected. Good orthodontic treatment outcome usually related to good clinical management of the patients. (Copied from article).
Forensic odontology has been an interdisciplinary part of forensic science for many years. In Malaysia, this forensic discipline has been practiced for more than two decades however it is still considered a new discipline as there are a limited number of specialists. To date, there are less than ten practicing forensic odontologists in Malaysia. Many dentists do not have a clear perception of this field, thus forensic odontology rarely becomes a career of choice. The purpose of this article is to highlight the attributes of a competent forensic odontologist and encourage dentists towards this challenging career path.