Antibiotic Self-Medication for Oral Conditions: Characteristics and Associated Factors

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and contributing factors of antibiotic selfmedication for oral conditions in dental patients. Material and Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to 501 patients attending Taibah University Dental College and Hospital, Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia during late 2016. Questions were on socio-demographic characteristics, and pattern of antibiotic self-medication for oral disease. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS software version 21. Statistical significance level was set at p ≤.05. Results: Age range was 15-64 years (29.08±9.32 years) with 297 females (59.3%) and 204 males (40.7%). 135 patients (27%) self-medicated with antibiotics for oral disease. This practice was statistically significantly associated with the older adults (p=0.001), lack of medical or dental insurance (p=0.014 and 0.007, respectively), and poor dental attendance (p=0.021). A number of 26 (25.7%) perceived analgesics as antibiotics. Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid was the most commonly cited antibiotic by 18 patients (17.8%). Dental pain was the most frequently reported oral condition. Pharmacists were the most common source for antibiotic prescription cited by 58 (57.4%). Conclusion: Antibiotic self-medication for oral disease is associated with the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics for non-indicated clinical oral conditions. The practice was encouraged by lenient behavior of pharmacists, lack of health insurance, and poor dental attendance.

Oral Hygiene: Knowledge and Practices of Students in Three Quranic Schools in Koutiala, Mali

Objective: To evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices on oral hygiene (OH) of students of three Quranic schools of Koutiala, Mali. Material and Methods: It was carried out a descriptive prospective study with 300 students in three Quranic schools in the city of Koutiala, Mali. The data analyzed with the Epi Info 3.5.4 software. Results: The male sex was the most represented with 57.7% and the sex ratio = 0.73. The most represented age group was 8-12 with 52% with an average age of 17 years and minimum and maximum age of was 8 and 26 years. It was observed that 98.3% of students had a notion of knowledge about oral hygiene and this information was given by parents / elders in 60% of cases. They claimed that people who do not brush their teeth properly are the most likely to get tooth decay in 93.3% of cases. Regarding dental caries, 61.3% of students said that caries is transmitted by lack of oral hygiene; 33.3% of students said that using toothbrushes and having good oral hygiene are ways to avoid oral diseases. It was thought in 93.3% of cases that a good oral hygiene prevents oral diseases. The students brushed their teeth every day (98%) and they had a consultation with the dental surgeon in 8.7% of the cases. Conclusion: This study shows that students had knowledge of oral hygiene and preventive measures. Efforts should be made to promote, prevent, screen and manage oral diseases in Quranic schools while involving parents in the processes.

Construction and evaluation of an inexpensive device that simulates oral clearance / monstrução e avaliação de um dispositivo de baixo custo simulador do clearace oral

O perfil do clearance de uma determinada substância é muito importante para se estimar a sua disponibilidade oral. Dispositivos ou modelos que simulam o clearance na cavidade oral são importantes para se estudar os efeitos e tempos de retenção de alimentos e fármacos. Este trabalho descreve um eficiente dispositivo, desenvolvido em nosso laboratório com materiais de baixo custo, que pode ser utilizado para o estudo do clearance de substratos cariogênicos, enxagatórios bucais e fármacos de liberação programada, bem como, avaliar a adsorção de fármacos ao esmalte. O dispositivo apresenta três câmaras com volumes mínimo e máximo variáveis, que podem ser eluidas, simultaneamente, em diferentes fluxos. Os volumes de deglutição simulados são ajustáveis e a razão entre os volumes mínimo e máximo pode ser programada. Também são apresentados os resultados de um estudo de avaliação do dispositivo onde determinou-se o clearance de fluoreto proveniente de um enxaguatório bucal, o clearance de uma solução de glicose a 1 por cento e a liberação programada de fluoreto a partir de um adesivo de metacrilato, usando saliva artificial como eluente