Parental-caregiver perception of child oral-health related quality of life following zirconia crown placement and non-restoration of carious primary anterior teeth.

AIM: Dental caries in preschool children has shown significant impact on children's OHRQoL and family functioning. The aim of this study was to measure parents' perceptions of children's OHRQoL and impact of children's orofacial conditions on the family following management of carious anterior teeth with either zirconia crown placement or non-restorative therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Parents of medically fit children aged from 2 years to 6 years attending specialist paediatric clinics were recruited and a questionnaire that included the Global Oral Health Rating Item, Parent-Caregivers Perception Questionnaire (P-CPQ-8) and Family Impact Scale (FIS-8) was distributed at a recall visit 3-6 months following treatment. Twenty patients were allocated in each of the two groups; zirconia crown and non-restorative therapy. RESULTS: The Global Oral Health Rating item scores were significantly different between groups (p=0.038). Children health effects due to dental status were more among patients treated with zirconia crowns. However, PCPQ and FIS total and individual scores were not significantly different between groups (p>0.05) except that children suffered more food impaction between teeth among patients treated with zirconia crowns (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Parents' perceptions of children's OHRQoL and impact on family were similar when anterior carious teeth were managed with zirconia crown placement or non-restorative therapy.

Undergraduate experience and self-assessed confidence in paediatric dentistry at the University of Jordan Dental School.

INTRODUCTION: The aims of the study were to audit the number and types of clinical procedures completed by the undergraduate dental students in the paediatric dentistry course at the University of Jordan Dental School and to present data on self-reported confidence in a variety of aspects of paediatric dentistry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective audit of clinical logbooks for the entire class of 120 dental students in their fifth clinical year was performed. Key clinical procedures performed in the paediatric clinics were recorded including treatment performed on both primary and permanent teeth. Students were requested to complete an anonymous questionnaire to assess confidence related to six activities using a visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: All students performed restorations in primary teeth with the majority providing approximal restorations (91%), pit and fissure restorations (89%) followed by stainless steel crowns (81%). In addition, all students performed a pulpotomy for a primary tooth, extraction of a primary tooth and fissure sealants. Only a quarter of the students treated a traumatised incisor. Students considered themselves most confident (VAS ≥ 7) in performing operative dentistry, examination, diagnosis and treatment planning and providing preventive therapy. They were least confident in the management of dento-alveolar trauma (VAS = 3.8). CONCLUSION: Students at the University of Jordan Dental School were found to have good experience of clinical paediatric operative dentistry with the majority performing pulp therapy, preformed crowns and extractions. Deficiencies have been reported in student exposure to dental trauma, and these are being addressed.

Knowledge, educational experiences and attitudes towards child abuse amongst Jordanian dentists.

BACKGROUND: Signs of physical abuse often present in the oro-facial region and dentists are in a strategic position to recognise and report suspected cases. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, educational experiences and attitudes of Jordanian dentists towards child abuse and to assess their educational needs. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of a random sample of Jordanian dentists (n=400) was conducted using an anonymous, self-administered structured questionnaire. RESULTS: The response rate was 64%. Thirty-four per cent (n=88) of the respondents reported having formal training in recognising and reporting child abuse, and 42% (n=106) had post-qualification/continuing education training on the topic. Half of the dentists (127/256) suspected a case of child abuse in the past 5 years, but only 12% (31/256) reported their suspicions. The main reasons for not reporting suspicions of abuse were fear from anger of parents (43%), uncertainty about diagnosis (41%) and uncertainty about referral procedures (41%). Those dentists who had formal training in dental school (P=0.0001) and post-qualification courses in child abuse (P=0.006) were significantly more likely to report suspicions. CONCLUSIONS: A significant gap existed between recognising signs of physical child abuse and responding effectively. Improvements in child abuse education and continuing education courses are advised to provide dentists in Jordan with adequate knowledge of indicators of physical child abuse and to inform them on the protocol to follow when suspicions arise.

Reasons for choosing dentistry as a career by Arab dental students.

The aim of this study was to determine the reasons for choosing dentistry as a career in an Arab population of undergraduate dental students in Jordan. An anonymous questionnaire was administered to dental students from year 1 to 5 at the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Jordan in Amman. The questionnaire comprised 31 items and the students were required to rate the importance of each item for selecting dentistry as a career on a 10 point scale. Parametric tests were used to investigate if statistically significant differences existed between scores for different groups. The response rate for the study was 79% (477 out of 604 students recruited). Two hundred and twenty one students (46%) had dentistry as a first choice. Prestige was given a maximum score by 44.4% of the students recruited and a similar number of students, 43.6% gave a maximum score to the factor representing helping people. There were slight differences in the motivation between male and females with males more motivated by financial factors. It was concluded that 'prestige' and 'helping people' were important motivating factors in this group of dental students.