Exam evaluation in prosthodontics across preclinical and clinical years from students' perspective: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to explore the students' perceptions and performance in prosthodontics theory exam. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 560 (80.82%) students of different levels (third, fourth and fifth years) to explore their opinions and performance with regard to a number of issues on a prosthodontics theory exam (exam evaluation, exam preparation, exam material, exam timing). Demographic data were also collected. Descriptive statistics were generated and Chi-square test, independent sample t-test, ANOVA test and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used to examine the associations between different variables. The significance level was set at p < .05. RESULTS: Students' responses regarding exam evaluation was influenced by their gender, study level, high-school Grade Point Average (GPA) and undergraduate cumulative GPA. Perceived exam difficulty was significantly affected by gender (p = .03) and study level (p < .001), and negatively correlated to both high-school GPA (p < .001) and university GPA (p = .03). The vast majority (88.2%) depended on lecture hand-outs and lecture notes for study. Exam material and preparation were not significantly affected by any of the demographic variables with most respondents (76.8%) thinking that the lectures blended with prosthodontics laboratories/clinics would improve their understanding of the exam material. The suggested best time to conduct the exam was early afternoon (31.6%). Student performance was significantly affected by the study level (p < .001) and cumulative GPA (p < .001) with significant positive correlation between the high-school GPA and the mark in the exam (r = .29, p < .001) and by the amount of time students spent for exam preparation (p < .001). Those students who reported using textbooks to prepare for the exam got significantly higher marks (66.1 ± 8.7) compared to the students who did not (62.8 ± 9.7) (p = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Course level, GPA and gender were identified as the most influential factors in different aspects of exam evaluation and students' performance. Regular study and use of textbooks were demonstrated to improve academic performance. Additional orientation and guidance relating to the exam (especially for third year students) would be welcomed, as would alternate teaching methods such as small group discussions or study groups.

Assessment of occupational noise-related hearing impairment among dental health personnel.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to examine hearing thresholds among dental personnel. The secondary aim was to evaluate sound levels among dental equipment that dental personnel are exposed to. METHODS: Two hundred forty-four dentists, dental technicians, dental assistants, and dental students participated. Sixty-two participated as a control group. Audiological thresholds for the test groups were compared to the control group. All participants were from Jordan University Hospital. Participants completed a questionnaire in addition to their audiometric testing. Otoscopy, tympanometry, and pure tone audiometry were included in their assessment. Three-factor ANOVA and t tests were utilized to assess the statistical differences of hearing thresholds among the groups and between the two ears. Pearson correlation test was used to assess the effect of age, experience, and duration of exposure on the degree of hearing loss in the test groups for both ears. RESULTS: The authors reported statistically significant differences among hearing thresholds between the control group and others. Left hearing thresholds were noted to be significantly poorer in the left versus right ear at 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz in dental assistants. The authors also reported a significant relationship between the degree of hearing impairment among dental assistants and the daily duration of exposure to dental occupational noise, followed by age. CONCLUSION: Hearing impairment was higher among dental professionals than the control group and especially among dental assistants and technicians. The authors recommended screening guidelines and adapting hearing protection methods for dental professionals and particularly for dental assistants and technicians.

Epidemiologic aspects of recurrent herpes labialis among Jordanian University students.

OBJECTIVE: To study the epidemiologic aspects of recurrent herpes labialis (RHL) in a young adult population and to evaluate treatments used by affected patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey conducted on a random sample of 1000 students of The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan between May and September 2008. Subjects with RHL were identified and asked to describe their disease and its management. Chi-square and t-test were used to compare differences between groups. RESULTS: The point prevalence of RHL was 2.3%, annual prevalence was 17%, and lifetime prevalence was 26.4%. The prevalence was related to the place of living, income, and college, but not to gender, marital status, medical history, smoking, or aphthous stomatitis. Eruptions occurred mostly on the left side of the lower lip and systemic upset, stress, and cold weather were the main triggering events. The mean age of onset was approximately 15 years. Of the cases, 51.2% reported at least 2 recurrences annually and 61.7% had positive family history. Nearly one-half of cases have treated the lesions and only 18.2% have used antiviral therapies. Some used lipstick, vaseline, tahini, or toothpaste to cover lesions. Treatment was recommended mostly by relatives and friends, only 26.3% sought treatment advice from medical practitioners. CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of RHL among this population was found. There is a need to educate patients with RHL on treatment options available to reduce their distress and to improve their quality of life.

Geometric and mathematical proportions and their relations to maxillary anterior teeth.

AIM: One of the critical aspects of esthetic dentistry is creating geometric or mathematical proportions to relate the successive widths of the anterior teeth. The golden proportion, the recurring esthetic dental (RED) proportion, and the golden percentage are theories introduced in this field. The aim of this study was to investigate the existence of the golden proportion, RED proportion, and the golden percentage between the widths of the maxillary anterior teeth in individuals with natural dentition. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Standardized frontal images of 376 dental student smiles were captured. The images were transferred to a personal computer, the widths of the maxillary anterior teeth were measured, and calculations were made according to each of the above mentioned theories. The data were statistically analyzed using paired student T-test (level of significance P<0.05). RESULTS: The golden proportion was found to be accurate between the width of the right central and lateral incisors in 31.3% of men and 27.1% of women. The values of the RED proportion were not constant, and the farther the one moves distally from the midline the higher the values. Furthermore, the results revealed the golden percentage was rather constant in terms of relative tooth width. The width of the central incisor represents 23%, the lateral incisor 15%, and the canine 12% of the width of the six maxillary anterior teeth as viewed from the front. CONCLUSIONS: Both the golden proportion and the RED proportion are unsuitable methods to relate the successive widths of the maxillary anterior teeth. However, the golden percentage theory seems to be applicable to relate the successive widths of the maxillary anterior teeth if percentages are adjusted taking into consideration the ethnicity of the population.

A radiographic study of the relationship between technical quality of coronoradicular posts and periapical status in a Jordanian population.

A radiographic study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the technical quality of coronoradicular posts and periapical status. A total of 400 periapical radiographs, including 560 posts, of patients attending the Dental Department at Jordan University Hospital were scanned and studied. It was found that maxillary teeth were more frequently restored with posts (65.36%) than mandibular teeth (34.64%). Tapered posts accounted for 73.93% of the posts used. The ratio of the mean post length to crown length was 0.8, and that to root length was 0.45. The mean length of the remaining gutta percha apical to the end of the post was 6.22 mm. In addition, 25% of the posts deviated from the line of the root canal. Periapical radiolucency was evident in 53.93% of the assessed teeth. It is concluded that inadequate root canal treatment and coronoradicular posts are associated with increased prevalence of periapical radiolucency, and that general dental practitioners should be better trained in performing endodontic treatment and restoring endodontically treated teeth.

Severe external root resorption arrested by conventional endodontic treatment.

A case is presented of inflammatory external root resorption detected on radiographic examination. Conventional endodontic treatment, including calcium hydroxide dressing for two weeks and obturation of the root canal system using the vertical compaction of warm gutta-percha technique was a simple and effective treatment modality for arresting the resorptive process and maintaining the integrity of the patient dentition.

A technique for fabrication of a provisional fixed partial denture for nonparallel abutments.

A satisfactory provisional fixed partial denture (FPD) should provide positional stability, maintain the occlusion, and place an additional load on the abutments so that if sensitivity develops, it will subside before the insertion of the definitive FPD. This article presents a technique using an indirect-direct procedure for the fabrication of a 2-part provisional FPD, utilizing a commercially available stainless steel wrought-wire clasp with an occlusal rest, which fulfills all the requirements of a provisional FPD.