Acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility of webinar in strengthening research capacity in COVID-19 era in Nigeria.

Introduction: The challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic have necessitated the increasing use of online virtual training platforms. The objectives of the study were to assess the acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility of virtual space in strengthening the research capacity in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Data were collected through an adapted online questionnaire from participants following a 2-day webinar. Both descriptive and inferential (bivariate and multivariate) analyses were done. Results: The findings of the study revealed that 55.2% of participants (n = 424) were males and 66.0% (n = 424) were early career researchers. Two hundred and thirty-six participants (55.7%) (n = 424) reported very good acceptability, 67.9% (n = 424) reported very good appropriateness while 54.7% (n = 424) reported good feasibility of webinar for research capacity strengthening. The rating of knowledge obtained from the webinar as 'excellent' increased the odds of acceptability (odd ratio [OR] = 38.30; P < 0.001), appropriateness (OR = 15.65; P < 0.05), and feasibility (OR = 20.85; P < 0.05). Furthermore, the preference for zoom and other online platforms for learning increased odds of acceptability of the webinar (OR = 2.29; confidence interval [CI]: 0.97-57.39; P < 0.05), appropriateness (OR = 2.55; CI: 1.10-5.91; P < 0.05) and feasibility (OR = 2.34; CI: 0.96-5.74; P < 0.05). Conclusion: The study concluded that webinar was acceptable, appropriate and feasible for strengthening research capacity, although poor internet connectivity and cost of data were the major challenges in Nigeria. However, a learner-centred approach in contents' delivery that ensures optimal learning has the potential of enhancing research capacity strengthening via virtual space.

Effects of Recent/Healed Post-Extraction Protocols on Incisor and Canine Alignment During Fixed Orthodontic Appliance Therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of recent/healed post-premolar extraction protocol, gender, age, and dental arch on incisor and canine alignment during fixed orthodontic appliance therapy. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 50 dental arches of patients undergoing fixed orthodontic appliance therapy. The arches were randomized into an equal number of recent and healed extraction groups. The orthodontic setup was instituted within 3-7 days and 5-6 weeks following first premolar teeth extractions in the recent and healed extraction groups, respectively. Orthodontic tooth alignment was carried out using 0.016-inch NiTi wires for 16 weeks. Study casts were made at baseline, 4, 8, 12-, and 16-week follow-up treatment. Little's Irregularity Index was used to assess orthodontic tooth alignment. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the alignment rates between groups, and multiple linear regression was used to predict the relationship of groups and sociodemographic factors to alignment rate. The statistical significance level was set at P < .05. RESULTS: The mean daily incisor and canine alignment rates in the recent and healed extraction cases were 0.13 mm and 0.11 mm, respectively (P = .332), 0.12 mm in both males and females (P = .827), and 0.13 mm and 0.12 mm in the maxilla and mandible, respec- tively (P = .534). There was however a significant difference in the mean daily alignment rate between adolescents (0.15 mm) and adults (0.10 mm) (P = .019). CONCLUSION: The rate of incisor and canine alignment was not affected significantly by recent/healed post-extraction protocol, gen- der, and dental arch. However, the rate was significantly faster in adolescents.

The effects of playing wind musical instruments on the occlusal characteristics in a Northern Nigerian Population.

INTRODUCTION: Dentists are often questioned on whether playing a wind musical instrument can adversely affect dental occlusion. This study compared the occlusal characteristics in wind instrument players (WIPs) and non-WIPs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional comparative study comprising a group of fifty males aged 18-45 years that had been playing wind instruments for a minimum of 2 years, whereas the control group were non-WIPs in the same environment. All the participants had full complement of dentition. The occlusal characteristics of overjet, overbite, anterior open bite and Little's irregularity were assessed for both groups. Excellent intra-examiner reliability was observed (Cronbach's alpha - 0.997). The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) version 17 was used for data analysis, and statistical significance level was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: The number of years of playing wind musical instrument ranged from 2 to 25 years. The mean overjet was 3.46 ± 1.49 mm and 3.18 ± 1.27 mm in the WIP and non-WIP groups, respectively (P > 0.05). The maxillary anterior segment showed statistically significantly higher Little's Irregularity Index score in the WIP group (3.18 ± 3.73 mm) than that in the non-WIP group (1.87 ± 2.21 mm) (P < 0.05). The maxillary Little's Irregularity Index score in trumpet and trombone players (3.55 ± 3.93 mm) was significantly higher than that in saxophone and clarinet players (1.69 ± 2.39 mm). Both the maxillary and mandibular anterior-segment alignments were neither influenced by the number of years nor the frequency of play. CONCLUSIONS: Playing wind musical instruments significantly affects the maxillary anterior-segment alignment.

Evaluation of early changes in oral health-related quality of life amongst Nigerian patients undergoing fixed orthodontic appliance therapy.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to evaluate changes in the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) during fixed appliance therapy. METHODS: Sixty-one patients requiring fixed appliance therapy participated in the study. OHRQoL was assessed in all participants using the United Kingdom Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL-UK) tool and the Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ), at baseline (T0), 1 week (T1), 1 month (T2), 3 months (T3), and 6 months (T4), after appliance placement. Friedman 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to compare the changes at the P<0.05 significance level. RESULTS: There was a significant deterioration in OHRQoL in the first week of treatment based on the OHRQoL-UK measure (P=0.01). The PIDAQ, however, showed significant improvement in OHRQoL throughout the study period (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Fixed orthodontic appliance therapy can significantly improve the OHRQoL of individuals.

Dental Arch Dimensions of Nigerian Children with Hypertrophied Adenoids.

OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to assess the effect of adenoid hypertrophy on the dental arch dimensions of children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. METHODS: Ninety patients aged 3-12 years attending the Otorhinolaryngology Clinic at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife diagnosed as having hypertrophied adenoids and 90 children from the Child Dental Health Clinic were recruited as adenoid and control subjects respectively. Arch and palatal vault dimensions, including total arch length; inter-canine, inter-premolar, and inter-molar widths; palatal length; and palatal heights measured at three levels and palatal volume were determined for both groups from dental casts. RESULTS: Maxillary arch dimensions were shorter in the adenoid group than the control group; however, only total maxillary arch length was significantly shorter (p=0.049). Mandibular arch dimensions with the exception of inter-molar width were significantly shorter in the adenoid group (p<0.05). Adenoid subjects had significantly increased palatal heights at canine, premolar, and molar levels and reduced palatal volume compared to the control subjects (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Adenoid subjects demonstrated shorter maxillary and mandibular arch dimensions compared with control subjects, with the differences being more evident in the lower arch. They also exhibited increased palatal heights at all levels and reduced palatal volume compared with control subjects.

Occlusal characteristics of children with hypertrophied adenoids in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Nasorespiratory function and its relation to craniofacial growth are of great interest because of the basic biological relationship between form and function, and the accumulating findings of the relationship between mode of breathing, craniofacial growth and orthodontic treatment. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of adenoid hypertrophy and sociodemographic variables on the occlusion of children. METHODOLOGY: A total of 180 subjects aged 3-12 years were selected at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Ninety subjects had hypertrophied adenoids while 90 normal children served as the control group. Orthodontic examinations were carried out and impressions for study models taken. Occlusion was assessed in the anterior-posterior, transverse and vertical planes. RESULTS: Class I relationship was the most prevalent occlusion in both adenoid and control subjects (55.6% and 72.2%, respectively). The occurrence of class II division 1 was significantly higher among adenoid than control subjects (P=0.003). Posterior crossbites occurred significantly more in adenoid subjects in the 9-12 years category. In the vertical plane, the occurrence of deep bite was significantly greater in male than female adenoid subjects. Age had a statistically significant but weak correlation with anterior open bite (r=0.37). Age and BMI also had significant though weak correlations with posterior crossbite in female adenoid subjects (r=0.39 and r=0.36, respectively). Regression analysis also showed that age had a significant effect on the occurrence of anterior open bite, while BMI had a significant effect on the occurrence of class II occlusion in adenoid subjects (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The presence of hypertrophied adenoids affects the occlusion in the three planes. Age and BMI have significant effects on the occurrence of anterior open bite and class II division 1 malocclusion respectively in adenoid subjects.

Assessment of the impact of tongue size in patients with bimaxillary protrusion.

BACKGROUND: Tongue size, posture and pressure are considered to have significant influences on the positioning of dentoalveolar structures. Based on the equilibrium theory, forward resting posture of the tongue with light force and long duration could have both a horizontal and vertical effect on teeth. Bimaxillary proclination, a malocclusion trait often seen in African descents with multifactorial etiological factors, could well be related to tongue dimensions. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between tongue dimensions and bimaxillary proclination patients. METHODOLOGY: One hundred selected lateral cephalometric radiographs of consecutive orthodontic patients who met the study criteria were divided into study (bimaxillary proclination with interincisal angle [I/I]< 108°) and control (normal with interincisal relationship [I/I] ≥ 108°) groups. The subjects' tongues were pre-coated with barium sulphate before radiography in order to delineate the tongue outline. Tongue dimensions and the intermaxillary space surface area were determined and analyzed using SPSS version 11 and a computer programme for epidemiological analysis. RESULTS: The mean tongue measurements in the bimaxillary proclination group were higher than those in the control group except for tongue proportion. These differences were statistically significant for tongue thickness, tongue length and intermaxillary space length (P < 0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the tongue area and intermaxillary space area between subjects with bimaxillary proclination and a normal interincisal relationship (P > 0.05). None of the variables (tongue thickness, tongue length, intermaxillary space length, tongue area and percentage tongue proportion) could be used as predictors for interincisal relationship. CONCLUSION: Tongue length, thickness and intermaxillary space length were significantly different between the bimaxillary and normal subjects. However, none of the measured tongue variables could be used as a predictor for incisor relationship.

The relationship between malocclusion, lip competence and gingival health in a group of schoolchildrenp / Relação entre má-oclusão, incompetência labial e saúde gengival num grupo de crianças em idade escolar

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between malocclusion, lip competenceand gingival health among a sample of school children. Material and method: A multi stagesampling technique was used to randomly select 239 school children. Malocclusion was evaluated andgraded from the children’s dental casts using the Dental Aesthetics Index (DAI) and Littles’ IrregularityIndex (LII). The lips were examined for competence according to Jackson’s classifi cation. Gingival healthwas assessed using the Plaque Index and Index of gingival infl ammation. Results: A mean DAI scoreof 26.37 ± 6.67 was obtained while the mean score of the LII was 1.88 ± 1.68 mm. Majority of thechildren (97.1%) had competent lips. Results of correlation tests between DAI scores and the periodontalindices were low and not statistically signifi cant, while that of the LII score and periodontal indiceswere also low but statistically signifi cant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: A cause and effect relationship couldnot be established between malocclusion and gingivitis. A weak correlation exists between malocclusionassessed by the DAI and LII and periodontal indices used. This supports the opinion that prescribingorthodontic treatment solely for the purpose of maintaining periodontal health is not justified.

Objetivos: O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a relação entre má-oclusão, incompetência labial e saúde gengivalnuma amostra de crianças em idade escolar. Material e método: A técnica de amostragem em estágios múltiplos foiutilizada para selecionar aleatoriamente 239 crianças escolares. A má-oclusão foi avaliada e graduada por modelosdentários das crianças utilizando o índice dentário estético (DAI) e o índice de irregularidades de Little (LII). Oslábios foram examinados e classifi cados – quanto à competência – pela classifi cação de Jackson. A saúde gengival foideterminada pelo índice de placas e índice de infl amação gengival. Resultados: O escore médio DAI de 26,37 ± 6,67foi obtido, enquanto o escore médio LII foi 1,88 ± 1,68 mm. A maioria das crianças (97,1%) tinha lábios competentes.Os resultados dos testes de correção entre escores DAI e índices periodontais foram baixos e não estatisticamentesignifi cantes, enquanto o escore LII e os índices periodontais foram também baixos, mas estatisticamente signifi cantes(p < 0,05). Conclusão: Não foi possível estabelecer uma relação de causa e efeito entre má-oclusão e gengivite.Uma correlação fraca existe entre má-oclusão determinada por DAI e LII e os índices periodontais utilizados. Issosuporta a opinião de que prescrever tratamento ortodôntico apenas com a fi nalidade de manter a saúde periodontalnão se justifica.