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.

The prevalence and associated risk factors for tooth wear and dental erosion in 15- to 16-year-old schoolchildren in Amman, Jordan.

BACKGROUND: Tooth wear and acid erosion have not been previously investigated in Jordanian schoolchildren. AIM: To determine the prevalence of tooth wear and associations for a range of dietary and behavioural risk factors. METHODS: A sample of 1,602 children aged between 15 and 16 years were randomly selected from 32 schools in Amman, Jordan. Tooth wear was measured using the modified Tooth Wear Index and dichotomised on the presence or absence of exposed dentine. Analysis of questionnaire items was performed by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Dentine was exposed in 51 % of children, and males (59 %) had significantly more tooth wear than females (42 %), OR = 1.9, 95 % CI 1.6, 2.4, p < 0.0001. Over 40 % of children had dentine exposed occlusally, mainly the lower first molars, and less than 1 % of the children had dentine exposed palatally. Daily consumption of oranges, ketchup, olives and sweetened coffee was associated with tooth wear through enamel to expose dentine. Carbonated drinks (fizzy) were on the borderline of significance at p = 0.055. The mean DMFT (5.52) was significantly greater in children without tooth wear compared to children with tooth wear (4.13) (p < 0.001). DMFT, gender, daily consumption of oranges and daily consumption of ketchup were significantly associated with tooth wear in the multiple regression model. CONCLUSION: In this sample of children resident in Amman, Jordan, males had significantly more tooth wear than females. The acidic dietary items associated with tooth wear and, thus, dental erosion included oranges, olives and tomato ketchup.