Comparison of intercanine and intermolar width between cleft lip palate and normal class I occlusion group

Objective: To determine the mean difference of arch dimensions [both intercanine and intermolar width] between cleft lip palate and normal class I occlusion group

Study Design: Cross-sectional analytic study

Place and Duration of Study: Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences, [Dow University of Health Sciences [DUHS]], Karachi, from March 2012 to April 2013

Methodology: Group 1 consisted of 32 subjects with complete repaired, non-syndromic unilateral and bilateral cleft lip palate. Group 2 consisted of 32 subjects with normal facial morphology and class I occlusion. Exclusion criteria were cleft lip palate subjects with systemic diseases, any arch expansion procedure, incomplete repaired palate, open fistulas, developmental or acquired craniofacial muscular deformities, autoimmune conditions, syndromes, endocrine abnormalities, neurological problems, or previous history of orthodontic treatment and signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders, history of trauma, impacted or missing teeth, periodontally involved teeth, subdivision molar classification, skeletal base II and III with molar class I. The transverse width [intercanine and intermolar width] of dental casts was measured with the help of digital caliper. The intercanine width was measured between cusp tips of the canine while the intermolar width distance was measured between mesiobuccal cusp tips of first molars, and buccal grooves of the mandibular first molars in both cleft lip palate and normal class I occlusion group, respectively

Results: There were 64 subjects with mean 14.7 +/- 6.8 years in the cleft palate and 14.7 +/- 6.3 years in the normal group. There was statistically significant differences found between intercanine and intermolar width in maxillary arch [p < 0.001]. In mandibular arch, only intercanine width has showed significant difference [p < 0.001] between cleft and normal occlusion class I group

Conclusion: Maxillary and mandibular intercanine width was found to be significantly reduced in cleft lip palate group [both unilateral and bilateral] as compared to normal class I occlusion group

Evolving medical and dental education system in Pakistan

Medical science is the backbone for treatment and the foundation for understanding human diseases. Standardization and organization of medical and dental education is required to accomplish goals towards achieving excellence in professional practice. The aim of this publication is to explore the current status of educational system in medicine and dentistry in Pakistan and possible channels for improvement. Medical and dental educational system for undergraduate as well as postgraduate level must comprise of continuing professional developmental sessions both for students and teachers. There is also a concomitant need of well discerned educational system which helps to manage trainee's induction, their curriculum assessment, and examination process. In addition, activities such as keeping the entire medical and dental education system under continuous circle of evaluation in the form of feedback and effective communication are essential at periodic academic stages. An interactive session at multiple levels and its valid quantified evaluation is constantly required to assess the progress of ongoing educational system. A well oriented process of decision making involving syllabus, professional annual examinations, re-certification examinations and licensure requirements must be comprehensively established

Adult learning in our dental education system

The importance of ensuring that adults receiving higher education have access to high quality and effective learning throughout their period of study is paramount. It is meant to be an aspect of lifelong exploring carrying key components of self-motivated pursuance for either personal or professional reasons. An educational system needs to understand the basic demands which fulfil the basic fundamental requirements of education; yet understand the learners. Learner needs systemized steps of education which imparts practical experience to their life

Comparison of hyoid bone position among cleft lip palate and normal subjects

To compare the hyoid bone position between cleft lip/palate and normal patients. Cross-sectional analytical study. Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences [DIEKIOHS], Dow University of Health Sciences [DUHS], Karachi, from March 2012 to February 2013. The sample for this study consisted of total 68 subjects among which Group 1 consisted of 34 nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate [both unilateral and bilateral] and Group 2 included 34 subjects with normal facial morphology. Both groups included males and females with mean age 14.3 +/- 0.1 year. Analysis was done on lateral cephalometric radiographs of patients including angulations taken as Hp-Mp, Hp-Ol, Hp-Sn, Cvt-Evt, Opt-Cvt, Nke, Sn-Vert, Cvt-Vert, Sn-Vert and linear distance of hyoid bone measured as C3-H, C3-RGN, and H-RGN. Statistically significant differences [p < 0.001] in C3-H, C3-Rgn, H-Rgn, and Sn-Cvt were found between cleft lip/palate group and normal group. Hyoid bone is located anteriorly and caudally in cleft lip and palate group