Knowledge and Perception of Preclinical Dental Students about the Dental Training and Profession: a Comparative Study of two Dental Schools in Nigeria

Background: Differential exposure to a profession will affect an individual's knowledge and perception. The extent to which this occurs among Nigerian preclinical dental students in respect of the dental profession is still to be documented. Aim: To compare the knowledge and perception of dentistry among preclinical students in an old versus a new dental school.Methods: A 10-item questionnaire designed to assess knowledge and perception of dentistry and the dental profession was distributed among preclinical dental students of University of Ibadan (old school) and University of Port Harcourt (new school). The information gathered were compared and statistical differences were computed using SPSS version 14.0. Results: Clear disparities were observed between the two schools in three important aspects; i. understanding of the scope of dentistry; ii. awareness of advanced specialty options in dentistry; iii. knowledge of the relevance of some course content. Conclusion: University of Ibadan students appear to have a better knowledge of the dental profession compared to the students from the University of Port Harcourt. Formal familiarization programme for high school and preliminary dental students is advisable to provide proper motivation for prospective dental students

Ameloblastic Fibroma: Presentation and Management at two Nigerian Tertiary Hospitals

Background: Ameloblastic fibroma (AMF) is a relatively uncommon neoplasm of odontogenic origin. Aim: To appraise the prevalence; presentation and management of AMF in two major tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. Methods: Histopathology records of the Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the two hospitals were reviewed and histologically confirmed cases of AMF seen over a 23- year period were selected. The case records of the selected cases were retrieved and the presentation and management of the disease were analyzed and discussed. Results: Seventeen cases of histologically confirmed AMF were seen over the period under study. The age range was 10 - 63 years and mean age of occurrence was 27.1 + 16 years; there was no sex predilection but the mandible was the commonest site of occurrence. Most cases were treated by conservative excision but some cases had more extensive resection. No tumour recurrence was observed over an average follow up period of 2 years. Conclusion: AMF with a prevalence of 3.1in this study; remains a rare variety of odontogenic tumour and is amenable to conservative surgical excision preptrrrase. Large lesions may warrant more radical resection but recurrence is generally rare