Dental Practitioners' Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice in Caries Risk Assessment and Management: A Cross-sectional Survey in Kampala Metropolitan, Uganda.

AIM: The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding caries risk assessment (CRA) and management among dental practitioners in Kampala Metropolitan, Uganda. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 270 dental practitioners in Kampala Metropolitan, Uganda, in May 2021. The participants were dental surgeons and public health dental officers. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The questionnaire included items about participants' sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, and practices in CRA and management. Attitude and practices were rated using different Likert scales. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square/Fisher's exact and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post-hoc Bonferroni tests were used to analyze the data. The significance level was set at p <0.05. RESULTS: About 60.7% of the participants were public health dental officers with a median age of 30 years (interquartile range [IQR], 27-60). Overall, the participants were familiar with the current concepts regarding CRA and management. More than 70% of the participants correctly identified risk factors and indicators of dental caries. Most participants (98.5%) had a positive attitude toward performing CRA. However, their practices regarding caries management were inadequate as majority (>75%) of participants reported that they never or occasionally recommended evidence-based products like topical fluoride, probiotics, or xylitol products in the prevention and management of dental caries. Dental surgeons had significantly better knowledge and practices than public health dental officers (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: In the present study, the participants were familiar with the current concepts about CRA and had a positive attitude toward CRA. However, their practices regarding caries prevention and management were inadequate. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The study provided baseline data about knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding CRA and caries management among dental practitioners in Uganda. It is recommended to design training courses in evidence-based protocols in the prevention and management of dental caries for dental practitioners in Uganda.

Dental age estimation using radiographic assessment of third molar eruption among 10-20-year-old Ugandan population.

AIM: This study aimed at establishing the age for third molar eruption among Ugandans aged 10-20 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study comprising 471 male and 541 female patients attending Mulago Dental Clinic. Patients' orthopantomographs were assessed for third molar eruption as described by Olze et al. Age was summarized using means/SD. Jaw and sex differences were assessed using Student's t-test. RESULTS: Complete eruption (Stage D) ranged between 13 and 20 years. The mean age at complete eruption for girls and boys was 17.5-18 years and 18.2-18.6 years, respectively. Mean age was statistically significantly (P < 0.05) lower among girls compared to boys for all third molar teeth (#18, #28, #38, and #48). The difference in mean eruption times between girls and boys was -0.62 (95% confidence interval: 0.2-1.0, P = 0.006). At 18 years, 40% or 41% maxillary and 52% or 53% mandibular molars were completely erupted. There were statistically significant differences in eruption between the sexes and jaws for all teeth (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Given the fact that the percentage of erupted third molars by age 18 was found to be <50% on an average in this Ugandan population, we should reconsider the use of third molar eruption as a definitive tool for age estimation in this population.

Socioeconomic and nutritional factors associated with age of eruption of third molar tooth among Ugandan adolescents.

This study aimed to establish the influence of socioeconomic and nutritional factors on the age of eruption of the mandibular third molar among Ugandans aged 10-20 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in a dental clinic of Mulago Hospital between January and December 2017. The background information was obtained from the participants using a questionnaire in the form of an oral interview. The anthropometric measurements were obtained using a tape measure and a weighing scale, while dental radiographs were used to determine the eruption stages of the mandibular third molar. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The data were analyzed using STATA 13 and summarized using descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses. Statistical significance was inferred at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Participants in the overweight body mass index category were statistically significantly associated with the age of the mandibular third molar eruption (P < 0.05) compared to their normal counterparts. There was no statistically significant association between socioeconomic status and age of eruption of third molar teeth (P > 0.05). Age of eruption was statistically significantly higher among males than females (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study reveal that overweight influences early eruption of the mandibular third molar tooth, although there is no trend between socioeconomic status and the age of eruption of the mandibular third molar.