Attitude/practices of oral healthcare provider to management of HIV/AIDS patients in the Pacific.

This paper expands a quantitative study which measured dentists attitudes, practices, knowledge, education, policies towards HIV positive patients in the Pacific region in order to identify potential barriers to the provision of adequate dental treatment. 300 questionnaires were sent out to all the 14 countries in the region. However, only the following six countries responded Fiji, Solomons, Vanuatu, Samoa, FSM, and Cook Islands of which 91.6% worked for the government sector, 4.2% respondents for academic and 4.2% were private oral health care providers (OHCP). These were 32.6% of dentists and 67.4% Paradentals. Results of the research showed that the major reasons for the unwillingness among oral health care providers mainly described fear of HIV transmission in dental clinics, inadequate infection control procedures in the clinics to prevent cross transmission or lacked knowledge about HIV patient management in dental clinics. There is a need for continuing education on management of HIV/AIDS positive dental patients covering such areas as management, infection control, policies, education and ethical issues concerning HIV positive patients for oral health care providers in the South Pacific region. Limitations of study: Since this is an incomplete (six countries responded out of fourteen countries) survey, generalization on attitudes and practices of OHCP in the Pacific can not be made yet. Also, larger sample is required to make definite conclusion about oral health care practices in the Pacific.

Dental health of Fiji institutionalized elderly (2003).

This study provided comprehensive information concerning oral health status and prevalence of oral diseases in institutionalized elderly home residents. The oral health survey included questionnaire and oral examination. Oral examination was carried out by a calibrated examiner. A structured interview on socio- economic status, oral health habits and a clinical evaluation of oral health status and treatment needs were recorded. 37.2 % of the 125 residents from the six nursing homes were medically compromised, functionally dependent, cognitively impaired and behaviourally difficult older adults to caregivers and to dental practitioners. 43% of the study population was edentulous. Dentate residents had a mean DMF of 23 with severe periodontal diseases and treatment need. Oral hygiene was generally poor among the residents and periodontal disease was found to be present in all the dentate subjects examined. The prevalence and experience of coronal and root caries, gingival recession and plaque accumulation was very high in dentate residents especially, those who smoke and those who were severely handicapped. These elderly residents had more retained roots, root caries, missing teeth, mobile teeth, grossly carious teeth and fewer filled teeth when compared with data for community dwelling elderly patients. This study highlighted the poor oral health status of these institutionalized elderly home residents and the great impact of dementia on their high levels of oral diseases.

Comparative study of craniofacial morphology and bite force in Fijians and Japanese.

An anthropological survey was conducted in Fiji in 1994 and 1995 to study dental arch form, craniofacial morphology, and bite force of Fijians. Measurements were obtained from dental casts, cephalograms, and thin pressure-sensitive sheets (Dental Prescale®) for bite force analysis. Results were compared with those of Japanese. In every direction, the size of the dental arch in Fijians was larger than in Japanese. Fijians displayed longer palates, longer mandibles, and bimaxillary protrusion. There was no significant difference in upper and lower facial heights. FH to lower incisor angle in Fijians was significantly larger than in Japanese. Fijians were characterized by a small palatal plane angle, occlusal plane angle and mandibular plane angle, and were thus brachyfacial. The Japanese tended to be more dolichofacial. The distances from the Cd line to the pterygoid muscles, masseter muscles, and teeth in Fijians were significantly longer than in Japanese. Occlusal contact areas of Fijians were also greater than those of Japanese. The results indicate that the masticatory muscles and craniofacial morphologies supporting them would be better integrated in Fijians than in Japanese. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 10:63-72, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.