Comparative evaluation of selected concentrations of sodium hypochlorite on the outcome of endodontic therapy among Ghanaians.

BACKGROUND: Endodontic treatment is one of the main dental treatments to manage inflamed or infected root canal systems of teeth. The success of endodontic treatment principally depends on eradicating microorganisms in the root canal by chemo-mechanical debridement with irrigation solutions like sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). NaOCl has been used in concentrations ranging from 0.5% to 5.25%. This study determined the antimicrobial effectiveness of selected concentrations (0.5%, 1.0%, 2.6%, and 5.2%) of NaOCl in endodontic treatment. METHODS: The study sites were the University of Ghana Dental School (UGDS) and Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR). Sixty infected single-rooted single-canal teeth were used. Before (S1) and after (S2), root canal samples during the endodontic treatment with the selected concentrations of NaOCl were examined via anaerobic and aerobic cultures. The isolates were identified using Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time Of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). RESULTS: All S1 samples were positive for cultivable bacteria. Fifty-three (53) different microbial species belonging to 20 different microbial genera were isolated. Streptococcus viridans was the most frequently isolated microbe. There were zero isolates in the root canals irrigated with 2.6% and 5.2% NaOCl. Two teeth had isolates in the groups irrigated with the lower concentrations (0.5% and 1.0%) of NaOCl. The persistent bacteria were one species each of Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus oralis, respectively. CONCLUSION: Root canal treatments using chemo-mechanical preparation with the selected concentrations (0.5%, 1.0%, 2.6%, and 5.2%) of NaOCl were effective in significantly reducing the microbial load, and for the 5.2% and 2.6% concentrations, in eliminating all the microorganisms.

COVID-19 pandemic and dental practice in Ghana.

With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare systems and their provision of care has globally been challenged, including the delivery of Oral healthcare. In Ghana, it has become imperative that healthcare delivery including the practice of Dentistry and its sub-specialties be re-oriented in our peculiar setting to ensure minimal risk of spread of the infection. This article discusses the impact of COVID-19 on the practice of Dentistry in the country.

COVID-19 pandemic and dental practice in Ghana

With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare systems and their provision of care has globally been challenged, including the delivery of Oral healthcare. In Ghana, it has become imperative that healthcare delivery including the practice of Dentistry and its sub-specialties be re-oriented in our peculiar setting to ensure minimal risk of spread of the infection. This article discusses the impact of COVID-19 on the practice of Dentistry in the country

Trends in the characteristics of maxillofacial fractures in Nigeria.

PURPOSE: The study purpose was to assess the changes in the pattern of maxillofacial fractures in 2 different study periods. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted retrospective study of 341 patients treated for maxillofacial fractures between January 1978 and December 1982 and a prospective study of 483 patients treated between January 1995 and December 1999 at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Data were collected on age, gender, etiologic factor, and site of injury. RESULTS: The male-to-female ratio reduced in the second period by a factor of 2.0. Patients in the age groups of 21 to 30 years and older than 60 years increased by a factor of 1.8 and 2.9, respectively, in the second period. Assaults, falls, sporting injuries, and industrial accidents in the second period increased by a factor of 1.4, 1.5, 3.5, and 1.5, respectively. The ratio between road traffic accidents and other causes changed from 3.4:1 to 2.2:1 in the second period. Mandibular fractures increased by 2% in the second study period. CONCLUSION: The data confirmed that although other etiologic factors are increasing in number, road traffic accidents remains the major etiologic factor of maxillofacial fractures in Nigeria. There is a need to enforce seat belt use, speed limit, and drink driving laws to reduce maxillofacial injuries caused by road traffic accidents; to organize preventive programs to minimize assaults, and to legislate the wearing of headgear by industrial workers.