Hawazen N. Sonbol

Knowledge, educational experiences and attitudes towards child abuse amongst Jordanian dentists

BACKGROUND Signs of physical abuse often present in the oro-facial region and dentists are in a strategic position to recognise and report suspected cases. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, educational experiences and attitudes of Jordanian dentists towards child abuse and to assess their educational needs. METHODS A cross-sectional survey of a random sample of Jordanian dentists (n=400) was conducted using an anonymous, self-administered structured questionnaire. RESULTS The response rate was 64%. Thirty-four per cent (n=88) of the respondents reported having formal training in recognising and reporting child abuse, and 42% (n=106) had post-qualification/continuing education training on the topic. Half of the dentists (127/256) suspected a case of child abuse in the past 5 years, but only 12% (31/256) reported their suspicions. The main reasons for not reporting suspicions of abuse were fear from anger of parents (43%), uncertainty about diagnosis (41%) and uncertainty about referral procedures (41%). Those dentists who had formal training in dental school (P=0.0001) and post-qualification courses in child abuse (P=0.006) were significantly more likely to report suspicions. CONCLUSIONS A significant gap existed between recognising signs of physical child abuse and responding effectively. Improvements in child abuse education and continuing education courses are advised to provide dentists in Jordan with adequate knowledge of indicators of physical child abuse and to inform them on the protocol to follow when suspicions arise.

Traumatic dental injuries among 12-year-old schoolchildren in Jordan: prevalence, risk factors and treatment need

PURPOSE To assess the prevalence and related factors of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) among 12-year-old Jordanian schoolchildren. MATERIALS AND METHODS For this cross-sectional study among schoolchildren, a sample of 2560 schoolchildren (1209 boys, 1351 girls) aged 12 years were randomly selected. The epidemiological classification adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and modified by Andreasen et al was used to record TDI on incisors. RESULTS Of the children examined, 5.5% showed TDI. The difference in prevalence between boys and girls was statistically significant (P < 0.01). Maxillary central incisors were the most affected and the most common type of crown injury was enamel/dentin fracture. The relationship between dental injuries and geographic location, area, and socioeconomic indicators was not statistically significant. Most of the TDI occurred at home, followed by school; the most frequent cause was falls. No statistically significant association was found between TDI and dental caries experience (P > 0.05). There was a tendency for boys (P < 0.01), children with an incisal overjet > 3 mm (P < 0.01) and incompetent lip closure (P < 0.001) to have experienced dental injuries. Treatment need due to dental injuries was very high. CONCLUSION The prevalence of traumatic injuries to permanent incisors in 12-year-old Jordanian schoolchildren was relatively low. TDI was associated with gender, overjet and lip competence, but was not influenced by dental caries experience. There was a great unmet treatment need.

Undergraduate experience and self-assessed confidence in paediatric dentistry at the University of Jordan Dental School.

INTRODUCTION The aims of the study were to audit the number and types of clinical procedures completed by the undergraduate dental students in the paediatric dentistry course at the University of Jordan Dental School and to present data on self-reported confidence in a variety of aspects of paediatric dentistry. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective audit of clinical logbooks for the entire class of 120 dental students in their fifth clinical year was performed. Key clinical procedures performed in the paediatric clinics were recorded including treatment performed on both primary and permanent teeth. Students were requested to complete an anonymous questionnaire to assess confidence related to six activities using a visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS All students performed restorations in primary teeth with the majority providing approximal restorations (91%), pit and fissure restorations (89%) followed by stainless steel crowns (81%). In addition, all students performed a pulpotomy for a primary tooth, extraction of a primary tooth and fissure sealants. Only a quarter of the students treated a traumatised incisor. Students considered themselves most confident (VAS ≥ 7) in performing operative dentistry, examination, diagnosis and treatment planning and providing preventive therapy. They were least confident in the management of dento-alveolar trauma (VAS = 3.8). CONCLUSION Students at the University of Jordan Dental School were found to have good experience of clinical paediatric operative dentistry with the majority performing pulp therapy, preformed crowns and extractions. Deficiencies have been reported in student exposure to dental trauma, and these are being addressed.

Prevalence of Preschool Caries among 6-Year-Old School Children from Different Socioeconomic Backgrounds in Amman , Jordan = دراسة لمدى انتشار نخر الأسنان لدى الأطفال من عمر ست سنوات و من بيئات اجتماعية ديموغرافية مختلفة في عمان ، الأردن

Objective: The objectives of the present study were to describe the dental health status among 6-year-old schoolchildren in Amman, Jordan, and to investigate the association between selected sociodemographic, oral health behaviour and attitude variables and the presence of dental caries. Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 838 (Male = 436, Female = 402) children were examined in primary schools; the prevalence and severity of dental caries were measured using World Health Organization criteria. A two-stage cluster sampling technique was used. Sociodemographic factors and oral health behaviours and attitudes were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of dental caries in the primary dentition was 41.6%. The mean number of decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft) was 2.59 (SD=2.67). The decayed component (d) constituted 67% of the total number of decayed, missing (19%) and filled teeth (14%). The chi-square association test demonstrated that the variables: mother education and employment, type of dental care, type of school, tooth brushing, presence of dental plaque and family size were statistically significant in relation to the presence or absence of dental caries (P 0.05). Moreover, there was no significant difference between the number of children who had dental plaque on their teeth and others who did not (P>0.05). Conclusions: The present study showed that dental caries level was higher than that of children in industrialized countries and lower than that in children of the Middle Eastern Arab countries. However, the early caries development seen in children from the lower socio-econo mic classes reinforces the need for preventive programs. Dental caries can be largely prevented or controlled in its early stages of development by simple and relatively cheap methods of personal care, involving attention to general nutrition, diet and oral hygiene. Dental care information and oral hygiene instructions should be given as early as possible to the expectant mothers at prenatal counselling. Access to dental care must be improved to enable any preventive care to be implemented.