Knowledge and the Attitude on the Use of Mouthwash among Two Selected Senior High Schools in Kumasi

BACKGROUND: The route of most systemic diseases begins in the oral cavity. Oral health knowledge of mouthwashes and their uses is indispensable for the general population and especially adolescents. The use of mouthwash by adolescents can be a beneficial adjunct to their oral hygiene routine, providing additional protection against dental diseases and promoting fresher breath. Overuse or misuse of mouthwash, particularly those containing alcohol or other potentially irritating ingredients, may lead to adverse effects such as oral mucosal irritation, dry mouth, or alteration of the oral microbiome. OBJECTIVES: To determine the knowledge, attitude, and use of mouthwash among senior high school students in Kumasi. METHODOLOGY: 120 students responded to a standard questionnaire by a convenient sample technique. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 22.0 and MS Excel were used for data management and analysis. The results of the study were presented using tables, bar charts, and pie chart. RESULTS: The ages of the respondents ranged from 14 to 20 years. Out of the 120 participants, 71 students that represent 59.2% of the total, used mouthwash. Majority of the participants (63%) utilized a mouthwash after brushing their teeth. 49% of the participants reported using mouthwash to address halitosis, 37% used it to combat periodontal disease, and 10% used it for relief from a sore throat. CONCLUSION: In general, most of the participants who use mouthwash had excellent knowledge and a positive attitude toward the use of mouthwash.

Mother’s of Children with Cleft Lip and/or Palate, Perception about Aetiology, Social Reaction and Treatment of Cleft

Background: Religious, cultural beliefs and demographical differences can have a huge impact in shaping people’s reactions and attitudes toward cleft children. Myths and folk beliefs frequently accompany the birth of a child with deformities especially in Africa. Objective: Evaluate cleft mothers with cleft children attending a multidisciplinary cleft clinic at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital about their experiences on aetiology, expectation, family reaction and treatment of cleft lip and palate. Methodology: The study design was a cross-sectional study which involved consecutive mothers of cleft lip and palate children reporting to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Cleft clinic by using a structured questionnaire. The study period was from January to June 2013. Results: The highest recorded response (47.50%) from mothers was that their nuclear families had been supportive. The least recorded nuclear family reaction was indifferent to child’s condition (3.70%). 47.50% of mothers reported their extended family members had been supportive whereas the least recorded reaction of extended family members (1.25%) was avoidant behaviour. 52 Mothers (65%) answered that they are not mocked by members of the society whereas 28 (35%) answered they were mocked. Conclusion: The above study demonstrates that mother’s educational background was low. Some mothers still believe CL/P is caused by evil spirit even though they are in the minority. Most mothers were hopeful that their babies will have a normal life after surgery. There was high level of family support for cleft families.

Bacteriology and Antibiotic Sensibility Associated with Extracted Carious Teeth: A Cross Sectional Study at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana

Background: Many oral bacterial species forming the normal flora present as a biofilm in the oral cavity. Dental caries results when there is an imbalance of pathogenic bacteria within these biofilms. Aim: This study sought to isolate and identify the bacterial species associated with extracted carious teeth and their susceptibility pattern towards commonly employed antimicrobial agents used at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study carried out on thirty-three extracted carious teeth samples collected by convenient sampling from patients attending the Oral Health Directorate-KATH. All samples were collected from the 11th of March 2019 to the 6th of April 2019. Data was collected using 5 ml peptone water and a case study form. Analysis was done using SPSS version 25 and Microsoft Excel version 10. Results: Twenty (61%) samples were obtained from female patients and thirteen samples (39%) from male patients. Streptococcus spp had the highest occurrence (32.25%) with the least isolated being Pseudomonas and E. coli spp (6.45%). Antibiotic susceptibility test revealed Pseudomonas spp was resistant to all the eight antibiotics used in this study. All bacterial isolates were resistant to Cefuroxime and penicillin except Staphylococcus and Streptococcus spp. Conclusion: The commonest isolates associated with dental caries in KATH were Streptococcus, Bacillus and Staphylococcus spp. In this study most of the isolated species were resistant to common antibiotics employed in the Oral Health Directorate in KATH (amoxicillin/clavulanic, ampicillin and penicillin). From the current study the most effective antibiotic observed was meropenem (23%) with penicillin (3%) being least effective in treating infections of caries.

The Perspectives of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Dental School Graduates

Background: The idea of establishing a Dental school at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) was borne out of a need. There was a shortfall in the supply of dental surgeons, especially in the northern half of the country. Aim/Objective: To seek for feedback from KNUST Dental school graduates over the past six about their overall assessment of the BDS courses taught during their clinical training and challenges faced in the course of their training. Methodology: A cross-sectional retrospective study of all KNUST Dental school graduates from 2012 to 2017. A structured goggle form questionnaire was developed. The Google form link was emailed to the representatives who in turn forwarded the link to their year mates. The questionnaire was filled online and submitted as requested. Results: This represented 63.0% of the entire graduates from KNUST Dental School. The male to female ratio was 1.3:1.0. The age range of our graduate was from 24 yrs (3.8%) to 32 years (1.9%). The average age was 26.3 years. 48.10% of respondents said their training was very good. The major challenges were inadequate clinical space (25.2%) and lack of materials and dental chairs for students’ clinic (27.3%). Conclusion: On the whole, the quality of the training was rated as very good even though some of the courses taught during the clinical training were rated as poor. Inadequate dental chairs, laboratory and clinic materials, supervision of student’s clinic were some of the major challenges expressed by the graduates.

Effect of Malocclusion on Quality of Life among Persons Aged 7 - 25 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The theory of Oral Health Related Quality Of Life (OHRQOL) has manifold qualities. It endeavors to address social and/or emotional concerns as well as any symptoms or functional problems related to the teeth and jaws from the patients view point. The difficulty of utilizing any one standard evaluation tool to determine how the patient feels about problems with malocclusions or arising from them, led to the development of this construct/theory. Aim: To evaluate the impact of malocclusion on the socio-functional and psychological wellbeing of persons 7 - 25 years old. Method: 100 patients within the ages of 7 - 25 years who visited the Orthodontics Unit of the Oral Health Directorate of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, were conveniently sampled and surveyed. Participants were given questionnaires to assess the effects of malocclusion on their Oral Health Related Quality of Life and also to determine if their educational status had any influence on the impact of malocclusion on their oral health related quality of life. Results: The modal age of the participants was 10 - 15 years with 40% as it frequency followed by 7 - 9 years while the age with least frequency was 16 - 25 years which stood at 22.0%. 28 respondents reported negative effects on their functional domain. 71 of the participants reported negative effects on psychological well-being and 49 of them reported negative effects on social well-being. Conclusion: Malocclusion has an overall negative impact on Oral Health Related Quality of Life and its related purviews. It was observed to be highest for the psychological discomfort domain and the lowest in the functional well-being domain.