R. Rafeek - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by R. Rafeek
Journal of Dental Education, 2004
The aims of this study were to describe levels of self-rated competency of dental graduates from ... more The aims of this study were to describe levels of self-rated competency of dental graduates from the University of the West Indies (UWI) and to investigate relationships with gender and the effect of curriculum change. A thirty-two item selfreported postal questionnaire was sent to UWI dental alumni (1994-2002). The questionnaire included twenty-eight competencies that could be rated on a 5-point scale: 1 (not at all competent) to 5 (very competent). Overall preparedness for practice could also be rated from 1 (not at all prepared) to 5 (very prepared). The response rate was 77.4 percent, with a mean age of 29.3 years. Items with the highest mean scores were taking an adequate medical history (4.49), recognizing and treating dental caries (4.46), oral examination (4.36), and giving dental health education (4.35). Those with the lowest rating were designing and undertaking clinical research (2.29), dealing with practice management issues (2.52), designing and delivering crown and bridge work (3.33), and recognizing pathologic occlusions (3.33). Overall preparedness for practice was rated as 3.27. Female graduates rated four competencies significantly higher than males. Graduates exposed to the new curriculum perceived greater overall preparedness for general dental practice, suggesting the change to a competency-based curriculum was effective.
International Dental Journal, 2006
To determine the prevalence of tooth surface loss (TSL) in a sample of subjects attending a unive... more To determine the prevalence of tooth surface loss (TSL) in a sample of subjects attending a university dental clinic in Trinidad and to investigate the relationship to tooth brushing, medical history, parafunction and dietary habits. Tooth surface loss was measured clinically by the index used in the 1998 UK, Adult Dental Health Survey. Trinidad, West Indies. Convenience sample of adult subjects attending The University of the West Indies Dental School Polyclinic, Mount Hope. A questionnaire was administered and tooth surface loss measured clinically. mild, moderate and severe tooth surface loss. 155 subjects were examined (mean age 40.6 years) of whom 72% had some degree of TSL with the majority (52%), exhibiting mild, 16% with moderate and 4% with severe TSL. There were associations found between TSL and age (OR=3.14), reflux (OR=1.37), parafunction (OR=1.06), weekly consumption of citrus fruits (OR=1.31) and soft drinks (OR=1.78), daily consumption of alcohol (OR=1.40) and a vegetarian diet (OR=2.79). Tooth surface loss in this Trinidadian population group appears to be common. Data supports an association between TSL and age, reflux parafunction and certain dietary patterns.
West Indian Medical Journal, 2001
ABSTRACT Many of the new materials and techniques used in endodontics (root canal treatment) requ... more ABSTRACT Many of the new materials and techniques used in endodontics (root canal treatment) require considerable practice to master and many require continuing education courses to allow formal instruction. Nothing is known regarding techniques employed and views on continuing professional education (CPE) in endodotics by dentists in Trinidad and Tobago. With the shift toward evidence-based dentistry and rising patient expectation of quality oral health care, a survey was conducted to describe these issues. A self-administered postal questionnaire was sent to all registered dentists in Trinidad and Tobago. Seventy dentists responded after two mailings. Most respondents worked primarily in private practice (85.5 percent). Years since qualification ranged from 2 to 45 years and 54.3 percent were qualified for more than 10 years. Most frequent treatment of an acute dental abcess involved opening, preparing the canal(s), dressing and prescribing antibiotics (40 percent). Forty-one respondents (58.6 percent) ocassionally completed root canal treatment in a single visit. Isolation of the tooth for molar root treatment always caused difficulty for thirty-five respondents (50 percent) and rubber dam isolation was used routinely by only nine respondents (12.9 percent). Most respondents either filed (20 percent) or reamed (18 .6 percent) for canal preparation usually using K files. Thirty-three respondents (47 percent) used sodium hypochlorite to irrigate the tooth and thirty-one (44.3 percent) used cold lateral condensation of gutta percha to obturate. Thirty-four respondents (48.6 percent) subscribed to professional journals and sixty-seven (95.7 percent) had attended some form of Continuing Professional Education. Sixty-seven (95.7 percent) of respondents would attend CPE in endodontics if available in Trinidad and Tobago, with most (72.9 percent) preferring a lecture/seminar format addressing problem-solving and new techniques. Respondents to this survey showed use of a wide range of techniques and materials but still expressed considerable interest in developing their skills in endodontics through formal CPE..
CPD Dentistry, 2004
Materials and Methods: Eighty human molars were divided into five groups and ground dentine surfa... more Materials and Methods: Eighty human molars were divided into five groups and ground dentine surfaces treated, with one of five cements (Fuji I, Vitrebond, Rely X, Fuji II and Panavia F). Spherical amalgam (Tytin) was condensed onto the unset cement and shear bond strengths were ...
The European journal of prosthodontics and restorative dentistry, 2004
This study compared the coronal microleakage of three restorative materials used to seal the acce... more This study compared the coronal microleakage of three restorative materials used to seal the access cavity in root treated teeth. Thirty six teeth were prepared and three experimental groups were obturated and the access cavity filled with different materials; Group A--Intermediate Restorative Material, Group B--Fuji II and Group C--Dyract AP. Microleakage was assessed by Indian ink penetration. The mean coronal dye leakage for Group A was 0.895 mm, for Group B 1.914 mm and for Group C 3.245 mm. There was significantly (p < 0.05) more dye leakage in teeth restored with Dyract AP compared to those with Fuji II or IRM.
Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate employers' and graduates' percepti... more Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate employers' and graduates' perceptions of the competence of dental graduates from the School of Dentistry, University of the West Indies (UWI). Method: Anonymous questionnaires were sent to employers of the dental graduates in 2013. Similar questionnaires were also completed by graduates of the class of 2011 and 2012. Respondents were asked to rate employees or self assess the UWI School of Dentistry (SoD) curriculum's 23 competency areas and 6 domains of dental practice including: professionalism, assessment of a patient, establishment and maintenance of oral health. Results: Response rates of 48.3%, 100% and 95.7% were obtained from the employers, class of 2011 and class of 2012 respectively. The graduates' self-rated competency means were satisfactory or higher (better) in all competency areas. Employers rated the competency of UWI graduates higher than average in all competency areas except temporomandibular j...
West Indian Medical Journal, 2016
INTRODUCTION Maxillary defects are created by surgical treatment of benign or malignant neoplasms... more INTRODUCTION Maxillary defects are created by surgical treatment of benign or malignant neoplasms, as well as congenital malformation and trauma and their occurrence is also associated with the enucleation of maxillary cysts (1). Squamous cell carcinomas account for two thirds of the malignant neoplasms of the upper gingiva and hard palate. Lesions in these areas account for 1-5% of total occurrence in the oral cavity. 1 Adjacent structures are vulnerable to metastasis during the confirmation of the diagnosis. With this eventuality, the recommended treatment for these types of lesions is alveolectomy, palatectomy, partial or total maxillectomy. These treatment outcomes depend on the location and aggressiveness of the actual lesion, its histiotype, patient’s age and general health status (1). Patients with acquired maxillary defects differ from those with congenital defects due to the abrupt alteration in physiologic processes associated with surgical resection of the maxillae (1). T...
International Dental Journal, 2008
To describe the type and frequency of oral and dental conditions presenting to medical practition... more To describe the type and frequency of oral and dental conditions presenting to medical practitioners in Trinidad and Tobago, type of management, and interest in continuing education in oral diseases. Cross sectional survey of registered medical practitioners in Trinidad. 20-item self-reported questionnaire. 103 medical practitioners participated in the study (response rate 69%). Mean age 33 years. Mean years since qualifying was 8 years and 72% worked mainly in hospital service or private practice (19%); 67% had seen patients with a dental problems, with 69% of those at least as frequently as once a month. Most frequently seen problems were dental abscess (72.5%) and toothache (59.4%). In the case of dental abscess and oral mucosal infection 31.9% and 63.8% respectively, diagnosed and treated before referring. 84% cent expressed interest in receiving continuing education in oral diseases. In the context of access to oral care in Trinidad and Tobago, medical practitioners appear to be important providers and may benefit from further training in the diagnosis and management of oral diseases.
Background: The sudden advent of the COVID pandemic resulted in the closure of schools and univer... more Background: The sudden advent of the COVID pandemic resulted in the closure of schools and universities in Trinidad, limiting face to face interactions and removing dental students from the clinical environment in The University of the West Indies. The dental school was challenged to complete the final year teaching with a rapid transition to online teaching. This study examined students’ and teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of emergency remote online teaching.Method: An online cross-sectional survey was administered on the perception of the online learning environment and challenges experienced and effectiveness of strategies used. Overall thirty-three dental students and eleven clinical academic teachers participated. The questionnaire was emailed to the participants for data collection and they responded by using a Likert scale. Reliability of the questionnaire was determined. Chi-squared (χ2) tests were applied for determining the perceptions of students and teachers t...
Dental historian : Lindsay Club newsletter, 2007
International Journal of Dentistry and Oral Science
Aim: The objective of this study was to investigate the short-term consumption effect of xylitol ... more Aim: The objective of this study was to investigate the short-term consumption effect of xylitol gum on the bacterial composition of saliva and plaque flora in a cohort of healthy adult individuals. Methods: A randomized controlled double blind study was carried out on 29 healthy volunteers recruited from the university student population after screening them for Mutans Streptococci group. These fulfilled the study criteria and successfully enrolled in the study. Experimental gum (Epic spearmint) and Control gum (Eclipse spearmint) were given to these cohort of students alternatively following which their saliva and plaque specimens (n=116, saliva n=58, plaque n=58) were assayed for their bacterial flora using standard microbiological procedures. Results: A hundred and ten bacterial organisms were recovered from plaque and saliva of these participants. The Mutans Streptococci group (Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus) were the most (68.2%) prevalent bacteria recovered. While Streptococcus mutans were mostly recovered in both groups, (12 vs 9), there was no statistically significant difference in the colony count of bacteria in each person before and after chewing sorbitol gum (p=0.125; Wilcoxon Signed Rank test). The trend was different with those that chewed xylitol gum as bacteria colony count in the saliva and plaque of each person before and after using xylitol gum showed significant decreases in the counts (p<0.001) in both cases (Wilcoxon Signed Rank test). Conclusion: The study confirms the fact xylitol reduces the oral bacterial flora which supports the argument that this helps reduce the prevalence of dental caries.
The West Indian medical journal, Jan 15, 2014
Tooth wear or tooth surface loss is a normal physiological process and occurs throughout life but... more Tooth wear or tooth surface loss is a normal physiological process and occurs throughout life but is considered pathological when the degree of destruction is excessive or the rate of loss is rapid, causing functional, aesthetic or sensitivity problems. The importance of tooth wear as a dental problem has been increasingly recognized. The findings of a study in Trinidad indicate that the prevalence of tooth wear in a Trinidadian population is comparable to the United Kingdom (UK) and, indeed, that the level of moderate and severe wear is in fact nearly twice as high. The aetiology of tooth wear is attributed to four causes: erosion, attrition, abrasion and abfraction. Erosion is generally considered to be the most prevalent cause of tooth wear in the UK and Europe. Acids that cause dental erosion originate mainly from the diet or the stomach and to a lesser extent, the environment. Underlying medical problems can contribute to the progress of tooth wear due to erosion and the patien...
The West Indian medical journal, Jan 10, 2014
To determine the level of satisfaction with adult dental care at The University of the West Indie... more To determine the level of satisfaction with adult dental care at The University of the West Indies (UWI) School of Dentistry, using the Dental Satisfaction Questionnaire (DSQ) developed by Davies and Ware (1982) and to inferentially explore the factors associated with various patients' demographics. A cross-sectional study was performed among adult dental patients attending UWI adult dental clinics. Data were collected using a self- administered, structured questionnaire which consisted of 19 questions on three subscales of pain management, quality and access (total). Sixty-nine per cent were female, 40% were between 45 and 64 years old, and 31.3% had excellent self-rated dental health status. A Dental Satisfaction Index (DSI overall) of 76.42% satisfaction was found, with the highest satisfaction subscale for quality (81.17%), while access (72%) was the lowest occurring subscale. The mean DSI was 3.57 for the UWI emergency dental clinic and 3.87 for the polyclinic. The differen...
International dental journal, 2006
To determine the prevalence of tooth surface loss (TSL) in a sample of subjects attending a unive... more To determine the prevalence of tooth surface loss (TSL) in a sample of subjects attending a university dental clinic in Trinidad and to investigate the relationship to tooth brushing, medical history, parafunction and dietary habits. Tooth surface loss was measured clinically by the index used in the 1998 UK, Adult Dental Health Survey. Trinidad, West Indies. Convenience sample of adult subjects attending The University of the West Indies Dental School Polyclinic, Mount Hope. A questionnaire was administered and tooth surface loss measured clinically. mild, moderate and severe tooth surface loss. 155 subjects were examined (mean age 40.6 years) of whom 72% had some degree of TSL with the majority (52%), exhibiting mild, 16% with moderate and 4% with severe TSL. There were associations found between TSL and age (OR=3.14), reflux (OR=1.37), parafunction (OR=1.06), weekly consumption of citrus fruits (OR=1.31) and soft drinks (OR=1.78), daily consumption of alcohol (OR=1.40) and a vege...
Dental historian : Lindsay Club newsletter, 2007
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 2007
Non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) are often encountered in clinical practice and their aetiolo... more Non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) are often encountered in clinical practice and their aetiology attributed to toothbrush abrasion, erosion and tooth flexure. This paper aims to determine the prevalence and severity of NCCLs in a sample of patients attending a university clinic in Trinidad and to investigate the relationship with medical and dental histories, oral hygiene practices, dietary habits and occlusion. Data were collected via a questionnaire and clinical examination. Odds ratios were used to determine the association of the presence of lesions and the factors examined. One hundred and fifty-six patients with a mean age of 40.6 years were examined of whom 62.2% had one or more NCCLs. Forty five per cent of the lesions were sensitive to compressed air. Younger age groups had a significantly lower correlation with the presence of NCCLs than older age groups. Other significant factors included patients who reported heartburn, gastric reflux, headaches, bruxism, sensitive teeth and swimming or had a history of broken restorations in the last year. There was also significant correlation of NCCLs in patients who brushed more than once a day or used a medium or hard toothbrush. Patients with vegetarian diets and those who reported consuming citrus fruits, soft drinks, alcohol, yoghurt and vitamin C drinks were associated with the presence of lesions. Significant associations were also found in patients with group function, faceting, clicking joints or those who wore occlusal splints.
European Journal of Dental Education, 2012
Video-clips of tooth preparations recorded with a digital head-mounted camera replaced live demon... more Video-clips of tooth preparations recorded with a digital head-mounted camera replaced live demonstrations midway in a preclinical operative dentistry course. DVDs of the video-clips were made available to the students for home use. The aim of this study was to determine whether the use of these video-clips had any impact on students' practical examination results and to analyse students' opinions of this new technology and the perceived impact on their learning. A questionnaire was administered to all students (n = 26) who completed the course, asking their opinions on the video-clips. The results of student practical examinations before the introduction of the camera were compared with those after the video-clips were available and also to the examination outcomes of the previous year's students (ANOVA, P < 0.05). Twenty-one students completed the questionnaire. Sixteen students (76%) preferred the video-clips to the live demonstrations, and 12 students (57%) made and reviewed the DVDs at home. They expressed a preference for the videos to be made available online or as podcasts. Twelve students (57%) felt that one-to-one supervision was more effective developing their competence in tooth preparations when compared to their viewing of the video-clips. There were no statistically significant differences between the practical examination results. In this group of students, video-clips were the preferred method of demonstration of tooth preparations in the preclinical environment. However, students perceived their learning to be facilitated more by one-to-one supervision. The students preferred to have the video-clips made available to them online instead of in the form of a DVD. The introduction of this educational aide did not make a difference in practical examination results.
Dental Traumatology, 1998
International Dental Journal, 2008
To describe the type and frequency of oral and dental conditions presenting to medical practition... more To describe the type and frequency of oral and dental conditions presenting to medical practitioners in Trinidad and Tobago, type of management, and interest in continuing education in oral diseases. Cross sectional survey of registered medical practitioners in Trinidad. 20-item self-reported questionnaire. 103 medical practitioners participated in the study (response rate 69%). Mean age 33 years. Mean years since qualifying was 8 years and 72% worked mainly in hospital service or private practice (19%); 67% had seen patients with a dental problems, with 69% of those at least as frequently as once a month. Most frequently seen problems were dental abscess (72.5%) and toothache (59.4%). In the case of dental abscess and oral mucosal infection 31.9% and 63.8% respectively, diagnosed and treated before referring. 84% cent expressed interest in receiving continuing education in oral diseases. In the context of access to oral care in Trinidad and Tobago, medical practitioners appear to be important providers and may benefit from further training in the diagnosis and management of oral diseases.
Journal of Dental Education, 2004
The aims of this study were to describe levels of self-rated competency of dental graduates from ... more The aims of this study were to describe levels of self-rated competency of dental graduates from the University of the West Indies (UWI) and to investigate relationships with gender and the effect of curriculum change. A thirty-two item selfreported postal questionnaire was sent to UWI dental alumni (1994-2002). The questionnaire included twenty-eight competencies that could be rated on a 5-point scale: 1 (not at all competent) to 5 (very competent). Overall preparedness for practice could also be rated from 1 (not at all prepared) to 5 (very prepared). The response rate was 77.4 percent, with a mean age of 29.3 years. Items with the highest mean scores were taking an adequate medical history (4.49), recognizing and treating dental caries (4.46), oral examination (4.36), and giving dental health education (4.35). Those with the lowest rating were designing and undertaking clinical research (2.29), dealing with practice management issues (2.52), designing and delivering crown and bridge work (3.33), and recognizing pathologic occlusions (3.33). Overall preparedness for practice was rated as 3.27. Female graduates rated four competencies significantly higher than males. Graduates exposed to the new curriculum perceived greater overall preparedness for general dental practice, suggesting the change to a competency-based curriculum was effective.
International Dental Journal, 2006
To determine the prevalence of tooth surface loss (TSL) in a sample of subjects attending a unive... more To determine the prevalence of tooth surface loss (TSL) in a sample of subjects attending a university dental clinic in Trinidad and to investigate the relationship to tooth brushing, medical history, parafunction and dietary habits. Tooth surface loss was measured clinically by the index used in the 1998 UK, Adult Dental Health Survey. Trinidad, West Indies. Convenience sample of adult subjects attending The University of the West Indies Dental School Polyclinic, Mount Hope. A questionnaire was administered and tooth surface loss measured clinically. mild, moderate and severe tooth surface loss. 155 subjects were examined (mean age 40.6 years) of whom 72% had some degree of TSL with the majority (52%), exhibiting mild, 16% with moderate and 4% with severe TSL. There were associations found between TSL and age (OR=3.14), reflux (OR=1.37), parafunction (OR=1.06), weekly consumption of citrus fruits (OR=1.31) and soft drinks (OR=1.78), daily consumption of alcohol (OR=1.40) and a vegetarian diet (OR=2.79). Tooth surface loss in this Trinidadian population group appears to be common. Data supports an association between TSL and age, reflux parafunction and certain dietary patterns.
West Indian Medical Journal, 2001
ABSTRACT Many of the new materials and techniques used in endodontics (root canal treatment) requ... more ABSTRACT Many of the new materials and techniques used in endodontics (root canal treatment) require considerable practice to master and many require continuing education courses to allow formal instruction. Nothing is known regarding techniques employed and views on continuing professional education (CPE) in endodotics by dentists in Trinidad and Tobago. With the shift toward evidence-based dentistry and rising patient expectation of quality oral health care, a survey was conducted to describe these issues. A self-administered postal questionnaire was sent to all registered dentists in Trinidad and Tobago. Seventy dentists responded after two mailings. Most respondents worked primarily in private practice (85.5 percent). Years since qualification ranged from 2 to 45 years and 54.3 percent were qualified for more than 10 years. Most frequent treatment of an acute dental abcess involved opening, preparing the canal(s), dressing and prescribing antibiotics (40 percent). Forty-one respondents (58.6 percent) ocassionally completed root canal treatment in a single visit. Isolation of the tooth for molar root treatment always caused difficulty for thirty-five respondents (50 percent) and rubber dam isolation was used routinely by only nine respondents (12.9 percent). Most respondents either filed (20 percent) or reamed (18 .6 percent) for canal preparation usually using K files. Thirty-three respondents (47 percent) used sodium hypochlorite to irrigate the tooth and thirty-one (44.3 percent) used cold lateral condensation of gutta percha to obturate. Thirty-four respondents (48.6 percent) subscribed to professional journals and sixty-seven (95.7 percent) had attended some form of Continuing Professional Education. Sixty-seven (95.7 percent) of respondents would attend CPE in endodontics if available in Trinidad and Tobago, with most (72.9 percent) preferring a lecture/seminar format addressing problem-solving and new techniques. Respondents to this survey showed use of a wide range of techniques and materials but still expressed considerable interest in developing their skills in endodontics through formal CPE..
CPD Dentistry, 2004
Materials and Methods: Eighty human molars were divided into five groups and ground dentine surfa... more Materials and Methods: Eighty human molars were divided into five groups and ground dentine surfaces treated, with one of five cements (Fuji I, Vitrebond, Rely X, Fuji II and Panavia F). Spherical amalgam (Tytin) was condensed onto the unset cement and shear bond strengths were ...
The European journal of prosthodontics and restorative dentistry, 2004
This study compared the coronal microleakage of three restorative materials used to seal the acce... more This study compared the coronal microleakage of three restorative materials used to seal the access cavity in root treated teeth. Thirty six teeth were prepared and three experimental groups were obturated and the access cavity filled with different materials; Group A--Intermediate Restorative Material, Group B--Fuji II and Group C--Dyract AP. Microleakage was assessed by Indian ink penetration. The mean coronal dye leakage for Group A was 0.895 mm, for Group B 1.914 mm and for Group C 3.245 mm. There was significantly (p < 0.05) more dye leakage in teeth restored with Dyract AP compared to those with Fuji II or IRM.
Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate employers' and graduates' percepti... more Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate employers' and graduates' perceptions of the competence of dental graduates from the School of Dentistry, University of the West Indies (UWI). Method: Anonymous questionnaires were sent to employers of the dental graduates in 2013. Similar questionnaires were also completed by graduates of the class of 2011 and 2012. Respondents were asked to rate employees or self assess the UWI School of Dentistry (SoD) curriculum's 23 competency areas and 6 domains of dental practice including: professionalism, assessment of a patient, establishment and maintenance of oral health. Results: Response rates of 48.3%, 100% and 95.7% were obtained from the employers, class of 2011 and class of 2012 respectively. The graduates' self-rated competency means were satisfactory or higher (better) in all competency areas. Employers rated the competency of UWI graduates higher than average in all competency areas except temporomandibular j...
West Indian Medical Journal, 2016
INTRODUCTION Maxillary defects are created by surgical treatment of benign or malignant neoplasms... more INTRODUCTION Maxillary defects are created by surgical treatment of benign or malignant neoplasms, as well as congenital malformation and trauma and their occurrence is also associated with the enucleation of maxillary cysts (1). Squamous cell carcinomas account for two thirds of the malignant neoplasms of the upper gingiva and hard palate. Lesions in these areas account for 1-5% of total occurrence in the oral cavity. 1 Adjacent structures are vulnerable to metastasis during the confirmation of the diagnosis. With this eventuality, the recommended treatment for these types of lesions is alveolectomy, palatectomy, partial or total maxillectomy. These treatment outcomes depend on the location and aggressiveness of the actual lesion, its histiotype, patient’s age and general health status (1). Patients with acquired maxillary defects differ from those with congenital defects due to the abrupt alteration in physiologic processes associated with surgical resection of the maxillae (1). T...
International Dental Journal, 2008
To describe the type and frequency of oral and dental conditions presenting to medical practition... more To describe the type and frequency of oral and dental conditions presenting to medical practitioners in Trinidad and Tobago, type of management, and interest in continuing education in oral diseases. Cross sectional survey of registered medical practitioners in Trinidad. 20-item self-reported questionnaire. 103 medical practitioners participated in the study (response rate 69%). Mean age 33 years. Mean years since qualifying was 8 years and 72% worked mainly in hospital service or private practice (19%); 67% had seen patients with a dental problems, with 69% of those at least as frequently as once a month. Most frequently seen problems were dental abscess (72.5%) and toothache (59.4%). In the case of dental abscess and oral mucosal infection 31.9% and 63.8% respectively, diagnosed and treated before referring. 84% cent expressed interest in receiving continuing education in oral diseases. In the context of access to oral care in Trinidad and Tobago, medical practitioners appear to be important providers and may benefit from further training in the diagnosis and management of oral diseases.
Background: The sudden advent of the COVID pandemic resulted in the closure of schools and univer... more Background: The sudden advent of the COVID pandemic resulted in the closure of schools and universities in Trinidad, limiting face to face interactions and removing dental students from the clinical environment in The University of the West Indies. The dental school was challenged to complete the final year teaching with a rapid transition to online teaching. This study examined students’ and teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of emergency remote online teaching.Method: An online cross-sectional survey was administered on the perception of the online learning environment and challenges experienced and effectiveness of strategies used. Overall thirty-three dental students and eleven clinical academic teachers participated. The questionnaire was emailed to the participants for data collection and they responded by using a Likert scale. Reliability of the questionnaire was determined. Chi-squared (χ2) tests were applied for determining the perceptions of students and teachers t...
Dental historian : Lindsay Club newsletter, 2007
International Journal of Dentistry and Oral Science
Aim: The objective of this study was to investigate the short-term consumption effect of xylitol ... more Aim: The objective of this study was to investigate the short-term consumption effect of xylitol gum on the bacterial composition of saliva and plaque flora in a cohort of healthy adult individuals. Methods: A randomized controlled double blind study was carried out on 29 healthy volunteers recruited from the university student population after screening them for Mutans Streptococci group. These fulfilled the study criteria and successfully enrolled in the study. Experimental gum (Epic spearmint) and Control gum (Eclipse spearmint) were given to these cohort of students alternatively following which their saliva and plaque specimens (n=116, saliva n=58, plaque n=58) were assayed for their bacterial flora using standard microbiological procedures. Results: A hundred and ten bacterial organisms were recovered from plaque and saliva of these participants. The Mutans Streptococci group (Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus) were the most (68.2%) prevalent bacteria recovered. While Streptococcus mutans were mostly recovered in both groups, (12 vs 9), there was no statistically significant difference in the colony count of bacteria in each person before and after chewing sorbitol gum (p=0.125; Wilcoxon Signed Rank test). The trend was different with those that chewed xylitol gum as bacteria colony count in the saliva and plaque of each person before and after using xylitol gum showed significant decreases in the counts (p<0.001) in both cases (Wilcoxon Signed Rank test). Conclusion: The study confirms the fact xylitol reduces the oral bacterial flora which supports the argument that this helps reduce the prevalence of dental caries.
The West Indian medical journal, Jan 15, 2014
Tooth wear or tooth surface loss is a normal physiological process and occurs throughout life but... more Tooth wear or tooth surface loss is a normal physiological process and occurs throughout life but is considered pathological when the degree of destruction is excessive or the rate of loss is rapid, causing functional, aesthetic or sensitivity problems. The importance of tooth wear as a dental problem has been increasingly recognized. The findings of a study in Trinidad indicate that the prevalence of tooth wear in a Trinidadian population is comparable to the United Kingdom (UK) and, indeed, that the level of moderate and severe wear is in fact nearly twice as high. The aetiology of tooth wear is attributed to four causes: erosion, attrition, abrasion and abfraction. Erosion is generally considered to be the most prevalent cause of tooth wear in the UK and Europe. Acids that cause dental erosion originate mainly from the diet or the stomach and to a lesser extent, the environment. Underlying medical problems can contribute to the progress of tooth wear due to erosion and the patien...
The West Indian medical journal, Jan 10, 2014
To determine the level of satisfaction with adult dental care at The University of the West Indie... more To determine the level of satisfaction with adult dental care at The University of the West Indies (UWI) School of Dentistry, using the Dental Satisfaction Questionnaire (DSQ) developed by Davies and Ware (1982) and to inferentially explore the factors associated with various patients' demographics. A cross-sectional study was performed among adult dental patients attending UWI adult dental clinics. Data were collected using a self- administered, structured questionnaire which consisted of 19 questions on three subscales of pain management, quality and access (total). Sixty-nine per cent were female, 40% were between 45 and 64 years old, and 31.3% had excellent self-rated dental health status. A Dental Satisfaction Index (DSI overall) of 76.42% satisfaction was found, with the highest satisfaction subscale for quality (81.17%), while access (72%) was the lowest occurring subscale. The mean DSI was 3.57 for the UWI emergency dental clinic and 3.87 for the polyclinic. The differen...
International dental journal, 2006
To determine the prevalence of tooth surface loss (TSL) in a sample of subjects attending a unive... more To determine the prevalence of tooth surface loss (TSL) in a sample of subjects attending a university dental clinic in Trinidad and to investigate the relationship to tooth brushing, medical history, parafunction and dietary habits. Tooth surface loss was measured clinically by the index used in the 1998 UK, Adult Dental Health Survey. Trinidad, West Indies. Convenience sample of adult subjects attending The University of the West Indies Dental School Polyclinic, Mount Hope. A questionnaire was administered and tooth surface loss measured clinically. mild, moderate and severe tooth surface loss. 155 subjects were examined (mean age 40.6 years) of whom 72% had some degree of TSL with the majority (52%), exhibiting mild, 16% with moderate and 4% with severe TSL. There were associations found between TSL and age (OR=3.14), reflux (OR=1.37), parafunction (OR=1.06), weekly consumption of citrus fruits (OR=1.31) and soft drinks (OR=1.78), daily consumption of alcohol (OR=1.40) and a vege...
Dental historian : Lindsay Club newsletter, 2007
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 2007
Non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) are often encountered in clinical practice and their aetiolo... more Non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) are often encountered in clinical practice and their aetiology attributed to toothbrush abrasion, erosion and tooth flexure. This paper aims to determine the prevalence and severity of NCCLs in a sample of patients attending a university clinic in Trinidad and to investigate the relationship with medical and dental histories, oral hygiene practices, dietary habits and occlusion. Data were collected via a questionnaire and clinical examination. Odds ratios were used to determine the association of the presence of lesions and the factors examined. One hundred and fifty-six patients with a mean age of 40.6 years were examined of whom 62.2% had one or more NCCLs. Forty five per cent of the lesions were sensitive to compressed air. Younger age groups had a significantly lower correlation with the presence of NCCLs than older age groups. Other significant factors included patients who reported heartburn, gastric reflux, headaches, bruxism, sensitive teeth and swimming or had a history of broken restorations in the last year. There was also significant correlation of NCCLs in patients who brushed more than once a day or used a medium or hard toothbrush. Patients with vegetarian diets and those who reported consuming citrus fruits, soft drinks, alcohol, yoghurt and vitamin C drinks were associated with the presence of lesions. Significant associations were also found in patients with group function, faceting, clicking joints or those who wore occlusal splints.
European Journal of Dental Education, 2012
Video-clips of tooth preparations recorded with a digital head-mounted camera replaced live demon... more Video-clips of tooth preparations recorded with a digital head-mounted camera replaced live demonstrations midway in a preclinical operative dentistry course. DVDs of the video-clips were made available to the students for home use. The aim of this study was to determine whether the use of these video-clips had any impact on students' practical examination results and to analyse students' opinions of this new technology and the perceived impact on their learning. A questionnaire was administered to all students (n = 26) who completed the course, asking their opinions on the video-clips. The results of student practical examinations before the introduction of the camera were compared with those after the video-clips were available and also to the examination outcomes of the previous year's students (ANOVA, P < 0.05). Twenty-one students completed the questionnaire. Sixteen students (76%) preferred the video-clips to the live demonstrations, and 12 students (57%) made and reviewed the DVDs at home. They expressed a preference for the videos to be made available online or as podcasts. Twelve students (57%) felt that one-to-one supervision was more effective developing their competence in tooth preparations when compared to their viewing of the video-clips. There were no statistically significant differences between the practical examination results. In this group of students, video-clips were the preferred method of demonstration of tooth preparations in the preclinical environment. However, students perceived their learning to be facilitated more by one-to-one supervision. The students preferred to have the video-clips made available to them online instead of in the form of a DVD. The introduction of this educational aide did not make a difference in practical examination results.
Dental Traumatology, 1998
International Dental Journal, 2008
To describe the type and frequency of oral and dental conditions presenting to medical practition... more To describe the type and frequency of oral and dental conditions presenting to medical practitioners in Trinidad and Tobago, type of management, and interest in continuing education in oral diseases. Cross sectional survey of registered medical practitioners in Trinidad. 20-item self-reported questionnaire. 103 medical practitioners participated in the study (response rate 69%). Mean age 33 years. Mean years since qualifying was 8 years and 72% worked mainly in hospital service or private practice (19%); 67% had seen patients with a dental problems, with 69% of those at least as frequently as once a month. Most frequently seen problems were dental abscess (72.5%) and toothache (59.4%). In the case of dental abscess and oral mucosal infection 31.9% and 63.8% respectively, diagnosed and treated before referring. 84% cent expressed interest in receiving continuing education in oral diseases. In the context of access to oral care in Trinidad and Tobago, medical practitioners appear to be important providers and may benefit from further training in the diagnosis and management of oral diseases.