NASR ELSHEIKH | National Ribat University, Khartoum (original) (raw)

Papers by NASR ELSHEIKH

Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 2020

Introduction: Professionalism and ethics are essential components of all dental schools. Therefor... more Introduction: Professionalism and ethics are essential components of all dental schools. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of professionalism among Sudanese undergraduate dental students. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 307 students in the final year undergraduate Dental Surgery Bachelor program with 155 public and 152 private university students. We collected data through a self-administrated, semistructured questionnaire. Results: Although most of the students enrolled in dental schools due to their performance at higher school (P value 0.00), this has no significant effect on their attendance and academic performance afterward (P value 0.25). The perception of the students toward ethics teaching was generally positive in both public (77.34%) and private schools (78.77%). Ethics was represented in the curriculum of both private (51.7%) and public (48.3%) dental schools as perceived by their students. 95.43% and 94.00%...

Journal of Public Health and Emergency

Sudan is a diverse African country with different cultures, tribes and populations. Medical educa... more Sudan is a diverse African country with different cultures, tribes and populations. Medical education continues to evolve rapidly in Sudan. The Sudan Medical Specialization Board (SMSB) is currently the main and only organization responsible for the training of doctors in all specialities. Engaging young doctors in scholarly research activities and producing clinically competent and research-oriented medical workforces are essential demands, particularly in a country like Sudan. In this article, we explained why doctors in Sudan need to do research even if they are not considering studying for a PhD degree. We also discussed why doctors should consider a PhD degree in order to be independent researchers and leaders in clinical research. There are golden opportunities for research on different issues like communicable and non-communicable diseases. Importantly, doctors also have the chance to explore and research in social and psychological sciences. Medical education is another unique area for research as the country have medical schools with different systems. The opportunity for young Sudanese doctors to have a PhD degree with training in a clinical speciality will allow them to have a successful research career. Strong research experiences for young doctors will come with significant benefits for the health system and Universities in Sudan. Beside the interpersonal and managerial skills gained (time management, project management, analytical skills, collaboration and learning from different teams), universities and communities will benefit in term of better management of applied research directed according to the need of the community. Sudan Medical Specialization Board can assess the practicality of offering one programme for dual degrees (PhD and clinical MD). Such a programme will definitely fill the gap with skilled physician-scientists in Sudan. Implementation of such an innovative programme in Sudan will represent a unique experience not only in the Middle East but also in Africa.

Background: Medical students as future professionals must reflect the trust the public places in ... more Background: Medical students as future professionals must reflect the trust the public places in the medical profession. This study aimed to assess the level of professional knowledge and attitude among final year medical students, their opinion on the current courses of professionalism and the impact of some socioeconomic factors on their professional thinking.

Background: People differ in the way they perceive, process, store, and recall what they are atte... more Background: People differ in the way they perceive, process, store, and recall what they are attempting to learn. This study aimed to assess the learning styles among preclinical 1 st year medical students and the influence of the type of high secondary school (governmental vs. private) and type of high secondary school certificate (Sudanese vs. Arabian) on learning style. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional institutional-based study was conducted at Al Neelain University, Khartoum State, Sudan. First year students of Medicine, Dentistry and Physiotherapy Faculties were enrolled. The VARK (Visual, Auditory, Read and write, and Kinesthetic) learning style hard copy questionnaire, © Copyright Version 7.8 (2014) held by VARK Learn Limited, Christchurch, New Zealand was administered following permission. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. Results: Out of 320 students, 198 correctly completed VARK questionnaires, with mean age of 17.88 years (SD 1.52) and 74.2% were female students. About 59.6% were from governmental schools and 79.4% of the studied students had Sudanese High Secondary Certificates. About 64.1% demonstrated singular mode preference. Inferential statistics showed statistically significant difference between the learning styles and the type of secondary school whether governmental or private (P-value 0.005) while no statistically significant difference in relation to the type of high school certificate of the studied group (P-value 0.225). Conclusion: The type of secondary school whether governmental or private may affect learning style of medical students while student's gender, type of college, or type of high school certificate (whether Sudanese or Arabian) do not. More andlarger studies are encouraged.

Background: The deficit of awareness about the mode of transmission and the use of safety equipme... more Background: The deficit of awareness about the mode of
transmission and the use of safety equipment may explain the
stigma HIV positive patients faced in health care services
worldwide, in particular in Sudan. The paper intends to examine
the knowledge and the use of standard precaution measures by
oral health professionals.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in
Ribat University Teaching Hospital, Sudan. A, convenient sample
of 105 oral health professionals was interviewed. A selfadministrated
questionnaire developed in English and translated
in Arabic by the author was handled to the participants. The
research instrument comprised sociodemographic information,
HIV knowledge, awareness towards the mode of transmission and
the use of safety equipment and measures. Data were entered in
Epi InfoTM 7.1.5.0 and analyzed with SPSS 21 for MS Windows
(SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). A reliability analysis of the scale of
measurement based on Cronbach’s alpha method was performed
to assess the quality of the answers of the participants.
Results: Of the 97 participants, 50.5% had poor knowledge of
HIV oral signs. Concerning the use of safety equipment (n=105),
only 29.5% were “Fully aware”. Of the 105 participants, ways of
prevention of transmission were reported to be known by 94.3%.
The study revealed that 59.6% of the participants (n=105) were
“Fully aware” and 40.4% were “Not aware” about the appropriate
measures to be taken.
Conclusions: The results of the study suggested that oral health
professionals lack knowledge about HIV signs and use of safety
standards, these weakened their awareness. These findings had
implications for continuing education for all oral health professions
to incorporate evidence-based on HIV transmission and prevention.

Maxillary defects are created following surgical treatment of patients with congenital defects, t... more Maxillary defects are created following surgical treatment of patients with congenital defects, trauma,
or neoplasm. Oral cancer is one of the more common malignanciesif detected lately massive tissues
will be excised surgically and correction will be challenging. One of the treatment strategies is
obturator, the retention of which is a major problem.
70 years old female presented with complaint of difficulty in chewing, speech and unlike her
appearance. Hemimaxillectomy (or transectomy) was done 6 months ago as surgical treatment of
squamous cell carcinoma resulted in a huge hole on the right side of the remaining maxilla.The size of
the defect was about 3.0X1.5 cm. Acrylic obturator was made. Soft liner (Mucopren, Germany) was
added to the fitting surface of the obturator. The patient’s speech, swallowing, mastication and facial
appearance were improved. The use of hard acrylic base obturator with soft linear rendered the
obturator more retentive and comfortable to the patient. To the best of our knowledge this is the first
case to be reported in Sudan in a method different from those used by others worldwide.

Background: The choice of the size of artificial teeth takes an important place in the removable ... more Background: The choice of the size of artificial teeth takes an important place in the removable
prosthodontic treatment. However, the standards or proportions commonly used as a guide have
been developed mainly on Caucasian populations.
Objectives: to investigate the relationship between intercanthal distance and the anterior maxillary
teeth size in Sudanese population.
Methods: This is a descriptive cross sectional study conducted in 114 subjects, (45 males - 69
females), from Khartoum and Juba Universities. The age range was from 18-46 years. The
intercanthal distance (I.C.D) was the measurement taken between the median angles of the
palpabral fissure. Maxillary intercanine distance was obtained by measuring a line from the tip of
the canine on one side, to the canine on the other side. An electronic digital caliper (Narex –
Czechoslovakia) was used for all measurements. Data were analyzed using Person chi–square test.
Results: a significant correlation is found between intercanthal distance and maxillary intercanine
distance in all subjects (P-value 0.015), and in females who had a (P-value of 0.006). Maxillary
intercanine distance may be estimated by dividing I.C.D by factor 0.9.
Conclusion: These results could be used as a helpful guide for selection of anterior teeth width in
the Sudanese population.

Conference Presentations by NASR ELSHEIKH

Interalar Distance as a Reference for Selection of Maxillary Anterior Teeth Size Introduction On... more Interalar Distance as a Reference for Selection of Maxillary Anterior Teeth Size
Introduction
One of the primary concerns in denture esthetics is the selection of maxillary anterior teeth. 1,2
When pre-extraction records are not available, selection of proper anterior teeth size for edentulous patients will be very difficult. This is why many anatomical measurements have been suggested, such as:
• Interalar width.
• Intercanthal distance.
• Interpupillary distance.
• Bizygomatic distance.
• Intracodyler width .
Photographs, radiographs and computer imaging have also been used to help in tooth selections.
In Sudan non of the above methods have been used and applied to determine any variation in these anatomic measurements related to ethnic and race variables, therefore it was suggested to conduct a study.
Objectives
To measure interalar width (I.A.W.) and relate it to the intercanine distance, to establish a factor used in selection of maxillary anterior teeth width in Sudanese population.
This was a descriptive cross sectional study conducted in 114 subjects, (45 males – 69 females), from Khartoum University, Sudan.
The age range was 18-46 years.
Sample size:
Was calculated according to the formula:
N = z2 pq
d2
N = Sample size
z = 1.96
p = Prevalence
q = Probability (100-p)
d = Desired margin of error.
Random sampling technique.
Materials and Methods:
Inclusion criteria:
• All maxillary teeth present.
• No distemas.
• Angles class I relationship.
• Skeletal class I jaw relation.
• Regular intact anterior teeth.
• Teeth free from filling.
Exclusion criteria:
• Severe attrition.
• Caries cases.
• Subjects with a history of congenital anomaly.
• Orbital disease.
• Trauma or facial surgery .
• History of orthodontic treatment.
Materials and methods:
Impressions were made with irreversible hydroclloid impression material (Alginate Cavex Holland), using suitable perforated trays.
Following inspection these impressions were washed under running water to remove the saliva. Then impressions were casted immediately using stone (ZETA Muffle Italy).
Measurements:
• The I.A.W and the intercanine distance were measured for each subject.
• The intercanine distance was measured in a straight line between the canines cusp tip of the right side and left side.
• All measurements were carried out using an electronic digital caliper (Narex – Czechoslovakia).
Interalar width (I. A. W.) was measured while patients were in a relaxed state, and by bringing the recording parts of the digital caliper just into contact with the outer surfaces of the alae. Virtually no pressure was applied (Photo. 1).
Photo (1): Measuring interalar width with electronic digital caliper
Photo (2): Measuring maxillary intercanine distance with electronic digital caliper
Data analysis:
Data from the measurements were subjected to statistical analysis by using Person chi–square test.
A P-value of <0.05 was considered significant while P-value >0.05 was not significant.
Results
A significant correlation was found between interalar distance and maxillary intercanine distance in all subjects (P- value 0.007), particularly in females
(P-value 0.03) (Table 1).
Conclusion
• Maxillary intercanine distance may be estimated by dividing I.A.W by factor 1.1.
• This result could be used as a helpful guide for selection of maxillary anterior teeth width for the Sudanese population.
Discussion
• The choice of the size of artificial teeth takes an important place in the removable prosthesis treatment. However, the standards or proportions commonly used as a guide have been developed mainly on Caucasian populations.
• This study has been undertaken to determine a relationship between, I.A.W and anterior maxillary teeth size in Sudanese population.
• In the present study, measurements of I.A.W and intercanine distance were found to be greater in males than in females. This is in consistent with pervious reports.3, 4,5,6
• The mean width of I.A.W in this study (40.00 mm) was greater than other’s findings7,8,9,10,11,12,13 of all ethnic groups, except the afro-american females who had larger measurements of I.A.W.9
References
1. Engelmeier RL. Complete denture esthetics. Dent Clin N AM 1996; 40(1): 71-86.
2. Fenn HR, Liddelow KP, Gimson AP. Appearance clinical dental prosthetics. 2nd. CBS publishers and distributors. Delhi- India 1986. P. 417-53
3. Fok TF, Hon KL, So HK, Wong E, Ng PC Lee Ak, Chang A, Craniofacial anthropometry of Hong Kong chinese babies: the eye. Orthod Craniofac Res 2003; 6(1) 48-53.
4. Abdullah MA. Inner canthal distance and geometric progression as a predictor of maxillary central incisor width. J Prosthet Dent. 2002; 88(1):16-20.
5. Richardson ER, Malhotra SK. Mesiodistal crown dimension of the permanent dentition of American Negroes. Am J Orthod. 1975; 68(2):157-64.
6. Zissis A, Stavrakis G. Karkazis H. Width relationship between upper and lower anterior teeth. Stomatologia (Athenai). 1989; 46(1):23-9.
7. Mavroskoufis F, Ruitchie GM.Nasal width and incisive papilla as guides for the selection and arrangement of maxillary anterior teeth.J Prosthet Dent. 1981; 45(6): 592-7.
8. Abdullah MA, Stipho HD, Talic YF, Khan N. The significance of innercanthal distance in prosthodontics. Saudi Dental J 1997; 9 : 36-9.
9. Latta GH Jr, Weaver JR. Conkin JE. The relationship width of the mouth, interalar width, bizygomatic width, and interpupillary distance in edentulous patients. J Prosthet Dent. 1991; 65(2): 250-4.
10. Keng SB. Nasal width dimensions and anterior teeth in prosthodontics. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 1986; 15(3): 311-4. central incisor widths. J Prosthet Dent 1985; 35(2):540-2.
11. Al-Sheikh HM, al-Athel MS. The relationship of interalar width, interpupillary width and maxillary anterior teeth width in Saudi population. Odontostomatol Trop. 1998; 21(84):7-10.
12. Hoffman W Jr, Bomberg TJ, Hatch RA. Interalar width as a guide in denture tooth selection. J Prosthet Dent. 1986; 55(2):216-8.
13. Dharap AS, Tanuseputro H. A comparison of interalar width and intercanine distance in Malay males and females. Anthropol Anz 1997; 55(1) : 63-8.

Four maxillary incisors’ selection using interalar width Purpose: To measure interalar width and... more Four maxillary incisors’ selection using interalar width
Purpose: To measure interalar width and relate it to the overall width of the four maxillary incisor teeth.
Materials and Methods: It was a descriptive cross sectional study conducted among Khartoum University students. Participants were selected following certain criteria: all maxillary teeth present; no diastemas, Angles Class I Relationship, Skeletal Class I Jaw Relation, regular intact anterior teeth, teeth free from fillings, no history of orthodontic treatment. Severe attrition and caries cases were excluded. Subjects with a history of congenital anomaly, trauma or facial surgery were also excluded. After signing a written informed consent, 114 students were included in the study. Irreversible hydrocolloid (Alginate) was used to obtain maxillary impressions that were poured immediately with dental stone. The Interalar Width (I.A.W) and the overall width of the four maxillary teeth were measured for each subject. Measurements were carried out using an electronic digital calliper (Narex – Czechoslovakia), to the nearest tenth of a millimetre and coefficient correlation (r-factor) was obtained.
Results: Forty five males and 69 females, ranging from 25–46 years old were enrolled in this study. The relationship between the overall widths of the four maxillary incisors was highly significant in all subjects (P-value was 0.000). In males (P-value was 0.103) and in females (P-value was 0.051).
Conclusions: Overall width of four maxillary incisors may be estimated by dividing interalar width by factor 1.4.

Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 2020

Journal of Public Health and Emergency