Libyan Journal of Dentistry

Remineralization of Dentine using Nanoparticles: A New Era of Dentistry

Naeima M. Betamar — 2023-10-29

Letter to editor

Evaluation of Intern Students Knowledge of Complete Denture Impression Practice in Benghazi University

Hana E. Mahjoub — 2023-10-29

Objectives: The aim of treatment with complete denture is to restore function and esthetics and maintain patient health. Making an accurate impression is a very critical factor for success or failure of the complete dentures. The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge of intern dental students about procedures followed in impression practice for complete denture construction in the city of Benghazi.

Materials and method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was done amongst dental intern students in Benghazi city, Libya. A total of 120 students were selected randomly. A survey was conducted through a printed standard questionnaire with 13 multiple-choice questions, only 81 questionnaires returned. Data from the completed questionnaires were collected and analyzed, the statistical analysis was done using SPSS statistical software version 23 (SPSS, IBM, Armonk, NY, USA).

Results: Low knowledge scores were found regarding the final impression material, the tray fabrication steps (spacer and relieve holes) and the timing of previous denture discontinuation prior to the primary impression step. Also, a low level of knowledge was found regarding the stage of posterior palatal seal establishment. The scores for all the questions were calculated and tabulated; the scores 1,2 and 3 are low knowledge (57%), good knowledge (43%) and excellent knowledge 0% respectively.

Conclusion: The percentage of low knowledge level was significantly higher than expected, as observed in the overall results indicating that there are procedures and information about complete denture impression practice that remains unknown to the interns, which influence the denture satisfaction of the patient. Changes in the undergraduate education system to focus on these aspects may facilitate the interns to gain more knowledge regarding complete denture impression procedures especially final impression.

Clinico-pathological analysis of Odontogenic Tumors over 28-year-period in Benghazi, Libya

Samar S. Saleh Hamed — 2023-10-29

Background: Odontogenic tumors (OTs) are rare lesions that unique to the jaws constituting about < 1% of all oral tumors. They are a complex group of heterogeneous behavior that range from tumor like lesions, benign tumors to malignant neoplasms with potential to metastases.

Aim of study: To describe the relative incidence of odontogenic tumors (According to World Health Organization classification 2022) at Oral Pathology Department in Benghazi and compare the finding with the literatures.

Methods: A retrospective study of 106 OTs was documented for the demographic data. Statistical analysis was carried out by software SPSS.

Results: OTs constituted 1.2% of all diagnosed oral lesions with 97% of them were benign tumors. Ameloblastoma was the most common type (37.7%) followed by odontomas (24.5%). The peak incidence was around the third decade with male: female ratio 1:1.12. mandible was the most common site (64%).

Conclusion: OTs are relatively uncommon lesions among our sample that is similar to other literatures with some variations.

Multiple keratoacanthoma Involving Lower Lip: Case Report and literature review

Saleh A. Hamouda — 2023-10-29

Keratoacanthoma (KA) is a benign epithelial proliferative lesion which frequently occurs on the sun exposed areas of the skin. KA originates within the pilosebaceous apparatus of the skin, may be solitary or multiple and character by spontaneous resolution. Keratoacanthoma is believed to have a good prognosis despite its clinical and histological resemblance to well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The aim of this paper is to briefly review and discuss the literature about multiple keratoacanthoma involving the lower lip in a 67-year-old male.

Nurses' Awareness of Patient Privacy and Confidentiality in Benghazi Medical Centre (BMC): A Cross-sectional Study

Fatma Abdalla Atitalla Omar — 2023-10-29

Background:- Respect for the privacy of patients and the confidentiality of their information, personal data is a fundamental principle of patient rights. All healthcare providers, especially physicians and nurses play a crucial role as guardians of patient safety and rights therefore this study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of patients’ rights among nurses at the Benghazi Medical Center.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 184 nurses at the gynecology and obstetrics department of the Benghazi Medical Center, using a self-administrated questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of three parts: personal characteristics, and the knowledge towards privacy part (21 statements), and confidentiality (11 statements). Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations) were used to describe the knowledge of privacy and confidentiality among nurses. A relation test was used to measure the association between privacy and confidentiality with personal data. Also, statistical significance was set at a P- value of <0.05.

Results: 67.9% of the nurses reported that they had experienced patient rights. The knowledge about privacy among nurses in the target hospital was high, and the most common knowledge was: during the examination, treatment, and care, all healthcare professionals should be careful about the protection of patient privacy (91.8%) and nursing care to protect privacy in the work environment (91.3%). Concerning confidentality, nurses had a high level of knowledge in general, and the highest level of knowledge was in the statement ‘patients must get all kind of health service in an environment that is suitable for confidentiality’. The result found there was no association between personal characteristics and privacy and confidentiality.

Conclusion:- It was concluded that nurses commonly encounter patient rights issues in their workplace. However, the majority of the nurses who participated in the study had a very good level of knowledge about privacy and confidentiality. Age, educational level or length of working experience was insignificantly associated with the level of knowledge of privacy and confidentiality.

Denture Hygiene Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward Patient Education in Denture Care among Dental Clinicians in Benghazi City, Libya

Abdelsalam I. Elhddad — 2023-10-29

Background: Denture cleaning is essential to prevent malodor, poor aesthetics and the accumulation of plaque/calculus with its deleterious effects on the mucosa. Moreover, denture and mucosal tissues of the edentulous mouth's hygiene, especially in the elderly are essential for overall health. Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess the denture hygiene knowledge and attitudes toward patient education in denture care among dentists in Benghazi, Libya.

Materials & Methods: The present questionnaire survey was conducted on 180 dentists. A self-administrated questionnaire was designed to gather the socio-demographic characteristics, assess the denture hygiene knowledge, attitudes and practices among dental clinicians. The data was entered and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS Version 20 for Windows, SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL).

Results: A total of 155 questionnaires had been returned to the researcher giving a response rate 86 %. The sample comprised of 74.8% of females and 25.2% of males. About 57.4% of participants were general dental practitioner. While 17.4% and 25.2% of them specialist (prosthodontics and non -prosthodontics). About 87.6% of dental general practitioner had aware about accumulation of oral biofilm on denture, but almost of them did not know that the oral biofilm associated with denture stomatitis. While high rates of specialists (prosthodontics 74.1% and non-prosthodontics 64.1%) had positive attitude in compared with general practitioner 48.3% (The difference was significant) about explaining denture hygiene instructions to old patients. All of prosthodontics gave patient's instruction regarding the denture cleansing methods at the time of denture delivery 64% of them used verbal medium for instruction delivery.

Conclusion: Dental general practitioner had limited knowledge and attitudes toward patient education in denture care whereas specialists had sufficient denture hygiene knowledge, attitudes and practices toward patient education in denture care.

Oral Cancer Knowledge, Practices, and Attitudes: A Survey of Libyan Dentists

Areej El-Sallak — 2023-10-29

Dentists play an important role in early detection of oral cancerous lesions. several studies indicate that dentists lack knowledge in oral cancer etiology and diagnosis. Role in the control studies assessing dentists' oral cancer awareness in Libya are lacking.

Objectives: This study examined the oral cancer awareness and practice among dentists in Libya.

Materials and methods: : Administered questionnaires were distributed on dentists working in private and public clinics in the city of Benghazi. Participants’ responses to the questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics.

Results: Three hundred dentists returned completed questionnaires; 237 (79%) females and 63 (21%) males and most of them were under 40 years old 227 (75.7%). Although most dentists were knowledgeable about the most common site, type, and screening method of oral cancer, only about half of the dentists were aware of tobacco as the main risk factor and biopsy as the most proper diagnostic technique for oral cancer. Despite that 86% of the dentists reported that they perform mucosal examination as part of their routine dental examination, about half of the dentists reported lack of confidence in detecting oral cancer and most dentists expressed need for further education and training in this area.

Conclusion: Overall, this study highlighted the importance of introducing continuous education and training programs to dentists which could increase oral cancer prevention and survival rates among oral cancer patients.

Tooth Loss in Adults: A Survey of Reasons and Patterns in the Eastern Province of Aljabal Al-Akhder–Libya

Muna Farag — 2023-10-29

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the reasons and patterns of tooth extraction among adults in the eastern province of Libya.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in three cities in Aljabal Al-Akhder in the east of Libya. A convenience sample was recruited from Libyan adult patients who underwent teeth extractions in dental practices in Albida, Goba and Derna from January 2022 to December 2022. The reasons and patterns for tooth extraction were collected using a form and it is categorized into: caries, periodontal diseases, orthodontic treatment, prosthetic treatment, impaction, trauma, and other reasons. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS software, the significance level was set at P value 0.05.

Results: The study included data from 1000 patients, of whom 55.7% were females, and the mean age was 28 years (SD = 13.8). The most commonly reported reason for tooth extraction was dental caries (59.2%), followed by severe periodontitis (14,1%), tooth impaction (8,2%), prosthodontics reason (4.8%), and failed RCT (4.6%). The most common tooth extracted was the first molar (27.1%), followed by the third molar (19.2%) and second molar (15.3%). The least extracted teeth, other than retained primary teeth, were canine (1.7%) and central incisors (2.5%).

Conclusion: Dental caries and periodontal diseases are the main causes of tooth loss among Libyan adults in Aljabal Al-Akhder. Molar teeth were the most commonly extracted teeth. Measures should be directed toward the prevention and early treatment of oral conditions to reduce teeth extractions and improve the oral health related quality of life.