The use of video alone in clinical periodontology training may have limitations unless supplemented by appropriate learning activities.

Background:The leaves of the Neurolaena lobata (Asteraceae) plant are used to control diabetes and heal wounds and infections.Aim:The ethanolic extract of N. lobata leaf was evaluated for its ability to heal inflicted wounds in rats using the excision wound model.Materials and Methods:Animals were divided into three groups of six each. Test group animals were treated topically with an ethanolic extract of N. lobata (1:1 with petroleum jelly, 100 mg/kg/day). Standard and control group animals were treated with mupirocin and petroleum jelly, respectively. Treatment was given for 13 days and the wound area was measured on alternate days. Parameters of healing assessed were the rate of wound contraction, period of epithelialization and hydroxyproline content. Antimicrobial activity of the extract was observed against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.Results:Phytochemical analysis of the extract showed the presence of saponins, tannins, alkaloids and flavanoids. Extract-treated animals exhibited 87% reduction in the wound area over 13 days when compared with the control (78%) and standard (83%) groups (P < 0.05). A significant decrease in the epithelialization period was noticed with the extract-treated test group animals compared with the controls and the standard group animals (P < 0.008). The hydroxyproline content of the extract-treated animals was higher (230.5 ± 42.1) when evaluated against the control and (79.0 ± 32.2) and the standard (115.0 ± 44.5) groups (P < 0.05).Conclusion:Increase in the rate of wound contraction and hydroxyproline content with decrease in epithelialization time in extract-treated animals support further evaluation of N. lobata as a pharmacotherapy for wound healing.

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Objective This cross‐sectional study aimed to investigate self‐reported stress level and coping ability as well as mental status (anxiety and depression) via the 12‐item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ‐12) questionnaire and periodontal status among police academy recruits during their 8 months of training. Methods Eighty‐five consenting police recruits were examined at baseline during the first month of training and again during the last month of training. Full mouth plaque score (FMPS), full mouth bleeding score, basic periodontal examination, self‐reported stress level (scale of 1–10) and GHQ‐12 questionnaire (mental status) were recorded at both visits. Ability to cope (yes/no) with stress was recorded at the final visit. Periodontal diagnosis was derived based on clinical examination. t test and regression analyses (p < .05) were performed. Results High stress (odds ratio: 1.25) and inability to cope with stress (odds ratio: 1.31) were statistically significant (p < .05) predictors of high FMPS. Inability to cope with stress (odds ratio: 1.45) was also a statistically significant (p < .05) predictor for periodontitis compared to gingivitis. Mental status (anxiety and depression) may play a greater role in gingivitis (mean 1.75) as opposed to periodontitis (mean 1.00) as reflected by the higher mean GHQ‐12 (t test, p = .04). Conclusions In this study, both self‐reporting of stress level and ability to cope with stress were statistically significant predictors of higher plaque score (FMPS). Ability to cope with stress was also a statistically significant predictor of periodontitis compared to gingivitis. Recording of both self‐reported stress level and ability to cope may be valuable variables to note in the management of plaque and periodontal diseases.

Educational pressures such as challenging workload, demanding deadlines and competitiveness among undergraduate dental students erode academic integrity in clinical training. The implementation of honour codes have been associated with the reduction in academic dishonesty. An action research was undertaken to investigate and foster academic integrity through creative pedagogical strategies and the implementation of an honour code within the undergraduate dental programme. Students reported the honour code as relevant (86.3%) and it encouraged (> 92%) the five investigated fundamental values of academic integrity (International Centre of Academic Integrity). The students also favoured (86.3%) the annual implementation of the honour code. The creative pedagogical strategy facilitated a change in perception on academic integrity in the clinical scenarios sessions. Most students (85.7%) showed changes in perception of academic integrity. The majority of students’ narratives/responses were positive and the emerging subthemes also espoused the five out of the six ICAI fundamental values of academic integrity. Students indicated the need for inclusion of academic integrity education within the curriculum. They felt that staff also should be guided by an academic integrity policy. Implementation of an honour code coupled with creative pedagogical strategies helped to foster understanding and appreciation for academic integrity. Conversely the honour code implementation was more effective due to the use of supportive creative pedagogical strategies on academic integrity. It is still undetermined whether these change in perception impacted on clinical practice during training and post-graduation.

Background Self-assessment is a mandated educational requirement for use in dental undergraduate programmes. It is weakly supported for use in early clinical training and studies are criticized for the conceptual and methodology shortfalls. The aim of the study was to compare the alignment of student self-assessment to both staff assessment and written exams in early clinical training using an educational approach. Methods In 2014-2015, 55 third-year dental students completed three educational sessions comprising of (a) classroom teaching (lecture, video) with post-lesson written exam and (b) clinical activity with student self-assessment, staff assessment and student reflection. An intra-individual analysis approach, staff validation, and student scoring standardization were implemented. Cognitive (clinical competency) and non-cognitive (professionalism) items were separated in the analyses. Results There were medium correlations (Spearman’s rho, r) between student self-assessment and staff assessment scores for cognitive items (r, 0.32) and for non-cognitive items (r, 0.44) for all three combined sessions. There were large correlations for individual sessions. Compared to the post-lesson written exam, students showed small correlation (r, 0.22, 0.29) and staff showed medium correlation (r, 0.31, 0.34) for cognitive and non-cognitive items. Students showed improvements in their mean scores for both cognitive (t-test; p > 0.05) and non-cognitive items (t-test; p = 0.000). Mean scores of students were not different statistically from that of staff (p > 0.05). Conclusions Students may adequately act as self-assessors at the beginning of their clinical work in periodontology. Self-assessment may potentially improve the clinical performance. Self-assessment may be nurtured through clear guidelines, educational training strategies, feedback and reflection leading to better evaluative judgement and lifelong learning.

The high prevalence of DS was comparable to other studies on periodontitis patients. Progressive periodontal disease and toothbrush abrasion were possible aetiological factors for DS in this study. Knowledge of local dietary practices and the role of acidic (sour) foods in eliciting DS may aid in management. The high prevalence of cervical tooth wear and the lower FMPS and FMBS among DS patients may reflect more aggressive tooth brushing. DS does not seem to be a limitation to plaque control in DS versus non-DS patients in this study.

A 14-year-old male of Afro-Caribbean descent presented with moderate hypodontia, missing some of the permanent mandibular premolars and the lower central incisors, which was a rare finding. There were no apparent associated systemic or syndromic relationships. The main dental concerns were aesthetics, function and space maintenance until adolescent craniofacial bone growth had ceased. Thus, an initial intervention entailed provision of a unilateral removable partial flexible denture that was acceptable to the patient and provided a suitable aesthetic result for the young person. This approach was preferred to a ‘band and loop’ appliance proposed in the literature because the removable partial denture supported function and aesthetics. CPD/Clinical Relevance: Unilateral removable partial flexible dentures may be useful in mid-adolescent cases of hypodontia.