Knowledge about oral manifestations of systemic diseases among medical and dental students from Jordan: An interdisciplinary educational gap

OBJECTIVE

To assess the ability of medical students to recognize oral manifestation of selected systemic diseases and compare their performance with dental students.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 400 senior medical and dental students were approached to participate. The study protocol involved two parts; a self-administered survey and a direct interview involving clinical photographs for oral signs of systemic diseases.

RESULTS

A total of 283 (70.8%) agreed to participate and completed the two- part study. The study population was made of 110 (38.9%) [82 females and 28 males] dental students, and 173(61.1%) [98 females and 75 males] medical students. The knowledge score regarding questions about the normal mouth and oral structures was 15.7 ± 6 out of 22. Dental students had a significantly higher knowledge score about normal mouth and oral structures (20.9 ± 4; range from 17 to 22) compared to medical students (10.6 ± 7; range from 4 to 21) (p = .029). The knowledge score regarding questions about oral manifestations of systemic diseases was 26.8 ± 6 out of 40. Dental students had a significantly higher knowledge score about oral manifestations of systemic diseases (30.8 ± 7; range from 15 to 37) compared to medical students (22.9 ± 4; range from 10 to 36) (p = .031). Only 24.3% (n = 42) medical students reported having adequate training to be able to distinguish between normal mouth and diseases. Nearly all medical students (91.3%; n = 158) felt that it is important to have more formal training in oral examination and disease diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Medical students lack adequate knowledge, diagnostic ability, and confidence with regard to diagnosis of oral signs of systemic diseases. To ensure that medical students have necessary skills in assessing oral diseases, curricula revisions and modifications are required, and specific oral health-related learning outcomes should be introduced and reinforced through clinical training.

Characterization of the biological effect of BiodentineTM on primary dental pulp stem cells

Background

Biodentine™ is relatively a new tricalcium silicate cement that has gained great attention of the researchers due to its biological potential in comparison with other materials. The aim of this study was to investigate the optimum concentrations of Biodentine in relation to its stimulatory or inhibitory effect on proliferation, migration and adhesion of stem cells of human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED). The cell cultures of SHED were treated with Biodentine™ extract at four different concentrations; 20mg/ml, 2mg/ml, 0.2mg/ml and 0.02mg/ml. Cells cultured without Biodentine™ were kept as a blank control. The proliferation potential of SHED cells was evaluated by MTT viability analysis for 6 days. Migration potential was investigated by wound healing and transwell migration assays. The growth, survival and communication potential of these cells was determined by Adhesion assay.

Results

A significant increase was observed in the proliferation and migration of SHED at (2mg/ml, 0.2mg/ml and 0.02mg/ml) while higher concentration of Biodentine™ (20mg/ml) exhibited cytotoxic effect on the cells. However, three tested Biodentine™ concentrations were similar in effect (non-significant) to adhesion ability of cells when compared with blank control.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that lower concentrations of Biodentine™ can be considered as the optimum concentrations to enhance the stimulatory effect of Biodentine on SHED.

Sanjad-Sakati Syndrome: Oral Health Care

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this report is to describe the orofacial manifestations and dental management of a girl with Sanjad-Sakati syndrome.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND INTERVENTION

The facial features included microcephaly, thin lips, beaked nose, low set ears, and a retrognathic mandible. An oral examination revealed oligodontia/hypodontia, small dental arches, a high arched palate, and a deep overbite and increased overjet. Oral rehabilitation involved full coverage prosthetic crowns on the upper central incisors, stainless steel crowns on the lower molars, and removable partial prostheses to replace missing teeth.

CONCLUSION

Recognition of orofacial features might help in the diagnosis of Sanjad-Sakati syndrome. Dental management of affected patients might be complicated by intellectual, neurological, and endocrine abnormalities.