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Biomedical subjects

W D Sithole

Publications and source records attributed to W D Sithole.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Three-year survival of one-surface ART restorations and glass-ionomer sealants in a school oral health programme in Zimbabwe.

An oral health care programme in secondary schools using the atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) approach for dental caries was started in 1993. Glass ionomer (restorative type II, 1) was used as the restorative and sealant material. Sealants were placed using the 'press-finger' technique. Results after 3 years revealed a survival percentage for one-surface ART restorations of 85.3 (95% CL: 89.7-80.9%), which ranged from 96.1 to 69.3% per operator. Failures were related to 'unacceptable marginal defects' (8.1%), 'falling out' (6.1%) and 'excessive wear' (2.5%). Of the 33 failed one-surface ART restorations, 17 were material-related, 7 had caries and no information was available for 9 restorations. Sealants were placed only on surfaces diagnosed as early enamel lesions and on some small dentinal lesions. After 3 years, 50.1% (95% CL: 55.1-45.1%) of the fully and partially retained sealants survived with a range of 68.5-25.9% per operator. Regardless of the low rate of retention, the sealed surfaces had a 4 times lower chance of developing caries than unsealed surfaces with early enamel lesions over the 3-year period. The retention of sealants and the survival of one-surface ART restorations were influenced by an operator effect. The mean treatment time for one-surface ART restorations without chairside assistance was 22.1 min (range per operator of 19.8-23.6 min), whilst the mean time for placing sealants was 9.3 min (range per operator of 8.2-10.8 min). It is concluded that the ART approach and the use of glass-ionomer sealants have made preventive and restorative dental care available for this student population and further that ART seems to be appropriate for population groups currently not receiving preventive and restorative dental care.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Oral health status among secondary school students in Harare, Zimbabwe.

In 1993 a demonstration oral care programme to evaluate the ART procedure for dental caries under field conditions began among secondary school students in Greater Harare. The programme was preceded by an oral epidemiological survey. Of the 569 students examined, with a mean age of 13.9 years, 58.7 per cent were caries free. The mean DMFS and DMFT scores were 1.4 and 1.1, respectively. Very few missing and filled teeth were observed. Excluding those with pulp involvement, small dentinal lesions which could not be penetrated with an excavator at the time of examination, constituted 49 per cent of the mean DMFS score. 84 per cent of dentinal lesions needing treatment were judged to be treatable using the ART procedure. Using the index of Green and Vermillion (1964), the mean plaque score was 5.6 with substantial variation observed between the schools. Calculus was observed among 89.5 per cent of the students examined. 18 per cent of them had a central diastema in the maxilla. Crowding or spacing in the upper and lower anterior region of the jaws was observed in 67.5 per cent and 60.5 per cent of the students, respectively. 15.8 per cent were dissatisfied with the position of their teeth whilst 15 per cent indicated that they would like to undergo corrective treatment. It was concluded that these secondary students lack preventive and curative oral care and that the vast majority of the dentinal lesions observed could be treated using the ART procedure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Atraumatic restorative treatment and glass-ionomer sealants in a school oral health programme in Zimbabwe: evaluation after 1 year.

An oral health care programme in secondary schools using the atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) technique for dental caries was started in 1993. Glass-ionomer was used as the restorative and sealant material. Sealants were placed using the "press finger' technique. Results after 1 year revealed a survival percentage for one-surface ART restorations of 93.4 whilst the complete and partial retention percentages for sealants were 60.3 and 13.4, respectively. No caries was observed in teeth restored using ART, and only 0.8% of surfaces diagnosed as having early enamel lesions at the start of the programme and sealed consequently had progressed into active dentinal lesions after 1 year. The sealant retention percentage and the survival percentage of ART restorations were influenced by an operator effect. The majority of restorations were carried out without administering local anaesthesia. The mean treatment time for one-surface ART restorations was 22.1 min (range per operator of 19.8-23.6 min), whilst the mean time for placing sealants was 9.4 min (range per operator of 8.2-10.8 min). Post-operative sensitivity was reported for 6% of the teeth restored. 95% of the students were satisfied with ART as a treatment modality. It is concluded that ART may in part be the answer to the unavailability of restorative care for many population groups globally.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Good teeth without dentists.

A pilot programme of preventive dental care is reported from Zimbabwe. The target groups were schoolchildren, who were approached through the school health system, and preschool children who were reached via community-based health workers. Educational materials and methods were worked out in close collaboration with local staff. It was considered essential to anchor the programme in established administrative structures.

Child↗
PubMed1991

Oral health manpower projection methods and their implications for developing countries: the case of Zimbabwe.

Manpower projections for oral health are generally held to be more accurate than those for other health sectors since the diseases involved and their treatment times can be predicted more precisely. Nevertheless most oral health manpower projections are either overestimates or are not in line with the resources of individual countries, especially in developing countries. Zimbabwe was taken as the study case, and oral health manpower projections were made using two of the most commonly employed methods and one new approach. The projections obtained using the three methods were all different, and even the lowest projection is beyond the resources of the country. It is recommended that in making oral health manpower projections, the facilities available to accommodate these personnel should also be taken into account.

Dental Hygienists↗