Background: Needle stick injuries (NSI) are the commonest route by which blood borne viruses and/or infections such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C are transmitted from patients to health care workers (HCW). Dental students are also at risk of such infections and injuries due to accidental contamination during their practical occupational exposure. There is hardly any information regarding the knowledge and experiences of NSI among dental students in Kenya. Objective: To determine the knowledge and experiences of NSI among dental students at the University of Nairobi Dental Hospital (UONDH). Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Setting: University of Nairobi Dental Hospital premises. The population included undergraduate and postgraduate dental students pursuing their degrees at the university. Results: Seventy two questionnaires were issued and a response rate of 62(81%) was achieved. The age of the respondents ranged from 21-35 years with a mean age of 24 years (SD± 4.7) years. There were 33(53%) males and 29(47%) females. Most of the students were undergraduates (87%) while the rest were postgraduate students (13%). The majority (97%) of the respondents reported that NSI was a means of cross-infection. Only 29% of the respondents had suffered NSI. Of those who had suffered NSI, 36% of the incidents occurred when administering local anaesthesia, while 23% were during scaling, 18% when recapping needles, 18% while clearing up and 5% when suturing. Only seven of those who had suffered NSI (39%) had reported of NSI. The reasons for not reporting were: fear of stigmatisation (25%) or the fear of consequences of crossinfection (38%). All the respondents who had experienced NSI were undergraduates with no statistical significant difference between the undergraduate and postgraduate students (X 2 =3.758, p=0.052). Among the respondents who had experienced NSI, nine were males and nine were females with no statistical significance between the two genders (X 2 =0.106, p=0.48l). All the respondents recorded inadequate knowledge on the modes of prevention of NSI. Less than half (27%) of the respondents had accurate knowledge on the procedure followed in case of NSI. Only 27% of the respondents had taken post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) after suffering NSI with no statistically significant difference between males and females (X 2 =44, p=0.108). Conclusion: Although the level of knowledge on the risk of cross-infection from NSI was high, there was decreased awareness on the means of prevention and protocol.

Objectives: To determine the preferred learning styles of Dental students and Dentists among various dental colleges using the VARK questionnaire. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Various Dental Colleges in Karachi & Rawalpindi using the VARK questionnaire. Period: From June 2018 to February 2019. Material & Methods: Students, house-officers and demonstrators of dental medical college and hospital were asked to fill the VARK questionnaire which consists of 16 items. Four modes of learning either uni modal, bimodal or trimodal could be identified. The four modes include: visual, aural, reading, kinesthic. Results: Kinesthetic mode of learning was used by 24.5% individuals. Aural mode of learning was used by 25.3% individuals. Visual mode of learning was used by 15.5% individuals. Learning by reading was used by 17.7% individuals. Learning by using all modes was used by 1.5% individuals. Conclusion: Identifying the effective modes of learning is the first step towards changing the teaching strategy. Training in medicine and dentistry require innovative teaching ideas incorporating all modes for efficient learning of doctors.

Objective: To compare post obturation endodontic flare-ups following single and multiple visit root canal treatment. Study Design: Quasi experimental study. Setting Operative dentistry department, DOW university hospital Karachi. Period: 2nd October 2017 to 2nd April 2018. Material & Methods: A total of 100 patients of permanent exposed anterior teeth with positive pup response / vital, either gender were included. Patients divided into two groups according to single and multiple visit root canal treatment. At each post obturation recall visit the patients were interviewed and inspected to determine whether or not there are symptoms. Results: A total of 100 patients came for root canal treatment. At 1st post obturation day, out of 50 patients treated in one visit, four experienced a flare-up (8%). Out of 50 patients treated in two visits, eight experienced a flare-up (16%) (P-value=0.12). At 3rd post obturation day, out of 50 patients treated in one visit, three experienced a flare-up (6%). Out of 50 patients treated in two visits, five experienced a flare-up (10%) (P-value=0.37). Conclusion: We conclude that almost same results for single and multiple visit endodontics were achieved not statistically significant.

Objective: To assess the reliability of gingival crevicular blood as a diagnostic tool for diabetes in patients with periodontal disease with and without diabetes. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Periodontics, Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan, from Jul 2017 to Jul 2018. Methodology: Forty patients with diabetes and 60 patients without diabetes with mild to moderate gingivitis or periodontitis in either the upper or lower anterior region were included. Gingival crevicular blood (GCB) was collected and was assessed by glucometer. The same patient underwent finger stick blood (FSB) and intravenous blood glucose level (IV). Plaque Index (PI), Periodontal Pocket Depth (PPD) and Gingival index were also recorded. Results: A positive correlation (r) was detected between glucose levels of Gingival crevicular blood with finger stick blood with the value of coefficient correlation ‘r’=0.849. The mean values of Gingival index in patients without diabetes is 1.53 ± 0.97mm, patients with newly diagnosed diabetes is 1.87 ± 0.920mm and without diabetes is 2.13± 0.94mm. Conclusion: Blood glucose level can be assessed with the help of Gingival crevicular blood as this technique was found easy and non-invasive to the patient and it can help in diagnosing diabetes during regular periodontal treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the learning style and learning preference of dental students and dentists in different dental colleges within Karachi. METHODOLOGY: Total six hundred and four students and dentists participated in this study. Learning preferences were elicited using a Learning Style Questionnaire (LSQ) which consisted of eighty questions. It is based on four learning styles Activist, Theorist, Reflector and Pragmatist. Each of the learning style has twenty related questions in questionnaire. The result was analyzed using Excel software. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 86.28%. The most preferred learning style was Reflector (39.73%) and Pragmatist (35.09%), while, the least preferred style was Theorist (19.86%) and Activist (17.71%). Majority of the students have developed preference for at least one learning style. Some students (20.52%) have developed equally strong preference for two learning styles. None of the students have developed equally strong preference for three or four learning styles. CONCLUSION: A wide range of learning occurs in dental Colleges in Karachi. The result of this study can be used to teach students according to their preferred learning style or alternatively, students can be motivated or encouraged to learn in any situation.