Mhagama M, Mwangosi IEAT Awareness and utilization of dental services among secondary school students in Moshi municipality. Tanz Dent J 2010, 16 (2):44-47 Abstract Aim: To determine the awareness and utilization of dental services among secondary school students in Moshi Municipality. Materials and Methodology: This cross sectional study among 200 secondary school students aged 13-21 years old was done using a supervised Kiswahili self administered questionnaire. Two schools were conveniently chosen to obtain the needed sample of participants into this study. The data were analyzed using the SPSS version 13.0. The significance level was set at p<0.05. Results: About 55% of the participants were aware of the dental services rendered. Proportionately more males were aware of dental services (63.6%), and utilized the services (48.6%) than females (44.1% and 44.1% respectively). Older students were more aware of the dental services (56.6%) and less utilized them (41.0%) compared to younger students (52.6% and 55.1% respectively). Students who had moderate to high level of awareness utilized dental services more (59.1%) than those with low levels of awareness (40.8%). Conclusion: More than half of the respondents were aware of the available dental services. Only 46.5% had utilized dental services during their lifetime. Students with moderate to high levels of awareness utilized dental services more than those with low levels of awareness.

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the magnitude of post extraction complications and related diagnoses among patients who had attended dental clinics in Tabora Municipality from January 2004 to December 2008. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study involved a total of 218 eligible patients, who re-attended at Kitete Hospital and urban health facilities. Information source was from the dental records as detailed in register books and in the out patient cards. The relevant pre-operative information recorded for each patient included diagnosis leading to extraction, tooth/teeth removed and post extraction complication acquired. The collected data were processed and analyzed using SPSS program files, Chi Square statistic was used to test for statistical significance. Results: Out of the eligible 218 patients, 90.4%, (n=197) were evaluated. The most frequent diagnosis was dental caries 93% (n=183); followed by periodontal diseases 5.1% (n=10) and trauma 2.0% (n=4). The most frequently affected tooth was the left lower first molar 12.7% (n=25); followed by the lower right first molar 12.2% (n=24); lower right second molar 11.7% (n=23) and lower left second molar 11.2% (n=22). The most frequent post extraction complication was an infected socket in 90.9% (n=179), followed by alveolar osteitis and bleeding socket 4.6% (n=9). Conclusion: The majority of post extraction complications were infected sockets with prevalence 90.9% and they are not associated with initial diagnosis and type of tooth extracted. However, the problem of record keeping was obvious.

Rationale: In Tanzania Dental Auxiliaries are used as dental chair-side assistants without formal training. This way of recruiting dental health personnel has an inherent weakness that may adversely affect infection control in dental practice. To redress this weakness, the School of Assistant Dental Officers at Muhimbili National Hospital, Tanzania initiated a course aimed at training dental auxiliaries to upgrade their knowledge, attitudes and skills on asepsis and infection control in dental practice. Aim of the course: The aim of the course was to train and orient the chair-side assistants on cross-infection control in dental practice. The scope and implementation of the course: This is a two weeks course that covers principles and procedures for infection control in dental practice. The participants are guided through a series of lectures, seminars, demonstrations and hands on practical sessions. Pre-and post course evaluation is done and upon successful completion of a course, a certificate of participation is offered. Outcome of the course: Twenty-one participants from across Tanzania have successfully completed the course from 2005 to 2008. Pre-and post course evaluation consistently indicated an increase in level of knowledge and skills for infection control in dental practice among participants. Conclusion: It is hereby concluded that this course improved the knowledge and skills of participants. Recommendations: A formal evaluation of the impact of this course to the performance of the participants in asepsis and infection control in dentistry is needed. Hospitals that have not sent their dental auxiliaries to this course are encouraged to do so.