Dentist Seeks More Trauma Centres

The Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Maiduguri, Prof. Oladapo Olasoji  said that there was  need to establish trauma centres in specific hospitals across the country.

Olasoji said  in Lagos during the sixth Annual Scientific Conference of the Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine, Idi-Araba.

The theme of the conference is: “Contemporary Issues in the Pattern and Management of Oro-facial Injuries in Nigeria“. “The centres will encompass a well established inter-specialty coordination in the care of blast victims, “ Olasoji said.

He noted that patients with blast injuries had created a new class of casualties that presented unique contemporary challenges for oral health givers in the country.

“Health care providers are increasingly faced with the challenge of  care for people injured in explosions, “ he said.

He urged oral health givers to rise to the new challenge through improved training courses, workshops and further specialisation of degree programmes.

Speaking on oro-facial injuries, the professor said that road crashes in the country constituted up to 80 per cent of injuries.

“Other etiological factors, such as assault, sports, falls and industrial accidents were responsible for about 20 per cent of injuries.

“Patients between the ages of 21 years to 30 years are mostly affected in about 55 per cent of cases of injuries, “ he said.

According to him, motorcycle-related oro-facial injuries have increased significantly in recent times in the country.

He said that while head injuries were the leading cause of death in motorcycle accidents, oro-facial injuries, constituting about 70 per cent, were the most common in survivors.

Olasoji said that such injuries due to assault and fights were a common practice due to factors such as low economic conditions, high unemployment among youths and use of illicit drugs.

“Objects including cutlasses, machetes, and guns are commonly used and bleeding from these injuries and subsequent swellings can significantly compromise the airway.

“Initial primary concern is devoted to maintaining airway patency, “ he said.

Also speaking, the Dean, Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine, Idi-Araba, Prof. Kofo Savage, restated the need for people to be more aware of their oral health.

“Awareness about oral health in the country is still very low and people are still afraid to visit the dentist.

“Studies have shown that the oral health is an integral part of general health, therefore, taking care of the mouth can reduce other diseases in the body, “ she said.

The professor noted that the number of dentists in the country was low compared to the large population of Nigerians and advocated for more to be trained.

She said that many Nigerians travelled abroad for dental care delivery because they had little confidence in what was rendered in the country.

“This development is as a result of inadequate facilities and manpower which needs to be addressed, “ she said.