Browsing by Author "Phillips, Vincent Michael"

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    Dental maturation of the permanent mandibular teeth of South African children and the relation to chronological age
    (2009) Phillips, Vincent Michael; Nortjé, C.J.; Morris, A.G.
    Age estimation of the skeletal remains of children can be accomplished by examination of the ossification centres and the fusion of the epiphyseal plates of long bones. Dental age estimation is done by examining the eruption of the deciduous and permanent teeth. Both these methods are inaccurate and are subject to the nutritional status of the individual. A more accurate method of age estimation is by the examination of radiographic images of the developmental stages of the tooth crown and root formation. Two methods of dental age estimation used are those of Moorrees, Fanning and Hunt (1963) (MFH) and that of Demirjian, Goldstein and Tanner (1973) (DGT). These methods were tested on a sample of 913 Tygerberg dental patients; a random mixture of Caucasoid and Khoisanoid children. The MFH method under-estimated the ages of the sample by an average of 0.91 years and the DGT method over-estimated the ages by an average of 0.89 years. Samples of Indian and Negroid children from Kwa-Zulu Natal were tested in a similar manner and the results showed similar under and over-estimation of the ages by these methods. The Negroid children were labelled the Zulu sample. Correction factors were derived for the MFH and DGT methods of dental age estimation when used on Tygerberg, Indian and Zulu children. These correction factors were tested on the samples and found to improve the accuracy of the age estimation methods of MFH and DGT significantly.A second sample group of Tygerberg, Indian and Zulu children were then tested firstly using the standard method of MFH and DGT and the using the correction factors. The results showed that the correction factors improved the age estimation on these samples except in the case of the DGT method on Zulu children. A sample of Xhosa speaking children were added to the two Zulu samples and made an Nguni sample. The Tygerberg samples were combined as were the Indian samples to form data bases for the construction of dental age related tables for Tygerberg, Indian and Nguni children. These tables show that there are distinct differences in the ages at which the teeth develop in the different sample groups and that dental age related tables are necessary for children of different population origins. Statistical analysis of the age related tables from this study (Phillips Tables) show these tables are more accurate in the age estimation of South African children.
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    A descriptive analysis of oral lichen planus from tertiary diagnostic centres in the Western Cape
    (University of Western Cape, 2009) Jeftha, Anthea; Phillips, Vincent Michael
    Lichen planus is a systemic disease that follows a chronic course. The exact aetiology remains unknown but an immune mediated pathogenesis has been implicated. Oral lichen planus is a common form of this disease and can occur in isolation or it may include the skin, genitalia and lesions involving the scalp and hair follicles. Epidemiological studies on oral lichen planus are few. Those that have been conducted have been in developed nations such as North America and Europe as well as Asia and the Middle East. Few African studies report on the demographics of the affected patients. Factors such as patient demographics and trends of diseases are essential to investigate. Findings of such studies may be useful in determining additional patient based criteria that can assist in obtaining a definitive diagnosis and subsequently aid in the management protocols of the specific disease in question. This process is as essential for oral lichen planus as for other diseases. Oral lichen planus can have clinical similarities with other diseases of the oral mucosa. Similarities can also be seen histologically that may further complicate the process of defining the diagnosis. Oral lichen planus may not be commonly associated with frank morbidity, but severe discomfort can be experienced in some clinical variants. This disease has been described as “difficult to manage” Camacho-Alonso et al, 2007). Furthermore, there is an ongoing debate about its malignant potential (Sugerman & Savage; 2002; Scully and Carrozzo; 2008). These factors support the relevance of further investigation of oral lichen planus. This study will report the demographics of patients who have been diagnosed with oral lichen planus in a subset of the South African population, within the Western Cape. The description of the ethnic groups in South Africa was as described by Statistics South Africa, namely; “African” was used to describe Black individuals, “Coloured” was used to describe individuals of mixed ethnic origin, “Indian” was used to describe patients whose ethnic origin was of the Indian/Asian continent, the latter however excluded persons of Chinese decent and “White” described those persons of European origin. The ethnic distribution reported from within the literature will report on the terminology used by the respective authors and hence not follow the guidelines outlined above.
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    The effective accuracy of dental records in forensic dental identification in Sudan
    (University of the Western Cape, 2013) Petro, Waleed; Phillips, Vincent Michael
    In Sudan there are currently no programmes targeting dentists to improve their own knowledge about how they can be part of human identification by keeping good dental records. In addition, no guidelines are stated by the health authorities about making, keeping and retention of dental records. The aim of this research was to assess the accuracy of dental records drawn up by the general dentists in Sudan with regard to forensic dental identification and compare these records to an ideal dental record. Dental records of 180 patients obtained from six sites (major dental sectors) were reviewed and compared with an ideal dental record. The data was captured in Excel and statistically analyzed. The results showed that two third of the dentists do not undertake full tooth charting prior to treatment and sometimes this is not shown in their dental records; The dentist name who examined and treated the patient was clearly mentioned in 55.6% of the dental records examined. Dentists in Sudan do not request many radiographs but they depend mainly on intra oral periapical views (PV) and Orthopantomographs (OPG) with a fair to good quality. The medical history was recorded in 44% of the total number of records examined. The quality of dental records in this study was poor in general dental practices but was fair in governmental hospitals. An integrated education programmes to increase the awareness of the dentists in Sudan about accurate record keeping is recommended. Clear guide lines from the health authorities for dental recording system should be developed.
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    A study to determine the accuracy of Gustafson’s method of age estimation on adult teeth when applied to a sample of the population of the Western Cape
    (2013) Chandler, S.; Phillips, Vincent Michael
    Teeth are often used to assist in the identification of human bodies after death, especially in cases where the body is badly burned or decomposed, as teeth are usually preserved for a long period of time, even after most of the other tissues of the body have decomposed. Age estimation can play a significant role in order to help narrow down the spectrum of possible identities, for example from the missing person’s database. Gustafson created a method of age estimation, using 6 age-related changes of teeth that occur after the eruption of the dentition. He then compiled a regression line from which the age of a tooth donor could be determined by examining attrition, change of the level of the periodontal attachment, secondary dentine deposition in the pulp, resorption of the root, apposition of cementum and translucency of the root. Gustafson’s method of age estimation was based on Europeans from Sweden. This age estimation method has been used on unidentified individuals at the Salt River and the Tygerberg medicolegal laboratories, but the accuracy is questionable as to whether the method is applicable to the population of the Western Cape. The aim and objectives of this study were to test the accuracy of Gustafson’s method on a sample of adults of known chronological age, to determine the degree of accuracy of the method and to evaluate the consistency of the method. Extracted mandibular central and lateral incisors and maxillary central incisors were used in this study. Two examiners independently used Gustafson’s method of age estimation to estimate the ages of the donors of the teeth. This method was found to be inaccurate when applied to a sample of the adult population of the Western Cape.
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    Testing of the Phillips dental age estimation tables on a sample of black children from Mpumalanaga, South Africa
    (University of the Western Cape, 2011) Mahlangu, Simpiwe Margaret; Phillips, Vincent Michael
    A number of dental age estimation methods have been developed over the years ranging from the frequently used age estimation of Demirjian et al (1973) and Moorrees et al (1965) to the less frequently used age estimation methods of Haavikko (1970) and Nolla (1960). Different dental age estimation methods have been used with variable success. These were developed using mainly children of Central and Northern European descent and white North Americans. The results of the above-mentioned dental age estimation methods, when used on South African children, show that the need for adaptation of these methods exists. Phillips has thus developed a dental age estimation table for Nguni children of South Africa, to assist in correcting this discrepancy. OBJECTIVE: To establish if the Phillips dental age estimation developed for Nguni children of South Africa is applicable to children in the region of Mpumalanga. METHOD: Cross sectional study using a stratified random sampling method involving 100 panoramic radiographs of black children up to the age of 14 years, in the region of Mpumalanga. CONCLUSION: This study will determine if Phillips dental age estimation tables developed for South African Nguni children is applicable and accurate in estimating the age of black Mpumalanga children.