Projects & Dissertations

ABSTRACT Pain is a problem of global proportions with an increasing acceptance as the fifth vital sign at the same level of significance with blood pressure, pulse and respiration. It is a subjective oral health indicator and one of the most common reason patients seek dental treatment. Pain poses an important ethical and financial concern resulting in unnecessary suffering, sleep disturbances, diminished social activities, an increased school and job absenteeism and reduction of quality of life. Reduction of dental pain and consequences are targets of Global Goals for Oral Health 2020. The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effectiveness of paracetamol and ibuprofen in the pharmacologic management of acute post-operative dental pain, after a third mandibular molar (M3) surgery. This study employed the visual analogue scale to assess the effectiveness of single doses of ibuprofen and paracetamol over a six-hour period, following M3 surgery in a healthy and homogenous study population, matched for age, body mass index (BMI) and gender. Alarms were set to remind patients to score pain intensity at time point 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0 hours, post-dosing. A measure of the difference between the pain scores at the various time intervals and that at the basal level (time = 0) is the pain intensity difference (PID) at the various time intervals. Five brands of the agents used were priced in ten registered and reputable pharmaceutical stores and the average cost per dose, in naira determined. Data obtained were analysed, using the SPSS version 16.0. P<0.05 was considered significant. xv Ibuprofen showed a statistically significant superiority over paracetamol from time 2.5 hours to the sixth hour (P<0.05) following M3 surgery. There is no statistically significant difference between paracetamol and placebo. The costs of both drugs, per unit dose were comparable.

The usage of the English alphabet as a universal medium of communication is basically restricted to writing (written word) and speaking (spoken word). But the study revealed that the English alphabet has design potentials and possibilities inherent in them. However, an examination of the contemporary art space showed that these design potentials and possibilities have not been given adequate attention over time by artists particularly, graphic professionals. The study explored the use of the 26-letter English alphabet as a tool for achieving design concepts and the numerous facets of the human enterprise to which it can be subjected to. This study was an attempt at deriving graphic symbols, images and forms from the available English alphabet. The study particularly focused on how simple, complex and hybrid symbols, images and forms can be derived by systematically manipulating the letters of the English alphabet for creative purposes. The study employed the application of digital and multimedia equipment. More so, the direct or indirect relationship between traditional art, especially ethnic bodily markings and letters of the English alphabet also formed a significant aspect of the study. The findings of this study reveal that alphabetic evolution is not yet complete as new letter forms were being developed on daily basis, especially in the digital sphere. The main contribution of this explorative study is that as a result, the general appraisal of the English alphabet would no longer be restricted to writing and speaking alone, but will expand their utility value particularly in designing models that will become a catalyst for further creative concepts in the field of visual arts.