Submitted in full compliance with the requirements for a Master’s degree in Technology: Dental Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2017. / Post-apartheid restructuring of the South African Higher Education system has brought about significant changes. Institutions of Higher Learning have implemented minor and major changes in their objectives, delivery of knowledge, functions, accreditations and overall outcomes (Du Pre 2006, Reddy 2006, Department of Education 1997). One of the more significant transitions within South Africa’s Higher Education landscape has been the conversion of technikons into universities of technology (UoTs) (Powell & McKenna 2006). This thesis investigates the discourses of academics within a university of technology, exploring their responses to and constructions of institutional shifts. The study has an ontological focus in that it is interested in the ‘being’ of Dental Technology academics. It is interested in the discursive constructions not only of themselves as academics, but also of their work in this changed institutional context. By conducting interviews with the Dental Technology academics lecturing in universities of technology in South Africa, it was the intention to explore these academics’ discourses on institutional shifts. Adopting discourse analysis as the primary method of data analysis enabled the exploration of how academics constructed the notion of academic identity, how they discursively constructed students and knowledge, as well as other core issues related to their work. / M

Submitted in full compliance with the requirements of the degree of Master of Technology: Dental Technology, Durban University of Technology, 2014. / This study investigated how corporate social responsibility (CSR) is understood within the KwaZulu-Natal dental technology industry, as an indication of the position of the industry nationally. The objectives of this study were to provide clarity regarding how the members of the dental technology industry in KwaZulu-Natal perceive CSR, to determine what is being practised in terms of CSR, and to provide possible insights into how the dental technology industry in KwaZulu-Natal might understand and consider CSR principles going into the future. This is a qualitative study conducted in the interpretive paradigm. The conceptual framework utilised for the study was Carroll’s CSR pyramid (1991) which was reviewed by Ferrell et al. (2010). For the purpose of this study CSR was understood to encompass the economic, legal and ethical aspects of running a business. It further extended into an understanding of philanthropy that goes beyond the primary purpose of a business. Simple random sampling was used to select participants for individual semi-structured interviews. The data collected was analysed using thematic content analysis. This study found that CSR is an unfamiliar term amongst dental laboratory owners and dental technicians. Dental laboratory owners and technicians failed to understand that CSR involves not only the basic aspects of running a business which are economic advancement but also compliance with legislation and ethics considerations. This study found that the poor understanding of CSR by dental laboratory owners and dental technicians stems from a poor understanding of basic business principles as was revealed in reported practices of the industry participants that lacked business ethical consideration. The perceived lack of participation in the industry by the South African Dental Technicians Council was seen to be a contributing factor to unethical behaviour within the industry. A degree of localised philanthropy was found to be practised by some in the industry. However, such practice was not generally accepted as a norm and that the industry should necessarily take cognisance of. The results generated by this study indicate that the dental technology industry’s lack of knowledge and understanding of CSR are such that industry should be informed and educated in CSR practices and that a coordinated approach to CSR practice by the industry is needed.

Submitted in full compliance with the requirements for the Master of Health Sciences in Dental Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2017. / With the transformation in Higher Education (HE), the number of Black African students entering South African universities increased significantly (72%). Black African students accounted for 77.38% of the total student population at Durban University of Technology (DUT). It has been noted that the majority Black African students in HE are first-generation students, many are under-prepared, and come from low-socioeconomic backgrounds. Students from this racial group tend to make incorrect career choices due to a lack of knowledge, experience, and adequate vocational guidance and career counselling. To add to this, many University of Technology programmes, such as Dental Technology, are vocational in nature and prepare students for unfamiliar industries. The aim of this study is to determine the factors associated with student recruitment practices and student profiles in the Dental Technology programme at the DUT. This cross-sectional study employed a mixed method approach. An online survey recruited Dental Technology students who entered the programme from 2008 to 2012. The students’ demographic information was retrieved from the Management Information System (MIS) Department. The survey generated categorical data, which was analysed using the SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) which included frequencies, cross-tabulation, Chi-Square test, and Spearman's Rank Order Correlation. Semi-structured interviews with Dental Technology lecturers and the staff involved in student recruitment practices generated qualitative data which was analysed using QSR NVIVO 10. Common themes were classified and discussed. The findings showed that 75% of Dental Technology students were Black African. Only 28% came from urban areas and 81.4% of students attended government schools. Furthermore, 60% relied on financial aid for the payment of their tuition fees. Two categories of necessary attributes emerged i.e. general attributes for an HE student (intrinsic qualities e.g. passion, positive attitude) and the practice specific attributes for Dental Technology (e.g. good eye-hand coordination, manual dexterity). However, the academic staff indicated that the programme is not attracting its desired students. Added to this, is the fact that from the 2008 – 2012 initial intake of 157 students, 41% dropped out of the programme. According to Dental Technology staff, there are no programme-specific student recruitment practices, and they rely on the institutional recruitment practices. However, qualitative findings showed that the DUT employs a generic approach which includes branding and direct promotion with academic departments only minimally involved, reducing the likelihood of effectively recruiting desired students for specific academic programmes such as Dental Technology. About 83% of students indicated that they had not been exposed to any of the DUT’s recruitment practices while they were still in high school. With these findings, it can be concluded that the association between the profiles of the student participants and the current student recruitment practices in the Dental Technology programme is incongruent and weak. In essence when students are recruited to enrol in academic programmes in an institution there needs to be a strong relationship between academic departments and the staff members responsible for recruiting students as the academic staff members are better able to clearly explain the intricacies of their respective programmes and they have an accurate understanding of their desired students. The student recruitment personnel are equipped to sell or market the institution and its offerings to prospective students, but there is clearly a need for the Dental Technology programme to pay more attention to the manner in which their students are recruited and retained. This will help to improve the programme's pass rates and dropout rates while addressing the issues of access, equity, diversity. / M

Syftet: Syftet med föreliggande studie var att baserat på publicerade vetenskapliga artiklar undersöka prognosen över den artificiella intelligensens implementering inom den kliniska verksamheten och dess påverkan på det framtida tandläkaryrket.  Material och metod: En litteraturstudie utfördes med hjälp av PEO-systemet, fastslagning av inklusions- samt exklusionskriterier och sökning i databaserna PubMed, Scopus och Web of Science. Avsmalningen skedde i två steg: titel- samt abstractnivå och därefter på fulltextnivå. Resultat: Sex vetenskapliga artiklar inkluderades. Fyra stycken från Pubmed, två stycken från Scopus och inga från Web of Science på grund av att de inte uppfyllde urvalskriterierna. Artikel 1 handlade om diagnostik av oral cancer med hjälp av AI. Artikel 2, 3D-planering av tandimplantat med hjälp av AI och AR  (augmented reality). Artikel 3 och 6, vikten av implementeringen av AI inom tandläkarutbildningen, både på praktisk och teoretisk nivå. Artikel 4, detektering av karies hos barn med hjälp av appen AICaries. Artikel 5, diagnostik av TMD-artros med hjälp av AI. Slutsats: Det kan ännu inte fullständigt bekräftas eller påstås om AI kan ersätta tandläkaryrket inom den kliniska verksamheten eller inte. AI kan dock vara ett hjälpmedel som ser ut att främja och underlätta bland annat diagnostiken av ett fåtal olika orala sjukdomar och tidseffektivitet vid behandling. AI har potential att automatisera vissa arbetsuppgifter och stödja enstaka komplexa beslutsfattande processer inom yrket. Vidare bör kunskap om AI i tandläkarutbildningen inkluderas på både praktisk och teoretisk nivå för att öka acceptansen och implementeringen av AI. / Aim: The aim of the present study was, based on published scientific articles, to investigate the prognosis of the implementation of artificial intelligence within dental clinical practice and its impact on the future dental profession.   Material and method: The literature study was carried out using the PEO system, inclusion and exclusion criteria and the databases PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. The selection of the articles took place in two steps: title and abstract level and then on full text level. Result: Six articles were included. Four from PubMed, two from Scopus and none from Web of Science. Article 1 was about diagnostics of oral cancer using AI. Article 2, 3D-planning of dental implants using AI and AR (augmented reality). Article 3 and 6, implementation of AI in dental education, both on a practical and theoretical level. Article 4, detection of dental caries on children using the AICaries app. Article 5, diagnosis of TMJ using AI. Conclusion: It cannot yet be fully confirmed or claimed whether AI can replace the dental profession in clinical dental practice or not. However, AI appears to promote and facilitate, for example, the diagnosis of a few oral diseases and time efficiency of the treatment. AI has the potential to automate certain tasks and support occasional complex decision-making processes. Furthermore, knowledge of AI should be included in dental education, both on a practical and theoretical level to increase the acceptance and implementation of AI.

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the Degree of Master of Technology: Quality, Durban University of Technology, 2014. / There has been a call from society for both the provision of a quality education and for a quality “student” who can contribute to the economy and citizenry of South Africa. It therefore makes sense for any educational structure to develop and adopt, strategies and systems in order to meet these new calls, and to provide technologically relevant education that will meet the demands of modern society. This has led to a renewed need for consistency, conformity and quality within higher education. Concerns about students’ capabilities have been raised, and have led to questions about the accountability of higher education institutions. A quality management system framework may ensure that these higher education structures are able to deliver a quality education to their external and internal customers. This research investigated the current quality management systems used in dental assisting both locally and world-wide, and then developed a quality management system framework to suit South African conditions. An action research study, using data gathered from a purposive census sample, and data obtained by means of a mixed-method approach, was conducted in two phases. A preliminary study (Part A) was conducted amongst the four South African dental assisting education programme providers and deficiencies in the quality management systems of these programmes were identified. The preliminary work (Part B) in this study consisted of a comparative analysis of the quality management systems of a convenience sample of dental assisting education providers in twenty countries. Both good practices and deficiencies in practices were identified. A further review of the literature identified possible solutions to improve the quality of the dental assisting education programmes, and was used as the foundation for the development of the Dental Assisting Higher Education – Quality Management Framework (DAHE-QMF). The results of the preliminary study - the comparative analysis and the literature review - revealed that the development and implementation of a quality management system framework for dental assisting in South Africa could lead to an improvement of the standards of training, and thus the competence of the student. The framework will be presented to the four programme leaders at the four Universities of Technology that offer dental assisting education for their consideration of partial/total adaptation of the framework.

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is one of the most advanced processes of producing high quality parts. In dentistry, AM has a wide range of applications, some of the most common applications are dentures, crowns, clear and hard tooth aligner, and anatomical and training models. Irrespective of its advantages, AM technology have not been used to its fullest potential. Research shows that there is very little knowledge on the organizational characteristics, environmental characteristics, and the technological factors that affects the organizational adoption of AM technology. The aim of the research is to understand the characteristics and the factors affecting the adoption decision among adopters and non-adopters of AM technology in dental technology companies. To answer the research questions, qualitative research method is used in this study. The data was collected by conducting semi-structured interviews with both the adopters and non-adopters of AM technology within the dental technological companies. The data collected was compared between the adopters and non-adopters. The main findings show that the adopters have a positive experience on AM technology and there is willingness to adopt AM technology in both adopters and non-adopters. Regarding the environmental characteristics, the practice of dentists was a major characteristic that impacted AM adoption. The technological factors related to the AM technology were identified to be the main drivers of technology adoption and the cost of AM machining was identified to be the main barrier of AM technology. The final findings from this research were that the technological factors, environmental factors, and the organizational factors are crucial for the successful organizational adoption of the technology.

Submitted in fulfilment of requirements of the Degree of Doctor of Technology: Operations and Quality Management, Durban University of Technology, 2014. / The need for alternative teaching practices in the face of poor retention and student throughput rates has changed the context of higher education in South Africa. This study interrogates one alternative teaching practice: the use of a board game and a multimedia game. Arguments for the potential benefits of games in higher education have generated a growing body of literature, but the general focus of these studies has been empirical with little theorisation about the associated pedagogy. Using a mixed methods sequential explanatory research design, this thesis aimed to determine the quality of pedagogy through games in providing epistemological access to the subjects Tooth Morphology and Oral Anatomy in a Dental Technology Diploma at a selected University of Technology. The thesis also developed a framework for the design of games to enable quality teaching and learning of vocational subjects. Preliminary and pilot studies were conducted. The preliminary study was conducted over a five-year period from 2003 to 2006. The total sample size for the Tooth Morphology board game was n=128 and for Oral Anatomy multimedia game was n=30. Academic experts validated the study by reviewing the contents of the game. The findings suggested that games assisted students to actively learn. The pilot study was conducted in 2007 and 2008. The total sample size for the Tooth Morphology board game was n=62 and for the Oral Anatomy multimedia game was n=22. Dental technology experts validated the contents of the game. Cronbach’s alpha index was used to assess the reliability of the study and was α=0.45 and α=0.757 for the Tooth Morphology board game and the Oral Anatomy multimedia game, respectively. The low alpha score obtained for the Tooth Morphology board game prompted improvements to be made to the survey for the main study. The main study was conducted in 2009, 2010 and 2011. The total population size for the Tooth Morphology board game was n=83 and for the Oral Anatomy multimedia game was n=82. Surveys and pre- and post-tests were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, factor analysis and cross tabulations. Content validity ensured that the survey focused on concepts and constructs that emerged from the review of literature on games. Cronbach’s alpha index was used to assess the reliability of the surveys and was α=0.794 and α=0.868 for the Tooth Morphology board game and Oral Anatomy multimedia game, respectively. Qualitative analyses entailed focus groups with students who used the games. The data generated was analysed using the conceptual frameworks of Bernstein’s knowledge codes and Maton’s Legitimation Code Theory of Specialisation. Trustworthiness of the data was achieved using methodological triangulation, data triangulation and peer debriefing. Quantitative results revealed that an integrated game design with an appropriate mix of instructional content and applicable game features and mechanisms facilitates the provision of epistemological access to Tooth Morphology and Oral Anatomy. By placing a sociological lens on knowledge in the games, a major finding in the qualitative analyses was that epistemological access using games provided access to particular knowledge-knower structures of the target subjects or disciplines. An LCT (Specialisation) analysis revealed that the games in this study represented a knowledge code as specialist knowledge and skills were valued over the possession of personal attributes and dispositions. This knowledge code was in turn aligned to the knowledge code of the target programme. In synthesising the results there were three recurring issues that emerged from the data as being key, namely: (1) access to knowledge; (2) instructional design of the games; and (3) technical design of the games. The thesis concluded by proposing the KITE framework, a guideline for lecturers to consider when designing games for higher education. / DAAD, NRF In-Country Scholarship

Submitted by Angela Maria de Oliveira (amolivei@uepg.br) on 2018-11-30T15:35:07Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Vera Lucia.pdf: 1869711 bytes, checksum: 2d479947d8ac00d7251c231ea52c9c12 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-30T15:35:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Vera Lucia.pdf: 1869711 bytes, checksum: 2d479947d8ac00d7251c231ea52c9c12 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-07-31 / Introdução: O atendimento odontológico do bebê apresenta características peculiares e requer tecnologias apropriadas. Objetivo: Validar um dispositivo inovador, em formato de avental, criado para acomodar o bebê durante as consultas, quanto à aceitação por parte dos pacientes e avaliar a ansiedade materna frente as diferentes tecnologias utilizadas. Método: Foi delineado ensaio clínico, autocontrolado e cego, a partir de modelo experimental cruzado com períodos de wash out. O dispositivo teste foi comparado a dois controles: Macri e o sistema joelho a joelho. Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck aplicado avaliou a ansiedade das mães antes e após os atendimentos com cada método proposto. Parâmetros de pressão arterial e batimentos cardíacos maternos foram obtidos nos dois momentos. O comportamento dos bebês foi aferido pela escala de Frankl. Resultado: A população alvo foram 66 pares de mães/bebês, entre zero e 24 meses, usuários da Atenção Primária à Saúde. O comportamento dos bebês durante as consultas foi predominantemente positivo e similar para os três métodos testados, com vantagem para dispositivo Avental. Este mostrou-se similar à Macri quanto aos níveis de ansiedade materna com maior redução da Pressão Arterial Diastólica e dos batimentos cardíacos das mães. E apresentou melhores resultados quanto à redução da ansiedade materna e dos batimentos cardíacos por minuto quando comparado com o sistema joelho a joelho. Conclusão: O dispositivo Avental mostrou-se adequado ao atendimento odontológico dos bebês, com resultados similares ou melhores do que os métodos classicamente utilizados. Estudos futuros são necessários para avaliar suas qualidades do ponto de vista do profissional. / Introduction: The dental care of the baby presents peculiar characteristics and requires appropriate technologies. Objective: Validate an innovative, apron-shaped device designed to accommodate the baby during consultations, patient acceptance, and maternal anxiety about different technologies used.. Method: A clinical, selfcontrolled and blind trial was drawn from an experimental cross-over model with washout periods. The test device was compared to two controls: Macri and the knee to knee system. Beck's Anxiety Inventory applied assessed the anxiety of the mothers before and after the visits with each proposed method. Parameters of blood pressure and maternal heart rate were obtained at both moments. The behavior of the babies was measured by the Frankl scale. Outcome: The target population was 66 pairs of mothers / infants, between zero and 24 months, users of Primary Health Care. The behavior of the babies during the consultations was predominantly positive and similar for the three methods tested, with advantage to the Apron device. This was similar to Macri in terms of maternal anxiety levels with a greater reduction in diastolic blood pressure and in mothers' heart rate. And it showed better results in reducing maternal anxiety and heart rate per minute compared to the knee-to-knee system. Conclusion: The Apron device was adequate for the dental care of the babies, with similar or better results than the classically used methods. Future studies are needed to assess their qualities from the professional's point of view. Introduction: The dental care of the baby presents peculiar characteristics and requires appropriate technologies. Objective: Validate an innovative, apron-shaped device designed to accommodate the baby during consultations, patient acceptance, and maternal anxiety about different technologies used.. Method: A clinical, selfcontrolled and blind trial was drawn from an experimental cross-over model with washout periods. The test device was compared to two controls: Macri and the knee to knee system. Beck's Anxiety Inventory applied assessed the anxiety of the mothers before and after the visits with each proposed method. Parameters of blood pressure and maternal heart rate were obtained at both moments. The behavior of the babies was measured by the Frankl scale. Outcome: The target population was 66 pairs of mothers / infants, between zero and 24 months, users of Primary Health Care. The behavior of the babies during the consultations was predominantly positive and similar for the three methods tested, with advantage to the Apron device. This was similar to Macri in terms of maternal anxiety levels with a greater reduction in diastolic blood pressure and in mothers' heart rate. And it showed better results in reducing maternal anxiety and heart rate per minute compared to the knee-to-knee system. Conclusion: The Apron device was adequate for the dental care of the babies, with similar or better results than the classically used methods. Future studies are needed to assess their qualities from the professional's point of view.

Stains and stained incipient lesions can be challenging to differentiate with established clinical tools. New diagnostic techniques are required for improved distinction to enable early noninvasive treatment. This in vitro study evaluates the performance of artificial intelligence (AI)-based classification of hyperspectral imaging data for early occlusal lesion detection and differentiation from stains. Sixty-five extracted permanent human maxillary and mandibular bicuspids and molars (International Caries Detection and Assessment System [ICDAS] II 0–4) were imaged with a hyperspectral camera (Diaspective Vision TIVITA® Tissue, Diaspective Vision, Pepelow, Germany) at a distance of 350 mm, acquiring spatial and spectral information in the wavelength range 505–1000 nm; 650 fissural spectra were used to train classification algorithms (models) for automated distinction between stained but sound enamel and stained lesions. Stratified 10-fold cross-validation was used. The model with the highest classification performance, a fine k-nearest neighbor classification algorithm, was used to classify five additional tooth fissural areas. Polarization microscopy of ground sections served as reference. Compared to stained lesions, stained intact enamel showed higher reflectance in the wavelength range 525–710 nm but lower reflectance in the wavelength range 710–1000 nm. A fine k-nearest neighbor classification algorithm achieved the highest performance with a Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) of 0.75, a sensitivity of 0.95 and a specificity of 0.80 when distinguishing between intact stained and stained lesion spectra. The superposition of color-coded classification results on further tooth occlusal projections enabled qualitative assessment of the entire fissure’s enamel health. AI-based evaluation of hyperspectral images is highly promising as a complementary method to visual and radiographic examination for early occlusal lesion detection.