Taofeek Olalekan Ligali

Malocclusion is an abnormality of teeth alignment from interactions of hereditary and environmental factors, associated with stimuli present at the period of formation and development of the face and oral tissues. To determine the prevalence and determinants of malocclusion among preschool children in Maiduguri, Borno State. This study involved 239 pre-school children selected by systematic random sampling. The independent variables were 'presence / absence of sucking habits', 'type of sucking habit', 'molar relationship' and 'nutritional status. The dependent variable was presence of malocclusion and 'type of malocclusion. Frequency distribution of independent and dependent variables were presented. Association between the independent and dependent variables were obtained using Chi-Square test. Statistical significance was placed at 95% confidence intervals, p value ≤ 0.05. Data was analysed using SPSS for Windows (version 23). Majority of participants were in the higher social class, (P=0.07), never had a dental visit (78.2%), P=0.08 and did not have any sucking habit (82.4%), P= 0.03. Most had mesial step (42.7%) or flush terminal molar relationship (37.7%), P=0.05. Prevalence of malocclusion was 4.5%, majority were cross bite (64.4%) SE=0.04. Distal step and flush terminal molar relationship were associated with prevalence of malocclusion (12.5% and 4.4% respectively), P=0.08.Fifty percent of those with digit sucking habit had cross bite, P=0.01. Prevalence of malocclusion among preschool children in this study was low and majority had cross-bite. Digit sucking was significantly associated with cross bite. Children with distal step occlusion exhibited higher proportion of malocclusion. There is need for dental awareness on malocclusion among the population.

The most prevalent oral diseases, dental caries and periodontal disease, result in pain, discomfort, and loss of oral functions, often leading to poor nutrition. To assess the prevalence and relationship between oral health and nutritional status among children aged 2 to 5 years in Maiduguri, North-East Nigeria. A cross-sectional study that assessed caries experience, gingival status and nutritional status of children. Anthropometric measurements of weight-for-age and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) were used to assess nutritional status. Participants were randomly selected from three private schools. The MUAC was measured using a standardised tape rule. The weight-for-age by sex of the participants was extrapolated from the weight-for-age WHO chart. Oral health was assessed using the WHO Oral Health Survey Methods. Data were analysed using SPSS for Windows (version 23). Statistical significance was placed at 95% confidence and p ≤ 0.05. There were 239 participants with a male:female ratio of 1.2:1 (SE=0.03). Mean dmft was 0.72 (SE 0.09) and 63.2% had healthy gingiva (SE 0.04). The mean weight was 16.8kg (SE=0.15) and mean MUAC was 15.3 cm. Caries prevalence was associated with nutritional status and positively correlated (r=0.03, P=0.64). Gingival status was associated but inversely correlated with MUAC (r= -0.02, P= 0.76). Normal nutritional status was associated with no caries prevalence and healthy gingiva. Underweight was associated with caries prevalence. Adequate and healthy nutrition promotes good oral health in children.

Aim: To compare prevalence of oral hygiene status, dental trauma and malocclusion among institutionalized visually impaired (VI) and non‐visually impaired (NVI) adolescents in Lagos State, Nigeria.Methods and results: A cross sectional study conducted among institutionalized VI and NVI adolescents in Lagos State, Nigeria. One hundred and thirty‐two randomly selected VI adolescents aged between 9 and 23 years and 138 NVI participants aged between 9 and 17 years were recruited using a multi‐stage random sampling technique. Oral examination assessed oral hygiene status, dental trauma and malocclusion. Data entry and analysis was by SPSS version 20. Associations were analyzed using chi‐square test. Statistical significance was set at p < .05. Male to female ratio among the VI and NVI participants, were 1.5:1 and 1:3, mean ages were 15.03 ± 3.36 and 12.96 years ± 1.89 SD, prevalence of dental injury were 16.67% and 7.2% and malocclusion were 15.2% and 11.6% respectively. More of the NVI participants had good oral hygiene status (29.0%).Conclusion: Uncomplicated dental injury was more prevalent among the VI male participants than their NVI counterparts while malocclusion was significantly less among the NVI participants. There is an urgent need for the development of policy and protocol on oral health of persons with special needs.

Objective: The study aimed to determine the reasons and pattern of tooth extractions among 2-16 years old dental out-patients in Maiduguri. Methods: The study was cross-sectional and retrospective. The study population consisted of children aged 2-16 years who had at least one tooth extracted over a period of two years at Child Dental Health Department of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. Ethical clearance was obtained from University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital Ethical Committee. Record of patients seen from January 2018 to December 2019 were retrieved using a pro-forma. Information obtained included: patient’s age, gender, indication for the extraction and tooth extracted. Results: A total of 340 teeth from two hundred and forty-four children were included in the study. 169 teeth from males and 171 teeth from females. The mean age of subjects was 8.76 ± 2.785years. Dental caries and complications was the leading reason for extraction (50%), followed by orthodontic reason, 129 (37.9%) and then trauma, 16 (4.7%). More primary teeth (311) were extracted than their permanent counterpart (29). The mandibular right first primary molar tooth was the tooth mostly extracted. Conclusion: The study revealed that there is need for improved oral health awareness and oral health promotion to prevent early tooth mortality.

Aims: To assess and compare the impacts of dental caries on quality of life among visually impaired and sighted 10‐ to 19‐year‐old adolescents before and after treatment in Lagos State, Nigeria.Methods and results: A cross‐sectional study of institutionalized sighted and visually impaired 10‐ to 19‐year‐old adolescents was carried out using interviewer‐administered Oral Health Related Quality of Life questionnaire based on Child Oral Impact on Daily Performance (Child‐OIDP) questionnaire. Frequencies of impact and mean impact scores were determined and compared between the two groups using chi‐square test. SPSS IBM version 20 was used for the analysis. The level of significance was placed at P < 0.05. The mean impact scores on quality of life among sighted and visually impaired adolescents were 14.45 ± 17.00 and 12.61 ± 17.83, respectively before treatment (P = 0.55) as well as 0.54 ± 1.81 and 2.02 ± 6.86 respectively after treatment (P = 0.10).Conclusion: The visually impaired adolescents suffered similar burden of impact of dental caries as their sighted peers. The greatest impact was on eating and cleaning the teeth. Impact was greatly reduced following treatment. There is need for oral health promotion and early detection of dental caries among institutionalized visually impaired and sighted adolescents in order to prevent complications of dental caries.

Students’ motives for studying Dentistry have been a subject of interest for years because of the potential for understanding the psychological makeup and subsequent job satisfaction for the dentist. It is also useful in identifying expectations of the profession. This study therefore tried to identify study motives and career preferences of dental students especially with respect to the practice of paediatric dentistry.

To study the association between oral health behaviour of senior dental students in Nigeria and their gender, age, knowledge of preventive care, and attitudes towards preventive dentistry. Questionnaires were administered to 179 senior dental students in the six dental schools in Nigeria. The questionnaire obtained information on age, gender, oral self-care, knowledge of preventive dental care and attitudes towards preventive dentistry. Attending a dental clinic for check-up by a dentist or a classmate within the last year was defined as preventive care use. Students who performed oral self-care and attended dental clinic for check-ups were noted to have complied with recommended oral self-care. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression models were used for statistical analyses. More male respondents agreed that the use of fluoride toothpaste was more important than the tooth brushing technique for caries prevention (P < 0.001). While the use of dental floss was very low (7.3%), more females were more likely to report using dental floss (p=0.03). Older students were also more likely to comply with recommended oral self-care (p<0.001). In binary regression models, respondents who were younger (p=0.04) and those with higher knowledge of preventive dental care (p=0.008) were more likely to consume sugary snacks less than once a day. Gender differences in the awareness of the superiority of using fluoridated toothpaste over brushing in caries prevention; and in the use of dental floss were observed. While older students were more likely to comply with recommended oral self-care measures, younger students with good knowledge of preventive dental care were more likely to consume sugary snacks less than once a day.