Orthodontic treatment need of children and adolescents with special healthcare needs resident in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES: This study determined differences in the orthodontic treatment need of children and adolescents with and without special healthcare needs (SHCN) resident in Ile-Ife. METHODS: Participants were children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years with and without SHCN recruited from regular and special schools in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, respectively. SHCN were categorised as hearing impairment (HI), visual impairment (VI), physical impairment (PI) or intellectual disability (ID). The orthodontic treatment need was determined using the aesthetic component (AC) and dental health component (DHC) of the index of orthodontic treatment need (IOTN) and the dental aesthetic index (DAI). Chi-squared tests were used to determine differences in orthodontic treatment need; one-way analysis of variance was used to compare participants' mean DAI scores. Statistical significance was inferred at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The data of 164 participants with SHCN and 208 participants without SHCN were analysed. Significantly more children and adolescents with SHCN than those without SHCN had great need for treatment on the AC (15.2% vs. 4.3%; p<0.001) and the DHC (28.0% vs. 18.3%; p = 0.005) of IOTN and mandatory need for treatment using the DAI (28.0% vs. 12.0%; p < 0.001). The orthodontic treatment need of participants with intellectual disability, visual impairments and multiple SHCN differed significantly from the control group, those with intellectual disability also had greater need for orthodontic treatment compared with those with physical and hearing impairments (p < 0.05) CONCLUSION: Children and adolescents with SHCN, resident in Ile-Ife, are at greater risk of having malocclusion traits that require orthodontic treatment when compared with their peers without SHCN, especially those with intellectual disability.

Oral habits and malocclusion in children resident in Ile-Ife Nigeria.

AIM: To determine the: prevalence of oral habits in children aged 1-12 years in Ife Central Local Government Area of Osun State Nigeria; association between oral habits and malocclusion in children aged 6-12 years; differences in orthodontic treatment needs of children with and without oral habits and the effect of digit sucking severity on occlusal profile. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study that collected data through a household survey. Information collected included the age, gender, and oral habits of study participants. Intra-oral examination was conducted. The Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) was used to assess orthodontic treatment needs for 6-12-year-old participants. Independent sample t test was used to compare mean DAI scores of participants with and without oral habits. A digit sucking severity index was developed and digit sucking severity was determined. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty (13.1%) study participants had 142 oral habits. The most common oral habit was digit sucking. The most common malocclusion traits were spacing (29.9%), crowding (21.7%) and increased overjet (16.4%). DAI scores were significantly higher in participants with tongue thrusting (p < 0.001) and bruxism (p = 0.01) habits compared with participants without the habits. Among the 67 participants with oral habits, 54 (80.6%) had no need for treatment, 9 (13.4%) needed elective treatment and treatment was mandatory for 4 (6.0%) participants. CONCLUSIONS: Digit sucking was the most frequently practiced oral habit in the study population. Tongue thrusting and bruxism were significantly associated with greater severity of malocclusion in children 6-12 years old when compared with peers who had no habits. Most children with oral habits had no need for treatment.

Use of caries prevention tools and associated caries risk in a suburban population of children in Nigeria.

AIMS: To determine the association between use of recommended oral self-care (ROSC) caries prevention tools and presence of dental caries in children resident in suburban Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: Secondary analysis was conducted for a dataset generated for 1-12 years old children recruited through a household survey. Information on use of ROSC caries prevention tools (brushing more than once a day, use of fluoridated toothpaste always, and eating sugary snacks between main meals less than once a day), use of oral health adjuncts (dental floss, mouth rinses, other tooth cleansing agents) and presence of caries were extracted. The odds of having caries when ROSC caries prevention tools were used singly or in combination, were determined using multivariate logistic regression adjusted for age and sex. RESULTS: The single or combined use of ROSC caries prevention tools had no statistically significant association with presence of caries. Brushing more than once a day reduced the odds of having caries while consumption of sugar between meals once a day or more increased the odds of having caries after adjusting for age and gender. The use of two ROSC caries prevention tools reduced the risk for caries (AOR 0.28; 95 % CI 0.05-1.53) when adjusted for age. The converse was observed when adjusted for gender (AOR 1.15; 95 % CI 0.38-3.45). The largest effect size was observed when sugary snacks were taken once a day or more between meals after adjusting for age (AOR 5.74; 95 % CI 0.34-96.11). CONCLUSION: The use of a combination of fluoridated toothpaste and twice-daily tooth brushing had the largest effect on reducing the chance for caries in children resident in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Impact of malocclusion on oral health related quality of life of final year dental students.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between severity of malocclusion, orthodontic treatment need and oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) among final year dental students. METHODS: Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ) was used to measure oral health related quality of life impacts associated with dental aesthetics among 99 final year dental students. Dental aesthetics was assessed by the respondents using the Aesthetic Component (AC) scale of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) and the Perception of Occlusion Scale (POS), participants were also evaluated by an investigator using the AC of IOTN and Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI). Bivariate and Multiple linear regression analysis were used to test the relationship of demographic characteristics (age, gender), self and professional evaluation of malocclusion severity and the four PIDAQ subscales. The criterion for statistical significance was set at the 5 per cent level. RESULTS: A distinct gradient in mean PIDAQ subscale scores was observed which differed significantly according to treatment categories determined by occlusal indices (p < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed significant associations between the POS and all the PIDAQ subscales, while the professional rating of the AC scale of IOTN, had a significant association only with the dental self-confidence subscale. CONCLUSION: Perceived psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics is related to severity of malocclusion. The sociodental approach which combines normative and psychosocial perception of occlusion is recommended for routine evaluation of treatment need so that measures of patients' views complement clinical measures.

Oral hygiene measures and the periodontal status of school children.

BACKGROUND: Tooth brushing and other mechanical cleaning procedures are considered the most reliable methods of effective plaque removal, which is essential for prevention of periodontal diseases. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between oral hygiene practices, socioeconomic status and gingival health in a group of Nigerian children. METHODS: Our study population consisted of 242 randomly selected school children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Participants completed a questionnaire on oral hygiene measures, their gingival health was assessed using oral hygiene index (OHI), plaque index (PI) and index of gingival inflammation (GI). RESULTS: Toothbrushing once daily was the most common practice (52.1%). Toothbrush with a fluoride-containing toothpaste was the most common tooth cleaning aid, while the up and down brushing technique was predominantly used. There was no statistically significant gender difference in toothbrushing frequency; however, significant gender differences were observed in PI and OHI scores (P<0.05). Gingivitis was absent in 28.9% of the children,, while 50.8% had mild, 13.6% moderate and 6.6% severe gingivitis. There was a weak but significant negative correlation between oral hygiene frequency and GI (P<0.05). Socioeconomic status had no relationship with oral hygiene frequency, however it had low but significant correlation with OHI and GI (P<0.05). A logistic regression analysis of the predictors on gingivitis showed that male gender and medium textured toothbrush had significant association with gingival health. CONCLUSIONS: Gingival health was influenced by gender, socioeconomic status, oral hygiene frequency and toothbrush texture. Motivation to apply instructions given on oral health care and regular reinforcement are essential.

Assessment of oral health-related quality of life in Nigerian children using the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ 11-14).

AIM: The study objective was to examine the impact of oral health and disease on the quality of life of a population sample of 11 to 14-year-old children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria using the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ11-14). The hypothesis was that children with more severe malocclusions and greater caries experience would have higher CPQ scores indicating worse quality of life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A random sample of school children were selected to participate in this study. Two hundred and forty eight children duly completed the CPQ11-14 and were examined for malocclusion and dental caries using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) and DMFT index. RESULTS: Overall CPQ 11-14 scores ranged from 0 to 81 with a mean of 23.44 ± 17.19. There was no distinct gradient in mean CPQ scores across the DAI categories of malocclusion. Children with high caries experience according to the DMFT also did not have higher CPQ scores. Significant correlations were observed between the overall CPQ11-14 and domain scores and global ratings of oral health and overall well-being. No statistically significant associations were found between the clinical and overall CPQ scores. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the presence of malocclusion and dental caries did not have a significant impact on the quality of life of the Nigerian children using the CPQ11-14. The CPQ11-14 may be unable to discriminate between children in various malocclusion categories in all population groups. The relationship of reported quality of life and malocclusion is probably mediated by other factors.

Tooth sensitivity experience among residential university students.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the experience of residential University students about 'sensitive teeth'. SUBJECT AND METHODS: Self-administered questionnaires were given randomly to students in all the residential hostels located in the University campus. Data on presence of sensitive teeth, initiating stimulus and duration of each episode of discomfort were elicited. History of common aetiological factors of tooth sensitivity was also taken. RESULTS: One thousand and nineteen responses (650 males; 369 females) were analysed in this study. Approximately 697 (68.4%) volunteers claimed to have sensitive teeth. Majority described their discomfort as sharp pain, cold as the initiating stimulus and drinking was mostly interfered with. Tooth sensitivity was found to be common among hard toothbrush users. Multiple regression analysis showed that hard toothbrush had a significant association with tooth sensitivity. Other common aetiological factors, such as history of gastric acid reflux, vomiting, soft drinks and the use of vitamin C were found to have a weak association with tooth sensitivity. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of tooth sensitivity was 68.4%. Presence of tooth sensitivity among these students was associated more with history of hard toothbrush use contrary to widely held belief that erosive agents were mostly responsible. Future studies are needed to provide more epidemiological data on tooth brushing and tooth sensitivity.

Dental erosion due to lime consumption; review of literature and case report.

BACKGROUND: Dental health is increasingly threatened by dental erosion introduced by today's lifestyle. Extrinsic factor is the most implicated. Few literatures mentioned lime-incited dental erosion. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 49 year old woman was referred to our clinic with tooth wear and sensitivity. She was in good health but on daily dose of anti-hypertensive drugs for three years. Intraorally, classical erosive lesions were observed on the occlusal surfaces of the molars but of note are the lesions on the bucco-gingival surfaces of the maxillary incisors and the mandibular premolars. Dietary history eventually yielded inappropriate use of lime juice in order to slim down her weight. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The use lime must be considered when assessing dietary causes of erosion. Extensive dental damage and dentine hypersensitivity are classical clinical features. Dentists must be able to make a diagnosis of lime-incited dental destruction and to institute the necessary therapeutic and preventive measures.

Nicknames and name calling among a population of Nigerian schoolchildren.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of nicknames and name-calling among a sample of Nigerian schoolchildren, to examine the types of names reported by the children, the relationship of the nicknames to dental appearance and the impact of such nicknames on the children. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A sample consisting of 506 randomly selected children from secondary schools in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, were invited to participate in the study. Self- administered pre-tested questionnaires were completed independently by the children in their schools. The questionnaire related to the incidence of nicknames and teasing, nature, frequency, relationship to physical appearance and the effect of such names on the children. RESULTS: The incidence of nicknames was found to be high among the schoolchildren (77%) with no significant difference between boys and girls. Eighty eight percent were called by their nicknames on a daily basis. The majority of the nicknames were derived from the children's names (34.9%), while others related to their appearance, body features, and personality. The nickname was appearance-related in about one third of the children and more often this related to the weight of the child (26.77%). The teeth were the source of nickname in only 6 (4.7%) of the children with equal occurrence rate in boys and girls. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that being given nicknames is a common occurrence in Nigerian schools, one third of which may be appearance-related with most children indifferent to these nicknames. Dental appearance may not be a significant contributor to such names.

The need for orthodontic treatment in a school and referred population of Nigeria using the index of orthodontic treatment need (IOTN).

OBJECTIVES: To determine the objective orthodontic treatment need of a group of school children and a referred population using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) and establish the relationship between subjective and objective orthodontic treatment need. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: The study groups were 250 school children and 157 children referred to the orthodontic unit of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC). They assessed their need for treatment, their dental casts were also assessed by the examiner (K.A.K) using the IOTN. RESULTS: The professional assessment of treatment need of the children in the school population based on the Aesthetic Component of IOTN were 62.8% no need, 30% moderate need and 7.2% great need for orthodontic treatment, the referred population had 19.7%, 36.3% and 43.9% respectively. The Dental health component resulted in 66% no need, 20% moderate need and 14% great need for treatment in the school population. These percentages were 20.4%, 16.6% and 63% respectively in the referred population. Statistically significant differences were found between subjective and professional assessment of orthodontic treatment need in both populations. There were no significant gender differences in objective orthodontic treatment need. CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that there is a difference of opinion on orthodontic treatment need between laypersons and professionals. The IOTN reliably records deviant occlusal traits can be used to prioritize treatment need.