RANGE OF MOUTH OPENING AMONG THREE MAJOR ETHNIC GROUPS IN NIGERIA.

BACKGROUND: Maximum mouth opening (MMO) is an important parameter in the assessment of several clinical situations and its measured value is documented to have racial, gender, age and anthropometric variation. OBJECTIVE: To determine the maximal mouth opening and its predictors among the different major ethnic groups in Nigeria. METHODS: Study subjects were 449 adults (232 males, 215 females), age range 18-74 years from the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria. MMO measurements and anthropometric parameters were recorded. Data analysis was done using SPSS Version 22 and variables subjected to univariate analysis to determine association and a linear regression model was performed to determine variables that could predict maximum mouth opening with p-value set at < 0.05. RESULTS: The overall mean MMO across the ethnic groups was 49.33 ± 7.91mm. Mean MMO for the Yoruba ethnic group, 53.06 ± 6.27 mm was found to be significantly higher than values obtained for Hausa tribe 52.77 ± 8.06 mm and Igbo tribe 47.59 ± 8.61 mm (p=<0.001). Age, weight and height were observed to correlate significantly with MMO. A multivariate linear regression model revealed that age and height were independent predictors of maximum mouth opening across the ethnic groups. CONCLUSION: There is ethnic variation in MMO among the 3 major ethnic groups in Nigeria with mean MMO values of 53.96 (± 6.27 mm), 52.77 (± 8.06 mm) and 47.59 (± 8.61 mm) for the Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo ethnic groups respectively. Age and height are important predictors of MMO.

Oral health attitudes and behaviour among patients in a tertiary hospital.

Oral health attitude and behaviour among patients in a Nigerian tertiary Hospital was investigated. About 177 patients participated via a self-administered questionnaire which was completed anonymously within 5 minutes. No patient had any fore knowledge of the questions. About 63.2% have visited dental office, 53.4% visited only when in ache, 65.6% brushed more frequently, 28.8% have gum bleeding on brushing and 6.8% smoked cigarette. More females (35.5%) than males (23.7%) live with their families. About 37.9% (females) compared to 25.4% (males) visit dental office, while 36.2% of females visit when in ache against males (19.2%). Males (26%) brush less frequently than females (39.5%). Also, while more females (30.5%) are satisfied with their teeth appearance than males (19.2%), more males (5.1%) smoked than females (1.7%). Within the limitations of the study, generally males oral health attitude and behaviour are poorer and therefore, oral health campaign should be adopted for the population with special attention to the male gender.

Pattern and distribution of cervical dentine hypersensitivity in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the prevalence of Cervical Dentine Hypersensitivity in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital and to highlight its pattern of distribution intraorally. Two hundred and twenty subjects, aged 18 to 60 years, attending the Restorative Clinic of the hospital were assessed for dentine hypersensitivity gingival recession and oral hygiene status over a 3 month period. Whereas the sensitivity occurred in 16.3% of the study population, it was seen most frequently in the 31 to 40 year age range (48.5%). Furthermore, the incidence was higher in women (66.7%) than in men (33.3%). Also, it occurred most often in subjects with good oral hygiene (63.6%) and in right handed (81.8%) subjects. It was commonest on the buccal surfaces of teeth (60.6%) canines (39.4%) and mandibular arch (63.6%). Within the limitations of the current study, cervical dentine hypersensitivity was fairly common and it also occurs mostly on the buccal surfaces of teeth, canines and in the mandibular arch.

Endodontic flare-ups: comparison of incidence between single and multiple visits procedures in patients attending a Nigerian teaching hospital.

The present study was performed to compare the incidence of endodontic flare ups in single with multiple visits treatment procedures, to establish the relationship between pre-operative and post obturation pain in patients attending for endodontic therapy in a Nigerian teaching Hospital. Patients were randomly assigned to either single visit or multiple visits group. Data collected at root canal treatment appointment and recall visits (1st, 7th and 30th day post obturation) include pulp vitality status, the presence or absence of pre-operative pain, presence and degree of post obturation pain. Presence of endodontic flare-ups (defined as either patient's report of pain not controlled with over the counter medication and or increasing swelling). The compiled data were analyzed using chi-square where applicable. P level < 0.05 was taken as significant. Ten endodontic flare-ups (8.1 %) were recorded in the multiple visits group compared to 19 (18,3%) flare-ups for the single visit group, P = 0.02. For both single and multiple visits procedures, there were statistically significant correlations between pre operative and post obturation pain (P = 0.002 and P = 0.0004 respectively). Teeth with vital pulps reported the lowest frequency of post obturation pain (48.8%), while those with non vital pulps were found to have the highest frequency oh post obturation pain (50,3%), P = 0.9. Although the present study reported higher incidences for post obturation pain and flare-ups following the single visit procedures, single visit endodontic therapy has been shown to be a safe and effective alternative to multiple visits treatment.

Non-carious cervical lesions in a Nigerian population: abrasion or abfraction?

OBJECTIVES: To determine the proportion of non-carious cervical lesions (NCCL) that were either abrasion or abfraction like and to test the validity of the assumption that right-handed patients cause more abrasion on the cervical surfaces of teeth on the left side of the mouth. SETTING: Ile-lfe, Southwestern Nigeria. PARTICIPANTS: 106 first time patients diagnosed as having any form of NCCL. DESIGN: Patients were subjected to intra-oral examination followed by the administration of a questionnaire. The cervical lesions were examined and scored using the tooth wear index designed by Smith & Knight 1984. NCCL was diagnosed as abrasion or abfraction like based on established clinical features plus positive history of possible associated aetiological factors. OUTCOME MEASURES: Abrasion and abfraction like lesions. RESULTS: Abrasion was the diagnosis in 630 (62.3%) of the 1,012 tooth sites with NCCL that had no associated occlusal surface wear facet. This constituted about two-thirds of the NCCL. Three hundred and eighty two (37.7%) of the NCCL occurred in association with an occlusal surface wear facet and presented the typical wedge shaped defects with sharp margins characteristic of abfraction. These abfraction like lesions constituted about one-third of the NCCL. 50.8% of abrasive NCCL in right-handed brushers were located on the left side of the mouth. CONCLUSIONS: About one-third of NCCL in the present study presents an abfraction component, and two-thirds abrasion. Although, right-handed brushers had more severe lesions on the opposite side of the mouth, the difference was not statistically significant.