[Dental health status of 15 year-old schoolchildren in Comoros]. / Etat de santé dentaire des élèves de 15 ans aux Comores.

The epidemiological situation of decay evolves differently in the world. In industrialized countries, prevalence has declined significantly due to preventive measures, while in developing countries many studies have shown that caries was increasing. The aim of this study was to assess the state of dental health of schoolchildren aged 15 in Grand Comore (Comoros). This was a descriptive cross-sectional study on 15 year-old schoolchildren in colleges in Grande Comore who agreed to be examined. Four hundred schoolchildren were chosen by a stratified sampling weighted according to the area of living. Three groups of indicators of dental caries were used: the components D, M and F, the average DMFT and prevalence. The WHO modified questionnaire for the assessment of dental health was used to collect data; continuous data were compared by Student t test and qualitative ones by Chi-square test. Fifty two percent of schoolchildren were male and 63.5% lived in urban area. From the 888 teeth bearing the stigmata of decay, 83.2% were decayed, 12.5% missed and 4.3% filled. These components of DMF were associated with sex (p = 0.039) and not with area (p = 0.12). The 2.22 DMFT average was not associated with sex (p = 0.58) neither with area (p = 0.57). The caries prevalence was higher in rural than in urban areas (p = 0.001) and was not associated with sex (p = 0.61). These results suggest that schoolchildren need decay treatments. The dental programs will have much more success when they will be integrated into more comprehensive programs to promote schoolchildren health.

Prevalence of necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis and associated factors in Koranic boarding schools in Senegal.

BACKGROUND: Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis is the most common clinical syndrome preceding noma. It is found in developing countries and in malnourished children and especially in deprived groups such as children at Koranic boarding schools. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis and factors associated with its occurrence in a boarding school population. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of children in Koranic boarding schools in the city of Touba, Senegal. A multistage sampling strategy was used and 8 out of 17 schools were selected. The variables collected were gender, age, oral hygiene habits, duration of residence, presence of ulcerative gingivitis and plaque, and gingival bleeding index. A logistic regression analysis with R software using the manual procedure down was used to identify factors associated with the dependent variables. RESULTS: There were 501 participants and boys made up 92% of the study group. The mean age was 9.3 (sd 4.0) years. The mean of duration residence was 3.4 (sd 1.5) years. The prevalence of necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis was 37% and 81% of children did not use a toothbrush or a chewing-stick. The length of residence, school size, hygiene habits and plaque and bleeding indices were significantly associated with necrotizing gingivitis after adjustment for other variables. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to develop oral hygiene programs, to establish policies to manage the oral health of children and to improve health and nutrition at Koranic boarding-schools.

[Pregnant women living in areas of endemic fluorosis in Senegal and low birthweight newborns: case-control study]. / Femme enceinte vivant en zone de fluorose endémique au Sénégal et faible poids du nouveau-né à la naissance : étude cas-témoins.

BACKGROUND: In developing countries, maternal and neonatal mortality is high. Among the causes of death during the neonatal period, low birth weight is crucial. A dose of fluoride beyond 2mg/L causes enamel damage, possibly affecting the fetus. The aim of this study was to search for an association between dental fluorosis in the mother and low birthweight of the newborn. METHODOLOGY: This was a case-control study performed in an endemic area in Senegal (Diourbel). It included 108 mothers who gave birth to newborns weighing less than 2500 g (cases) and 216 mothers with newborns weighing greater or equal to 2500 g (controls). Data on socio-demographic, lifestyle, history and pregnancy variables were collected. Those related to water consumption during pregnancy and dental fluorosis (Dean's index) were measured. The data were analyzed by R software. Logistic regression was used to identify associations and the statistical significance level was set to 0.05. RESULTS: The proportions of mothers consuming well water were 62% among cases versus 43.5% among controls. The score 4 of Dean's Index was reported for 25.9% of cases versus 6.9% of controls. The water consumed and the modal score of Dean's Index were significantly associated with the occurrence of low birthweight adjusted for gender, consanguinity, anemia and hypertension. CONCLUSION: Low birthweight was associated with pregnant women living in endemic areas. Defluoridation programs and access for pregnant women and children to high quality water are necessary in areas of endemic fluorosis.

[Evaluation of preventive care in the dentistry department clinics of the University Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar]. / Evaluation des actes de prévention dans les cliniques du département d'odontologie de l'Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar.

This was a cross-sectional study of 295 patients treated by dentistry students that aimed to evaluate the preventive care received by patients attending clinics of the dentistry department of the University Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar. The sociodemographic characteristics of the patients, clinic specialty, patients' brushing technique and the other preventive care was recorded. The study sample comprised 48.5% men and 76.6% adults. Over 32% of the patients were from the conservative dentistry clinic. For 52.2% of the patients, no preventive action was provided. The use of visual aids when teaching oral hygen ne was observed for 17.4% of cases. Attitudes and practices of the dentistry students in relation to care require more vigilance and emphasis on prevention.

[Medicinal plants in Senegal and oral diseases: use and interest]. / Plantes médicinales au Sénégal et affections bucco-dentaires: utilisation et intérêt.

The end of the last century and the present decade is characterized by an evolution of the concept of health and illness in the public domain. The World Health Organization defines traditional medicine as "comprising various practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating medicinal herbal, animal and/or mineral, spiritual therapies, applied alone or in combination to maintain well-being and to treat, diagnose or prevent disease. In dentistry, the plants used are numerous. The objective of this work is to describe the herbal medicine used against oral diseases. To conduct this study, 10 articles and theses, a brief, 2 books, 4 reports and 2 clippings on traditional medicine/herbal medicine were consulted. Several African plants, in the form of use, can help relieve or treat dental pain and have positive effects against dental caries and periodontal diseases. The geographic and financial accessibility associated with the lack of qualified personnel are the plants could be an alternative in the management of certain oral diseases.

[Dental caries in the carceral middle of Dakar]. / La carie dentaire en milieu carcéral dakarois.

Oral diseases, mainly tooth decay and periodontal disease, are among the most common conditions in the world. The tooth decay is very prevalent in developing countries and particularly in disadvantaged backgrounds where insecurity and its corollaries prevail. Thus, our study focused on one of these places: the prisons, characterized by deprivation of liberty, monotony, boredom, and the difficult conditions of detention, brief by a total dependence of the detainee. The aim of this study was to determine the DMFT (Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth) in detainees dwelling in prisons in Dakar. This cross sectional study included 754 detainees aged 18 years and more with a stay exceeding more than a year, in one of the four main prisons of the capital city, Dakar. The majority of detainees was males (90%), aged between 18 and 35 years (63%) and was staying at "Camp penal" (65%). The proportion of inmates with at least one tooth cavity was 81.3%, those with teeth sealed was 26.1% and the prisoners with missing teeth reached 70.6%. The highest average DMFT was noted at "Camp penal" (7.3) among men (6.5) and among inmates aged 36 to 45 years (6.1) with a significant difference. The tooth decay is particularly worrying in the prison population, hence the urgency to establish a programme of prevention and care of oral diseases in this environment.

[Evaluation of the need for periodontal treatment in prisons near Dakar, Senegal]. / Evaluation des besoins de traitements parodontaux chez les détenus de la région de Dakar (Sénegal).

INTRODUCTION: Oral diseases qualify as major public health problems due to their high prevalence and incidence. They usually affect poor and marginal segments of the population. This study focused on the prison population that is characterized by poor living conditions and malnutrition. The aim of study was to assess the need for periodontal care in prisoners serving time in the Dakar region of Senegal. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 375 prisoners serving in three facilities, i.e. the penal camp, Liberte VI prison for women, and Rufisque prison for women. Data were collected using a modified WHO information sheet. The community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN) was used for scoring. Statistical analysis with stratification by sex and age was performed and tests were considered as significant for p < or = 0.05. RESULTS: There were 335 men (89.3%) and 40 women (10.7%) with a sex ratio of 8.3. Mean age was 35 years +/- 11.5 (range, 16-88). Mean prison time was 39.29 months +/- 17.73. The proportion of prisoners needing periodontal treatment increased gradually according to prison time with significant differences (p < 0.05) even after stratification. CONCLUSION: Better management taking into account the environment and prison time would reduce the need for periodontal treatment in prisons in Dakar.

[Status of dental caries in the toddlers' residences of the Dakar area, Senegal]. / Situation de la carie dentaire dans les cases des tout-petits de la région de Dakar-Senegal.

Ranked 4th global scourge behind cancer, cardiovascular diseases and AIDS, tooth decay is an infectious post eruptive disease, which remains worrying. In children, it involves eating, sleeping and behaviour disorders. Thus, we conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study, on children in toddler's small dwelling of Dakar area. The objective was to determine the prevalence of tooth decay among children of three toddler's small dwelling functional in Dakar. The majority of children was female (57%) and they were more children aged 61 to 73 months in the toddler's small dwelling of Sahm notary located in the suburbs. The prevalence of tooth decay was important for girls in the age group 49 to 60 months and in Toddler's small dwelling located in popular or suburban areas: 78% to Colobane, 68% Sahm notary, with a significant difference. The DFT (decayed, filled teeth) was lowest in Mermoz (residential area). Efforts to improve the oral health must be strengthened by good prevention policy involving people playing a role in educating and guiding children: parents, teachers, organizations, practitioners.

[Epidemiologic study of dental caries among students on the campus of the University of Dakar]. / Etude epidémiologique de la carie dentaire chez les étudiants du Centre des Oeuvres Universitaires de Dakar (COUD).

To assess needs of treatment and determine the prevalence of dental decay among students who lived officially in halls of residence in Dakar, a cross-sectional survey from a two-staged sampling was conducted. The following results were obtained: Three hundred and thirty students (78%) had at least one dental decay and among whom 72% presented teeth to fill and 28% teeth to pull out. One hundred and thirty students (32.5%) had at least one missing tooth and one hundred and nineteen students (29.75%) had at least one filled tooth. The average DMF was 3.52. One hundred eighty eight (47%) have needed denture. These relatively high indicators provided with schooling area suggest not only the necessity of improving the existing dental services, but the management of performing prevention programme from Elementary school until University.

[Asepsis and antisepsis in dental offices in Dakar]. / L'asepsie et l'antisepsie dans les cabinets dentaires de Dakar.

To evaluate hygiene in dental offices in Dakar, the authors questioned 64 public, private and semi-private dentists. From 62 practitioners who completed their questionnaire, it appeared that the dry-heated sterilizer (poupinel) was 5 times more used than the autoclave; The almost practitioners sayed respecting the sterilisation process and 66% of them said wearing gloves, masks and glasses during interventions. In spite of the hope these results give, this study is limited because it doesn't take into account many aspects of asepsis and antisepsis in dental office which require a rigorous application next to a personal who needs to be better trained.

[Periodontal treatment needs in prisoners in the region of Dakar (Senegal)]. / Besoins de traitements parodontaux chez les détenus de la région de Dakar (Sénégal).

INTRODUCTION: Oral diseases qualify as major public health problems, because of their high prevalence and incidence. They usually reach the poor and socially marginalized populations. This study looked at the prisoner's population who is characterized by precarious conditions. Thus the aim of this study was to assess periodontal treatment needs in prisoner's population of Dakar. METHODOLOGY: This was a cross sectional study which interested 375 prisoners living in camp penal, in Prisons for Women in Liberte VI and in Rufisque. The data were collected by a modified WHO sheet. The indicator of periodontal treatment needs (CPITN) was used. Statistical analysis with stratification by sex and age was performed and the tests were significant for p < or = 0.05. RESULTS: They were 335 men (89.3%) and 40 women (10.7%) with a sex ratio of 8.3. The age mean was 35 years +/- 11.5 with a maximum of 88 years and a minimum of 16 years. The mean stay was 39.29 months +/- 17.7. The proportion of prisoners with a periodontal treatment need increased gradually according to the prison stay with significant differences (P < 0.05) even after stratification. CONCLUSION: A more developed and taking into account the environment and the prison stay would reduce the periodontal treatment needs in prisoner's population in Dakar.

Evaluation of preventive care in the dentistry department clinics of the University Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar

This was a cross-sectional study of 295 patients treated by dentistry students that aimed to evaluate the preventive care received by patients attending clinics of the dentistry department of the University Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar. The sociodemographic characteristics of the patients, clinic specialty, patients' brushing technique and the other preventive care was recorded. The study sample comprised 48.5% men and 76.6% adults. Over 32% of the patients were from the conservative dentistry clinic. For 52.2% of the patients, no preventive action was provided. The use of visual aids when teaching oral hygiene was observed for 17.4% of cases. Attitudes and practices of the dentistry students in relation to care require more vigilance and emphasis on prevention