Associations between oral habits, dental anxiety, dental service utilization, and maternal mental health status among 6- to 12-year-old children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

PURPOSE: The current study sought to determine the associations between maternal mental health and oral habits, dental anxiety, and dental service utilization of 6- to 12-year-old children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. METHODS: Data were obtained from a household survey involving 1411 mothers and their 6- to 12-year-old children. Data collected were the confounding (maternal age, child's age at last birthday, sex at birth and socioeconomic status), independent (maternal psychological distress, and depression status) and dependent (child's non-nutritive oral habits, dental anxiety level, and most recent dental visit) variables. Bivariate analyses were conducted to test the associations between the dependent and independent variables. After controlling for confounding variables, the associations between the dependent and independent variables were determined using multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Overall, 479 (33.9%) reported one oral habit, 189 (13.4%) reported two and 99 (7.0%) children reported three or more oral habits. Only 25 (1.7%) children reported a dental visit in the year preceding the study. Higher maternal psychological distress was associated with higher dental anxiety in children (AOR: 0.094; 95% CI - 0.080 to - 0.293; p < 0.001). There was no significant association between maternal psychological distress, child's non-nutritive oral habits, and the child's most recent dental visit. There was also no association between maternal depression and the child's non-nutritive oral habits, dental anxiety level, and most recent dental visit. CONCLUSION: Maternal psychological distress was a significant risk indicator for dental anxiety, but not for dental service utilization or non-nutritive oral habits among children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Maternal educational status was also associated with dental anxiety. Further research is needed to elucidate the study's findings.

Perception and Concerns about the Use of Gloves, Facemask, and HIV Discriminatory Attitude of Children attending Dental Clinics in Southern Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: The use of face masks and gloves can prevent possible cross infection between dental patients and health care practitioners. AIM: The study identified the perception of paediatric dental patients on the need for dentists to use face masks and gloves; and their attitude towards using the same clinic with paediatric dental patients living with HIV. METHODS: This was a cross sectional study that recruited 438 children aged 8-15 years attending three paediatric dental clinics located in Southern Nigeria. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The dependent variables were perception of cross infection control and attitude towards children living with HIV. The independent variables were age, sex, socioeconomic status and location of clinic. Chi-square analysis was conducted to determine the associations between the dependent and independent variables. Logistic regression analysis was also conducted to assess the effect size of the associations between the dependent and independent variables. The level of statistical significance was inferred at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Majority of the respondents agreed that it was necessary to wear gloves (98.6%) and facemasks (88.1%) during patients' management. More females 62(28.2%) than males 38(17.4%) assumed gloves were used by dentists to protect themselves from patients' bad breath (p=0.007). More children from Benin 97(64.2%) were aware that face masks protect the dentists and the patients (p=0.004), and a few believed that it is embarrassing to patients for dentists to wear facemasks (p=0.001). More children 102(70.8%) from Ile-Ife perceived that face masks protects from bad breath (p=0.004).Children less than 10 years (AOR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.42-1.70; p=0.64), with high socioeconomic status (AOR: 0.90; 95% CI:0.53-1.52; p=0.70) and children aged 10 to 14 years (AOR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.44-1.63; p=0.62), in the middle socioeconomic status (AOR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.39-1.33; p=0.30) were less willing to use the dental clinic alongside children living with HIV. CONCLUSION: There were sex, and clinic location disparity in the perception and attitude of children towards the use of Personal Protective Equipment and the use of the dental clinic alongside children living with HIV.

INTRODUCTION: L'utilisation de masques faciaux et de gants peut prévenir une éventuelle infection croisée entre les patients dentaires et les praticiens de santé. OBJECTIF: L'étude a identifié la perception des patients dentaires pédiatriques sur la nécessité pour les dentistes d'utiliser des masques et des gants ; et leur attitude vis-à-vis de l'utilisation de la même clinique avec des patients dentaires pédiatriques vivant avec le VIH. MÉTHODES: Il s'agit d'une étude transversale qui a recruté 438 enfants âgés de 8 à 15 ans fréquentant trois cliniques dentaires pédiatriques situées dans le sud du Nigeria. ANALYSE STATISTIQUE: Les variables dépendantes étaient la perception du contrôle des infections croisées et l'attitude envers les enfants vivant avec le VIH. Les variables indépendantes étaient l'âge, le sexe, le statut socio-économique et le lieu de la clinique. Une analyse du chi carré a été réalisée pour déterminer les associations entre les variables dépendantes et indépendantes. Une analyse de régression logistique a également été réalisée pour évaluer la taille de l'effet des associations entre les variables dépendantes et indépendantes. Le niveau de signification statistique a été déduit à P < 0,05. RÉSULTATS: La majorité des répondants étaient d'accord pour dire qu'il était nécessaire de porter des gants (98,6 %) et des masques (88,1 %) pendant la prise en charge des patients. Plus de femmes 62(28,2%) que d'hommes 38(17,4%) ont supposé que les gants étaient utilisés par les dentistes pour se protéger de la mauvaise haleine des patients (p=0,007). Plus d'enfants béninois 97(64,2%) savaient que les masques faciaux protègent les dentistes et les patients (p=0,004), et quelques-uns pensaient que le port de masques faciaux par les dentistes était gênant pour les patients (p=0,001). Les enfants de moins de 10 ans (AOR : 0.85 ; 95% CI : 0.42-1.70 ; p=0.64), avec un statut socio-économique élevé (AOR : 0.90 ; 95% CI:0.53-1.52 ; p=0.70) et les enfants âgés de 10 à 14 ans (AOR : 0,85 ; IC 95% : 0,44-1,63; p=0,62), au statut socio-économique moyen (AOR : 0,72 ; IC 95% : 0,39-1,33 ; p=0,30) étaient moins disposés à utiliser la clinique dentaire aux côtés des enfants vivant avec le VIH. CONCLUSION: Il y avait une disparités de sexe et de lieu de clinique dans la perception et l'attitude des enfants vis-à-vis de l'utilisation des équipements de protection individuelle et de l'utilisation de la clinique dentaire avec les enfants vivant avec le VIH. Mots clés: Masque, Gants, VIH, Discriminatoire, Enfants.

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.

Non-third molar related pericoronitis in a sub-urban Nigeria population of children.

BACKGROUND: The study will report on the prevalence, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of non-third molar related pericoronitis seen in children below the age of 15 years who report at the Pediatric Dental Clinic, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife over a 4½ year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective study of cases of pericoronitis affecting any tooth exclusive of the third molar diagnosed in the pediatric dentistry out-patient clinic in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife between January 2008 and June 2012. Pericoronitis was diagnosed using the criteria described by Howe. Information on age, sex, history malaria fever, upper respiratory diseases, tonsillitis, and evidence of immunosuppression were taken. Radiographs were taken in all cases to rule out tooth impaction and information on treatment regimen was also collected. RESULTS: The prevalence of non-third molar related pericoronitis was 0.63%. More females (63.6%) were affected. Chronic pericoronitis was the most common presentation (73.3%). No case was reported in the primary dentition and the premolar. No case was associated with tooth impaction and the tooth most affected was the lower right second permanent molar (35.7%). Bilateral presentation was seen in 36.4% patients. Herpetic gingivostomatitis was reported in association with one case. Chronic pericoronitis resolved within 3 days of management with warm saline mouth bath (WSMB) and analgesics, while acute/subacute resolved within 10 days of management with antibiotics, analgesics, and WSMB. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of non-third molar related pericoronitis is the low. The most prevalence type is chronic pericoronitis affecting the lower right second permanent molar.

Dentoalveolar abscess among children attending a dental clinic in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and causes of dentoalveolar abscess among children attending an outpatient dental clinic in Nigeria. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study of paediatric dental patients treated in University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City from October 2010 to September 2011. RESULTS: The incidence of dentoalveolar abscess was 6.4% (53/824). However only 42 cases had their case notes retrieved for final research analysis. It occurred mostly in the lower right quadrant of the mouth. The affected children were majorly males and first or second child of monogamous family. A total 17 (40.5%) of the affected children were in the 6-11 years age group. This was the first dentist consultation among 35 (83.3%) of the children. The presenting complaint was toothache among two-thirds of the children. History of asthma, tonsillitis, peptic ulcer disease and previous surgery were medical history elicited from 6 (14.3) of the patients. The most implicated tooth was deciduous first molar. The causes of abscess include untreated dental caries 35 (83.3%), trauma 5 (11.9%), failed restoration 1 (2.4%) and periodontal diseases 1 (2.4%). Periapical radioluscency was predominant radiological finding among affected children. Tooth extraction was commonest treatment done. CONCLUSION: The incidence of dentoalveolar abscess among children was significant. The high frequency of untreated dental caries as the cause of dentoalveolar abscess indicates the need for school and community-based preventive strategies like encouraging infant oral health and preventive dentistry programs and early treatment intervention and dental health education.