Analyzing dental arch shape in untreated orthodontic patients with anterior arch crowding

Objective: Crowding of the dentition results in distortion of the arch form and orthodontic treatment unravels the crowding based on the shape of the wire of arch form utilized. Alteration of an existing arch form with the wrong arch wire and biomechanics may result in unstable results. Selection of the appropriate arch wire shape based on the patient's original arch form results in a finished orthodontic treatment which is aesthetically pleasing, preserves the shape and function, with long term stability of the finished case. The objective of the study was to analyze the dental arch shape in untreated orthodontic patients with anterior arch crowding. Methods: Dental casts of 100 untreated orthodontic patients with anterior arch crowding of both the maxilla and mandible were selected and classified using Angles method. Crowding was described as mild, moderate, severe and very severe using the index described by Little. The Occlusal plane was outlined for both jaws using brass wire adapted with sticky wax along the buccal cusps of the posterior teeth on one side of the arch through the incisal edges of the anterior teeth to the buccal cusps of the posterior teeth on the other side of the arch. Data analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 22.0 software. All data was expressed as frequencies, percentages and means. The results were presented using frequency tables. Results: Upper arch shapes were identified as square in 58(58%), tapered in 18(18%) and ovoid in 24 (24%). Lower arch shapes were square in 60(60%), tapered in 36 (36%) and ovoid in 4(4%). Anterior arch crowding was seen in both arches as mild in 68(68%), moderate in 17(17%), severe in 9(9%) and very severe in 6(6%). The highest prevalence of anterior crowding was seen in the mild variant and in the square shape in both the upper and lower arch forms in 43 (63.2%), respectively. The tapered arch form was not demonstrated in the very severely crowded upper arch, while the ovoid arch form in the lower arch was not evident in the severe and very severe variant of crowding. This was however not statistically significant. Conclusion: The square arch form is most prevalent in cases of upper and lower crowding

A ten year audit of traumatic dental injuries in children in a Tertiary Hospital in Southern Nigeria

Objective: To determine the prevalence, management and outcome of traumatic dental injuries among children treated at the Paediatric Dental Clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Methods: Data of children with traumatic dental injuries were collected from the clinical register for all children who were treated at the Paediatric Dental Clinic from November 2004 to October 2014. Data collected included the year of trauma, age, sex, teeth injured, type of traumatic dental injury and treatment done. These were analyzed with the chi square test and probability values of p<0.05 applied. Results: Three hundred and nine children (5.0%) suffered dental trauma out of a total number of 6,169 children (age range 1-16years) seen within the study period. The mean age of the patients with dental trauma was 7.61±4.0 years. Dental injuries relating to the primary teeth was recorded in 104(33.7%). Those relating to the permanent teeth was 188(60.8%) and soft tissue injuries accounted for 17(5.5%). Many males 177(57.3%) were affected more than females 132(42.7%) but this was not statistically significant (P=0.086). There were two peak age incidences of trauma namely the 2-3years and 9-10years of age. The most common type of injury was enamel-dentin fractures 69(22.3%) in permanent teeth and lateral luxation 32(10.4%) in primary teeth. In the primary teeth related injury, the most commonly performed treatments were extractions and drug prescriptions each in 43(39.8%) while for permanent teeth were restorations 86(42.8%) and root canal treatment 57(28.4%). Conclusion: The clinic prevalence of traumatic dental injury in this study was relatively low, still this low percentage represents a large number of patients. Institution of standard treatment modalities and a long-term follow-up will minimize complications and improve outcome

Dental habits among 2 to 5 years old children in Benin city

Objective: To assess dental habits and factor associated occlusal traits among 2-5years old children in Benin City, Edo State.Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out amongst 352 respondents using systematic sampling technique for selection. Pre-tested interviewer administered questionnaires were used for data collection. Data was analyzed with IBM SPSS version 21.0 software. The association between socio-demographic variables and dental Habit amongst respondents was analyzed using chi squared test and Fisher's exact test where applicable. The level of significant was set at p < 0.05.Results: The prevalence of Dental habit in the study was found to be 71.0%. Digit sucking was the most prevalent dental Habit in the study 36.0%. The highest proportion of tongue thrusting was found among 3-4years age group while bruxism was higher among 2years old. More than Half the respondents 54.0% believed anxiety to be a predisposing factor to dental habit. Spacing was observed to be prevalent as occlusal trait among respondents 51.7%.Conclusion: The study revealed an overall prevalence of dental habits of 71.0% with higher prevalence of finger sucking, bruxism and lip sucking among males while mouth breathing, tongue thrusting and use of pacifiers was found to be higher among females. The study revealed common predisposing factor to development of dental habit to be stress, anxiety, imitation of habits, loneliness, abandonment. The study revealed a high prevalence of spacing and open bite during the intraoral assessment

Management of retained deciduous second molars; with congenitally missing second premolars in young adults: a case report

Objective: Congenitally missing teeth is a common dental anomaly, with the second premolars having a very high incidence after the third molars. Congenitally missing premolars may be associated with presence or absence of retained deciduous second molars. The objective of this case report is to describe the management of retained second deciduous molars with missing second premolars in a young adult patient. Case Description: This article reports a case of a 20 ­year old female patient, an undergraduate in a Nigerian university, who presented to the dental clinic complaints of shocking sensation in one of her teeth in the maxillary right quadrant. Clinical examination revealed presence of retained deciduous second molars, bilaterally on the mandible and the maxillary right quadrant, with congenitally missing second premolars. There was a class II carious lesion on the maxillary deciduous second molar. The patient oblivious of the condition was bothered by the shocking sensation on the maxillary deciduous second molar. Amalgam was the restorative material used to treat the carious tooth. Conclusion: It is imperative to maintain or restore the health (the anatomic and physiologic function) of the retained deciduous second molars in cases of congenitally missing second premolars