Dental Spacing in Primary Dentition of Nigerian Children and its Relationship to Arch and Crown Dimensions

Objectives: The aims of this study were to compare mesiodistal and buccolingual crown widths; as well as dental arch dimensions between children with spaced and normal dental arches; and to determine which of the parameters mostly influence dental spacing. Methods: Crown and dental arch dimensions of dental casts of 125 children; grouped into spaced and normal primary dental arches; based on the tooth size-arch length discrepancy; were measured using electronic digital caliper. The data were statistically analyzed using t-test and stepwise multiple regression analysis. Results: Maxillary and mandibular spaced arches had statistically significant larger intercanine widths than the normal arches. The total mesiodistal tooth size in both arches; and mean buccolingual width of the mandibular first and second primary molars of the spaced arches were significantly smaller than those of the normal arches. However; there were no significant differences between spaced and normal arches in arch length; arch depth and intermolar arch width. The most important predictor of spacing in both arches is the intercanine width; followed by total mesiodistal tooth size. Conclusions: The parameter that mostly influences dental spacing is the intercanine width

The Prevalence of Oral Habits Among 4 to 15 year Old School Children in Lagos

Objective: To provide information regarding the prevalence of oral habits among a group of Nigerian children. Study Design : This is cross-sectional study of 928 children; 431 males and 497 females aged 4 to 15 years from both rural and urban areas of Lagos State in Nigeria. Habits assessed included digit; lip and tongue habits. Results: Thirty four point one per cent of the children examined presented with an oral habit. Of these; digit sucking was the most frequently occurring; seen in 50 of the children with oral habits. Tongue and lip habits occurred in 27 and 23 of children respectively. There was observed a steady decrease in oral habits with an increase in age. The prevalence being highest among 4 to 5 year olds (44.2) and gradually decreasing to 11.8 among the 14 to 15 year age group. Oral habits were found to be slightly more common among males than females; though this finding was not significant. Socio-economic status (SES) was found to have a significant effect on the occurrence of oral habits. Forty eight per cent of all children of high SES engaged in an oral habit; whereas this was observed in only 24.4of all children of low SES. Conclusion : The findings of this study indicate that there is an increased prevalence of oral habits among children in the population in recent times. The occurrence of these habits is more frequently seen in children from families of high socio-economic status