Malocclusion and its impact on quality of life of school children in Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Malocclusion, though not life-threatening,is an important public health issue, which has a large impacton the individual, causing discomfort, social and functionallimitations.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate objectively orthodontic treatment needsin Nigerian schoolchildren and the impact of malocclusion ontheir quality of life.METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved schoolchildrenaged 12 to 16 years from four randomly selected secondaryschools in Lagos, Nigeria. A prestructured questionnaire wasadministered and a clinical examination was conducted.Occlusal status was assessed for each subject using the DentalAesthetic Index (DAI). Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) was also evaluated.RESULTS: There were 410 (50.9%) females and 395 (49.1%)males aged 12 to 16 years. Mean age was 14.5 ± 1.3 years.Irregularity of teeth was the most prevalent malocclusion.Generalised spacing and midline diastema were seen in 59%and 31% respectively; crowding in 43% of the schoolchildren.Other occlusal anomalies were recorded. There was nostatistically significant difference between the sexes. Over onethird of the study population did not need treatment, treatmentwas mandatory in 24.3%, elective in 21% and highly desirablein 17%. More females than males did not need orthodontictreatment. Oral conditions had no effect on the quality of life of85.3% of the study sample.CONCLUSION: Most Nigerian schoolchildren were found tohave a dental appearance that needed orthodontic treatment.However, components of the oral conditions impacted on thequality of life of a few subjects. Psycho-social need is veryimportant in orthodontic diagnosis. WAJM 2010; 29(6): 417­424

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