Periodontal Status of Adolescents in Surulere; Lagos State; Nigeria

Objective : The objective of this study was to assess the periodontal status; treatment needs and dental visit practice of adolescents in Lagos; Nigeria. Methods : 600 subjects were selected by stratified random sampling from 6 schools; 3 secondary and 3 primary schools in Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos state; Nigeria. About one hundred subjects in each age category of 11 to 16 years were selected. A questionnaire was designed seeking biographic data such as age; sex; occupation of parent; and dental visit attendance and a section for recording periodontal clinical examination using the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) was included. The periodontal status; treatment needs and dental visit practices of adolescents were determined. Results: Only 3 were found to be healthy periodontally. 83 of the subjects presented predominately with the worst condition recorded; code 2 (i.e. calculus); which is a reversible condition. A mean of 0.6 healthy sextants; 2.3 bleeding sextants and 3.1 calculus-accumulated sextants was calculated. A statistical difference in periodontal status was noted with age; the younger adolescents (11-13 years) presenting predominately with bleeding sextants when compared to the older adolescents (14-16 years) who presented more calculus-accumulated sextants. Nearly all subjects required periodontal treatment. 83 needed professional prophylaxis (TN2). Conclusion: There is a need for a school oral health education programme within the LGA with a focus on periodontal disease prevention and provision of oral prophylaxis by dental surgeons; therapists and volunteer dental students

Prevalence of malocclusion among 12 year-old school children in Lagos State

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of dentofacial anomalies presenting as malocclusion in 12 year-old Nigerian school children in the Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State; Nigeria. Methodology: The study; which involved a sample of 200 children; was carried out employing the World Health Organization Pathfinder Methodology for oral health surveys. Malocclusion was recorded as being absent; slight or moderate/severe based on the WHO criteria as outlined in the methodology. Results: Sixty-eight per cent (68) of the children had normal occlusion i.e. absence of malocclusion. Slight malocclusion was present in 22; while 10 had moderate to severe malocclusion. There was no sex predilection for malocclusion. Among the ethnic groups; there was no significant difference in prevalence of malocclusion. Conclusion: In view of the handicapping effects of dentofacial anomalies; which tend to affect a person's aesthetics; masticatory function; speech and indeed social acceptability; there is a need to institute measures; which would help in the prevention of some of the malocclusion types seen in the study. The establishment of school oral healthcare programme; which would also provide preventive orthodontic care; is advocated. However; the small number seen among some ethnic groups precludes the extrapolation of this finding to the larger population. There is a need to carry out national surveys