Endodontic treatment: an analysis of demand by adult patients in a tertiary hospital in Southern Nigeria

Objective: An increase in dental awareness and need to maintain good oral health, in a growing population will necessitate an increased demand for root canal treatment (endodontic treatment). In emerging economies like Nigeria, the trend appears similar to what obtains in more developed economies where patients are keen on retaining their teeth. The objective was to determine the reasons for endodontic treatment and pattern of demand for treatment among adult patients attending the Endodontic unit of a tertiary hospital in Southern Nigeria.Methods: A retrospective review of all clinical records of adult patients who attended the Endodontic unit of the Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Edo State, Nigeria from January 2012 to December 2014 for root canal treatment (RCT). The demographic and clinical data were retrieved from the patients' records and analyzed using Results: A total of 485 patients, comprising 226(46.6%) males and 259(53.4%) females (a ratio of 1:1.4) underwent endodontic treatment during the study period. The age range of patients was 18-68 years. In the studied population, the highest demand for endodontic treatment 219(45.2%) was among the 20-29 years age range. The commonest indication for RCT was irreversible pulpitis (48.4%). The total number of teeth treated was 522. More posterior teeth 338(64.8%) were treated than anteriors 184(35.2%). The mandibular first molar 96(18.4%) was the most frequently treated tooth. More maxillary teeth 332(63.6%) underwent RCT than mandibular teeth 190(36.4%).Endodontic treatment was mostly completed in multiple visits 439(84.1%). A total of 279 (57.5%) patients had their treatments covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Out of pocket payments accounted for 40.2% of patients who had endodontic treatment.Conclusion: There was a greater demand for root canal treatment among female and young adult patients. Most of the procedures were performed on maxillary teeth while the mandibular first molar was the most frequently treated tooth

La carie de la petite enfance : Quelle attitude therapeutique ?

La carie de la petite enfance (CPE) est une forme de carie particulierement virulente chez le jeune enfant; elle se caracterise par des manifestations cliniques specifiques et des consequences lourdes locales locoregionales et generales. Devant un tableau clinique evocateur; une demarche diagnostique doit etre menee aussi bien clinique que radiographique sans oublier l'interet et l'importance d'un bon diagnostic etiologique. La prise en charge ou plutot la strategie therapeutique de la carie de la petite enfance dependra de l'age du patient; de l'importance des lesions et de la motivation des parents. Elle peut se faire a l'etat vigil; sous premedication sedative ou sous anesthesie generale. Elle passe par trois etapes distinctes : Information et education des parents des enfants; stabilisation des lesions carieuses avant de passer au traitement proprement dit de ces lesions. bonne prise en charge des enfants atteints de CPE ne peut etre pretendue que si un calendrier de suivi prealablement etabli est respecte; il permettra une reevaluation du risque carieux; le controle des regles d'hygiene alimentaire et buccodentaire; le respect d'un protocole de fluoration et enfin l'evaluation des traitements realisees