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

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