Comparison of Dental Caries and Oral Hygiene Status of Children in Suburban with those in Rural Population of Southwestern Nigeria

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare prevalence of dental caries, oral hygiene status and associated risk factors of children in suburban and rural communities in the Southwest region of Nigeria. Material and Methods: Secondary data was extracted from cross-sectional researches conducted in two study locations involving 8 to 12 year olds. Data retrieved included age, gender, family structure, socioeconomic status, oral hygiene and dental caries. Caries assessment was done using WHO Oral Health Survey methods. Oral hygiene data was collected using Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) by Greene and Vermillion. Statistical significance was established at p<0.05. Results: The prevalence of dental caries in Group A and Group B study participants were 13.4% and 22.2% respectively. Children from rural community had significant higher caries prevalence (p=0.00) and poorer oral hygiene (P=0.00) compare with their counterparts in the suburban community. There was a significant association between oral hygiene, age and dental caries in suburban participants (p=0.02) while among the rural participants there was significant association between gender and dental caries (p=0.04). Children with poor oral hygiene have increased odds of having dental caries compared to children with good oral hygiene in the two study communities. Conclusion: Dental caries was more prevalent among the rural dwellers than the sub-urban dwellers. There is a need to make oral health care services/products available, accessible and affordable for the rural community.

Habit-breaking methods employed by mothers of children with nonnutritive sucking habits resident in suburban Nigeria

Parents are often concerned about their children's nonnutritive sucking (NNS) habits and may institute mechanisms to try to break them. Aim: The study identified various methods instituted by mothers resident in a suburban Nigeria to break NNS habits of children, reasons for wanting to break the habit, and the association between instituted methods and sociodemographic profile of the mothers. Materials and Methods: The data of 129 mothers of children aged 4 years to 12 years who had NNS habits at the time of conducting a household survey were analyzed. Statistical Analysis: Tests of associations were conducted to determine the association between maternal age and level of education and methods employed to break child's NNS habits. Results: Eighty-four mothers (65.1%) made efforts to break the habit. Habit persisting to older age was the main concern. The most common method employed for breaking habits was punishing the child (54.8%).Only 7 (20.0%) mothers who were concerned about NNS habit(s) sought professional advice. A greater though insignificant percentage of mothers in the 25–34 years age group (57.2%; P = 0.48) and those with secondary school level of education (56.0%; P = 0.12) made efforts to break their children's NNS habits. Conclusions: The majority of mothers were concerned about their children's NNS habits. However, very few concerned mothers sought professional advice. Efforts need to be made to improve the public awareness about the availability of professional services for managing NNS habits and potential impact of employing nonprofessional methods to break habits.

Time expended on managing molar incisor hypomineralization in a pediatric dental clinic in Nigeria

Abstract This study assessed the difference in the number of visits made to a dental care clinic and the time spent providing specific dental treatment for children with and without molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH). Children aged 8 to 16 years who presented at the Pediatric Dental Unit of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, were eligible for the study. A comprehensive medical and dental history was taken, and each child was clinically examined, diagnosed, and treated according to a drawn-up plan. The time taken to establish a diagnosis and to provide specific treatments (scaling and polishing, restoration, pulpectomy, extraction, and placement of stainless steel crowns) and the number of visits made to complete the treatment plan were recorded for each child. Differences in the number of visits, time expended to make a diagnosis and to treat children with and without MIH were analyzed. The average time for diagnosis (p = 0.001) and the average time for placing amalgam restorations (p = 0.008) were significantly longer in children with MIH than in those without it. Children with MIH made more visits to the clinic (p < 0.001).There was no significant difference in the average time for scaling and polishing (p = 0.08), glass ionomer cement restorations (p = 0.99), composite restorations (p = 0.26), pulpectomy (p = 0.42), tooth extraction (p = 0.06), and placement of a stainless steel crown (p = 0.83) in children with and without MIH. In conclusion, children with MIH required more time for oral health care. Placing amalgam restorations took significantly longer than placing tooth bonding restorative materials in children with MIH than in those without it.

Oral health knowledge and practices of dentists practicing in a teaching hospital in Nigeria.

Aim: To assess the oral health practices and knowledge of practicing dentists at a tertiary health institution in Nigeria, and the possible association of age and sex with caries prevention practices. Methodology: A cross‑sectional study was conducted. All practicing dentists in the institution were eligible to participate in the study. A questionnaire that assessed oral health practices and knowledge was administered. Respondents were expected to select the most appropriate responses that reflected their knowledge of oral health practices and caries prevention practices. Questions included assessment of knowledge and practice of tooth brushing, flossing, refined carbohydrate intake, and dental service utilization. Participants’ responses were scored and dichotomized to poor and good knowledge, and poor and good practices, using the median scores. Bivariate analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with good and poor oral health practices, and good and poor knowledge. Results: Fifty‑two eligible study participants were accessible at the time of questionnaire administration. Only 46 respondents returned the filled questionnaire giving a response rate of 88.5%. The age of respondents ranged between 25 and 48 years. The majority of respondents had good oral health practices (65.2%) and good oral health knowledge (85%). However, few respondents had good caries prevention practices: 39.2% brushed at least twice daily, 45.7% took refined carbohydrate less than once daily, 36.9% used dental floss at least once daily, and 60.9% undertook preventive dental care. The correlation between the dentists’ oral health knowledge score and oral health practices score was insignificant (0.90; P = 0.55). Conclusion: A large number of dentists practicing in the tertiary hospital had good oral health practices and good oral health knowledge. However, the proportion of dentists with good caries prevention practices was low.