Oral and maxillofacial tumours in north Jordanian children and adolescents: a retrospective analysis over 10 years.

This study evaluates the types and distribution of oral and maxillofacial tumours in north Jordanian children and adolescents. The records of the Department of Pathology at Jordan University of Science & Technology, during the period 1991-2000, were reviewed for patients younger than 19 years with oral and maxillofacial tumours. The tumours were analysed for age, sex, site and type. Out of all maxillofacial tumours, 23% occurred in children and adolescents, of these 10% were malignant and 90% were benign. 73% of the latter were soft tissue tumours and 17% were jaw tumours (58% odontogenic and 42% non-odontogenic). The most common benign soft tissue and jaw tumours were haemangioma and odontoma, respectively. 58% of malignant tumours were sarcomas and 42% were carcinomas. The mean age was 11 years with a female to male ratio of 1:1.2. The intraoral and extraoral sites most commonly affected by benign soft tissue tumours were the lower lip and face, respectively. While the total number of benign jaw tumours was slightly larger in the maxilla than the mandible, odontogenic tumours were more in the maxilla, and nonodontogenic tumours were more in the mandible. Differences found in this study between Jordanian children and adolescents and those from other countries may be attributable to genetic and geographic differences. The majority of benign tumours in the young are probably developmental rather than true neoplasms.

Prevalence of dental caries in 12-13-year-old Jordanian students.

The purpose of this study was to determine the caries experience of 12-13-year-old 6th grade students in Jordan. A total of 694 students were selected randomly from a list of schools teaching 6th grade students in Irbid, Jordan. The data were collected by interview and clinical examination performed by two examiners. Dental examinations were done by using dental mirrors and probes under artificial light in classrooms and the diagnosis of dental caries was made by the criteria recommended by the World Health Organisation (1987). On average students had 24.4 sound teeth, 2.3 decayed teeth (D), 0.05 missing teeth (M) and 0.16 filled teeth (F). The mean DMFT index was 2.51. The D represents 92% of the DMF cases. Of the students examined 188 were caries free (27.1%). Of the 19,432 permanent teeth examined the highest frequency of dental caries (61%) and fillings (77%) was found in first molars, and these were the most commonly missing teeth (67%). Second molars and second premolars had the second and third highest frequencies respectively, whereas incisors and canines were the least affected teeth (< 2%).

Prevalence of pulp stones in Jordanian adults.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of pulp stones in a sample of Jordanian dental patients. The article also presents frequency distributions of this condition among different types of teeth. STUDY DESIGN: Data were collected through radiographic examinations of a random sample of periapical and bitewing films of 4573 teeth from 814 dental records from the Faculty of Dentistry's filing system. RESULTS: Pulp stones were identified in 22% of the teeth examined. First and second molars were the teeth most commonly affected. Pulp stone incidence was not significantly different among different age and gender groups.