Self-perception of dental appearance and aesthetics in a student population.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the perception of personal dental appearance and dental aesthetics of a young adult population and to compare this with their normatively assessed orthodontic treatment need. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving 420 undergraduate students aged 18-30years, with no previous history of orthodontic treatment. Objective assessment of dental aesthetics was carried out using the aesthetic component of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN), while self-administered questionnaires were used to assess perception of personal dental appearance. RESULTS: Over 90% of the students considered healthy and well-arranged teeth to be important to their appearance, however, only 36% of them were satisfied with their dental aesthetics. In addition, three-quarters (75%) of the students reported that they desired to change the appearance of their teeth, majority (56.5%) wanted to change the colour, whilst 31.2% wanted to change the arrangement of their teeth (31.2%). A statistically significant association (P=0.05) was recorded between the level of satisfaction with their dental aesthetics and an objective assessment by an orthodontist. CONCLUSION: The two most important features in the perception of their personal dental appearance, for this young adult population, were the 'colour' and 'arrangement' of their teeth. There was a statistically significant association between their satisfaction with their dental aesthetics and their normatively assessed orthodontic treatment need, although no correlation was observed between both variables.

Malocclusion and early orthodontic treatment requirements in the mixed dentitions of a population of Nigerian children.

INTRODUCTION: The aims of this study were to establish the prevalence of dental features that indicate a need for early intervention and to ascertain the prevalence of different methods of early treatment among a population of Nigerian children in mixed dentition. METHODS: Occlusal relationships were evaluated in 101 children in mixed dentition between the ages of 6 and 12 years who presented at the Orthodontic Unit, Department of Child Dental Health, Lagos University Teaching Hospital over a 2 years period. The need for different modes of early orthodontic treatment was also recorded. RESULTS: Anterior tooth rotations (61.4%) and increased overjet (44.6%) were the most prevalent occlusal anomalies. Others included deep bite (31.7%), reverse overjet (13.9%), and anterior open bite (14.8%). Severe maxillary spacing and crowding were exhibited in 12.0% and 5.0%, respectively. About a third (35.7%) of the subjects presented with crossbite while lip incompetence was observed in 43.6% of the subjects. About 44% of the subjects also presented with various oral habits with digit (15.8%) and lip sucking (9.9%) being the most prevalent. Subjects were recommended for treatment with 2 by 4 fixed orthodontic appliances (22.3%), habit breakers (20.7%), removable orthodontic appliances (16.5%), and extractions (15.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Increased overjet and anterior tooth rotation were the majority of occlusal anomalies seen, which are not only esthetically displeasing but may also cause an increased susceptibility to trauma to these teeth. Treatment options varied from extractions only to the use of appliance therapy.

Emerging trends in dental specialty choice in Nigeria.

Asymmetry in the distribution of dental specialists in Nigeria has the potential to negatively affect dental education at all levels. There is a dearth in Nigerian studies on the trends of influencing factors on the choice of dental specialty in Nigeria. Past efforts have not resulted in policy change thus necessitating the current study. One hundred and twelve (51 male, 61 female) Nigerian dental graduates aged 23-55 years with a mean age of 35.21 ± 8.21 years completed self-administered questionnaires to assess the impact of 16 influencing factors on their choice of dental specialty. The graduation period of respondents, which ranged between 0 and 30 years was recorded into three decades and cross-tabulated against 16 influencing factors to assess their relative impact on specialty choice. Diagnostic challenge, predictable work hours and patient type appeared to have maintained a consistent popularity while affluence and income, although less popular influences three decades ago are becoming increasingly relevant while length of programme, prestige and level of crowding exerted less influence on choice of specialty than other factors. The potential influence of incentives such as career counselling and grants for overseas training to encourage enrollment in less popular programmes was assessed based on recommendations from previous studies. However, these measures appeared to be unpopular among Nigerian dental graduates. Diagnostic challenges and predictable work hours remain popular as influencing factors on choice of dental specialty among Nigerian dental graduates. Affluence and income, although previously unpopular are now gaining popularity among Nigerian dental graduates.

Use of Twin Block of Clark in management of Angle's Class II Division I malocclusion. Case report.

A case report on the orthodontic management of a 10-year-old female patient with Angle's Class II Division I malocclusion, 12 mm overjet, incompetent lips, a deep bite and a lower midline shift to the right using the Twin Block of Clark is presented. Treatment objectives included reduction of the overjet and overbite, obtaining a Class I molar and canine relationship, and improving the patient's profile. After a thorough patient assessment, a two-phase orthodontic treatment plan was chosen with myofunctional therapy using the Twin Block constituting the first phase of treatment. Second phase of treatment was to be carried out using a preadjusted edgewise appliance system. Active treatment with the Twin Block lasted for nine months. Patient's compliance with the appliance was good, and an overjet reduction to 4.5 mm was achieved with an improvement in facial profile after the first phase of treatment. The Twin Block of Clark is a very good treatment alternative in managing selected cases of Angle's Class II Division I malocclusion.

Relevance of routine blood pressure assessment among dental patients in Lagos, Nigeria.

AIM: To determine the relevance of routine blood pressure (BP) measurement in patients attending the dental clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective survey of patients who attended the dental clinic in the Preventive Dentistry Department of a tertiary Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria over an eighteen month period. Data retrieved from the patient's hospital records included age, sex, BP and history of hypertension. Data was analyzed using Epi info 2011 package. p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 1910 patients' records were assessed. Females represented 53.4% (n = 1020) of the study population. The mean age was 37.1 ± 15.0 years (range 18-88 years). The prevalence of hypertension was 39.9% (n = 763). Hypertension was stage 1 in 25.5%, stage 2 in 9.8% and severe in 4.6% of the dental patients. Past medical history of hypertension was obtained for 952 patients (49.8%). Of the 763 patients with high blood pressure, 14.8% had a known history of hypertension, while 42.1% were previously undiagnosed (p < 0.0001). Systolic and diastolic BP increased with increasing age (p < 0.05) and was significantly higher in males than females (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of hypertension noted among the study population with its potential consequence during dental procedures makes the measurement of blood pressure a valuable assessment in a dental clinic. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The high prevalence of hypertension particularly the previously undiagnosed cases among the dental patients highlights the relevance of routine blood pressure assessment prior to dental procedures in contemporary dental practice, so as to minimize the potential complications that could occur.

Lip dimensions of an adult Nigerian population with normal occlusion.

INTRODUCTION: The soft tissue paradigm is placing greater emphasis on the importance of the soft tissue profile to orthodontic treatment planning. The purpose of this study was to determine the lip dimensions of a Nigerian adult population; compare the male and female values and to compare the values obtained for Nigerians with those reported for other population. METHODOLOGY: Lateral cephalometric radiographs of 100 students (44 males and 56 females) of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, aged 18 to 25 years were taken. Selected subjects were of Nigerian ancestry with normal occlusion and a harmonious facial appearance. The radiographs were manually traced and the upper and lower lip length and thickness of each subject was measured. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS, while the male and female values were compared using student's t-tests. RESULTS: Mean values for the lip dimensions were computed for the entire sample. Marked sexual dimorphism was observed with the males having thicker and longer upper and lower lips than the females. The Nigerian sample also had a longer upper lip and a thicker and shorter lower lip than that reported for Caucasians. However, both population had a similar upper lip thickness. CONCLUSION: Cephalometric norms were developed for the lip dimensions of a Nigerian population. Marked sexual dimorphism was observed in the Nigerian population studied with the males having longer and thicker lips than the females. The lip dimensions of the Nigerian population studied differed from that reported for Caucasians and other racial groups.