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.

Orthodontic Treatment Need and Complexity among Nigerian Adolescents in Rivers State, Nigeria.

Introduction. The assessment of orthodontic treatment need and complexity are necessary for informed planning of orthodontic services. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess these parameters using the Index of Complexity, Outcome, and Need (ICON) in a Nigerian adolescent population in a region where orthodontic services are just being established. Methods. Six hundred and twelve randomly selected Nigerian adolescents aged 12 to 18 years were examined using the ICON in their school compounds. Descriptive statistics were employed in the data analysis. Results. Out of a total of 38.1% of the population found to need orthodontic treatment, there were more males and older adolescents. The overall mean ICON score for the population was 39.7 ± 25.3 SD with males having statistically higher mean ICON score. The grades of complexity of the population were 21.6% for very difficult and difficult, 7.5% moderate, and 70.9% mild/easy. Conclusions. Although just over a third of the adolescents were found to have a need for treatment, about a quarter of them were found to have difficult and very difficult complexity grades indicating a need for specialist care. The authors recommend the training of more specialist orthodontists in this region.

Occlusal changes from primary to mixed dentitions in Nigerian children.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate longitudinally the occlusal changes between the deciduous and early mixed dentition stages in Nigerian children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The occlusion of 145 3- to 5-year-old children was initially assessed at a popular pre-primary school center in Ibadan, Nigeria in October 2002, using the Foster and Hamilton criteria. The same group of children was followed up for reexamination in October 2006 in the primary school section of the center. Of 61 students who were located and reexamined, 54 (26 male and 28 female) qualified for the study. The molar relationship was assessed using Angle classification, and other occlusal features such as spacing, crowding, overbite, and overjet were also assessed. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, as well as Pearson correlation coefficient, were applied as appropriate in the analysis of the data. RESULTS: Of 32 subjects initially having a flush terminal relationship (Class 1), 22 (68.7%) resulted in a Class I molar relationship, seven (21.9%) had Class II, and three (9.4%) had asymmetric relationships. Mesial step (Class III) was formed initially in 18 and 11 (61.1%) resulted in Class I. A Class III developed in five (27.8%). Significant positive correlations were found for molar relationship, crowding, overbite, and overjet variables (P < .01) between the two periods of assessments, but all were below 0.7 value. CONCLUSIONS: Angle Class I molar relationship was favored by initial flush terminal plane and mesial step relationships in the deciduous dentition.