Oral health and nutritional Status of Preschool-Aged Children in Maiduguri, North-East, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: The most prevalent oral diseases, dental caries and periodontal disease, result in pain, discomfort, and loss of oral functions, often leading to poor nutrition. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence and relationship between oral health and nutritional status among children aged 2 to 5 years in Maiduguri, North-East Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional study that assessed caries experience, gingival status and nutritional status of children. Anthropometric measurements of weight-for-age and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) were used to assess nutritional status. Participants were randomly selected from three private schools. The MUAC was measured using a standardised tape rule. The weight-for-age by sex of the participants was extrapolated from the weight-for-age WHO chart. Oral health was assessed using the WHO Oral Health Survey Methods. Data were analysed using SPSS for Windows (version 23). Statistical significance was placed at 95% confidence and p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: There were 239 participants with a male:female ratio of 1.2:1 (SE=0.03). Mean dmft was 0.72 (SE 0.09) and 63.2% had healthy gingiva (SE 0.04). The mean weight was 16.8kg (SE=0.15) and mean MUAC was 15.3 cm. Caries prevalence was associated with nutritional status and positively correlated (r=0.03, P=0.64). Gingival status was associated but inversely correlated with MUAC (r= -0.02, P= 0.76). CONCLUSION: Normal nutritional status was associated with no caries prevalence and healthy gingiva. Underweight was associated with caries prevalence. Adequate and healthy nutrition promotes good oral health in children.

CONTEXTE: Les maladies bucco-dentaires les plus prévalentes, la carie dentaire et la maladie parodontale, entraînent des douleurs, un inconfort et une perte de fonctions buccales, conduisant souvent à une mauvaise nutrition. OBJECTIFS: Évaluer la prévalence et la relation entre la santé buccodentaire et l'état nutritionnel des enfants de 2 à 5 ans à Maiduguri, dans le Nord-Est du Nigéria. MÉTHODES: Une étude transversale qui a évalué l'expérience carieuse, l'état gingival et l'état nutritionnel des enfants. Les mesures anthropométriques du poids pour l'âge et le périmètre brachial moyen (MUAC) ont été utilisées pour évaluer l'état nutritionnel. Les participants ont été sélectionnés de manière aléatoire dans trois écoles privées. Le MUAC a été mesuré à l'aide d'une règle graduée normalisée. Le poids pour l'âge en fonction du sexe des participants a été extrapolé à partir du graphique de l'OMS. La santé bucco-dentaire a été évaluée selon les méthodes d'enquête de santé bucco-dentaire de l'OMS. Les données ont été analysées à l'aide de SPSS pour Windows (version 23). La signification statistique était fixée à une confiance de 95 % et p ≤ 0,05. RÉSULTATS: Il y avait 239 participants avec un ratio masculin/féminin de 1,2:1 (EE=0,03). La moyenne du dmft était de 0,72 (EE 0,09) et 63,2 % avaient des gencives saines (EE 0,04). Le poids moyen était de 16,8 kg (EE=0,15) et le MUAC moyen était de 15,3 cm. La prévalence de la carie était associée à l'état nutritionnel et corrélée positivement (r=0,03, P=0,64). L'état gingival était associé mais inversement corrélé au MUAC (r= -0,02,P= 0,76). CONCLUSION: Un état nutritionnel normal était associé à l'absence de prévalence de caries et à des gencives saines. L'insuffisance pondérale était associée à la prévalence de caries. Une nutrition adéquate et saine favorise une bonne santé bucco-dentaire chez les enfants. Mots-clés: État de santé bucco-dentaire, État nutritionnel, Âge préscolaire, Maiduguri.

Prevalence of Dental Caries among Visually Impaired Institutionalized Adolescents in Lagos State.

OBJECTIVES: To assess and compare caries prevalence among institutionalized visually impaired and sighted 10dash;19 year old children in Lagos State, Nigeria. METHODS: A cross sectional study of institutionalized visually impaired and sighted 10-19-year-old adolescents was carried out using the World Health Organisation (WHO) Basic Oral Methods caries diagnostic criteria. A random sample of 10-19-year-old visually impaired and sighted institutionalised children was carried out. The mean decayed, missing, filled teeth (dmft/DMFT) and significant caries (SiC) indices of both groups were obtained and compared with Chi-square test using SPSS version 20. RESULTS: Mean age of visually impaired participants was 16 years while that of sighted was 12.5 years. The male to female ratio was 1:1 among the visually impaired participants and 1:1.5 among the sighted. Caries prevalence of 28.8% (64/222), mean dmft/DMFT 1.98±1.25 and 27.5% (63/229), mean dmft/DMFT 1.90±1.28 were obtained for the sighted and visually impaired 10dash;19 years old children respectively. The significant caries (SiC) indices for both groups were 3.3. CONCLUSION: Caries prevalence among the visually impaired and sighted adolescents in this study was considerable with no significant differences between them. Both populations had significant caries experiences. There is therefore need for oral health promotion among both sighted and visually impaired institutionalized adolescents in this environment.

Genetic studies in the Nigerian population implicate an MSX1 mutation in complex oral facial clefting disorders.

BACKGROUND: Orofacial clefts are the most common malformations of the head and neck, with a worldwide prevalence of 1 in 700 births. They are commonly divided into CL(P) and CP based on anatomic, genetic, and embryologic findings. A Nigerian craniofacial anomalies study (NigeriaCRAN) was set up in 2006 to investigate the role of gene-environment interaction in the origin of orofacial clefts in Nigeria. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: DNA isolated from saliva from Nigerian probands was used for genotype association studies and direct sequencing of cleft candidate genes: MSX1 , IRF6 , FOXE1, FGFR1 , FGFR2 , BMP4 , MAFB, ABCA4 , PAX7, and VAX1 , and the chromosome 8q region. RESULTS: A missense mutation A34G in MSX1 was observed in nine cases and four HapMap controls. No other apparent causative variations were identified. Deviation from Hardy Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was observed in these cases (p = .00002). A significant difference was noted between the affected side for unilateral CL (p = .03) and bilateral clefts and between clefts on either side (p = .02). A significant gender difference was also observed for CP (p = .008). CONCLUSIONS: Replication of a mutation previously implicated in other populations suggests a role for the MSX1 A34G variant in the development of CL(P).

Assessment of time taken to treat dental trauma in Nigerian children.

AIM: To assess the clinical time (diagnosis and treatment times) to manage traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) in children attending paediatric dental clinics in Nigeria. STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional observational pilot study on children presenting at four government hospitals in South West Nigeria over a 3-month period. METHODS: Dental injury was classified using the method recommended by Andreasen et al. [2003]. A standardized protocol was followed and the details of the diagnosis time, treatment time and total clinical time for management of different traumatic injuries to the primary and permanent dentition were recorded and calculated on a data collection form. RESULTS: There were 73 dental injuries in 39 children. For the primary dentition, complicated crown fracture had the highest average total treatment time namely 76.0±48.1 minutes as well as the highest average number of visits (2.6 visits). More time was spent manageing the same level of injury in the permanent dentition than in the primary dentition. For the permanent dentition, extrusive luxation injury had the highest average total treatment time (103.3±11.5 minutes). CONCLUSION: The clinical time for management of dental injuries in children was relatively high and varied by type of injury.

Challenges of cleft care in Africa.

Professionals involved in the care of patients with clefts in Africa face unique challenges when compared with what obtained in western countries. It is the purpose of this paper to review some of the challenges of cleft care in Africa. A computerized literature search using electronic databases; Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE and AJOL databases was conducted for published articles from 1965 to 2006. Mesh phrases used in the search were: Cleft lip, Cleft palate, Cleft care, Management, Challenges and Africa. The search produced 46 articles. A critical evaluation of the 46 articles using the inclusion and exclusion criteria led to selection of 20 articles for the review. The findings were: (1) No reliable data on incidence of cleft; (2) Strong traditional beliefs system exist regarding etiology of cleft; (3) Health problems attributed to clefts common at presentation; (4) Patients with cleft commonly present late; (5) Lack of multidisciplinary approach to care. The chance that a child born with a cleft tomorrow in Africa will receive the best care possible can not yet be guaranteed. The need to formulate basic strategies to improve the standard of cleft care in Africa and the rest of the developing world is overdue. We hope that the findings in this review will provoke solutions that might ultimately improve the standard of cleft care in Africa and the rest of the developing world.