Orthodontic Treatment Needs of Adolescents in North-Western Nigeria Using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Needs.

Introduction: Orthodontic treatment planning within a public health system needs information on the need for orthodontic treatment within the population. It is imperative to have epidemiological data from which the need for orthodontic care in any region can be estimated. The present study, therefore, aimed to determine the orthodontic treatment need of adolescents in North-Western Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted of 200, 12-15-year-old schoolchildren in Northern Nigeria using the Dental Health Component (DHC) and Aesthetic Component (AC) of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). A structured interview and clinical examination were used to assess the subjects. Descriptive statistics and χ2 tests were used for data analysis with statistical significance set at P < 0.05. Results: There were 19.5% with definite need (DHC 4 or 5) for orthodontic treatment and 15.5% borderline need (DHC 3). The AC scores demonstrated that 1% of the studied subjects had a definite need (AC 8-10) for orthodontic treatment and 24% borderline need (AC 5-7). A statistically significant relationship between AC and DHC of IOTN among the study population (P < 0.05) was observed. Conclusion: Using the DHC of the IOTN, the proportion of subjects estimated to have great and very great treatment needs (grades 4 and 5) was 19.5%. However, only 1% of individuals were in need (grades 8-10) of orthodontic treatment according to the AC. Awareness about orthodontic treatment should be a part of public health planning for this region.

Perceptions, expectations, and reactions of caregivers to cleft lip and palate repair in a tertiary hospital.

Background: Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) deformities are the most common congenital abnormalities of the orofacial structures. Affected individuals experience major clinical, functional, aesthetic and psychosocial impacts. Objectives: The aim of our study was to identify the perceptions, expectations and reactions of parents and caregivers to cleft lip and palate surgery. Materials and methods: Interviewer administered questionnaires were used to collect data from parents/caregivers of patients with cleft lip and/or palate operated on by the cleft team at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. Results: Only three (2.8%) of the caregivers indicated that they knew the cause of CLP which they attributed to drugs, infections and contraceptives taken while about half of them admitted that they avoided taking these children to certain places. The participants were very concerned about the speech 15 (41.7%) and feeding 9 (25.0%) of the children. Most wanted the surgery performed in order to improve appearance 25 (69.5%), speech 8 (22.2%) and feeding 2 (5.6%). More than half of the parents/caregivers 21 (58.3%) expected excellent results from the surgery whilst 1 (2.8%) expected poor results. Most believed the surgery would indeed make a great difference in speech 14 (38.9%) and appearance 11 (30.6%). Majority, 30 (83%) were happy with the immediate outcome of the surgery and with their hospital experience 13, (36.1%). Conclusions: This study revealed that most parents/caregivers of children with CLP believed this condition to be due to various factors and did not know the etiology. Expectations of the result of surgical repair of CLP surgery were high and their reactions were majorly positive.

Prevalence of malocclusion and occlusal traits among adolescents and young adults in Rivers State, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A systematic and well-organized dental care program for any target population in a community requires some basic information, such as the prevalence of the condition to be assessed. Thus, the aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of malocclusion among predominantly Rivers State adolescents and to compare the results with other authors. METHODS: The sample which was randomly selected from seven secondary schools comprised 620 schoolchildren, 297 (48%) males and 323 (52%) females aged 13-20 years old with a mean age of 16.74 +/- 2.0 (SD) years. The children were examined for occlusal traits which included the occlusal antero-posterior relationship (Angles classification), overjet, overbite, openbite, crossbite, spacing and crowding. The Index of Complexity, Outcome and Need (ICON) protocol was employed in their classrooms using wooden spatulae and orthodontic millimeter rulers under natural illumination. None of the subjects had undergone any form of orthodontic treatment. RESULTS: Results showed that about 11.8% had normal occlusions, 80.3% had Class I malocclusions, 6.3% had Class II malocclusions (Div 1, 3.9%; Div 11, 2.4%) and 1.6% had Class III malocclusions. About 70% had normal overjets, normal overbite was seen in about 56%, whilst in the maxillary arch 14.4% had crowding and 60% spacing. Open bite was present in 7.1% while crossbite was found in 17.1%. Significant gender differences were found for overbite, overjet and Angles classification (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Angles Class I malocclusion is the predominant occlusal pattern among these students. This finding compares favorably with other studies done in other parts of Nigeria.

CHILD AND MATERNAL ORAL HEALTHCARE: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF NIGERIAN AND GHANAIAN NURSES.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain and compare knowledge of child and maternal oral healthcare amongst a group of Nurses and Midwives in Ghana and Nigeria. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Health institutions in Cape Coast, Ghana and Port Harcourt, Nigeria. SUBJECTS: One hundred and sixty Nurses and Midwives (80 Ghanaians and 80 Nigerians). RESULTS: They had an age range of 21-65 years and a mean age of 37.8 (SD ± 9.6) years. Majority of the Nurses in both countries indicated that women should brush their teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste (92.1%), whilst the children should use salt and cotton wool twice daily. Although more of the Ghanaian Nurses (98.8%) considered routine dental visits to be important than the Nigerian population (80%), only 3.8% of the Ghanaian Nurses against 33.8% of the Nigerians indicated there was a connection between oral disease and delivery status. Opinions differed significantly as to the reason for the first dental visit with 65.4% of the Nigerian Nurses indicating this should be when the child has toothache whereas 51.9% of Ghanaian Nurses believed it is when the first tooth erupts. However, four to six years was the common choice for when self brushing should start in both countries. CONCLUSION: The knowledge of this group of Nurses and Midwives on maternal and child oral healthcare was insufficient. The Ghanaian Nurses had a better knowledge of preventive dental care than their Nigerian counterparts.

Restorative orthodontic treatment approach in the correction of anterior proclination in special cases (Port Harcourt-Onyeaso appliance): two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Removable orthodontic appliance may be indicated in the management of anterior proclination and increased overjet especially in the younger age group. Generally, proclined maxillary incisors are prone to trauma in young active children. This makes prompt preventive and interceptive intervention very necessary. This condition is complicated in the event of associated trauma to such tooth/teeth that could require orthodontic tooth movement. CASES: The first report involves a 12-year-old boy who presented three years ago with loss of his two central incisors due to traumatic avulsion. The second report is a 10- year-old boy who presented a year ago with a dento alveolar abscess in relation to a long standing Ellis class III and class II fractures on the maxillary right and left central incisors, respectively. In both cases two different innovative management procedures were undertaken which combined restorative and orthodontic procedures concurrently, which helped the children psychologically in school. The first has been discharged to continue with the appliance as both a retainer and a denture while the second has completed an acceptable dental restoration and is still receiving orthodontic care with satisfactory progress. CONCLUSION: These innovative procedures yielded good results. Both patients and parents were very co-operative and appreciative of the outcomes.

Self-Perception of Malocclusion Among Nigerian Adolescents Using The Aesthetic Component of The IOTN.

INTRODUCTION: The practice of orthodontics is very young in South-South Nigeria and there is need for base line data for informed planning. This study was carried out to investigate the self-perception of malocclusion among Nigerian school children aged 12 to 18 years in order to compare their perception with that of an orthodontist and also to determine the influence of gender and age on self-perception. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY: A total of 612 randomly selected schoolchildren comprising 299 (48.9%) males and 313 (51.1%) females with a mean age of 15 + 2.0 years were included in the study, the Aesthetic Component (AC) of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) was the instrument used to measure the perception of malocclusion by both the school children and the orthodontist. RESULTS: Majority of the students (82.5%) rated their teeth towards the more attractive end of the scale (Grades 1-4). Although self - perception was not found to be related to gender, older children (16-18 years) had an increased level of perception of need. Males and older children were found to be more in need of treatment by the orthodontist. CONCLUSIONS: A significant difference was found between the orthodontist's rating and the students' ratings of the attractiveness of their occlusions. Age and gender were not found to influence self- perceived orthodontic treatment need. Therefore, for effective orthodontic care, self- perception and not only professional assessment must be taken into consideration when formulating treatment plans to ensure patient satisfaction.