Prevalence and factors associated with traumatic dental injuries among schoolchildren in war‐torn Libya

Background/Aims No previous epidemiological study has investigated the prevalence and associated factors of traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) among Libyan children. Such information is required for the planning and evaluation of health services. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of TDIs and associated factors among 12‐year‐old schoolchildren in Benghazi, Libya. Methods Data for this study were collected as part of a comprehensive, cross‐sectional survey investigating oral health status and treatment needs of 12‐year‐old schoolchildren in Benghazi, Libya, between December 2016 and May 2017. Sociodemographic information was collected through a dental health questionnaire. The children were assessed for oral health status, including TDIs according to modified World Health Organization (WHO) classification criteria, in their classroom by trained and calibrated examiners. Anthropometric measures, lip competence and overjet were all assessed and reported. History of TDIs was sought among those affected. Logistic regression models were applied for TDIs as an outcome variable. The statistical significance for all tests was ≤0.05. Results Data from 1134 participants were included in this study. TDIs were observed in 10.3% of the sample. Most of these TDIs were enamel fractures only (55.6%) and enamel and dentine fractures (35.9%). “Falling” was the most common cause of TDIs, accounting for 51% of cases. While increased overjet appeared to be associated with higher risk of TDIs (OR: 1.92; 95% CI: 1.29‐2.86), being female (OR: 0.34; 95% CI: 0.22‐0.53) and overweight (OR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.13‐0.83) were also associated with lower risk of having TDIs. Conclusions This survey showed that a considerable proportion (10.3%) of 12‐year‐old Libyan children had TDIs, with relatively high unmet treatment needs. More efforts are required to develop effective prevention programmes and to enhance the provision of dental treatment of TDIs for Libyan children

Orthodontic treatment needs in an urban Iranian population, an epidemiological study of 11-14 year old children.

Objectives: A preliminary study to investigate the orthodontic treatment need and its gender distribution in urban Iranian schoolchildren. Study Design: A cross-sectional study was carried out at the school premises. Subjects and Methods: For this survey, 502 subjects attending 6 different schools in the city of Isfahan, Iran (253 females and 249 males, aged 11-14 years) were randomly selected and examined, including those who were wearing an orthodontic appliance at the time of the survey (1 female and 5 males). IOTN (DHC and AC) scores were recorded for those who were not undergoing orthodontic treatment. One examiner, who had been formally calibrated in the use of occlusal indices, screened all schoolchildren. IOTN scores was calculated from direct examination. Gender dimorphism was evaluated by the Chi-square test (AC and DHC components of IOTN index). The prevalence of most severe occlusal traits in those who scored DHC 4 and 5 was calculated. Results: At the time of the survey, 1.1% of subjects were wearing an orthodontic appliance, 36.1% had definite need (DHC 4 or 5) for orthodontic treatment, 20.2% borderline need (DHC 3) and 43.8% showed slight or no need for treatment (DHC 1 or 2). Reviewing the AC scores, 17.9% of the studied subjects showed definite need (AC 8-10) for orthodontic treatment, 36.1% borderline need (AC 5-7) and 46% showed slight or no need for treatment (AC 1-4). The prevalence of the four most severe occlusal traits in those with definite orthodontic treatment need were: severe maxillary crowding (43.6%), increased overbite (39.1%), increased overjet (35.8%) and severe mandibular crowding (27.4%). No gender differences were found for AC (P>0.05) and DHC (P>0.05) of IOTN index. Conclusion: Approximately one-third of Iranian school children were in need of orthodontic treatment, as determined by the index of orthodontic treatment need

The relationship between aging and oral health inequalities assessed by the DMFT index.

Aim: A cross-sectional study to determine the caries experience characteristics and their relationship with aging. Materials and Methods: Using stratified sampling method, 748 subjects divided into 3 age groups of 11-14, 14-17 and 17-20 year-olds (355 females and 393 males, aged 15.11 ± 2.23 years) were examined in urban area of Isfahan (Iran). The DMFT scores (DT, MT, FT) were recorded. The Student t-test was used to assess any differences in the mean DMFT score between genders. Simple (DMFT >0), severe caries experience (DMFT >8), severe form of filling (FT>3), and decay (DT>6) were calculated. Chi-square tests were performed to assess any relationship between gender and DMFT variables. Binary logistic regression was used to estimate the predictive value of gender and age groups for the DMFT categories dichotomized into presence or absence of DMFT-related variable. Scatter plots and Spearman rank correlation coefficients were used to explore the relationships between the DMFT (DT, MT, FT) and participant's age. Results: The mean DMFT values for the sample, 11-14, 14-17 and 17-20 year-olds were 4.94, 3.03, 5 and 6.66, respectively. Caries prevalence (DMFT >0) and active caries prevalence (DT >0) were 88.8% and 81.8%, respectively. Prevalence of active caries (DT) did not vary significantly between genders; however, prevalence of fillings (FT) was higher in females (OR 1.96, 95% CI, 1.45-2.67). The odds of experiencing caries (DMFT, DT, FT) increased with increase in participant's age. Prevalence of subjects with DT>6 was higher in males than in females (OR 1.50, 95% CI, 1.04-2.01). Prevalence of subjects with FT>3 was higher in females than in males (OR 1.74, 95% CI, 1.10-2.73). Significant positive correlations existed between the participant's age and DMFT (rho 0.40), DT (rho 0.34) and FT scores (rho 0.194), respectively. Conclusion: Caries experience was highly prevalent in our sample. With increase in age, there was an upward trend in caries prevalence and mean DMFT

Malocclusion and occlusal traits in an urban Iranian population. An epidemiological study of 11- to 14-year-old children

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence of malocclusions, occlusal traits, and their gender distribution in urban Iranian school children. Five hundred and two subjects (253 females and 249 males, aged 11–14 years) were examined. Molar relationship, overjet (OJ), overbite, midline deviation, crossbite, and crowding/spacing were recorded. Gender dimorphism was evaluated by the chi-square test. According to the classification of Angle, the prevalence of Class I, Class II division 1, Class II division 2, and Class III malocclusions was 41.8, 24.1, 3.4, and 7.8 per cent, respectively. Symmetric molar relationship was present in 69.5 per cent. An OJ of at least 3.5 mm or more was present in 28.1 per cent; an OJ of more than 6 mm in 3.6 per cent, and 4.2 per cent had a reverse OJ. A normal overbite was observed in 60.4 per cent, while 34.5 per cent had an increased and 2.2 per cent a very deep overbite. An anterior open bite (AOB) was present in 1.6 per cent and a scissor bite or anterior crossbite in 2 and 8.4 per cent, respectively. A posterior crossbite was observed in 12.4 per cent (8.4 per cent unilateral, 2 per cent bilateral, and 2 per cent in association with an anterior crossbite). Midline deviation was present in 23.7 per cent. Severe crowding (≥5.1 mm) was observed in 16.7 and 10.8 per cent and spacing in 18.9 and 20.7 per cent of the maxillary and mandibular arches, respectively. Significant gender differences were found for overbite (P < 0.001), midline deviation (P < 0.05), and maxillary and mandibular arch crowding/spacing (P < 0.05). The prevalence of Class II malocclusions was comparable with Caucasians; however, the most severe forms of Class II malocclusions were rare in this Iranian population. The relative prevalence of Class III malocclusions in the present study was greater than in Caucasians. Crowding was the most common dental anomaly in both arches