Reimplantation of avulsed dry permanent teeth after three days: A report of two cases

Two cases of reimplantation of avulsed teeth that occurred after 72 hours are reported. The two patients were male and female aged 13 and 24 years, respectively. The avulsed teeth were not placed in any storage medium for the duration they were out of the mouth and there was no periodontal ligament remaining on their root surfaces before the reimplantation. The teeth in these two patients are still firm without complications after 7 and 17 months. We suggest that the procedures adopted in treating these case should be used by clinicians in treating carefully selected cases that match the cases presented in this paper, which may present to them in their clinics.Key words: Avulsion, dry teeth, reimplantation, three day

Comparing the 810nm Diode Laser with Conventional Surgery in Orthodontic Soft Tissue Procedures

Aim: To compare the use of the 810nm diode laser with conventional surgery in the management of soft tissue mucogingival problems associated with orthodontic treatment.Methods: Orthodontic patients requiring different soft tissue surgical procedures were randomly assigned to receive conventional surgery or soft tissue diode laser, (wavelength 810 nm).Main outcome measures: Parameters documented include the type of anaesthesia used, intra and post operative pain, bleeding, the use of scalpel and sutures. The chi-squared test was used to test for significance at 95% confidence level. Probability values (p-values) less than 0.05 were regarded as significant.Results: Only 2(16.7%) of the procedures carried out with the soft tissue laser required infiltration anaesthesia compared to 10 (90.9%) with conventional surgery and this was significant (P<0.001). Post operative pain was significantly reduced in all cases treated with the diode laser (P<0.001). There was also a significant difference (P<0.05) in post operative bleeding in all cases treated with the diode laser. No sutures were used in all soft tissue cases managed with the diode laser and this was significant (P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in treatment time in the use of the laser compared with conventional surgery.Conclusion: Orthodontic patients treated with the diode laser required less infiltration anaesthesia, had reduced bleeding during and after surgery, rapid postoperative haemostasis, elimination of the need for sutures and an improved postoperative comfort and healing.Keywords: Diode laser, conventional surgery, orthodontics, Laser therapy, laser surger

Cervical vertebrae staging in pre-orthodontic patients in Benin City, Nigeria

Objective: To determine the prevalence of the various stages of skeletal maturation of the cervical vertebrae in pre-orthodontic patients in Benin City, Nigeria.Method: The first six cervical vertebrae of 105 untreated orthodontic patients attending the clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital were assessed on the cephalometric radiograph to determine the stages of maturation. Correlations between age, gender, type of malocclusion and skeletal maturation stages were determined using the software SPSS (version 16). Significant values of P<0.05 were applied were applicable.Result: The average age of participants was 14±1.5 years with an almost equal gender distribution. Cervical vertebrae maturation (CVM) stage 3 was the most frequently occurring with 26.7% of the sample population. This was also seen mostly in the 11-yearold age group. The least frequently reported was CVM stage 1 with 5.7%. According to dento-skeletal patterns, CVM stage 3 was most prevalent in bimaxillary proclination with (29.3%). Others include mandibular retrusion, maxillary protrusion and skeletal 2 with 26.3%, 25% and 17.2%  espectively. Males showed a higher distribution in the CVM stage 3 than females. There was also a significant association between age and Cervical maturation, P<0.05.Conclusion: Cervical Maturation stages 1-6 were identified in pre-orthodontic patients aged 7-21-years. Stage 3 was the most frequently occurring.CVM stage and is seen more in 11-year-old-males. Females demonstrated a higher number in CVM stages 4 and 5. The correlation coefficient between age and CVM was 0.86 (P<0.05) for stage 3. Key words: Cervical vertebrae, staging, orthodontic

Orthodontic management of an impacted maxillary central incisor with a Talon cusp and dilacerated root: a case study

The orthodontic management of an impacted maxillary central incisor with a talon cusp and dilacerated root in a 23-year-old female is reported. The patient presented complaining of an inability to smile because of the irregular arrangement of her front teeth. An oral examination revealed absence of the maxillary right central incisor with a prominent bulge high up in the labial sulcus just beneath the nasal floor. There was also space loss anteriorly with drifting of the adjacent lateral incisor mesially. Radiographic evaluations, which included a periapical, an upper occlusal and an orthopanthomogram revealed a mesio-angularly mesio-labially rotated impaction with a talon cusp on the palatal aspect, a dilacerated ‘c’ shaped root grooving the antral floor and straddling the root of the adjacent tooth. Orthodontic management repositioned and derotated this tooth resulting in an aesthetically favourable outcome. The results obtained in this case with a very poor prognosis demonstrate a successful aesthetic and functional tooth which is stable even one year post-operatively. Keywords: orthodontic management, impacted tooth, dilacerated roo

Prevalence of retained primary teeth among children with anterior arch crowding in Benin city, Nigeria

Background: Anterior arch crowding affects the anterior teeth which comprises two central incisors, two lateral incisors and canines. Several factors are often implicated in anterior arch crowding and these include amongst others mesiodistal arch width discrepancy, tooth-arch-size discrepancy and retained primary teeth in the anterior region which fail to exfoliate at the expected time. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of retained primary teeth among Orthodontic patients with anterior arch crowding in Benin City. Methodology: A total of 217 children (116 boys and 101 girls) aged 6-10 years, who attended the Orthodontic clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City over a one-year period, were examined for the presence of retained anterior primary teeth and their relationship with crowding in the anterior segment of the maxillary and mandibular arches. Statistical significance between frequencies and gender differences were evaluated with the chi-square test. Results: The results revealed that anterior arch crowding was present in 34 (15.7%) of the total number of 217 subjects. Retained primary teeth were mostly responsible for anterior segment crowding and was observed in 31 (91.2%) of the 34 subjects with anterior arch crowding. The 7 and 8 year-old age groups exhibited a higher prevalence of anterior arch crowding, (29%), than the 6, 9 and 10-year olds. The lower lateral primary incisor was the most frequently retained tooth (32.3%). Girls showed a statistically significantly higher prevalence of anterior arch crowding than the boys (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in anterior arch crowding between the mandible and the maxilla (P>0.05). Conclusion: This study revealed a high predominance of retained primary teeth amongst Orthodontic patients with anterior arch crowding in Benin City. This baseline information will aid in diagnosis, prevention, interception and management of anterior arch crowding in children due to prolonged retention of primary teeth.Keywords: anterior arch crowding, retained primary teet

A survey of methods and practices used to stop digit sucking in 2-5 year old children in Benin Cit, Edo State

Objective: To analyze the methods and practices used to stop digit sucking in 2-5-year old children in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Method: A prospective study was carried out and the study group comprised 1031 pre-school children aged 2-5-years, selected from day care centres and pre-schools in three local government areas using stratified random sampling. Result: The result showed that 15.4% of the children had a digit sucking habit (thumb and finger sucking) which increased with age, with the highest number seen in the 3 and 5-year-old age group (

Periodontal and Orthodontic Management of Malocclusion as a Result of Juvenile Periodontitis in Benin City: A Case Report

A case of severe malocclusion as a result of juvenile periodontitis is reported. An interdisciplinary approach involving the Periodontist and the Orthodontist was used to manage a 19-year-old boy who presented with a grade 2 mobility of the anterior teeth resulting in pathologic migration of those teeth and a severe anterior inclination of 14.5mm with a deep overbite. There was a pathological loss of the upper right canine, generalized anterior segment spacing, supra eruption of the lower right canine and extrusion of the upper premolars and molars. This case report emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and teamwork among Dental specialists in managing difficult cases, resulting in a favourable functional and aesthetically pleasing outcome

Malocclusion and occlusal traits among orthodontic patients seen at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and trend of malocclusion and occlusal traits among orthodontic patients in Benin City.Method: One hundred and thirty one patients, consisting of 71 females (54.2%) and 60 males (45.8%) aged 5 - 44 years (mean 17.9 ± 7.5 years) who presented for orthodontic treatment at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital Dental Centre were assessed for sagittal molar occlusion, overjet, overbite, crossbite, open bite, crowding, spacing, median diastema, midline shift, malformed and supernumerary teeth, displaced, unerupted and impacted teeth. Statistical gender differences in the occlusal traits were evaluated with the chi-square test. Result: The results revealed high prevalence of Angle's class I malocclusion (71.8%), while 9.9% of the subjects had Angle's Class II division 1, 7.6% had Angle's Class II division 2 and 10.7% had Angle's class III malocclusion. An increased overjet greater than 3.5mm was observed in 43% while increased overbite was observed in 25.2%. Anterior open bite was seen in 8.4% while 21.4% and 12.2% had anterior and posterior crossbites respectively. Midline shift was present in 29.8%, crowding of both upper and lower anterior segments was observed in 47.3%, spacing in the upper and lower anterior segments was present in 22.1%, and midline diastema was observed in 21.4%. No statistically significant gender differences were observed for any of the occlusal variables evaluated (P>0.05).Conclusion: This study revealed high prevalence of class I malocclusion, increased overjet and crowding among the orthodontic patients seen in Benin City, Nigeria.Key words: Malocclusion, occlusal traits, orthodontic patients, Benin City, Nigeria