Prevalence and factors associated with anterior open bite in 2 to 5 year old children in Benin city, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Anterior open bite is said to exist when there is an actual vertical gap between the upper and lower incisors with the teeth in centric occlusion. This could occur in the anterior or posterior region, and may be attributed to the supra eruption of the posterior teeth or the infra eruption of the anterior teeth and it is common in both adults and children. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of anterior open bite (AOB) in 2 to 5 -year -old children and the aetiological factors responsible for it. METHODS: The study group comprised 1031 children (429 boys and 602 girls) between the ages of 2 to 5-years, who were examined for the presence of AOB and the relationship with various oral habits. RESULTS: AOB was present in 29 (2.8%) of the subjects. Sucking habits were observed in 267 (25.9%) children. Only 29(10.9%) of the children with sucking habits had an AOB which was asymmetric in 20 (7.5%) and symmetric in 9 (3.4%). The asymmetric AOB was significantly higher in children with thumb sucking habits than in finger suckers (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between frequency, duration of sucking habits and AOB. The 4-year olds showed a significant difference in the number of children with AOB (P<0.05). Sucking habits of 1–2 hours and duration of 24 to 60 months exhibited the highest prevalence of an AOB in 13 (44.8%) and 17 (58.6%)children respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of AOB in this study is 2.8%. Thumb sucking is the most important aetiological factor in the formation of an AOB in 2 to 5-year-old children

Prevalence and factors associated with anterior open bite in 2 to 5 year old children in Benin city, Nigeria

Background: Anterior open bite is said to exist when there is an actual vertical gap between the upper and lower incisors with the teeth in centric occlusion. This could occur in the anterior or posterior region, and may be attributed to the supra eruption of the posterior teeth or the infra eruption of the anterior teeth and it is common in both adults and children. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of anterior open bite (AOB) in 2 to 5 -year -old children and the aetiological factors responsible for it. Methods: The study group comprised 1031 children (429 boys and 602 girls) between the ages of 2 to 5-years, who were examined for the presence of AOB and the relationship with various oral habits. Results: AOB was present in 29 (2.8%) of the subjects. Sucking habits were observed in 267 (25.9%) children. Only 29(10.9%) of the children with sucking habits had an AOB which was asymmetric in 20 (7.5%) and symmetric in 9 (3.4%). The asymmetric AOB was significantly higher in children with thumb sucking habits than in finger suckers (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between frequency, duration of sucking habits and AOB. The 4-year olds showed a significant difference in the number of children with AOB (P<0.05). Sucking habits of 1-2 hours and duration of 24 to 60 months exhibited the highest prevalence of an AOB in 13 (44.8%) and 17 (58.6%)children respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of AOB in this study is 2.8%. Thumb sucking is the most important aetiological factor in the formation of an AOB in 2 to 5-year-old children

Ancient Anomalies: Twinned and supernumerary incisors in a medieval Nubian

During the analysis of a skeletal assemblage from a medieval cemetery in Nubia (c. AD 500-1550), a young adult female with abnormally developed maxillary incisors was discovered. The possible causes of the two dental anomalies found in this individual and their archaeological context are discussed. The remains are from a medieval assemblage from the Fourth Cataract region of Nubia, which forms part of the Nubian collection curated at the British Museum. The left central incisor has a twinned crown with two root canals and a supernumerary tooth is present on the right side between the central incisor and lateral incisors. Although two different dental anomalies are present, the bilateral expression suggests the same biological mechanism could be responsible