Salivary Lactoferrin Levels, Disease Severity and Correlates in Patients with Chronic Periodontitis Presenting to a Tertiary Health Facility in Nigeria.

Objective: This study compared the concentration of salivary lactoferrin in patients with and without chronic periodontitis and investigated correlations with clinical variables of the disease. Methods: The study included 102 participants (51 cases and 51 controls) who presented at the Periodontology Clinic of University of Benin Teaching Hospital and met the selection criteria of ‘4mm and above’ periodontal probing depths (PPD) and positive bleeding on probing (BOP) using community periodontal index (CPI) probe. Healthy participants (controls) were patients that had PPD less than or equal to 3mm, absence of BOP and simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S) not more than 1.2. Baseline OHI-S and CPI scores were recorded. Saliva samples were collected and analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the mean (SD) lactoferrin concentration of control participants 5.27(0.59) mg/l and case participants 6.74(0.61) mg/l (p<0.001). Participants with probing pocket depths (PPD) of 6mm or more had a significantly higher mean concentration [6.85(0.06) mg/l] than that of those with PPD 4-5mm [6.71(0.67) mg/l] (p < 0.001) Lactoferrin levels were highest in participants with ‘poor’ oral hygiene [6.85(0.60) mg/l] and lowest in those with ‘good’ oral hygiene [6.65(0.83) mg/l]. Conclusion: Salivary lactoferrin levels were higher among participants with chronic periodontitis than those without chronic periodontitis and correlates positively with the main clinical characteristics of the diseas

Perceived oral health status and treatment needs of dental auxiliaries

Objective: To determine the perceived oral health status and treatment needs of Nigerian dental therapists in training and dental technology students. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of students from Federal School of Dental Therapy and Technology Enugu, Nigeria was conducted using self-administered questionnaire to obtain information on demography, self-reported oral health status, knowledge of impact of oral health on daily life activity, dental attendance and perceived dental need. Results: The perception of oral health status and treatment need of the two groups of dental auxiliaries was the same. Fewer respondents (27.3%) rated their oral health as excellent, while 50.4% rated their oral health as good. Majority (95.5%) agreed that oral health is a part of general health and 94.6% agreed that oral health has a role in daily life.Out of 81.4% that had previous dental treatment, scaling and polishing accounted for 66.1%. Presently, 48.8% think they need dental treatment ranging from scaling and polishing (33.9%), tooth restoration (10.3%), to extraction (1.2%). Conclusion: This survey revealed that most of the students are aware that oral health is a component of general health and that it has an impact on an individual's daily life. More than half of the students perceived their oral health as good, but only a few knew that there is a need for a preventive approach to oral health as evident by the percentage that perceived scaling and polishing as a treatment need

Relationship between the concentration of volatile sulphur compound and periodontal disease severity in Nigerian young adults

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the concentration of volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) in mouth air and the severity of periodontal diseases in young adults. Materials and Methods: A total of 400 subjects were studied. Estimation of periodontal disease severity was done using the basic periodontal examination (BPE) and the baseline measurement of the concentration of VSC in the mouth air of the subjects was done objectively using the Halimeter®. Result: The mean concentration of VSC for the group with BPE code 0 was 91.0 ± 5.9 parts per billion (ppb), 156.4 ± 9.4 ppb for BPE code 1, 275.2 ± 38.5 ppb for BPE code 2, 353.5 ± 72.3 ppb for BPE code 3, and 587.0 ± 2.1 ppb for BPE code 4 (P = 0.001). Majority (79.0%) of the subjects with BPE code 0 had concentration of VSC 250 ppb, whereas all (100%) of those with BPE code 4 had VSC concentration >250 ppb (P = 0.001). Conclusion: It was concluded that a relationship exists between the periodontal pocket depth and the concentration of VCS in mouth air of young adults.Keywords: Periodontal pocket, volatile sulphur compound, young adultsNigerian Medical Journal | Vol. 54 | Issue 3 | May-June | 201

Pattern of surgical periodontal treatment in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital: A 37 month review

Objective: Periodontal diseases are treated using nonsurgical treatment methods and surgical treatment methods. There is a paucity of information on surgical periodontal treatment in Nigerian periodontal healthcare settings. The objective of the study was to determine the indications and pattern of surgical periodontal treatment in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This retrospective review of patients that had surgical periodontal treatment at University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria, over a 37 month period (January 2013–2016) was done using a self developed proforma as the data collection tool. A total of 52 patients out of the 5111 patients treated within the period had surgical periodontal treatment and were subsequently analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: The patients aged between 16 and 81 years with a mean age of 44.15 ± 18.99 years and a median age of 45 years had surgical periodontal treatments. The majority of the patients were older adults (57.7%) (middle-age adults [34.6%] and elderly [23.1%]) and females (75.0%). The indications for the surgical periodontal treatment were mainly periodontal abscess and gingival enlargement. The gingival enlargement was majorly pyogenic granuloma in 41.2% (7/17) and fibrous epulis in 23.5% (4/17). Incision and drainage and gingivectomy constituted the main surgical periodontal treatments among the patients in this study. Age and gender were found to be significantly associated with the indications for surgical periodontal treatment and the pattern of surgical periodontal treatment among the patients. Conclusion: Periodontal abscess and gingival enlargement constituted the main indications for surgical periodontal treatment while incision and drainage and gingivectomy were the main surgical periodontal treatments in this study

Does any relationship exist between self reported gingival bleeding, oral health perception, practices and concerns?

Background: The objective was to determine the relationship between self‑reported gingival bleeding, oral health perception, practices and concerns. Materials and Methods: This cross‑sectional survey among undergraduates of University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria was conducted between April and May, 2011 using a self‑administered 21‑item structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences and P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Out of the 400 questionnaires that were distributed, 338 were returned filled giving a retrieval rate of 84.5%. About three‑quarters (71.3%) of the respondents were younger than 22 years. Males constituted 65.1% while the remaining 34.9% were females. The prevalence of self‑reported gingival bleeding among respondents in this study was 12.7%. Individuals with gingival bleeding were significantly more likely to rate their dental and gingival health as fair/poor, use strong brushing stroke during tooth brushing and report worsening condition of teeth despite daily tooth brushing, express worry about the gingival color and less likely to be satisfied about the appearance of their teeth and to have received professional instruction on tooth brushing. Conclusion: Data from this survey revealed an established relationship between gingival bleeding, perceived dental and gingival health, tooth brushing force, professional instruction on tooth brushing, perception of the condition of teeth in relation to daily tooth brushing, worry about the color of gingiva, and satisfaction with the appearance of the teeth.Keywords: Gingival bleeding, perceived dental health, perceived gingival health, tooth brushingNigerian Medical Journal | Vol. 53 | Issue 3 | July-September | 201