The prevalence of early childhood caries and its associated risk factors among preschool children referred to a tertiary care institution

Objective: The aim was to determine the prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) and its association with infant feeding and oral health‑related behavior among preschool children aged 6–71 months in Lagos.Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross‑sectional study in which 302 children aged 6–71 months were selected from four pediatric outpatient clinics in Lagos, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information regarding oral hygiene practices, dietary habits, breast and bottle feeding, birth weight of child and socioeconomic status of the family, from mothers of the children. The status of dental caries was recorded according to the World Health Organization criteria.Results: The prevalence of ECC among 302 children aged 6–71 months was 21.2% while the mean deft was 0.735. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed the correlation of ECC with the associated risk factors. ECC was significantly higher in children who were bottle‑fed at night. Method of tooth cleaning other than using fluoridated toothpaste significantly increased the prevalence of ECC. Breastfeeding for duration of 3–6 months showed significantly lesser caries prevalence. Caries significantly increased with age.Conclusion: Early childhood caries is a multifactorial disease in which prolonged duration of breastfeeding, nocturnal bottle feeding, and use of cleaning methods other than fluoridated toothpaste are risk factors for ECC. Oral health promotion programs should be targeted at mothers, pediatricians, nurses, caretakers at day care centers and primary care health workers.Keywords: Early childhood caries, Lagos, prevalence, risk factor

Survey of the knowledge, attitude and practice of Nigerian surgery trainees to HIV-infected persons and AIDS patients

BACKGROUND: The incidence of HIV infection and AIDS is rising in Nigeria. Surgeons are at risk of occupationally acquired infection as a result of intimate contact with the blood and body fluids of patients. This study set out to determine the knowledge, attitude and risk perception of Nigerian surgery residents to HIV infection and AIDS. METHODS: A self-administered postal questionnaire was sent to all surgery trainees in Nigeria in 1997. RESULTS: Parenteral exposure to patients' blood was reported as occurring 92.5% times, and most respondents assessed their risk of becoming infected with HIV as being moderate at 1–5%. The majority of the respondents were not aware of the CDC guidelines on universal precautions against blood-borne pathogens. Most support a policy of routinely testing all surgical patients for HIV infection but 76.8% work in centers where there is no policy on parenteral exposure to patients' blood and body fluids. Most (85.6%) do not routinely use all the protective measures advocated for the reduction of transmission of blood borne pathogens during surgery, with the majority ascribing this to non-availability. Most want surgeons to be the primary formulators of policy on HIV and surgery while not completely excluding other stakeholders. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of Nigerian surgery trainees in 1997 and the need for policy guidelines to manage all aspects of the healthcare worker (HCW), patients, and HIV/AIDS interaction

Trends in dental treatment of children at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos Nigeria (1988-1998)

No abstract Nigerian Quarterly Journal of Hospital Medicine Vol. 13(1-2): 42-4

Causes and pattern of tooth loss in children and adolescents in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital.

Background: Tooth loss diminishes the quality of life and is also related to poorer general health. Premature tooth loss in children can have devastating effects such as compromised aesthetics and function, mesial and distal drifts of adjacent teeth leading to crowding and impaction of the permanent successors and other forms of malocclusion.Objective: To assess the causes and pattern of tooth loss in children and adolescents at the Paedodontic Clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos.Methods: This retrospective study was carried out at the Paedodontic Unit of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos using clinical records over a period of time from January 2008 to April 2010. Information obtained included age, gender, missing and extracted teeth, and reasons for extraction/tooth loss. Exfoliated primary teeth and congenitally missing teeth were excluded. Data was analysed using Epi info 2007 statistical software. Chi-square test was used to compare proportions of tooth loss among age groups. The level of significance was set at P<0.05Results: A total of 493 patients aged 1-16 years had lost one or more teeth due to various reasons. There were 244(49.5%) males and 249 (50.5%) females. Majority of the subjects lost their teeth due to caries and its sequelae (64.3%) compared to trauma (10.8%) and orthodontic reasons (23.5%). Seven (1.4%) lost their teeth due to failure of previous treatment such as pulp therapy.Conclusion: Extraction largely due to caries and its sequelae was responsible for most of the tooth loss among the study population. There is the need for intensified oral health education and awareness programmes in the populace with emphasis on prevention of dental caries and early presentation for dental treatment in order to avert premature tooth loss in children and adolescents.Keywords: Causes, Pattern, Tooth loss, Children

Double teeth in the primary dentition: Case reports from a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

The term double tooth is used to describe the developmental dental abnormalities called gemination and fusion. Gemination is an attempted, incomplete division of a single tooth germ during the proliferation stage of odontogenesis, while fusion is the union of two or more independently developing teeth. Although the prevalence of primary double teeth is low, double teeth are of clinical interests because of the associated clinical problems. The clinical problems associated with the condition in the primary dentition are often downplayed for various reasons in spite of their importance. Primary double teeth ought to be carefully investigated so that these clinical problems which may affect the permanent dentition can be effectively managed. Perhaps primary double teeth have not received adequate documentation in our environment because of the low prevalence. This paper presents four primary double teeth in three patients. One of the cases presented occurred bilaterally, a relatively uncommon phenomena. The associated clinical problems are illustrated in the cases and the management discussed. Although primary double teeth are asymptomatic and in some cases may not interfere with function, they do have associated clinical problems. Early diagnosis and regular clinical and radiographic observations are necessary for effective management and appropriate treatment of the anomaly.Keywords: Double teeth, Primary dentition, Clinical significanc

Taurodontism in association with the cusp of carabelli: a report of 2 cases

Taurodontism is a malformation of multirooted teeth characterized by abnormally large pulp chamber and abnormally short roots. It is diagnosed by the use of radiographs. The cusp of Carabelli is a morphological anomaly of the crown usually seen clinically on the mesiopalatal surface of the maxillary first permanent molars. The aetiology of both anomalies is not entirely clear, however, both genetic and exogenous factors have been proposed. There are recent reports that mutation of some chromosomes could be a cause of taurodontism. Taurodontism has been reported along with talon cusp, dens evaginatus and some Syndromes. This paper presents an unusual occurrence of taurodontism in association with the cusp of Carabelli in a 15 year-old girl presenting with a toothache of 4 months duration and her 46 year-old mother. All the second permanent molars were taurodont. Other siblings investigated had cusps of Carabelli but no taurodont tooth. There was no associated syndrome in both mother and child. Root canal treatment of the pulpally involved taurodont mandibular left permanent second molar of the 15 year-old was carried out. Appropriate restorations were placed on all other carious molars. Her mother had no carious tooth. Taurodontism may present as pain when the affected tooth is carious or as a chance radiographic finding as it is the case in the mother. Preventive restorations of taurodont teeth is ideal treatment when detected early. The anthropological and clinical significance of the cusp of Carabelli is highlighted. The association of these two dental anomalies needs further investigation. Key words: Taurodontism, cusp of carabell

Effect of mineral trioxide aggregate and formocresol pulpotomy on vital primary teeth: A clinical and radiographic study

Background: Pulpotomy is the common therapy for cariously exposed pulps in symptom‑free primary molar teeth. Formocresol (FC) is considered the gold standard dressing agent for pulpotomy, but concerns have been raised over the years about its safety. Other alternative pulpotomy agents have been investigated and suggested.Objective: The objective was to evaluate and compare the clinical and radiographic response of FC and white mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) as pulpotomy materials on primary molars.Materials and Methods: Fifty primary molars, with deep carious lesion that exposed a vital but asymptomatic pulp, in 37 children aged 4-7 years were treated with conventional pulpotomy procedure. The teeth were divided randomly into two groups. Group I (FC) and group II (MTA). The treated teeth were evaluated clinically and radiographically and were followed‑up for 12 months.Results: At the end of the 12 months follow‑up, the clinical success rates for FC and MTA were 81% and 100%, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference (P = 0.04) between the clinical success rates of FC and MTA. While the radiographic success rates for FC and MTA were 81% and 96%, respectively, there was no statistically significant difference between the radiographic success of MTA and FC.Conclusion: White MTA showed a higher clinical and radiographic success rate when compared to FC as a pulpotomy agent in vital primary molars, and it has a potential to become a replacement for FC in primary molars.Key words: Formocresol, mineral trioxide aggregate, primary molars, pulpotom

Natal and neonatal teeth: Literature review and report of seven cases in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

Teeth that are present in newborn infants are called "natal teeth" while teeth that erupt within the first 4 weeks after birth are called "neonatal teeth". The incidence of the appearance of natal and neonatal teeth has been reported to be between one in every 1000 and one in every 6000 births. Natal teeth may be uncomfortable for a nursing mother and present a risk of aspiration and swallowing by the infant if they are loose. Also, they may cause irritation and trauma to the infant's soft tissues. Under these circumstances, these teeth need to be extracted. This paper presents 7 cases of natal and neonatal teeth. Three of the cases presented with natal molar teeth which are rare. The clinical features, complications and management are discussed.Keywords: Primary dentition, natal tooth, neonatal tooth, treatmentNig Dent J Vol 20 No. 1 Jan - June 201