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Taurodontism in association with the cusp of carabelli: a report of 2 cases
Get PDFTaurodontism 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
A survey of challenges and career aspirations of clinical dental students in Nigerian universities
No full textObjective: The study assessed undergraduate challenges and career aspirations of clinical dental students in Nigerian Universities.
Method: A cross-sectional study in which all clinical dental students were evaluated. Data collection was by self-administered questionnaires distributed to the study population, which required demographic information location of dental school, entry qualification, choice of dentistry as a career, assessment of the dental programme and improvements suggest to make a difference in the programme.
Result: There were 197 respondents, 98 males (49.7%) and 99 females (50.3%). Male: female was 1:1.01, mean age was 24.9 (+2.8). The majority, 191(97.0 %) were admitted through the Joint Admission Matriculation Board Examinations (JAMB-E). Benin dental school had the highest number of students, 77 (39.1%). One hundred and ninety-four (98.47%) of these Nigerian students were from the southern geo-political zones of the country. Undefined curriculum (23.86%), lack of dental materials (20.3%) and faulty equipment (18.78%) were the commonest constraints reported by the students during the undergraduate training. The need for improved clinical teaching and supervision by consultants was recommended by 31.47% of the students. Significantly more females wanted to specialize in paedodontics (p=0.00) and more males in oral and maxillofacial surgery (p=0.00).
Conclusion: While provision of formal lectures was considered satisfactory in most of the dental schools, a definite need for improvement in the clinical aspect of training was reported by the students. This included chair side teaching and provision of materials for patient management. Lack of a well defined and specific curriculum was perceived as a major problem in some of the dental schools
Nigerian family physicians\u27 knowledge of oral diseases and their attitude to oral health care - a pilot study
No full textObjective: Access to oral health care in most developing countries is poor and physicians may be in a better position to facilitate early detection and prompt referrals for oral diseases in such populations. The objective of this study was to assess the oral health knowledge of family physicians in Lagos, Nigeria and to determine their attitudes to oral health care.
Method: The study was a cross-sectional, self administered questionnaire survey of family health practitioners in fifty randomly selected private hospitals in Lagos metropolis. The questionnaire assessed knowledge on the aetiology and prevention of dental caries and periodontal diseases as well as oral health related behaviour of the physicians.
Result: Eighty-one questionnaires were returned properly filled. Forty-two (51.9%) respondents had ever experienced dental treatments. Nearly all (95.1%) respondents had been consulted by their patients for dental problems. Oral health knowledge was not satisfactory with 54% and 45.7% of them being able to give a correct description of dental caries and periodontal diseases respectively. Physicians who had practiced for ten years or less had better knowledge than those who had practiced for over fifteen years. This was however not statistically significant. Findings also revealed misconceptions about the aetiology of these diseases.
Conclusion: Oral health should be included in update courses for medical doctors especially those designated as primary health care providers. Training curriculum of family medicine practitioners should be expanded to include oral health education
Periodontal tissue destruction caused by an elastic orthodontic spacer: a case report
No full textThe cooperation between the dentist and the patient is considered to be an important factor in every successful dental treatment, especially in orthodontic treatments in which routine visits are parts of the whole treatment plan. Once this cooperation is lost, possible negative effects may be the consequence. Since the periodontal tissues are mostly affected during orthodontic treatment, resulting in periodontal tissue destruction, it is highly recommended that the patient keeps visiting his/her orthodontist frequently, whether or not he/she will continue the treatment. This case report demonstrates possible features of local periodontal tissue destruction caused by an impacted orthodontic spacer which was noted – or had been ignored – by the patient during a past orthodontic treatment. The poor cooperation between the patient and the orthodontist has been considered the reason for the periodontal tissue destruction in this case. Clinicians should be highly suspicious of any periodontal abnormality that arises when elastic orthodontic spacers are being used in the mouth
Management of halitosis secondary to periodontal disease: report of four cases
Get PDFHalitosis is an offensive odour emanating from the oral cavity and it is a common clinical condition. The purpose of this study is to emphasize the importance of the correct diagnosis of the type of halitosis in order to achieve a successful management. The four cases reported in this study revealed that a cause of the halitosis can be found most of the time following thorough examination. Elimination of the cause or source of the mal-odour eventually eliminates the halitosis. Dental practitioners should therefore be cautious in making a diagnosis of pseudo-halitosis and halitophobia which are very rare conditions and they should patients should be referred for expert management
The relationship between dental caries and dental fluorosis in low, moderate and high fluoride areas of Udaipur district, India.
Get PDFObjective: The purpose of the study was to assess the relationship between dental caries and dental fluorosis in Bhil Tribes living in Udaipur district India, known for endemic fluorosis.
Method: A total of 420 Bhil tribes selected from areas with low (0-1.5mg/l), moderate (1.5-3.0mg/l) and high (>3mg/l) water fluoride concentration were interviewed and examined for caries and dental fluorosis. Dental caries and fluorosis were recorded according to the DMFT system and Dean Fluorosis index. All the Bhil tribes were exposed to a written questionnaire, constructed in English and translated into local language and – for control purposes – translated back to English. Intra-oral examination was conducted using by two examiners.
Result: Bhil, Garasia, Meena and Gameti were most commonly present castes among Bhil tribes. The prevalence of dental fluorosis was 33.1% in low, 33.3% in moderate and 33.6% in high fluoride areas. In the low fluoride area mean number of decayed teeth and mean DMFT was 5.52 and 7.37 respectively while in high fluoride area it was higher, mean decayed and mean DMFT was 9.27 and 12.06 respectively. There was significant difference in mean DMFT between low, moderate andthe high fluoride areas (P = 0.00). DMFT score was 12.04 in severe fluorosis cases while it was 8.67 in normal fluorosis cases. There was significant difference in mean DMFT between all four castes (Bhil, Garasia, Meena and Gameti).
Conclusion: Dental caries increases with increasing severity of dental fluorosis in low, moderate and high fluoride areas. Thus, a positive relationship between dental caries and dental fluorosis was observed in all the three areas
Congenital granula cell tumour: report of a case
No full textCongenital granular cell tumour of the newborn is an uncommon benign tumour of uncertain origin. Mostly, it occurs as a single tumour but rarely as multiple. The lesion arises from the mucosa of the gingiva either from maxillary or mandibular alveolar ridge. This paper reports a three-day old female patient who presented at the dental centre of General Hospital, Lagos with a pedunculated soft tissue mass arising from the incisal region of the maxillary alveolar ridge. The lesion was excised under local anasthaesia when the baby was four days old. Microscopic examination of the lesion showed stratified squamous epithelium overlying sheets of large polygonal cells with granular cytoplasm and a diagnosis was congenital granular cell tumour. In view of the fact that cases reported in the scientific literature are not too many, there is justification for report of this case and reports of more cases are recommended
Dental arch widths in the early and late permanent dentitions of a Nigerian population
No full textObjective: This study was carried out in a Nigerian population to assess arch widths at two different stages of dentition, to observe the comparative changes which may occur, and to determine the presence or absence of sexual dimorphism in arch dimensions.
Material: The study population consisted of two groups of 150 subjects. Group 1 consisted of 75 males and 75 females aged 10-13 years (early permanent dentition); while Group 2 consisted of 75 males and 75 females aged 18-25 years (late permanent dentition). Measurements taken included maxillary and mandibular inter-canine, inter-premolar and inter-molar widths for both groups.
Result: In the early permanent stage, the mean maxillary inter-canine, inter-premolar and inter-molar widths were 36.37mm, 45mm and 55.22mm respectively in males and 34.35mm, 42.62mm and 51.56mm respectively in females. All findings were significantly greater in males. In the mandibular arch, findings recorded in males were also significantly greater than females with the exception of the inter-canine widths. In the late permanent dentition the mean maxillary inter-canine, inter-premolar and inter-molar arch widths were 37.65mm, 46.25mm and 57.35mm respectively in males and 37.07mm, 45.21mm and 55.30mm respectively in females.
Conclusion: Comparative changes in arch widths between early and late permanent dentition stages were seen with greater increases in arch widths in the maxilla when compared to the mandible. Significant sexual dimorphism was observed in almost all dimensions measured
A survey of methods and practices used to stop digit sucking in 2-5 year old children in Benin Cit, Edo State
No full textObjective: 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 (p <0.05). Boys tended to have a higher prevalence of digit sucking than girls. Attempts to stop the habit were made by 73.6% of the parents or guardians of the children with the most common method being the use of adhesive plaster on the digit in 41.9% of the children. Negative practices were found in 9.4% and included the use of razor blade to cut the digits, and the application of bitter or peppery tasting substances in 12.8%. Reward system was used in 6.8% and the use of appliances in only 0.8%.
Conclusion: The findings from this study show that the most common method to stop digit sucking habit was the use of adhesive plaster. Negative practices included the use of razor blade to cut the digits and the application of bitter or peppery tasting substances. The use of appliances was not common and many mothers were not aware that such a method existed
Lymphangioma of the tounge - a case report and review of literature
No full text Lymphangiomas are uncommon congenital hamartomas of the lymphatic system, usually diagnosed in infancy and early childhood. They are commonly located in head and neck region and rarely present in the oral cavity. Most common site of occurrence in oral cavity is the tongue and it appears as cluster of translucent vesicles resembling the appearance of frog’s egg or tapioca pudding. Early recognition is of utmost importance to initiation of proper treatment, and avoiding serious complications. Herewith, we present a case of lymphangioma of tongue with follow up of 3 years