Foramina parietalia permagna in a Nigerian family.

Background: Enlarged parietal foramina are defects in the skull and are believed to be benign and familial and caused by variable degree of defective intramembranous ossification of the parietal bones. They are rare and asymptomatic, usually associated with ALX4 or MSX2 gene mutations and transmitted as autosomal dominant.

Objective: To highlight the importance of plain radiographs in the diagnosis of this condition and need for health education in affected families.

Dental caries in six, 12 and 15 year old Venda children in South Africa.

Background: Oral diseases is still a major problem in most developing countries. Within the Republic of South Africa, there remains areas where few or no studies have been done on the oral health status. The emerging district health system with decentralisation of health services to address past inequity in health care in South Africa also provides compelling case for data collection at regional levels.