Comparative Evaluation of Total Antioxidant Capacity and pH of Saliva in Children with and without Early Childhood Caries.

Background: Early childhood caries (ECC), a type of tooth decay that affects preschool children, is a complex chronic disease resulting from an imbalance of multiple risk factors and protective factors of tooth decay, over time. The antioxidant system in saliva is one of its defense mechanisms against disease agents. The pH of saliva also affects the integrity of the oral cavity, hence caries susceptibility.

Determination of Streptococcus Mutans and Lactobacillus Counts and their Association with Resting pH of Saliva and Dental Caries in Preschool Children in Lagos.

Background: Caries is controlled by several factors including exposure to diets rich in carbohydrates, tooth susceptibility, and the presence of some oral flora bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Lactobacilli sp. Tooth demineralisation occurs when the pH in the oral cavity is lower than the critical pH of 5.

Dental Caries Prevalence, Severity, and Pattern Among Male Adolescents in Kano, Nigeria.

Background: Dental caries is the most common oral disease of mankind; however, there are limited data on the oral status of adolescents in northern Nigeria. Recently, the World Health Organization set the global caries goal as significant caries (SiC) index score of <3. This study was designed to appraise the magnitude of the disease among adolescents in northern Nigeria.

Dental Caries, Traumatic Dental Injuries and Gingivitis among Street-Children in Kano, Nigeria.

Background: Street-children (Almajirai) constitute a significant proportion of the adolescent population in northern Nigeria. They face health challenges, especially oral health, from being inadequately protected, supervised or directed by responsible adults.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of dental caries, dental trauma, gingivitis and oral hygiene scores in street-children.

The risk factors and pattern of traumatic dental injuries in 10-12-year olds in Kano, Nigeria.

Background: Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) rank among the most common conditions in children and adolescents. Nigerian dental trauma data are largely based on studies that were conducted in the southern parts of Nigeria. This study was designed to identify the risk factors and the pattern of TDIs among school-age children in northern Nigeria.

Comparative Analysis of Streptococcus Mutans and Streptococcus Sobrinus from Dental Plaque Samples of Nigerian Pre-school Children with and Without Caries.

Background: Early childhood caries (ECC), despite being a preventable disease, remains prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. This study compared the occurrence of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus in dental plaque from caries free and caries active Nigerian preschool children.

Methods: Structured questionnaire were administered to eighty (80) mothers to inquire about the sociodemographic characteristics of their children.

Comparison of the treatment outcomes of the conventional stainless steel crown restorations and the hall technique in the treatment of carious primary molars.

Background: Dental caries is a multifactorial disease that causes reversible decalcification and cavitation of susceptible teeth exposed to sugary substrates over a period of time in the oral cavity. It gives clinical and social burdens to the child patients and their parents/carers. Stainless steel crown (SSC) restoration is one of the restorative treatment options in the management of carious primary molars.

Comparison of the Treatment Assessments of the Conventional Stainless-Steel Crown Restorations and the Hall Technique.

Background: Stainless steel crown (SSC) restoration is one of the restorative treatment options in the management of carious primary molars. The Hall technique is a biologic method of managing carious primary teeth by sealing in the caries with SSCs without the routine local anaesthesia and tooth preparations. The objectives of this study was to compare the treatment assessments of the conventional stainless steel crown restoration with Hall technique using subjects' discomfort during treatments and parents' treatment perception, treatment acceptability and satisfaction with the treatment.

Prevalence of Dental Caries among Visually Impaired Institutionalized Adolescents in Lagos State.

Objectives: To assess and compare caries prevalence among institutionalized visually impaired and sighted 10dash;19 year old children in Lagos State, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross sectional study of institutionalized visually impaired and sighted 10-19-year-old adolescents was carried out using the World Health Organisation (WHO) Basic Oral Methods caries diagnostic criteria. A random sample of 10-19-year-old visually impaired and sighted institutionalised children was carried out.

Caries impact on quality of life among visually impaired adolescents: A cross-sectional study.

Aims: To assess and compare the impacts of dental caries on quality of life among visually impaired and sighted 10- to 19-year-old adolescents before and after treatment in Lagos State, Nigeria.

Methods And Results: A cross-sectional study of institutionalized sighted and visually impaired 10- to 19-year-old adolescents was carried out using interviewer-administered Oral Health Related Quality of Life questionnaire based on Child Oral Impact on Daily Performance (Child-OIDP) questionnaire. Frequencies of impact and mean impact scores were determined and compared between the two groups using chi-square test.

Experience and knowledge of child abuse and neglect: A survey among a group of resident doctors in Nigeria.

Background: Child abuse and neglect (CAN) is a significant public health problem. Dentists are in good position to identify and report cases of CAN.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the experience and knowledge of CAN among a group of Nigerian dental residents.

Translation and Validation of the Nigerian Pidgin English Version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (NAIJA ECOHIS).

Objectives: The Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) has been used in different countries and in different versions to assess the impact of oral health conditions on preschoolers. This study aimed to develop the Nigeria Pidgin English version of ECOHIS and investigate its psychometric properties.

Methods: The Nigerian Pidgin English version (NAIJA ECOHIS) was developed from the English version using the forward-backward translation technique.

Tooth crown dimensions in a selected population of Nigerians with Down Syndrome.

Objective: To determine and compare tooth crown dimensions in primary and permanent dentitions of subjects with Down Syndrome (DS) and a selected Nigerian population without DS.

Materials And Methods: A sample of subjects with DS and a control group were selected from the Down Syndrome Resource Centre and the Dental Clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos respectively. Dental stone models were made from maxillary and mandibular alginate impressions of the population samples after obtaining consent from the subjects and their parents/caregivers.

Knowledge and attitude of some nigerian school teachers on the emergency management of avulsed permanent incisor.

Background: Tooth avulsion has been known to be the most severe of all dental injuries. The immediate action taken at the accident site will determine the prognosis of the tooth. Replantation of an avulsed tooth is the treatment of choice.

Prevention of dental caries: knowledge, practice and opinion of paediatricians in Lagos.

Background: Dental caries is the most prevalent oral disease in children and this is preventable. Paediatricians are the first professionals whom children visit and are in good position to begin the process of prevention of dental caries if they recognize and encourage good preventive habits.

Objective: To determine the knowledge, practice and opinion of pediatricians in prevention of dental caries.

Variations of crown dimensions of permanent dentitions in a selected population of Nigerian children.

Background: Race, gender, genetic/ environmental factors contribute to tooth variations which could be in size or shape. However, little has been reported on dimensional variations in permanent dentitions among Nigerians.

Objective: To investigate the pattern of variability of mesiodistal and buccolingual tooth dimensions of permanent dentition in Nigerians.

Comparison of normative and self-perceived dental needs among adolescents in Lagos, Nigeria.

Aims And Objectives: Professionally determined needs as well as self-perceived oral health needs play significant roles in the assessment of needs for dental care. The aim of this study was to compare the self-perceived oral health needs by the adolescents with professionally determined needs by the oral health-care giver.

Subjects And Methods: This was a community-based cross-sectional study involving 504 adolescents who were selected through multistage random sampling from secondary schools in Lagos State.

Oral health condition and treatment needs of Special Olympics athletes in Nigeria.

Special Olympics (SO) athletes in many parts of the world were reported to have poor oral health and high unmet treatment needs. This study was carried out to determine the oral health condition and treatment needs of SO athletes in Nigeria and to suggest ways of improving access to oral healthcare. Consenting athletes who participated in SO events in Nigeria from 2007 to 2008 received oral examination and evaluation by trained volunteers, using standardized Special Smiles screening forms and procedures designed for the event.

Oral health status and treatment needs of children and young adults attending a day centre for individuals with special health care needs.

Background: The oral health condition of individuals with special health care needs have been reported in literature to be influenced by various sociodemographic factors, including living conditions and severity of impairment. This study was carried out to determine the oral health status and treatment needs of children and young adults attending a day institution for those with special needs.

Methods: This study was carried out as part of an oral health screening program organized by the institution and consent was obtained from parents and guardians before the screening.

Oral health condition and treatment needs of a group of Nigerian individuals with Down syndrome.

Objective: This study was carried out to determine the oral health condition and treatment needs of a group of individuals with Down syndrome in Nigeria.

Method: Participants were examined for oral hygiene status, dental caries, malocclusion, hypoplasia, missing teeth, crowding and treatment needs. Findings were compared with controls across age group, sex and educational background of parents.

Knowledge and behavior of Nigerian dentists concerning the treatment of children with special needs.

Background: Children with special needs (CSN) are reported to receive less adequate dental care due to various behavioral problems and barriers created by dental professionals. This study was carried out to determine the knowledge and behaviour of Nigerian dentists concerning the treatment of CSN.

Methods: Questionnaires consisting of open and closed ended questions requesting socio-demographic information, type of practice, undergraduate and postgraduate training, self-rated knowledge and behaviour concerning care of CSN, were hand delivered to 359 dentists in the 3 geographical zones of Nigeria over a period of 8 weeks.

Use of oral health care services and oral findings in children with special needs in Lagos, Nigeria.

This study was carried out to determine the use of oral healthcare services by children with special needs in Lagos, Nigeria. In this study, 125 structured questionnaires were sent to parents of children in two public day schools for CSN in Lagos. Once the questionnaires were returned, oral examinations were scheduled.

Mandibular facial talon cusp: case report.

Background: Talon cusp is a supernumerary structure projecting from the dento-enamel junction to a variable distance towards the incisal edge of an anterior tooth. Studies have shown that it consists of enamel, dentine and a variable amount of pulp tissue. Hyperactivity of the enamel organ during morphodifferentiation has been attributed to its formation.

Hypodontia in an adolescent with the HbSC genotype: a case report.

The haemoglobin SC (HbSC) genotype is a variant form of haemoglobin disorder that often presents less frequent clinical symptoms of sickle cell disease (SCD) than the homozygous state (HbSS). Various dental abnormalities, such as enamel hypoplasia, hypomineralization, midline diastema and delayed eruption of the teeth, have been associated with SCD. This report presents the case of an adolescent patient with HbSC who had hypodontia, transposition of a permanent canine, retained primary teeth, multiple carious lesions and poor oral hygiene complicated by sickle cell crisis.

Comparative study of oral hygiene status of HbSS subjects and controls.

There is paucity of information on the oral health status of individuals with the HbSS gene in Nigeria. This study was carried out to determine the state of their oral hygiene, compare this with unaffected people and create awareness of importance of oral health care in the patients and their parents. Three hundred and thirty-six subjects, aged 1-45 years and comprising 185 HbSS and 151 controls took part in this study.