Nigerian Journal of Medical and Dental Education

Evaluation of the depth of the curve of Spee in untreated orthodontic patients in the Universityof Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria.

GO IGE — 2022-01-03

Objective: Curve of Spee is a naturally occurring curve of the occlusal plane in the human dentition which begins at the tips of the incisors following the buccal cusps of the premolars and molars and continuing to the anterior border of the ramus, and it plays several roles in human dentition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the depth of Curve of Spee in untreated Orthodontic patients in Benin City, Nigeria.

Methods: Dental casts of 100 untreated orthodontic patients were selected and classified using Angle’s method. Using a digital caliper (European Directive ROHS 2002/95/CE) the depth of curve of Spee was measured as the perpendicular distance between the deepest cusp tip and a flat plane that was laid on the occlusal surface of the maxillary and mandibular dental casts, touching the incisal edges of the central incisor and the most distal cusp of the most posterior teeth in the upper and lower arches. The data was computed with SPSS version 21.0 and analyzed for frequencies, percentages and means. Variations between variables were evaluated with the Chi-square test. P values at < 0.05 were set as significant.

Results: The mean depth of the curve of Spee in the mandibular arch on the right side was 2.4± 0.90 mm, while on the left side it was 2.3 ± 1.0 mm. The average depth of the mandibular curve of Spee was 2.3 ± 0.8 mm. The mean depth of the curve of Spee in the maxillary arch on the right side was 2.6 ± 1.3 mm, while on the left side it was 2.6 ± 1.2 mm. The average depth of the maxillary curve of Spee was 2.6 ± 1.2 mm. The depth of the curve of Spee in the maxillary arch was greater than the value obtained for the mandibular arch, but not statistically significant (P=0.05).

Conclusion: This study recorded higher values in depth of curve of Spee in the maxillary arch when compared to the mandibular arch. The difference was not statistically significant.

Use of Information Communication Technology Tools Among Nigerian Dental Resident Doctors: An Exploratory Study

OF IKUSIKA — 2022-01-03

Objective: To evaluate Information-Communication-Technology (ICT) tools usage among Nigerian dental resident doctors.

Methods: A 68-item electronic questionnaire (Google Forms) retrieved data on participants’ sociodemographic and awareness and use of ICT tools. Retrieved data was analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistic (version 23). Averages were tested for association with t-tests ANOVA and Friedmann’s tests (and their non-parametric equivalents). Post-Hoc analysis was carried out. The level of statistical significance was set at p≤0.05.

Results: A hundred and thirteen residents from 13 teaching hospitals with a 2.3: 1 male: female ratio participated in the study. Participants’ ages ranged from 24 to 48 (34.7±4.5) years. 71.7% of participants were junior residents, while 28.3% were senior residents. 38.9% of participants were from Southwestern institutions, while 39.9% were from Northern institutions. The Southeast and South-south contributed 21.2% of participants. There was poor awareness of learning applications with My Dentist® (29.2%) being the most popular. There was a high awareness level for social media tools with Zoom® and Facebook® having 100% awareness. Biomedical databases were similarly popular with PubMed® having 96.5% awareness and 59.3% frequent users. There was a statistically significant difference in the use of the 3 groups of ICT tools {X2(2, n=113) =208.4, p<0.001. There was a statistically significant difference in biomedical database use between senior and junior residents (p<0.001).

Conclusion: The residents had good awareness of commonly available ICT tools except the medical and dental learning applications. Social media tools were very popular. Biomedical databases were mainly used by the Senior Registrars.

Pattern of Cleft Lip and Palate Deformities and Associated Anomalies at the Orthodontic Unit of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City

NJ OTAREN — 2022-01-03

Objective: Objective: Orofacial clefts constitute the commonest anomalies in the orofacial region. The aim of this study was to characterize patients with CL/P presenting at the Orthodontic unit of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and to identify the type of accompanying developmental anomalies in the study population.

Methods: This was a retrospective study. Case records of thirty-eight (18 females and 20 males) cleft lip and palate babies who presented for pre surgical orthopaedics from January 2018 to August 2019 at the Orthodontic unit of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City.

Results: Majority of the study population were males, 20 (53.0%) while females were 18 (47.0%). Children aged 1 day to 4 weeks constituted majority of the study population 24 (64.0%). CL/P cases was in majority, 18 (48.0%), unilateral cleft deformities on the right side was 21 (55.0%). Only 15.0% of the study population had associated congenital anomalies which includes, femoral hernia 2 (5.0%), holoprosencephaly 2 (5.0%) and syndactyly 2 (5%).

Conclusion: This study showed that more males had cleft deformities, majority of the study population had CL/P and only 15.0 % had associated congenital anomalies.

Knowledge and Attitude of Dental Patients to Teeth Replacement

OO OMISAKIN — 2022-01-03

Objective: Presence of teeth in the oral cavity plays a significant role in the maintenance of a good health, self-esteem, healthy personality and self-image. Replacement of lost teeth is essential to effective functions of the oral cavity. There are various options to teeth replacement but most patients are not aware of these options. Therefore, many go about with the embarrassment of incomplete dentition with function deprivation. Hence, this study assessed the knowledge and attitude of patients visiting our dental clinics in Kaduna City towards replacement of lost teeth.

Methods: Structured questionnaires were employed to obtain information from the patients, only patients who have lost teeth were included in the study (with exception of third molars). All patients that completed the questionnaires were examined by a clinician, teeth present and missing teeth were charted. The study was carried out in three Dental Clinics in Kaduna Metropolis. The period of study was from July, 2021 to December 2021. Two hundred and ten questionnaires were retrieved and analyzed for age, sex, reasons for teeth loss, options for teeth replacement and factors impeding replacement.

Results: The total number of participants was 210. Of them, 82 were males and 128 were females. The ratio of male to female is 1: 1.4. The age of the participants ranged from twenty to eighty years (mean age is 56years SD ± 26). Majority were in the age range of 30 – 39 years (n=86, 41.0%). 79.5% of individual were provided with proper information about replacement of teeth whereas 20.5% were not. 82.7% stated financial constraint as impediment to replacing their lost teeth and 17.3% stated lack of awareness. 85.9% were aware of removable dentures, while only 15.5% were aware of dental implants. Collected data were statistically analyzed using chi-squared test at a significance level of p<0.05.

Conclusion: The findings indicated that awareness needs to be increased among our patients on the important functions artificial teeth will play in restoring oral functions such as aesthetics, phonation and mastication. Patients should be encouraged to replace their lost teeth.