Nigerian Journal of Dental Research

Beyond Amalgam: Evaluating the Clinical Efficacy of Two Glass Ionomer Cements in Managing Dental Caries

2025-07-30T05:05:53+00:00

Background: Concerns about dental amalgam safety led to interest in alternatives like glass ionomer cements (GICs).

Objective: This study evaluated and compared the clinical performance of two different GIC compositions, Type II and Type IX, in managing dental caries.

Methods: This randomized clinical trial compared the performance of two distinct glass ionomer cement (GIC) formulations in managing dental caries. The study involved 16 patients with 48 affected teeth, which were randomly assigned to receive either Type II or Type IX GIC restorations using a split-mouth design. Two independent, blinded examiners evaluated the restorations at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months using a modified version of the USPHS criteria. Inter-examiner reliability was assessed using kappa statistics. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS 26.0 software, employing Fisher's exact test, Pearson's chi-square test, descriptive statistics, and McNemar's test to analyze the data

Results: The study participants consisted of 16 individuals with 48 teeth. All 24 matched tooth pairs were correctly identified in terms of the side of the mouth. The arch was also correctly identified in 95.8% of cases, with only one incorrect match. Five clinical criteria: retention, marginal integrity, anatomic form, sensitivity, and surface texture recorded changes across both GICs, while marginal discolouration and secondary caries demonstrated stable and favourable outcomes throughout the evaluation period. Overall, the results indicate that Type IX consistently showed a higher proportion of acceptable outcomes across most criteria, outperforming Type II over time, however, this was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Both Type IX and Type II Glass Ionomer Cements (GICs) have demonstrated exceptional clinical efficacy and longevity in dental restorations. A comparative analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in performance between these two GIC formulations.

An audit of capacity for prosthetic rehabilitation after orofacial ablative surgeries in Nigerian tertiary health facilities.

2025-07-30T05:28:09+00:00

Background: The capacity for prosthodontic rehabilitation after orofacial surgeries in Nigeria has not been adequately reported.

Objectives: To describe the capacity for, and explore avenues for improving prosthodontic rehabilitation after ablative orofacial surgeries in Nigerian tertiary healthcare facilities.

Materials and Methods: This was an electronic questionnaire survey of single representative surgeons at public tertiary facilities. Frequencies and proportions were determined for closed-ended responses. Associations between categorical variables were determined with Fischer’s Exact Test, while thematic description characterized open-ended responses. The level of statistical significance was set at p?0.05

Results: Thirty-five institutions comprising 22 Federal Teaching Hospitals (FTH)s, 11 Federal Medical Centers (FMC)s and 2 State Specialist Hospitals (SSH)s were assessed. Among the centers evaluated, there were 6 (66.7%) with prosthodontists in the South-West, while the combined South-South/South-East zone has 3 (37.9%) centers. Northern Nigeria only had 2 (11.1%) centers with prosthodontists. There were prosthodontic laboratories in 33 (94.3%) of the centers. However, only 4 (12.2%) of these laboratories had facilities for implant retained prostheses and only 2 (11.1%) had facilities for computer-aided design and manufacture. There were regular pre-surgical prosthodontic consultations in 45% of the FTHs, and 53% level of the FMCs and SSHs combined. Themes from the open-ended questions included increase in workforce numbers and workforce empowerment. They also included improved inter-specialty communication and improved patient access.

Conclusion: There is a good capacity for basic prosthodontic rehabilitation after ablative surgery nationally. However, infrastructure for advanced treatments can be augmented. Capacity may be improved by increasing and empowering the workforce, and by improving interprofessional communication

Assessment of mothers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards teething in Uselu community, an urban area of Benin City

2025-07-30T06:22:24+00:00

Background: Teething is an important developmental milestone in young children. It typically begins around the age of six months. However, mothers have erroneously associated systemic symptoms with teething.

Objective: To assess mothers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards teething in Uselu community, an urban area of Benin City

Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 347 mothers in the Uselu Community. A convenience sampling technique was used to recruit the study participants. The tool for data collection was a researcher-administered structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 23.0 Software with a level of significance set at 0.05.

Results: A total of 347 mothers participated in the study. A majority, 298(85.8%), were aware of teething, with 31.7% reporting the source of information as being from neighbours who are mothers. The maternal beliefs about symptoms associated with teething were fever 304(87.5%), diarrhoea 237(68.3%), and irritability/crying 136(39.2%). About half of the respondents, 191(55.0%) had a fair knowledge of teething. The attitude of the respondents in this study revealed that just over half (59.2%) of the respondents believe that teething is physiological, and 145 (41.7%) disagree that dentists are the best professionals to visit. Overall, 252(73%) of all respondents had a negative attitude towards teething. An assessment of the mothers' practices during teething showed that 334(96%) self-medicated, over half; 204(61.1%) of which always use teething syrup, with a composite safe practice score of fair, 208 (60.0%). Bivariate analysis on teething practices and the sociodemographics of the respondents revealed that the proportion of respondents with good practices increased with increasing levels of education, and this was statistically significant (p=0.001).
Conclusion: The common symptoms of teething reported by mothers in the study were fever, diarrhoea, and irritability. Overall, the participants had fair knowledge but a negative attitude towards teething. Mothers with tertiary level of education had good practices, and the composite safety practice score for this study was fair.

Oral Hygiene Status and Periodontal Status of Older Adults Attending the Cardiology Clinic in a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria.

2025-07-30T06:46:47+00:00

Background: Older adults may experience reduced manual dexterity, due to age-related physical or neurological conditions, which may affect their ability to practice optimal oral hygiene. Hence, they may present with poor oral hygiene status, which has been associated with adverse systemic health outcome. Therefore, this study aims to assess the oral hygiene status and periodontal health status of older adults attending the Cardiology clinic, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).

Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among older adults at the Cardiology clinic, UPTH. Data was collected using interviewer questionnaire. Simplified Oral Hygiene Index was used to assess oral hygiene status,while Community Periodontal Index (CPI) modified, was used to assess periodontal health status. Collected data was analysed using the Statistical Product and Service Solution SPSS version 25.0. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: One hundred and six participants; 50.9% (54/106) females, and 49.1% (52/106) males were present. The mean simplified Oral hygiene index (OHI-S) score of the participants was 2.32±1.02. Females had mean OHI-S of 2.09 ± 0.93, with more females 13 (72.2%) presenting with OHIS score of 1.3 - 3.0. Males had mean OHI-S score of 2.55 ±1.07, with more males, 16 (72.7%) having OHIS score of 3.0 - 6.0; this finding was statistically significant (p = 0.016). Most of the participants, 66 (62.3%), had mean OHI-S score of 2.19 ± 0.49. Most of the participants, [76 (71.7%)] had CPI 2. Majority 85 (80.2%), had gingivitis, while 21 (19.8%) had periodontitis.

Conclusion: Most participants had fair oral hygiene status. More Females presented with good oral hygiene status, while most males presented with poor oral hygiene status. Most participants had CPI 2.

Tertiary Hospital.

Pattern of Prosthodontic Rehabilitation of Completely Edentulous Patients in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital: A 10- Year Review

2025-08-29T09:32:45+00:00

Background: The negative effects of edentulism, such as
inability to chew properly, poor aesthetics, and self-esteem
can be addressed by rehabilitation with different types of
complete dentures.
Objective: This study retrospectively assessed the pattern of
prosthodontic rehabilitation of completely edentulous
patients treated at the dental centre, University College Hospital
(UCH), Ibadan over a ten-year period.
Methods: A retrospective study which assessed patients
w h o w e r e treated with complete dentures between
January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2023. Patients’ details were
retrieved from the medical records unit of the Dental centre, UCH, Ibadan.
Data collected included socio-demographics, indications and types
of complete dentures. The data generated was analysed using
the IBM SPSS version 23. Analysis was done using frequency
and percentages of categorical variables and Fisher’s exact
test was used to test for statistical significance.
Result: Case records of 85 patients treated with complete
dentures were reviewed. Thirty-nine (45.9%) were males,
while forty-six (54.1%) were females. The mean age of t h e
p a t i e n t s w a s 68.71 (SD±14.25) years. Conventional dentures
were the most common 81 (95.3%) type of dentures fitted for the patients
and mastication (70.7%) was the major reason for requesting
complete dentures. The majority, 66 (77.6%) were satisfied with treatment
with complete dentures and there was a statistically significant
relationship (p=0.040) between age of patients and
satisfaction with complete dentures.
Conclusion: Periodontal disease is a leading cause of tooth
loss among the elderly, often resulting in chewing difficulties
that drive the demand for complete dentures, with acrylic
dentures being the most common prosthodontic treatment.

Spectrophotometric analysis of plateau effect in carbamide peroxide at 10% and 16% concentrations

2025-07-30T16:27:39+00:00

Objectives: Aesthetics, particularly a bright smile, hold significant value in today’s society. Tooth whitening is the most common, minimally invasive treatment to achieve this. This study aims to identify the plateau phase of tooth whitening, which is crucial for optimizing treatment and minimizing side effects due to overuse.

Materials & Methods: Thirty extracted human incisors and canines were treated with 10% and 16% carbamide peroxide gel for 28 days. Colour parameters (?E, ?a, ?L, ?b) were measured daily using photospectrometry until day 21. Data were analyzed for statistical significance.

Results: Analysis revealed that the colour difference (?E) plateaued by day 20 for both tooth types. A significant difference (P<0.0001) between canines and incisors was found at 10% concentration but not at 16%. Brightness (?L) also plateaued by day 20, with significant differences (P<0.0001 and P<0.01) for 10% and 16% concentrations, respectively. The red-green axis (?a) showed significant differences (P<0.0001) for both concentrations, while the yellow-blue axis (?b) showed a significant difference (P<0.001) at 10% but none at 16%.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that incisors and canines reach a colour change plateau by day 20. At 16%, whitening effects were more consistent between tooth types, suggesting higher concentrations promote uniform results.

Evaluation of lips thickness to the E-line and S-line in a Nigerian population.

2025-07-31T20:28:56+00:00

Background: Soft tissue structures, such as the lips, their positions, and their relative proportions, are important components in clinical analysis of orthodontic, maxillofacial, and plastic surgery patients. Their assessment is usually with a view to arriving at a decision regarding treatment planning as to whether to maintain or to improve the soft tissue profile. Lip length and thickness may affect aesthetic facial proportions by influencing both dental and facial symmetry.

Aim: To investigate the thickness, length and anteroposterior position of the lips using the E-line and S-line in a Nigerian sample.

Method: Ninety-five lateral cephalometric radiographs of patients aged 17 – 38-years with a skeletal pattern I dental base were analyzed. The soft tissue profile outline was traced including the upper and lower lips and the E-line drawn from the pronasale to the pogonium. The S-line was drawn from the subnasale to the pogonium to analyze the lips prominence. Descriptive analysis, chi-square and independent student’s t-test was used to study the difference between variables and gender. The level of significance was set at p = < 0.05.

Results: The mean age of participants was 18.12 ± 6.69 years. The upper and lower lips lengths were 25.82±2.65mm and 49.48±5.39mm, and the thickness was 17.39±2.39mm and 20.32±2.75mm, respectively. The prominence of the upper and lower lips with reference to the E-line was 4.37±2.67mm and 8.14±2.51mm respectively. The mean gender difference of upper and lower lips prominence to the ‘E’ line was 2.3mm and 1.6mm and these were statistically significant.

Conclusion: There was a statistically significant difference in upper lip thickness between genders. Both the upper and lower lips were prominent when compared to the Ricketts and Steiners line and were also statistically significant between genders.

Knowledge and attitude of teachers in public schools towards orthodontics and orthodontic treatment.

2025-07-31T20:42:24+00:00

Background Children and adolescents constitute a large number of orthodontic patients. Teachers can play a role in introducing orthodontic care to children as they spend a lot of time with them.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the knowledge and attitude of teachers towards orthodontics and orthodontic treatment.

Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study done among public secondary school teachers. Data collection was done via a structured questionnaire comprising 33 questions administered to teachers in public schools in Lagos Nigeria. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were employed to interpret the data with statistical significance set at P<0.05.

Results: About 76.4% reported awareness of orthodontics, only 42% had good knowledge with misconceptions being common, 36.1% believed orthodontics involves replacing missing teeth. A positive attitude was observed in 61% of respondents, and 66.7% was willing to wear braces. Practice scores were low: only 28% demonstrated good orthodontic-related practice. Higher education was significantly associated with better knowledge (p = 0.012), and gender was associated with attitude (p = 0.009), with females more likely to report a positive attitude.

Conclusion: Although awareness of orthodontics was moderate among teachers, detailed understanding and practical engagement were limited. Teachers with higher education and female teachers had better knowledge and attitudes.

Spontaneous Avulsion of Sequestra from Both Sides of the Mandible in the Same Patient: A Rare Case Report

2025-07-30T14:11:46+00:00

Background: The goal of therapy is sequestrectomy of necrotic bone in chronic osteomyelitis; spontaneous avulsion of a sequestrum is rare. In its clinical evolution, this devitalized bone, which the sequestrum is, becomes separated from the remaining bone. However, spontaneous avulsion is rare.

Case presentation: Two incidents of spontaneous avulsion of sequestra from the bilateral body of the mandible in a female patient at 75 and 78 years old. A history of progressive tooth mobility and subsequent loss of teeth was elicited from this patient; additionally, tooth loss resulted in problematic healing sockets.

Conclusion: The complications from bone infection, such as chronic osteomyelitis caused by long-standing periodontitis, could account for the detachment and subsequent avulsion of sequestra in a poorly healing extraction socket seen in this patients

Flexible partial dentures in Nigeria: a case series on clinical indications, patient experience, and outcomes.

2025-07-30T15:43:37+00:00

Background: Flexible partial dentures, a 50-year-old technology, have been underutilized in Nigeria despite their potential to transform patient care. Compared to conventional removable partial dentures (RPDs) made from polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and cast metal, flexible dentures offer improved comfort and durability. Although widely adopted in advanced countries, their use in Nigeria remains limited in the literature.

Objective: To present our initial experience with flexible partial dentures in five patients with diverse clinical needs, and highlight their clinical indications, patient experiences before, and outcomes after treatment.

Case Series: This case series outlines the clinical journeys of seven patients who transitioned from conventional acrylic dentures to flexible partial dentures due to issues such as poor fit, mucosal irritation, frequent fractures, and anatomical challenges. Each patient was carefully evaluated and fitted with customized flexible dentures that significantly improved comfort, fit, and functionality. The diverse cases illustrate how flexible partial dentures adapt to complex oral conditions and patient preferences, highlighting their practical advantages in a Nigerian clinical context

Conclusion: This case series demonstrates the successful use of nylon-based materials in removable partial dentures with outcomes suggesting that flexible dentures offer a viable, patient-friendly alternative to traditional methods, supporting broader clinical application in resource-limited settings.