Nigerian Journal of Periodontal Research

Oral hygiene status and caries experience: A comparative study of diabetic and non-diabetic patients

2025-12-23T18:48:05+00:00

Objective: To compare the oral hygiene status and caries experience among diabetic and non-diabetic patients and to determine the relationship between glycaemic control and the severity of the oral health problems among the diabetics.

Methods: The comparative cross-sectional study was carried out among diabetics and non-diabetic who were age and sex matched. Data collated include demographic characteristics, fasting blood sugar level, number of decayed, missing and filled teeth, oral hygiene status as well as the presence and extent of tooth mobility. Chi-square test was used to test for statistical significance difference between categorical variables in both groups. Comparison of the mean simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S) score and the mean decayed teeth (D), missing teeth (M), filled teeth (F) scores in both groups was done using independent t- test. P-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: A total of 168 patients (84 cases and 84 controls) participated in this study. The mean decayed missing and filled teeth score among cases and controls was 0.37 ± 0.51 and 0.57 ± 0.23 respectively (P= 0.009) while the mean Oral Hygiene Index score was 1.81 ± 0.09 among the cases and 2.18 ± 0.10 among the controls (P= 0.039). Majority of the cases (54.8%) and controls (65.5%) had fair oral hygiene status (P=0.166) while most of the cases (52.4%) had no caries experience with a DMFT score of zero (P= 0.032). More persons in the control group had decayed teeth, missing teeth and mobile teeth (P>0.05). Filled teeth were however seen in 16.7% of cases and 4.8% of controls (P=0.032). In diabetic patients with poor glycaemic control, more decayed, missing, filled and mobile teeth were seen while periodontal disease was the major reason for tooth loss among the diabetic patients.

Conclusion: There is a difference between the oral hygiene status and caries experience in diabetic and non-diabetic patients while poor glycaemic control is directly related to the severity of the oral health problems among the diabetics.

Relationship between self-perceived oral health problems and oral care practices among secondary school students in Ibadan

2025-12-23T18:52:02+00:00

Objective: Some methods of oral care adopted by individuals may be the cause of their self-perceived oral health problems. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of oral care practices on self-perceived oral health problems among secondary school students in Ibadan.

Methods: A 14-item structured questionnaire seeking information on self-perceived oral health problems and oral care practices was filled by each participant under supervision. The data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 21.0. Descriptive statistics was performed on the variables and their associated factors. Significant association between variables was tested using chi-square and the results were presented in tables and charts.

Results: Out of 250 questionnaires administered, only 246 provided adequate information for analysis. The age range of the respondents was between 12 and 23years, with 67.5% being within 15-17years. The males were 102(41.5%), and the females were 144 (58.5%). Some of the respondents (45.5%) reported experience of one oral health problem or the other in the past one year, and 91.9% of the respondents believed their oral health could be improved. Statistically significant relationship was found between several self-perceived oral health problems and oral care practices such as tool used for tooth cleaning, type of dentifrice used, technique of brushing employed, time of tooth cleaning and exposure to dental health education.

Conclusion: This study showed that there is a relationship between several self-perceived oral health problems and some oral care practices employed by the respondents.

Orthodontic treatment need and its association with the oral hygiene status among Almajiris: A pilot study

2025-12-23T18:55:58+00:00

Objective: The oral hygiene status and orthodontic treatment need among Almajiris have not gotten the attention it deserves. Almajiris suffer the same harsh or worse living conditions just like the internally displaced persons and refugees with difficulty accessing the already scarce health care facilities. The objective of this study was to determine the orthodontic treatment need and its association with the oral hygiene status among Almajiris. To further assess the impact of malocclusion severity on their oral hygiene status.

Methods: The study was a cross sectional pilot study conducted among 42 Almajiris. Orthodontic treatment need and the oral hygiene status were evaluated using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) and the simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S) respectively. Effect of malocclusion severity on the OHI-S score was evaluated using linear regression model. The level of association between malocclusion using DAI and their oral hygiene status (OHI-S) was also conducted using Pearson correlation coefficient. The level of significance was set at <0.05.

Results: Increased overjet (>3mm) had the highest presentation of 85.7% while missing teeth and anterior crossbite had the least presentation of 4% each. Orthodontic treatment was highly desirable and mandatory among 14.3% of Almajiris in each category. Only a 4% variation of the OHI-S was explainable by the level of malocclusion severity, (p=0.207). There was poor correlation (r=0.199, p=0.207) between the DAI and the OHI-S.

Conclusion: This present study shows that a large number of Almajiris have poor oral hygiene and increasing number of them requiring orthodontic treatment. Their level of malocclusion severity does not necessarily influence the oral hygiene status.

Recurrent lobular capillary haemangioma of Gingiva: Case report from a tertiary hospital

2025-12-23T19:01:16+00:00

Objective: Pyogenic granuloma (lobular capillary haemangioma) is a well-known inflammatory vascular hyperplasia that sometimes looks like a tumour. It is usually due to an exaggerated response to persistent irritation or minor trauma. The objective of the study was to report a case of recurrent pyogenic granuloma

Description: An erythematous sessile soft tissue growth on the attached gingiva approximately 3 cm × 3 cm. Nontender but bled profusely on probing. Radiologic findings: No detectable abnormalities in the underlying bone or roots. The lesion was completely excised, and the exposed roots scaled and planed. Histology revealed loosely arranged connective tissue stroma, with moderate chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate, covered by well differentiated stratified squamous epithelium. Recurrence: 13 years later, the patient represented with a similar lesion on the same location. The presenting complaint and findings were similar to those in the first presentation. Plan: For complete excision under local anesthesia

Conclusion: This case of recurrent lobular capillary haemangioma corresponded well with available information about the lesion.