Prevalence of dental trauma and malocclusion among institutionalised visually impaired adolescents who have dental caries in Lagos, Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: Visually impaired individuals with special needs are at risk of dental trauma due to poor sight, especially in the presence of malocclusion. They are usually underserved because of poor access to oral health services. It is, therefore, important to assess them early for dental injuries and initiate prompt treatment.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and association between dental trauma and malocclusion among 9- to 21- year-old institutionalised visually impaired individuals in Lagos State.

Methods: A multi-stage random sample of two hundred and twenty-nine visually impaired adolescents from 10 special schools in Lagos State was originally carried out. WHO oral examination assessment form was used for data collection. Data on dental trauma and malocclusion was obtained. Dental trauma was assessed using Andreasen's classification and occlusion was assessed using Angle's classification

Results: Sixty-two subjects were studied with mean age of 15.98 (SD±3.38), male: female ratio of 1.03:1 (SE= 0.065). A prevalence of 16.1% was recorded for participants who had dental injury and malocclusion. Uncomplicated and complicated fractures constituted 11.3% and 4.8% respectively (SE= 0.066). All dental injuries occurred in ≥15 years (SE=0.065) with 70% uncomplicated and 30% complicated injuries (SE=0.000). Females constituted 60% of participants with malocclusion (SE=0.074) while males constituted 88.8% with dental injury (SE= 0.080). Malocclusion constituted 1.6% of those with dental injury. Association between dental injury and malocclusion was not statistically significant (SE=0.068) p<0.05.

Conclusion: Prevalence of dental injury and malocclusion among visually impaired institutionalized individuals were 16.1% and 16.1% respectively. Uncomplicated dental injuries were more prevalent among the males and older adolescent age groups. Association between dental injury and malocclusion was not statistically significant; however, there appeared to be a higher risk of severe injury in those with malocclusion. More studies should be conducted to confirm these findings.