Oral Health and Dental Management

Oral diseases and lifestyle factors in adolescents living in Maasai population areas of Tanzania: A cross-sectional study

22^nd International Conference on Dental Education

April 09-10, 2018 | Amsterdam, Netherlands

L D Simangwa, A N Astrom, A A Johansson and A G Johansson

University of Bergen, Norway

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Oral Health Dent Manag

Abstract:

Background & Aim: There are no reports on the associations between oral problems and lifestyle from adolescents in Maasai population areas. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of oral diseases/problems and identify associated lifestyle factors in adolescents living in Maasai population areas, Tanzania. Methods: The sample comprised a random selection of 23 out of 66 rural public primary schools. Classes with children aged 12-14 years were identified from each school and all adolesc+ents in selected class were invited to participate. A questionnaire investigating lifestyle factors (dietary/behavioral) and a clinical examination was done. Results: Out of a total of 989 invited adolescents, 906 (91.6%) accepted to participate (age 12-17 years, mean 13.4 years, SD 1.2). The prevalence of oral diseases is presented in brackets: bleeding gums (40.9%), dental fluorosis (89.7%) and TMD pain (11.8%). Logistic regression analyses revealed: adolescents with low frequency of cleaning teeth (OR=10.0, CI: 5.0-16.7), those who used wooden toothbrush (OR=1.7, CI: 1.1-2.5) and those with poor oral hygiene (OR=50.0, CI: 14.3-100.0) were more likely to present with bleeding gums. Adolescents reported to use non-tap water (OR=14.0, CI: 3.3-59.3) and trona (OR=11.6, CI: 5.8-23.0) were more likely to present with dental fluorosis. Adolescents with eating problems (OR=3.1, CI: 1.7-5.8) and those reported to clench and/or grind their teeth (OR=2.8, CI: 1.8-4.5) were more likely to present with TMD pain. Conclusions: Oral problems were common among adolescents from Maasai population areas and associated with lifestyle factors such as oral hygiene, dietary habits and tooth clenching.

Biography :

L D Simangwa has completed his graduation in Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the University of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania in 2001 and attended internship training at Muhimbili National Hospital, Tanzania in 2002. He later joined University of Bergen in Norway and graduated with Master’s Programme in Oral Sciences in 2008. He then graduated Master of Dental Surgery (Restorative Dentistry) in 2013 from the Nizhny Novgorod State Medical Academy, Russia. He is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Bergen, Norway. He is a member of the Tanzanian Dental Association (TDA) and International Association for Dental Research (IADR).
Email:lutangillo@yahoo.com