Referral mode and pattern of malocclusion among patients attending the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND

In Nigeria, the awareness of the dentition and its role in the overall facial beauty is increasing, especially in the urban areas. The purpose of this study was to assess the demand for orthodontic treatment and the pattern of malocclusion in patients attending the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.

METHOD

A 5-year retrospective study of 633 patients, 288 males (45.5%) and 345 females (54.5%) attending the orthodontic unit of the hospital.

RESULTS

The patients seen ranged from 1 to 50 years with the most frequent age group being that of 12-17 years constituting 37.5% of the total patients seen. Adult patients made up 30.7% of attending patients. Self-referred patients constituted 64.1% of this population. Class I molar relationship was predominantly occurring seen in 76.7% of patients. Anterior segment crowding was recorded in 38.7% and 43.2% of the patients for the upper and lower arch respectively. Marked increase in overjet was observed in 32.2%. Overbite discrepancies were recorded with 26.2% of patients with deep bite and 11.2% of patients with anterior open bite. A history or ongoing oral habit was recorded in 61.8% of patients.