Eruption of primary Incisors: prevalence of sequence reversal and attitude of mothers In a Yoruba Community

Abstract

Objective: The mandibular primary central Incisors are usually the first set of teeth to erupt In a child. However, eruption of the maxillary primary central incisors may precede that of the mandibular primary central Incisors, which Is viewed as a taboo among some tribes In Nigeria.
Various means of dealing with the 'taboo' have been suggested In  different communities. The main aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of maxillary primary Incisors erupting before the mandibular among some children and the acceptance of the situation by their mothers.

Method: A cross sectional study of 290 nursing mothers and their children In the Immunisation clinics of the University College Hospital and the Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital both In Ibadan, Nigeria was carried out. Intra-oral examination of the children was done to ascertain that each of them had at least a tooth after which the mothers were required to fill an
Interviewer-administered questionnaire.

Result: Nine (3.1%) out of the 290 children assessed erupted the maxillary Incisors ahead of the mandibular counterparts and their mothers allowed the teeth to erupt normally. One hundred and fifty-seven (54.1 %) of the mothers agreed that the tooth should be allowed to grow normally as part of the series of the primary dentition, while 26.9% wlll rather have It extracted.

Conclusion: Though a greater percentage of the mothers would retain the affected tooth, concerted effort still needs to be made to further enlighten nursing mothers on the Issue of reversed eruption sequence.