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Purpose: To assess esthetic perceptions among Tanzanian adults regarding missing teeth using a cross-sectional clinical study of a convenience sample of 5,532 subjects in the Northern coastal zone of Tanzania. Materials and Methods: The dental status of urban and rural Tanzanian adults (5,532 subjects, ages between 20 and 80 years) was recorded. A structured interview was used to assess esthetic perception (yes/no complaint) considering the location and number of missing teeth. Logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the effects of the variables age (2 groups: = 45 years vs > 45 years), gender, socioeconomic status (high/middle vs low), and residence (urban vs rural) on the number of complaints. Results: Of the subjects with 1 or more missing maxillary anterior teeth, 54% reported a complaint. Dissatisfaction was reported by significantly more subjects = 45 years of age and subjects with high/middle socioeconomic status. Gender and residence had no significant influence. Of the subjects with missing maxillary premolar(s) (no missing anterior teeth), 25% reported esthetic complaints (missing first premolar: 24%; missing second premolar: 11%; missing first and second premolar on the same side: 44%). Dissatisfaction was significantly greater in women, subjects ⩽ 45 years of age, and subjects with high/middle socioeconomic status. Residence had no significant influence. Fewer than 1% of the subjects were dissatisfied with missing maxillary molars. Conclusion: Among this group of Tanzanian adults, absence of teeth played a considerable role in the esthetic appreciation of their dentition. Complaints were associated with both number and location of missing teeth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study assessed decayed/missing/filled teeth (DMFT), presence of occlusal units, and prevalence of shortened dental arches in a Tanzanian adult population. Materials and Methods: The dental state of samples of the Tanzanian population was studied. Oral examinations were conducted on 5,532 adults from rural and urban cluster samples. DMFT was related to age, gender, and residence. The pattern of tooth loss within dental arches was mapped, and the prevalence of shortened dental arches was estimated. Results: Mean DMFT scores increased gradually from 1.8 (20- to 29-year-olds) to 3.8 (50- to 59-year-olds). A steep increase was observed in the ≥ 60-year-olds (DMFT 8.1). "Missing" was the dominant component of DMFT. The mean number of present teeth ranged from 27 in the youngest to 20 in the oldest age group. Under 60 years of age, DMFT was significantly higher for women than for men. No differences were found between residence categories. Molars were more frequently decayed, missing, and mobile than premolars. Of all subjects, 41% had complete dental arches, 44% had interruptions (of these, 73% were in posterior regions only), and 15% had shortened dental arches; 0.5% were edentulous. Of the subjects with shortened dental arches, about 65% had at minimum three pairs of occluding premolars. Conclusion: An initial low DMFT rate increased after the age of 60 years. Molars had the highest risk of dental decay and were most frequently absent. Shortened dental arches develop as a consequence of the pattern of tooth decay and tooth loss, although interruptions were frequently seen in the posterior regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to verify the hypothesis that shortened dental arches constitute a risk to occlusal stability. Materials and Methods: Using cluster samples, 725 subjects with shortened dental arches comprising intact anterior regions and zero to eight occluding pairs of posterior teeth and 125 subjects with complete dental arches were selected. Subjects with shortened dental arches were classified into eight categories according to arch length and symmetry. Parameters for occlusal stability were interdental spacing, occlusal tooth wear, occlusal contact of incisors in intercuspal position, and vertical and horizontal overlap. Additionally, tooth mobility and overeruption of unopposed teeth were assessed. Influence of independent variables (dental arch category, age, gender, and residence) on the parameters for occlusal stability was assessed by oneway ANOVA and Tukey's multiple range tests. Results: Extreme shortened dental arches (zero to two pairs of occluding premolars) had significantly more interdental spacing, occlusal contact of incisors, and vertical overlap compared to complete dental arches. Occlusal wear and prevalence of mobile teeth were highest in these categories. The category with three to four occluding premolars had significantly more interdental spacing and, for the older age group, more anterior teeth in occlusal contact compared to complete dental arches. Age was consistently associated with increased changes in occlusal integrity. Conclusion: Signs of increased risk to occlusal stability seemed to occur in extreme shortened dental arches, whereas no such evidence was found for intermediate categories of shortened dental arches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigated the prevalence of signs and symptoms associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in adults with shortened dental arches in Tanzania. Materials and Methods: The shortened dental arch group comprised 725 subjects with an intact anterior region and zero to eight occluding pairs of teeth posteriorly. They were categorized into five groups according to length and symmetry of the dental arches. A control group of 125 subjects with complete dental arches was included. The subjects were interviewed with questions related to pain and sounds within the temporomandibular joints and restricted mobility of the mandible. Clinical examination consisted of registration of clicking or crepitation of the joints, measuring maximum mouth opening, and assessing occlusal tooth wear. Results: Joint sounds were reported significantly more frequently by subjects with posterior support only unilaterally (17%) and by subjects with no posterior support (10%) compared to other categories of dental arches (3% to 5%). No significant differences were found between categories of dental arches with respect to pain (2% to 9%), restricted mobility of the mandible (0% to 1%), maximum mouth opening < 40 mm (0% to 3%), or clicking or crepitation of the joints (12% to 23%). For the younger age group (≥ 20 and < 40 years), tooth wear occurred significantly more often in subjects with no posterior support. For the older age group (≥ 40 years), tooth wear increased significantly with decrease of posterior support. Conclusion: No evidence was found that shortened dental arches provoke signs and symptoms associated with TMD. However, when all posterior support is unilaterally or bilaterally absent, the risk for pain and joint sounds seems to increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]