Utilization of dental services by children at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria

This preliminary study examined the attendance and dental conditions of 1359 Nigerian children who sought care at the Ibadan University College Hospital in one year. There was an average of 113 new visits per month. Their monthly attendance showed a scholastic more than a seasonal pattern with the highest attendance during the end-of-session holiday. 59% of the children had caries and 17% had dental trauma. Only 10% had malocclusion, 5% enamel hypoplasia and 4% acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis. A majority of the children presented late for treatment.