title: Enamel defects in primary canines related to traditional treatment of teething problems in Sudan.
abstract: In parts of Sudan and some other countries, teething is thought to be the cause of severe health problems in infants, and a traditional treatment involves lancing the alveolar process over the unerupted canines with a heated needle, a procedure known as 'haifat'. Three hundred and ninety-eight children aged 4-8 years were examined for the presence of enamel defects on primary canines, and their parents or guardians were questioned regarding past teething problems and their treatment. Two hundred and fifty-eight (65%) of the children had experienced health problems that had been attributed to teething, and 89 (22%) had been subjected to 'haifat'. 'Haifat' had been practised by all socio-economic groups, but was most prevalent in the lower groups. Enamel defects on the buccal surface of the primary canines were found in 25 (28%) of the children in the 'haifat' group and in 25 (8%) of the other children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics, University of Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elhassan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raadal
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003481:Cuspid / Q000293:injuries*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000293:injuries*; D003744:Dental Enamel Hypoplasia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D015995:Prevalence; D012923:Social Class; D013397:Sudan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014078:Tooth Eruption; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000293:injuries*