Evaluation of the Severity of Maxillo-Facial Injuries by Motorcycle Road Accident in the Teaching Hospital of Conakry: A Case-Control Study

Introduction: Maxillofacial injuries caused by motorcycle road accidents are serious and represent a real public health issue. They mainly affect young adult males. The objectives of this study were to determine the frequency of motorcycle road accidents, describe the socio-demographic characteristics of the injured, determine the degree of severity of motorcycle injuries compared to car injuries, and describe the therapeutic modalities. Materials and Method: This study was a prospective case-control study carried out in the Department of Odontostomatology, Maxillofacial Surgery and Surgical Emergencies at the National Hospital of Donka. The data was collected over a period of six months from January 1st to June 30th, 2017. All victims of road accidents by motorcycle (cases) or car (controls) that received care and post-surgical follow up were included. Results: A total of 505 patients with maxillofacial injuries were reviewed during the period of the study. From the review, 205 (40.6%) motorcycle accidents were recorded as “cases” and 109 (21.58%) car accidents were classified as “controls” group. Men were the most affected in both groups, n = 254 (177 males in the case group and 77 in the control) (p = 0.01). There was a proportionate relationship between helmet use and death (p = 0.015). A motorcycle accident victim is more likely to develop a mandibular fracture (p = 0.029) and limb injury (p = 0.034) when compared to a car accident victim. However, there was no significant difference between cases and controls for head trauma (p = 0.4878), Facial Injury Severity Scale (FISS) (p = 0.130), and Glasgow score (p = 0.709). Conclusion: Maxillofacial injuries caused by motorcycle accidents are increasing in Guinea. Young adult males have the highest incidence of motorcycle accidents. The death rate related to motorcycle road accidents is high, and mandatory use of a helmet for all drivers and passengers is recommended. These preventative actions could reduce the mortality and morbidity of motorcycle road accidents in Guinea.

Giant Lipoma of the Head and Neck Region: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Head and neck lipomas are fairly common but their presentation in areas like submandibular, submental and sublingual regions are rarely seen. Lipomas are generally asymptomatic and gradually progressive in size, causing aesthetic and functional deficits. Surgical excision remains the mainstay of treatment. Radiological investigations like CECT and MRI play a critical role in diagnosis and management of these lesions. We describe a case of a giant lipoma involving the sublingual, submandibular and submental region, and its management.

Necessity of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) using an appropriate sequence for diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia associated with intracranial tumor

Aims: Trigeminal neuralgia is generally caused by neurovascular compression. In rare cases intracranial tumors may also lead to this condition. The present study was conducted to identify clinical symptoms and testing methods that are useful for early detection of trigeminal neuralgia associated with intracranial tumor. Methods: Five patients with trigeminal neuralgia suspected to be due to intracranial tumor, who visited our department for the first time during the period between February 2007 and March 2009, were examined. We analyzed the medical records and MRI findings of these patients. The clinical symptoms of subjects were compared to those presented at the International Classification of Headache Disorders. Results: There were no feature symptoms to trigeminal neuralgia caused by intracranial tumors compared with trigeminal neuralgia in general. None of the patients complained of spontaneous headache and nausea, which are clinical symptoms characteristic of brain tumor. Head MRI at our hospital was the most accurate method to detect intracranial tumors. Finally four of five patients received brain surgery to remove tumors. Conclusion: Small tumors and roots of the trigeminal nerve may not create accurate images by regular head MRI. Therefore, MRI using the imaging sequence which enables accurate visualization of roots of the trigeminal nerve is essential to confirm the presence of tumors in patients with suspected trigeminal neuralgia.

Modified Widman flap procedure: With or without periodontal dressing?

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the postoperative pain experience and gingival indexes with and without the use of periodontal dressing after Modified Widman flap procedure. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients requiring comparable bilateral flap procedures were selected. One quadrant of each jaw randomly received periodontal dressing after the surgery while the other one didn’t. Plaque Index (PI), Sulcus Bleeding Index (SBI) and Probing Depth (PD) were measured prior to the surgery, one week and 2 weeks after the surgery. Postoperative pain experience also was assessed at the conclusion of study. Results: Results showed no significant differences between dressed and undressed segments regarding changes in probing depth, plaque index or sulcus bleeding index. However patients reported significantly less pain postoperatively when the dressing was used Conclusion: Pain is reduced by periodontal dressing but No significant differences between dressed and undressed segments regarding changes in probing depth, plaque index or sulcus bleeding index.

Hypocalcified autosomal recessive amelogenesis imperfecta—A case report

Amelogenesis imperfecta is an unusual hereditory disorder affecting both primary and permanent dentition. We present a rare case of hypocalcified auto-somal recessive amelogenesis imperfecta occuring in primary dentition in a 7-year-old girl with a family history of consanguineous marriage. Clinical and radiological examination revealed discoloration and hypoplasia of enamel with easy chipping affecting both maxillary and mandibular dentition.

Leontiasis Ossea about a Case Treated at Chu Owendo

Introduction: Leontiasis ossea is the most severe bone complication of the maxillae of chronic renal failure. The objective of this work is to determine the clinical, paraclinical and therapeutic aspects of this condition. Observation: A 42-year-old patient with chronic anuric terminal renal failure dialysis for 12 years had consulted for multiple maxillo-mandibular swelling evolving for 2 years deforming the face with discomfort to chewing. The biological assessment was: PTH: 5252 pg/mL, Ca2+: 2.86 mmol/L, free T3: 4.16 pmol/L, free T4: 6.55 pmol/L, TSH: 3.13 U/mL, serum protein: 61 g/L, Creatinine: 835 μmol/L. The maxillofacial CT noted heterogeneous diffuse thickening of the cranial vault and bones of the facial massif evoking leontiasis ossea with right mandibular brown tumor. The biopsy diagnosed fibrous gingival epulis. The patient had undergone modeling surgery, under general anesthesia after dialysis, of the right mandibular tumor whose histological result was Leontiasis ossea. Conclusion: Treatment is modeling surgery under hemostatic control.

The Local Immunity of the Oral Cavity in Women with Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis Associated with Urogenital Infection

This paper studied the dynamics of local immunity factors of the oral cavity in women with recurrent aphthous stomatitis against the background of urogenital infection. The research proves the maximum efficacy of hydroxyzine hydrochloride, aminodihydrophthalasindione sodium and Eplan used in multiple treatments of recurrent aphthous stomatitis in patients with urogenital infection as evidenced by a marked reduction in the coefficient of local immunity factors balance, which is observed as early as on day 7 of the therapy provided. Moreover, the findings show the growth of immunological parameters of oral fluid (lysozyme and SIgA), the normalization of the coefficient of local immunity factors balance in the treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis in women with urogenital infection, the improvement being observed 3 months after the treatment suggesting a favorable local immunity of the oral cavity.

Effect of Thermocycle Aging on Color Stability of Monolithic Zirconia

Background: The color stability of dental restorative materials is important for long-term clinical success. Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of thermocycling on the color and translucency stability of monolithic zirconia. Materials and methods: A total of 80 disc-shaped specimens (1 cm diameter) were produced from monolithic zirconia material, Katana High Translucent (Kuraray Noritake Dental, Kurashiki, Japan). The specimens were prepared in four different thicknesses: 0.5 mm, 1 mm, 1.5 mm and 2 mm. Before thermocycling, color measurements of the specimens were made by a spectrophotometer (Spectro Shade TM MICRO;MHT Optic Research AG, Milan, Italy). After the thermal aging procedure, the color measurement was repeated. Data obtained from the study were analyzed with descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s tests. Results: After thermocycling, the L*, a*, b* values decreased at all thicknesses. The maximum change in the L*, a* and b* values was observed in 0.5-mm-thick specimens, while the least change was observed in 2-mm-thick specimens. The amount of color change in the specimens after thermocycling was found to be the highest in 0.5-mm-thick specimens (ΔE = 0.91 ± 0.02), and the lowest in 2-mm-thick specimens (ΔE = 0.85 ± 0.01). While a statistically significant color change (ΔE) was observed in 0.5-mm-thick specimens (p < 0.05), a statistically insignificant color change (ΔE) was observed (p > 0.05) in 1-mm, 1.5-mm, and 2-mm-thick specimens. After thermocycling, the translucency parameter (TP) values decreased at all thicknesses. The highest change in the TP values was observed in 0.5-mm-thickspecimens (1.09 ± 0.03), while the lowest change was observed in 2-mm-thickspecimens (0.40 ± 0.04). While a statistically significant change in the TP values was observed in 0.5-mm-thick specimens (p < 0.05), there was a statistically insignificant change in the TP values of 1-mm, 1.5-mm and 2-mm-thick specimens (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Although the color and translucency values after thermocycling exhibited statistically significant changes in the 0.5 mm thickness group, a statistically significant difference was not observed in the other thickness groups.

Loss of Masticatory Function Affects Growth and Development of the Mandibular Condyle in Rats

The effects of childhood masticatory function loss and soft foods on the mandibular condyle have been the subject of much research. However, the corresponding bone turnover is not fully understood. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the effects of a lack of teeth and a soft food diet during the growth period on bone turnover in the mandibular condyle. We divided 3-week-old Wistar rats into the following three groups: 1) Extraction group: The maxillary molars were extracted at the age of 4 weeks, and animals were fed powdered standard feed. 2) Powder group: Animals were fed powdered standard feed without tooth extraction. 3) Control group: Animals were fed solid standard feed without tooth extraction. Non-decalcified thin-slice specimens of sagittal sections of the mandibular condyle were obtained at the age of 20 weeks for histological analysis. We used micro-CT analysis and bone histomorphometry to measure bone volume (BV), bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), bone microstructure, bone resorption, and osteogenesis in the mandibular condyle, and we compared the results among groups. In the extraction and the powder groups, we found deformation and disruption of the arrangement of chondrocytes, coagulation of chondrocytes, and duplication of the tidemark in the cartilage. We also found an increase in multinuclear osteoclasts in the cancellous bone. We found a reduction in BV, BMC, and BMD in the extraction and powder groups compared to the control group, as well as a reduction of bone volume, a lowering of osteogenesis parameters, and an increase in bone resorption parameters in the secondary cancellous bone. These results suggest that a lack of teeth and a soft food diet during the growth period cause a decline in bone microstructure, a decrease in osteogenesis, and an increase in bone resorption.

Comparison of Two Methods of Chlorhexidine Application of Shear Bond Strength Degradation between Composite Resin and Dentin

Background: Chlorhexidine could have effect on shear bond strength of composite resin-dentin. Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare two methods of chlorhexidine application of shear bond strength degradation between composite resin and dentin. Methods: Thirty samples of dentin were taken from the crown of premolars and then divided into three groups (n = 10). Group 1 were applied bonding without chlorhexidine, group 2 were applied with liquid chlorhexidine and followed by bonding, group 3 were applied bonding which contains chlorhexidine. Each group was divided into two sub-groups (n = 5): the group with and without 10% NaOCl immersion for one hour. Then, 4 samples in each sub-group were used to measure shear bond strength using Universal Testing Machine, and 1 sample was examined with Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Data were analyzed using SPSS 17 by Mann-Whitney and Kruskal Wallis test. Results: The highest mean shear bond strength without 10% NaOCl immersion was in group 1, while the highest mean with 10% NaOCl immersion was in group 3. Significant differences occurred between the groups 1 and 2, groups 2 and 3. Conclusion: Method of using bonding contains chlorhexidine can increase and inhibit degradation shear bond strength between composite resin and dentin.

Automatic evaluation of speech impairment caused by wearing a dental appliance

In dentistry, speech evaluation is important for appropriate orofacial dysfunction rehabilitation. The speech intelligibility test is often used to assess patients’ speech, and it involves an evaluation by human listeners. However, the test has certain shortcomings, and an alternative method, without a listening procedure, is needed. The purpose of this study was to test the applicability of an automatic speech intelligibility test system using a computerized speech recognition technique. Speech of 10 normal subjects, when wearing a dental appliance, was evaluated using an automatic speech intelligibility test system that was developed using computerized speech recognition software. The results of the automatic test were referred to as the speech recognition scores. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to analyze differences in the results of the test between the following 2 conditions: with the palatal plate in place and with the palatal plate removed. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to evaluate whether the speech recognition score correlated with the result of conventional intelligibility test. The speech recognition score was significantly decreased when wearing the plate (z = -2.807, P = 0.0050). The automatic evaluation results positively correlated with that of conventional evaluation when wearing the appliance (r = 0.729, P = 0.017). The automatic speech testing system may be useful for evaluating speech intelligibility in denture wearers.

Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Study of Peri-Implant Epithelium

Background: Human beta-defensins (HBDs), epithelial-derived antimicrobial peptides, contribute to gingival health and periodontal disease. Particularly, the upregulation of HBD-3 expression in periodontal tissues is described to contribute to periodontal tissue regeneration. Specifically, the upregulation of HBD-3 expression in periodontal tissues is described to contribute to periodontal tissue regeneration. But there has been insufficient investigation of the inner epithelium in peri-implantitis, especially the HBD expression patterns as protection against oral infection. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the histopathological characteristics of the inner implant epithelium in peri-implantitis using histopathological and immunohistochemical methods and to compare it with the inner marginal epithelium in periodontitis. Materials and Methods: The biopsied cases consisted of 10 peri-implantitis, 11 periodontitis, and 10 controls. HE observation, measurement of the thickness of the inner epithelium, and immunohistochemical analysis for Ki-67 and HBD-3 were conducted. Results: Concerning the thickness of the inner epithelium, it was significantly higher in periodontitis (156.2 [138.0, 186.4] μm) than in peri-implantitis and control, 70.7 [67.5, 97.5] μm and 80.7 [76.6, 89.4] μm, respectively (p Conclusion: Decreased production of HBD-3 in keratinocytes composing the inner implant epithelium may be one of the factors affecting tissue repair in peri-implantitis.

Orthodontic Management of Multiple Impacted Teeth in a Patient with Gardner’s Syndrome: A Case Report

Gardner syndrome (also known as familial colorectal polyposis) is a rare autosomal dominant condition. It is characterized by osteomas, familial polyposis of the colon, cutaneous epidermoid cysts, soft tissue tumors, as well as certain dental anomalies. We report the case of a 29 years old male patient with Gardner’s syndrome who presented with no intestinal polyps but instead had an osteoma on the left side of the mandible and multiple impacted teeth. The case showed the possibility to manage the multiple impacted teeth without jeopardizing the health of the teeth in terms of mobility or significant root resorption taking into consideration the increased bone density in such patients.

Ethnic Comparison of Inner and Outer Intercanthal Distance among Adult Sudanese

Background: Anthropometric pattern of the inner and outer intercanthal distance varies with no universal normative values. This study was conducted on three Sudanese ethnic groups, namely blacks, Arabs, and Hamites to identify normative values and the ethnic and gender influence in the anthropometric pattern of the inner and outer intercanthal distance. Methods: This is a cross sectional study among Sudanese subjects selected randomly from Khartoum Teaching Dental Hospital and Port Sudan Dental Hospital, using a stratified sampling technique. The inner intercanthal distance (IICD) and outer intercanthal distance (OICD) were measured directly using a digital caliber. Result: A total of 280 subjects included with a mean age of 35.76 ± 12.23 years, 122 males and 158 females. The distribution of groups was as follow: 92 (33%) Arabs, 62 (22%) blacks, and 126 (45%) Hamites. The mean IICD of males and females are 31.50 mm ± 2.89 and 32.22 mm ± 3.17, respectively. The mean OICD are 95.09 mm ± 5.78 and 93.95 mm ± 4.27 for males and females, respectively, with a statistically significant relationship. Regarding the ethnic group differences, the mean of IICD was wider among the blacks, followed by the Arabs and Hamites. However, the mean of OICD was wider among the Hamites, followed by the blacks and the Arabs. Conclusion: Intercanthal distance differs across ethnic groups. Gender and ethnicity are two of the main parameters that affect the variation as this study showed in the current study. These findings would be applicable in clinical setup as reference values during surgical planning.

Evaluation of the Essential Oil of <i>Citrus paradisi</i>as an Alternative Treatment against <i>Candida albicans</i>

Introduction: The World Health Organization establishes that 80% of the world’s population uses traditional medicine for their primary care, because they contain compounds responsible for their properties. Objective: To evaluate the antifungal effect of the essential oil of Citrus paradisi against C. albicans and the cytotoxic effect in three cell lines in vitro. Methods: The phytochemical characterization of the oil was carried out by chemical methods and Gas chromatography (GC-MS) and the antifungal effect against C. albicans (ATCC 90029) was evaluated by the Kirby-Bauer method, which evaluated concentrations of 0.75 - 20 μg/mL and compared with nystatin 100,000 Ul/mL as a positive control. The percentage of the relative inhibitory effect was calculated. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined at 24 hours. Moreover, the cytotoxic effect on C. albicans and cell lines was determined by the colorimetric MTT tetrazolium assay. Finally, the antifungal effect against Candida strains isolated from clinical samples was evaluated at a concentration of 20 μg/mL. Results: The essential oil showed an antifungal effect with a percentage of inhibition of 123%. The MIC was 2.5 μg/mL, and the cytotoxicity index was 5.44 μg/mL for C. albicans. The IC50 values were 21.060, 9.482 and 4.176 μg/mL for Vero E6, J774A.1 and MDBK cells respectively. Conclusion: These results show the use of C. paradisi essential oil as an alternative treatment in oral antifungal therapy, it is beneficial due to its antifungal effect and its low toxicity on cell cultures.

Effects of Beverage Ingredients on Salivary Fluid Secretion with an <i>ex Vivo</i>Submandibular Gland Perfusion System: Tannic Acid as a Key Component for the Inhibition of Saliva Secretion

Tannic acid (TA) and TA containing beverage have been proved to inhibit Ca2+-activated Cl- channel located apical membrane of the secretory cells. However, their effect on salivary fluid secretion is not well investigated. We used mouse ex Vivo submandibular gland perfusion technique to identify the general effect of TA and related beverage samples on muscarinic agonist carbachol induced fluid secretion. Green tea inhibited fluid secretion by 64% from the control, where oolong tea was by 53%, and red wine by 43% which was linked with their TA concentration. On the other hand, though TA was contained at 4.7 μM in white wine sample and 33 μM in coffee extract, no adverse effect was observed. In addition, coffee induced salivation in the absence of carbachol. TA had a negative effect on fluid secretion with a concentration dependent manner. The effects of TA on carbachol induced calcium increase showed identical as fluid secretion, which was initially no effect, and then gradually decreased over the time. These results demonstrate that TA directly inhibits the salivary fluid secretion and it affects not only Ca2+-activated Cl- channel but also intracellular Ca2+ increasing mechanisms.

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A 6-Month Clinico-Histopathologic Audit in a Kenyan Population

Objective: To determine the clinico-histopathologic variations and etiological factors associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional hospital based study was conducted at the University of Nairobi Dental Hospital (UNDH) and Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) between September 2008 and February 2009. Eighty-two (82) patients presenting with lesions confirmed as OSCC were evaluated for habits identified as risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol use and betel quid chewing. Demographic features including age and gender as well as clinical parameters such as site of the primary lesion, tumour size and nodal involvement were documented. Incisional biopsies were performed for all patients to confirm the diagnosis and histopathological features noted. Results: The mean age of the patients was 58.49 (range = 14 to 90 years), with a male to female ratio of 1.6:1. Remarkably, 13.4% of the patients were aged 40 years and below. The peak incidence was found to have been in the 6th - 7th decades. Tobacco use was the main associated etiological factor (73.2%) followed by alcohol use (57.3%). Notably, 25.6% of the cases had no identifiable risk factor. The tongue was the most common site (35%) followed by the palate (22%) (p = 0.03). The least commonly affected site was the floor of the mouth (10%). The most common stage at presentation was stage IV (52.4%) and;the poorly differentiated OSCC was the most common histopathologic variant (48.8%) followed by the well differentiated (30.5%) and moderately differentiated OSCC (20.7%). Conclusion: In the present investigation it is evident that OSCC has a male predilection with a peak incidence in the 6th - 7th decades and most commonly manifests in the tongue at stage IV with the poorly differentiated subtype being the most common. Of the cases diagnosed 13.4% were aged 40 years and below.

Diminished fracture initiation sites in ceramic layers bonded to glow-discharge treated substructure

A mechanically retentive structure and meticulous surface cleanliness are critical factors in providing fracture resistance and clinical success of metal ceramic restorations. This investigation compared the porcelain/metal interfaces of deliberate compressive fractures of ceramic crowns between conventional preparation and application of the Radio Frequency Glow Discharge Treatment (RFGDT) before each bonding step. It evaluated RFGDT’s capacity to improve wetting effectiveness and minimize porosity. Twelve metal ceramic crowns were fabricated identically. RFGDT was applied to the metal substructures of half the specimens before the ceramic layering process. All specimens were fractured in the same manner by an applied compressive force to simulate dental occlusive failure. Fracture surfaces were inspected by light and scanning electron microscopy. Quantitative analyses of images were performed to identify numbers, locations of cracks, porosity patterns, and other morphological correlates of the fracture zones. There were significantly fewer voids per millimeter at the interfaces in the RFGDT group than in the non-RFGDT group (t = 2.377, df = 9, p = 0.021). There was a significant difference in the number of horizontal cracks per millimeter between the groups (t = 2.132, df = 7, p = 0.035), with more cracks occurring in the non-RFGDT group. RFGDT can improve the integrity of metal ceramic crowns by increasing the substratum surface energy, improving porcelain wetting and spreading and thereby diminishing the numbers of interfacial voids available for initiation of fracture. Routine application of RFGDT should result in fewer cracks along metal/ceramic interfaces in all restorative preparations.

The Nigeria Government Engagement with the Private Health Sector

In Nigeria, the healthcare sector is divided into primary health which is under the local government’s authority that oversees the Primary Health centers, secondary health which is under the supervision of the State Ministry of Health in charge of the State General Hospitals that cater to primary and secondary healthcare. Tertiary health is supervised by the Federal Ministry of Health that oversees the Federal Medical Centres, the Teaching Hospitals, and Specialist Training Centres. Not to be excluded from Nigeria’s healthcare system are the private clinics and the public-private partnership. The funding for healthcare systems is mainly budgetary allocations from the government. This systemic review was done using secondary literature, policy documents, peer-reviewed literature, and national newspapers, collected using search engines such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and Medline. The review was done over 2-month period from February-April 2024. The literature was arranged in order of relevance and the literature not used was kept aside. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that 11% of a country’s budget be allocated to health. African countries that make up the African Union (AU) recommended that 15% of each member African country’s yearly budget should be committed to providing healthcare services to her citizens. Unfortunately, Nigeria has yet to attain either the WHO target or the AU target while committing an average, of 6% of her budgetary allocation to health. On the other hand, her neighbouring West African country Ghana, has met the average of 15% recommended by AU. The improved National Health Insurance Authority and the government’s partnership with the private health sector in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is hoped and would improve access to affordable healthcare in general and oral healthcare in particular.

Average Odontometric Value of the Width of the Upper Central Incisor in the Congolese Bantu of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the average values of width of the upper central incisor (WUCI) in Congolese Bantu and compare them to those of Caucasians and Asiatic. Material and Methods: It was a prospective cross-sectional study carried out at the Université de Kinshasa on the Congolese Bantu, Department of Dental Medicine, from March 2020 to March 2021. A maxillary imprint was taken by Jeltrate-type alginate. The measurement of two healthy upper central incisors (UCI) was carried out by the hard plaster casting type 4, with a brand caliper, carbon fiver composite mark. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the School of Public Health in the Université de Kinshasa and verbal consent was obtained from each participant. Results: The Average Width of the UCI was 8.74 mm ± 0.56. The average width of the right Upper Central incisor (RUCI) and the left UCI (LUCI) was 8.71 mm ± 0.57 and 8.77 mm ± 0.56, respectively. The average width of the RUCI and LUCI was not the same for men and women (p 0.001). A significant difference was observed between the average of the RUCI and the 18 - 28 and 40 - 50 age group (p = 0.056) as well as for the average LUCI (p = 0.085). The width average of UCI between the Congolese Bantu with those of Caucasians and Asians was significantly different (p = 0.000 and p = 0.009). Conclusion: The average width of the RUCI and LUCI was different among sex and age group. The average width of UCI of the Congolese Bantu is different from that of Caucasians and Asians.