The dental complications of canine tooth bud removal in 2–12 years old children in Northwest Ethiopia

OBJECTIVE: Canine tooth bud removal is a process of gouging out an infant’s canine tooth buds, using unsterile tools such as Sharpe blade, garlic, or knitting needle, without anesthesia. The aim of the study was to reveal dental complications of canine tooth bud removal among children who visited the dental clinic of the University of Gondar hospital. This study was an institution-based cross-sectional conducted from January 2015 to September 2016 at the University of Gondar hospital on 2–12 years children. The tooth was assessed for whether it had previously oral mutilated or not. In addition to this, the oral cavity was evaluated for the presence of missed, malformed or normal canine. RESULTS: A group of 355 children aged 2–12 years was examined clinically. The mean age of the children was 7.32 ± 3.12 (SD). The prevalence of canine tooth bud removal was 86.8% which was high in 6–9 years old (54.87%) and first position children (40.26%). The most common dental complications were; malformed enamel (hypoplastic) canine (48.5%) and missed/unerupted canine (38.6%).