Association between malocclusion and the severity of dental trauma in primary teeth.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The literature does not clearly state whether the type of malocclusion is associated with a specific type of trauma and the severity of the injury. Hence, the aim of this retrospective study was to assess the occlusal condition in children with traumatic dental injuries of the primary teeth, and the association between the occlusal characteristics and the type and severity of these injuries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were collected from records of children treated at a dental trauma center in Brazil over a period of 16 years. The data included age, gender, etiology of the trauma, place of occurrence, number of affected teeth, type of trauma, and injury severity. The occlusal condition was assessed by a trained dentist using photographs of the patients from their first visit. Chi-square tests and Poisson regression were used for data analyses. RESULTS: This study included 209 patients, and most were aged between 2-4 years (50.55%). Multivariate regression analysis showed that children with an anterior open bite had a 47% higher prevalence of severe trauma than those who did not have an anterior open bite, and those with class II canines had a 56% higher prevalence of severe trauma than those with class I and III canines. Children with an anterior open bite had a 46% higher prevalence of injuries affecting multiple teeth than those without an anterior open bite. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior open bite and class II canine relationship were associated with a higher prevalence of severe traumatic dental injury in primary teeth, and anterior open bite was associated with trauma affecting multiple teeth.

Does dental trauma in the primary dentition increases the likelihood of trauma in the permanent dentition? A longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this longitudinal study was to assess the likelihood of children suffering traumatic dental injuries in the permanent dentition subsequent to traumatic dental injuries in their primary dentition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A longitudinal study was conducted in Pelotas, Brazil. Children were assessed in 2007, when they were aged 2-5 years, and in 2013, at which time, they were aged 8-11 years. Data collection included interviews with parents and clinical oral examination for dental trauma and occlusion. The classification proposed by Andreasen and Andreasen was used, and crown discoloration and fistula were added to this criterion in order to assess pulp involvement. Child/parent report was used to aid in the diagnosis of both treated and untreated injuries. As a limitation, no radiographs were taken. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 110 children were included. Dental trauma frequency in the primary dentition was 38.2% and that in the permanent dentition was 30.9%. In the multivariate analyses, children with dental trauma in the primary dentition showed a higher likelihood of suffering dental trauma in the permanent dentition [odds ratio (OR) 2.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-8.91, P = 0.05]. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with previous trauma in the primary dentition are prone to further trauma in the permanent dentition. The history of dental trauma may be used to predict dental trauma in the permanent dentition and to establish preventive measures. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Behavioral characteristics may be related to the risk of a child suffering injuries. The results suggested that some children are accident-prone.

Traumatic intrusion of permanent teeth: 10 years follow-up of 2 cases.

Intrusive luxation is a kind of traumatic injury characterized by an axial displacement of the tooth toward the alveolar bone. Its main causes are bicycle accidents, sports/recreational activities, and falls or collisions. Treatment strategies include waiting for the tooth to return to its position, immediate surgical repositioning, and repositioning through dental traction by orthodontic devices. In order to decide which treatment to follow, the degree of root formation, the patient's age, and intrusion severity should be taken into consideration. This study aimed to report a 10-year follow-up of two patients that suffered permanent incisor (PI) traumatic injury who had a similar root development (incomplete rooting) but different results. In the first case, the treatment of choice was follow-up. The patient showed gingival alteration and root resorption of tooth 21. Calcium hydroxide therapy and root canal filling were performed twice because of not attending callback. After finishing the endodontic treatment, follow-up visits showed no abnormalities. In the second case, the treatment of choice was watch and wait to the teeth 11 and 21. After 7 months spontaneous eruption of both teeth was detected. Radiographic examination showed atypical root formation and almost completely pulp canal obliteration, 8 years later. In the follow-up, visit after 10 years was observed complete crow and pulp canal obliteration. It was concluded that PI intrusion treatments are good intervention alternatives, as they proved to be successful after a 10-year follow-up period.

Traumatic dental injuries in primary dentition: epidemiological study among preschool children in South Brazil.

AIM: To estimate the prevalence of traumatic injury in primary dentition among children aged 12-71 months old, as well as to evaluate the distribution of traumatic injuries, type of trauma and associated factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After the research project approval by the Ethics Research Committee, a cross-sectional study was carried out including 571 preschool children--both from public and private schools--in the city of Pelotas, Southern Brazil. Data were collected by means of anterior teeth examination, and by the administration of a structured questionnaire to parents. The classification proposed by Andreasen & Andreasen was used, and crown discoloration and fistula were added to this criterion. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of dental trauma was 36.6% (95% CI 32.7-40.5), with no significant differences between boys and girls. Trauma were more frequent among older children (P = 0.001). No associations were found for maternal schooling, income and type of school. The most frequent trauma was enamel fracture, and the most affected tooth was number 61. A significant statistical association was observed between the presence of dental trauma during clinical examination and parental report of trauma occurrence. The percentage of parents who looked for dental treatment was higher among children from private schools (P = 0.001). The most frequent place of occurrence was home, and the most frequently reported etiology was child's own-height fall. CONCLUSIONS: Dental trauma in primary teeth is characterized as an accident that occurs due to the children's development stage, even when they are cared for by mothers of higher schooling and income. Parents should search for assistance right after trauma occurrence to minimize sequelae.

Central incisor impacted by an odontoma.

AIM: The aim of this report is to present a clinical case of impaction of a maxillary left central incisor in a mixed dentition caused by the presence of an odontoma as well as a review of the pertinent dental literature. BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the normal tooth eruption patterns is essential for the identification and appropriate treatment of deviations in eruption that may endanger physiologic development. A delay in time between the exfoliation of a deciduous tooth and the eruption of its permanent successor may be related to a disorder known as dental retention. This occurs when tooth eruption does not occur within a normal time frame, the tooth is not present in the dental arch, and there is no potential for eruption due to the presence of a completely formed root or when the homologous tooth has been erupted for at least six months with complete root formation. REPORT: A 10-year-old boy in the mixed dentition stage presented with an impacted maxillary left central incisor due to the presence of an odontoma. Treatment included the surgical removal of the lesion and the follow up of the spontaneous eruption while a partial fixed appliance was used to recover the space of the missing tooth. Since spontaneous eruption failed to occur within the expected time frame, surgical exposition of the crown and bonding of an orthodontic appliance for traction was done to facilitate eruption. SUMMARY: The incisor was integrated to the dental arch without any root or periodontal sequelae. The treatment was considered a success, since both health and aesthetics of the smile were recovered. The importance of the clinical and radiographic diagnosis of the retention of a permanent tooth associated with a pathological entity should be emphasized. The participation of a multidisciplinary team to accomplish the appropriate treatment of such patients is extremely relevant because of the esthetic and functional ramifications of a missing anterior tooth as well as the psychological well-being of the individual.