Traumatic injuries to primary teeth in Mexico City children.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyse traumatic injuries to primary teeth in children attending an emergency dental service in a pediatric hospital in Mexico City. A total of 563 children 6-mo to 7 yrs-old were treated during the period from January 1981 to December 1987. The 563 children presented 936 traumatic dental injuries. The most common type of trauma was soft tissue injury, followed by luxation and avulsion. More males presented with traumatic injuries (61.8%) than females (38.2%). In both sexes, maxillary teeth received more traumatic injuries than mandibular teeth. Children 2-3 yrs old presented the highest number of injuries (195) followed by the 4-5 and 6-7 year-olds. The largest number of injuries were seen during winter (36%) followed by summer (25%), spring (21%) and fall (18%).

[The pediatrician and the oral health of children. A survey of 100 pediatricians]. / El pediatra y la salud bucal del niño. Encuesta realizada a 100 pediatras.

The pediatrician plays a very important role assisting the dental profession for the education of the parents to prevent oral disease and maintain children's oral health. This study shows the results obtained in a survey with 100 pediatricians from different institutions and universities of Mexico, in order to analyze their knowledge on basic dental care. The results will be utilized to prepare a guide that will show to pediatricians the basic concepts that parents should know about prevention of caries, malocclusions, and the teaching of correct oral habits from early years for their children.

[Radiographic study of formation and calcification of the third molar]. / Estudio radiográfico de la formación y calcificación del tercer molar.

A total of 500 orthopantomographic X-rays of Mexican children and teenagers of either sex, aged 7-18, were studied in order to ascertain the development and calcification stages of their third molars, as well as the most frequent anomalies related with them. It was observed that the dental bud appears between ages nine and eleven, and that the third molar is absent in 32.4% of the population, with a predominance of females over males. It was also found that 7.4% of molars evidenced malposition during their early stages of development. In view of such findings, the authors consider that a diagnosis of oligodontia and malposition of the third molar, cannot be established before age 13.

[Stages of formation and calcification of the third molar (radiographic study of 500 Mexican children and adolescents)]. / Etapas de formación y calcificación del tercer molar. (Estudio radiográfico en 500 niños y adolescentes mexicanos).

Five hundred orthopantomograph radiographs of mexican children and adolescent from 7 to 18 tears old were reviewed in order to establish the third molar formation and calcification stages and the most frequent anomalies related to these teeth. We find that tooth bud presence is between 9 and 11 years; Third molar is absent in 32.4% of the population; 7.4% of the molars presented early formation stage malposition; Therefore oligodontia diagnosis and third molar malposition can not be done before 13 years of age.

[Dentoalveolar trauma in children: retrospective study of 1,444 injuries]. / Traumatismos alveolodentarios en niños: estudio retrospectivo en 1,444 traumatismos.

This study comprises an analysis of traumatic dental injuries in children, from cases treated at the dental unit of the National Institute of Pediatrics over a period of seven years; a total of 1,444 traumatic injuries were seen in 809 children. Data under study included; type, frequency and site of injury, sex and age of patients, maxilla more often predisposed, dentition most affected by trauma and, finally, time of the year in which more cases occurred.