Retrospective study of traumatic dental injuries in primary teeth in a Brazilian specialized pediatric practice.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) in children younger than 7 years and the effect of predisposing clinical factors on their occurrence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Dental records of 2725 children younger than 7 years seen in a private pediatric dental clinic in Goiânia, Brazil, from February 1993 to December 2008 were analyzed. A group of 150 children without traumatic injuries and with similar characteristics to those of the trauma group were used to study predisposing clinical factors as follows: lip coverage (adequate/inadequate), overbite (normal/negative/deep), and overjet (less or greater than 3 mm). Frequency distribution and a chi-square test were used for data analysis. The level of significance was set at 5%. RESULTS: Clinical and radiographic data of 412 injured deciduous teeth were found in 383 records. TDI prevalence was 11.9%, with no significant difference between sexes. The maxillary central incisors were the teeth most frequently affected (83.3%), and the most frequent type of injury was subluxation (35.1%). TDI was most prevalent in the 13-to-36-month age group (47.7%). Home (43.5%) was the main place of occurrence, followed by school (10.1%); falls (50.3%) were the most common cause, followed by collisions with objects (18.2%). The first examination or treatment occurred in the first 24 h in 46.5% of the cases. The analysis of the association of predisposing clinical factors with TDI revealed no differences in lip coverage; however, overjet >3 mm and deep and negative overbite were significantly associated with TDI. CONCLUSION: TDI in primary dentition should receive careful attention, particularly when it affects children younger than 3 years and in the presence of overjet, overbite, or both.

Effects of traumatic dental injuries to primary teeth on permanent teeth--a clinical follow-up study.

AIM: This study evaluated the prevalence of developmental sequelae to permanent teeth (DSP) after traumatic dental injuries to primary teeth (TDI-1) and their association with age, gender, type of injury, recurrence of injury and post-traumatic damage to primary teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dental records of 2725 children treated from February 1993 to December 2008 in a private pediatric dental clinic were examined. A total of 308 records had 412 primary teeth that sustained traumatic injuries. Age at the time of injury ranged from 4 months to 7 years. A chi-squared test and logistic regression were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: One hundred forty-eight children (241 teeth) were followed up until the eruption of the permanent successor. The prevalence of DSP was 22.4%. Discoloration and hypoplasia were the most frequent abnormalities (74.1%), followed by eruption disorders (25.9%). Age at the time of TDI-1 was the only variable significantly associated with DSP. Sequelae were most prevalent among children who suffered an injury between 1 and 3 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: Children who sustain traumatic dental injuries should be followed up regularly for an early diagnosis and treatment of possible DSP.