Dental trauma in children and adolescents in Valparaiso, Chile

Abstract This study analyzed traumatic injuries in the primary and permanent dentition in children treated from 1990 to 1992 at the Children's Dental Traumatology Service in Valparaiso, Chile. A total of 227 records from patients 2 to 21 years old was studied with regard to the cause of injury, location of injury, time elapsed before treatment, history of previous trauma, type of injury, number of injured teeth., and how patients seek treatment. A total of 73 patients had injuries to the primary dentition (PD) and 154 to the permanent dentition (PD) with a total of 357 injured teeth (115 primary, 242 permanent). Ten to 12-year-old children had the highest number of injuries (33%). Falling was the most common cause of injury in both groups (82% pD, 58% PD), followed by striking against objects (13% pD, 19% PD) and bicycle accidents (9% PD). Most injuries in children with primary dentition (68%) occurred at home, while children with permanent dentition had most accidents at school (38%). Most children (61%) sought treatment after 24 h (52% pD, 65% PD), 61 children had suffered previous trauma (36% pD, 23% PD). The most common injuries in primary teeth were luxation (26%), intrusion (21%) and subluxation (18%). Uncomplicated crown fracture (34%), followed by complicated crown fracture (21%), were the main injuries in permanent teeth. There was no difference in the number of teeth involved for either dentition. A single tooth injury was found in 54%. Two teeth were involved in 35%, and three or more teeth in 11%. Tooth developmental disturbances were seen in 10 children with 14 permanent teeth involved, due to traumatic injuries that were unattended in the primary dentition.     

Analysis of the crown fractures and crown-root fractures due to dental trauma assisted by the Integrated Clinic from 1992 to 2002

Abstract –  The purpose of this study was to analyze crown fractures and crown-root fractures due to dentoalveolar trauma, treated in the Integrated Clinic comprehensive dental care at Araçatuba School of Dentistry (UNESP), from January 1992 to July 2002. The data were obtained from files of trauma cases. On the analysis period, 293 patients had crown fractures or crown-root fractures, in 605 teeth. Sixty-nine percent were males and 31% were females. Adolescents between 11 and 18 years old were the most prevalent group (41.6%) and the maxillary arch was the most commonly traumatized (83%). The most commonly affected tooth was the maxillary central incisor (58.3%). The most frequent causes were falls from bicycles (30.8%). It was concluded that the reality of the local service is similar to the published data.     

Dental injuries in Copenhagen schoolchildren, school years 1967–1972

abstract The Copenhagen Municipal School Dental Service examines and treats about 50,000 children each year. As from (he beginning of the 1967/68 school year, a special registration form for traumatic dental injuries was introduced with this School Dental Service. During the 5-year period from 1967–1972 a total of 9,965 traumatic injuries was registered in the school population. The boy/girl ratio was 1.6:1 and the largest number of injuries for both sexes is found in the age 8–9 years. About 25–30 % of the traumatized children sustained traumata more than once. By means of computation it was discovered that 34.9 % of boys and 23.1 % of girls may be assumed to have sustained a trauma before leaving school in the 9th grade. In 25 % of the cases the injury was treated no later than 2 hours after the accident and 40 % were treated on the same day. A very clear connection between the number of injuries and the school year was observed. Generally one tooth was involved and it was extremely rare for a trauma to involve more than four teeth. There were a total of 12,989 injuries to 11,767 teeth. The majority of cases involved the maxillary central incisors (70 %). Soft tissue injury was the only reason for the examination in 15 % of the cases. The relation between lip closure and trauma was also examined. One-fourth of those examined had an incomplete lip closure.     

Dental injuries in Copenhagen schoolchildren, school years 1967–1972

abstract The Copenhagen Municipal School Dental Service examines and treats about 50,000 children each year. As from (he beginning of the 1967/68 school year, a special registration form for traumatic dental injuries was introduced with this School Dental Service. During the 5-year period from 1967–1972 a total of 9,965 traumatic injuries was registered in the school population. The boy/girl ratio was 1.6:1 and the largest number of injuries for both sexes is found in the age 8–9 years. About 25–30 % of the traumatized children sustained traumata more than once. By means of computation it was discovered that 34.9 % of boys and 23.1 % of girls may be assumed to have sustained a trauma before leaving school in the 9th grade. In 25 % of the cases the injury was treated no later than 2 hours after the accident and 40 % were treated on the same day. A very clear connection between the number of injuries and the school year was observed. Generally one tooth was involved and it was extremely rare for a trauma to involve more than four teeth. There were a total of 12,989 injuries to 11,767 teeth. The majority of cases involved the maxillary central incisors (70 %). Soft tissue injury was the only reason for the examination in 15 % of the cases. The relation between lip closure and trauma was also examined. One-fourth of those examined had an incomplete lip closure.     

Dentoalveolar trauma in Glasgow: an audit of mechanism and injury

Abstract –  Traumatic dental injuries in children often require multiple follow-up visits to the dentist and may have long-term consequences for the developing dentition. The aim of this audit was to examine age, gender, location, time of year, mechanism of injury and type of injury sustained in relation to dentoalveolar trauma in children attending the paediatric dental trauma clinic at Glasgow Dental Hospital from 2002 to 2004, and to compare our findings with data in the published literature. Males suffered 60% of all dental trauma, 79% of sporting injuries and 85% of assaults. The injuries in males were more severe, representing 65% of enamel dentine and pulp fractures, 100% of crown root fractures and 66% of crown root and pulp fractures. A peak for trauma was seen in the 8–11-year-old group (43%). The majority of injuries in the under four age group resulted from falls (87%). Taken as a whole, falls accounted for 49%, sports related injuries 18%, bicycle and scooter 13%, assault 7%, and road traffic accidents 1.5% of all injuries. They also accounted for a far higher percentage of intrusive luxations (67%). The largest proportion of injuries occurred during the summer months (33%). Sixty-four percent of children suffered trauma to more than one tooth. Fifty-eight percent of injuries involved the dental hard tissues and pulp and the majority of these (82%) were crown fractures. Most subjects (82%) suffered trauma to their periodontal tissues, (26% concussion or subluxation, 26% lateral luxation and 23% avulsion). Injuries to the supporting bone were uncommon. Sixty-six percent of all injuries occurred outdoors. Our findings were similar to a number of published studies, but in contrast to several others. More consistency is required in the collection and reporting of trauma data to be able to draw meaningful conclusions by comparison.     

Dental caries experience in schoolchildren in fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities in Western Australia

A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in 1987 to measure the difference in caries experience in schoolchildren between a fluoridated (0.8 mg/L F-) and a non-fluoridated region (0.1-0.4 mg/L F-). 3436 children aged 5-15 yr were examined. Children in the non-fluoridated region had a higher caries experience than those in the fluoridated region. Mean differences were 1.06 dfs (95% CI = 0.66 to 1.47, P less than 0.001) and 0.48 DFS (95% CI = 0.23 to 0.72, P less than 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounding factors (fluoride tablet consumption, socioeconomic status, number of fissure-sealed surfaces, and mobility between regions) the relative risk of not being caries-free in the non-fluoridated region compared with the fluoridated region was 1.43 (95% CI = 1.21-1.70, P less than 0.0001) for the primary dentition and 1.39 (95% CI = 1.18-1.63, P less than 0.0001) for the permanent dentition.     

Capability of a national epidemiological survey to predict General Dental Service treatment

The aim of this investigation was to examine the relationship between the dental status of tooth surfaces, as recorded during the 1978 Adult Dental Health Survey, and the treatment dental attenders subsequently received. A year after the survey, almost twice as many surfaces had been filled than were predicted on the basis of the survey. After 3 yr, this had risen to a 3.5-fold difference. Despite this, 59% of the restorative need identified by the survey criteria remained unmet by the end of the 1st yr; 46% was unmet by the end of the 3rd yr. A surface that received a filling for the first time was three times more likely to have been identified as in need of filling during the survey than a surface which was refilled. These findings cast doubt upon the usefulness of the epidemiological survey as a tool for predicting restorative treatment, and show that maintenance of previous fillings was particularly poorly forecast by the survey data.     

Physician and emergency medical technicians' knowledge and experience regarding dental trauma

Abstract –  The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the knowledge of physicians and emergency medical technicians (EMT) regarding primary treatment for dental trauma and to assess the experience they have in treating dental injuries. The study population consisted of 70 military physicians and EMT during their military service. A questionnaire was distributed relating to demographic data, such as age, gender, position, and type of military service, as well as the following issues: past experience in treating or witnessing dental trauma, former education regarding diagnosis and treatment of dental trauma, assessment of knowledge regarding dental trauma, etc. Of all participants, only 4 (5.9%), all physicians, received education regarding dental trauma. Nevertheless, 42 (61.8%) reported they witnessed such an injury during their military service. Dental injuries were first seen by the EMT in 41.2% of the cases, by the physician in 25%, and by a dentist in only 7.3%. Overall, 58 (85.3%) of the physicians and EMT stated that it was important to educate the primary health care providers regarding diagnosis and treatment of dental trauma. Special emphasis should be given to providing primary caregivers with the relevant education to improve their knowledge and ability of dealing with diagnosis and treatment of dental trauma.     

Tooth survivial in institutionalized elderly Cape Coloreds from the Cape Peninsula of South Africa

An investigation has been conducted in order to assess the oral health status and need for dental treatment among Cape Coloreds resident in homes for the aged in the Cape Peninsula of South Africa. Tooth loss was greater in females than in males (P less than 0.002) but a statistically significantly greater proportion of surviving teeth were grossly carious in men than in women (P less than 0.002). More teeth had survived in the mandible than in the maxilla (P less than 0.002) and proportionately more teeth were grossly carious in the maxilla than in the mandible (P less than 0.002). The distribution pattern of the remaining dentition according to tooth type was similar for both jaws, the canines being the most persistent teeth.     

A dental survey of Tibetan children in Dharamsala

Since their exodus in 1959 about 100,000 Tibetans have settled in disparate communities in northern India and Nepal. This study describes the dental health of 243 Tibetan children in Dharamsala, in the State of Himachal Pradesh, India. Only 20% of 6-yr-olds were caries-free in the primary dentition while 96.9, 53.3, and 22.4% of 6, 12, and 15-yr-olds were caries-free in the permanent dentition respectively. The DMFT of 12-yr-old children was 1.1, while 15-yr-old children had a DMFT of 3.1. While plaque and calculus were present in many sextants, there was little intense gingivitis and signs of advanced periodontal diseases were rarely present. Almost no dental care had been received. Appropriate dental health promotion activities are discussed.     

A survey of the dental needs of hospital inpatients in Scotland

Eight hundred and ninety-four inpatients in four hospitals in Edinburgh were assta were used to estimate future inpatients' dental requirements and the hospital dental services which would be necessary to meet these needs. Seventeen percent of the sample was found to be suffering from pain or discomfort of dental origin and over 30% were considered to require some form of dental treatment before their expected date of inpatient discharge.     

Rare dental developmental disturbance in primary and permanent teeth following trauma prior to tooth eruption: Case report

Traumatic dental injuries are highly prevalent among preschool children. When occurring at a very young age (prior to the eruption of the primary teeth), such trauma can disturb the normal development of the permanent dentition and, more rarely, affect the primary dentition. This report describes a case of a patient who suffered dentoalveolar trauma at six months of age that caused rare developmental problems in the primary dentition, such as impaction, dilacerations, hypoplasia, and odontoma. Imaging revealed that alterations also occurred in the permanent dentition. This report demonstrates that dentoalveolar trauma prior to complete development of the dentition and even before the eruption of the primary teeth can lead to highly uncommon abnormalities in the primary dentition. Moreover, there may be repercussions in the permanent dentition when the germs of these teeth are injured by the intraosseous displacement of primary teeth.     

Comparison between participants and non-participants in a dental health survey in Northern Norway

ABSTRACT The present study focused on possible differences with regard to sex, age, family income and dental status between those who did and those who did not attend a dental health survey. In a village in Northern Norway, all inhabitants aged 20–69 years (180 men and 178 women) were invited by mail to participate in a dental health survey. Two reminders were sent to non-respondents. Eighty-three percent of the target population attended for examination and interviews, and 94: % responded to a follow-up questionnaire. Of all non-participants, men, and particularly young men, were overrepresented. Middle-aged people were more likely to participate than were persons under 30 and over 50 years of age. Furthermore, people belonging to the upper income groups seemed to be more willing to participate than were those at lower income levels. Apparently, inconvenient working hours and long commuting distances had affected the participation. In addition, it seemed likely that anxiety and local factors had some influence.     

Reliability and constancy of information obtained in dental health interviews

Abstract— In a group of 297 persons interviewed about dental health, a random sample of 50 persons was reinterviewed by the same person, posing identical questions. The average interval between interviews was 9 months. Replies to questions concerning actual conditions, i.e. edentulousness, time of extraction and time of filling, showed a high degree of stability and constancy. The subjects' attitude to water fluoridation appeared, on the other hand, to have changed somewhat. Similarly, some of the respondents appeared to have acquired knowledge of dental health care as a result of the first interview and had altered their standpoint accordingly. Still, the results of the replies to the interview seemed reliable as defined by stability over time.     

Dental anxiety, the parental family and regularity of dental attendance

A survey was carried out among 25-yr-old inhabitants of Amsterdam in order to study the relationship between regularity of dental attendance on the one hand and dental anxiety, dental upbringing of the respondents, dental behavior of the parents, education, sex, and the interactions between these independents, on the other. The data were analyzed hierarchically with regression analysis, the logistic approach. Dental anxiety, sex, dental upbringing and the interaction between education and anxiety, in that order, were found to be of importance for the prediction of regularity of dental attendance. Two other terms, though lacking substantial standardized regression coefficients, namely education and the interaction between education and dental upbringing, are also present in the model found. The prediction of one being a regular attender is satisfactory, but the classification of the irregular attenders is disappointing. The effect is discussed of the rather large non-response and attention is given to the effect of dental upbringing in regard to coping resources in the dental situation. It has to be concluded that other factors must be included to achieve an improvement of the classification of the irregular attenders. Dental anxiety, although of importance, cannot account for an adequate differentiation between regular and irregular attenders.     

Relationship between age, dental status and regular dental care in Norway illustrated by a model

The purpose of this paper was to describe the relationship between age, dental status, and patterns of dental visits. Data from a national health survey of 11,014 persons in Norway 1975 were used. The model shows that though the absolute number of regular attenders decreased with increasing age their relative number among dentate persons increased with increasing age. Different examples of how the model may be used are described. Finally three explanations are given of the dental attendance pattern among Norwegian adults.     

Dental status of the institutionalized elderly population of Edinburgh

ABSTRACT A randomly selected population of 442 persons in Edinburgh was interviewed and examined. Although 71 % of the sample required treatment, only 52 % were physically and mentally able to benefit from treatment. Thirty percent of the sample were able to use public transport to attend a dentist, 66 % would require cars and ambulance transport and 4 % were bedridden and would require domiciliary dental services. Twenty-one percent of the sample had thought about seeking dental treatment, while only 25 % had heard how to claim exemption from or help towards dental charges. Edentulousness was present in 91 % of the sample, only 41 persons having remaining natural teeth. Seventy-three percent were wearing dentures which required adjustment or replacement, but only 39 % thought their dentures were unsatisfactory. In 58 % of the patients the oral tissues were so deformed or resorbed that the prosthodontic treatment needed would be complex and require special skills. Half of the sample had some form of denture-induced pathology which required either conservative or surgical treatment.