Anterior Dental Injuries in 8-12-year-old Schoolchildren of Yamunanagar, Northern India: A Districtwide Oral Health Survey.

Abstract

Due to its frequency, early occurrence, and severe adverse effects, if untreated, traumatic dental injury (TDI) is a public dental health issue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of dental injuries caused by trauma in the anterior teeth among schoolchildren of Yamunanagar (Haryana), Northern India. A sample of 11,897 schoolchildren in the age-group of 8-12 years from 36 urban/rural schools was examined for TDI using Ellis and Davey classification. Children with TDI were interviewed using a structured questionnaire and presented with validated motivational videos to educate them about dental trauma, the sequelae of unmet treatment, and to motivate them to undergo treatment. The subjects with trauma were reevaluated after 6 months to assess the percentage of subjects who have undergone treatment after motivation. The overall prevalence of children afflicted with TDI was 6.33%. Statistically, a significant difference of p ≤ 0.001 was noted between the percentage of boys (7.29%) and girls (4.8%) experiencing TDI. Maxillary incisors (94.3%) were the most commonly injured teeth. Falls in the playground (37.70%) were the major cause; on reevaluation, only 9.26% of the study population got their traumatized tooth treated. TDI is an existing dental problem. Motivating children at schools was found to be ineffective. There is a need to educate the parents and teachers to take appropriate preventive measures. Singh B, Pandit IK, Gugnani N, et al. Anterior Dental Injuries in 8-12-year-old Schoolchildren of Yamunanagar, Northern India: A Districtwide Oral Health Survey. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2022;15(5):584-590.