Incidence of traumatic dental injuries in children aged 3–18 years in Tirupathi

Abstract

Background: Traumatic dental injuries (TDI) are considered to be an important issue due to its high prevalence, mainly in areas of high social privation. They have a strong impact on children's and adolescent's life quality because they cause physical and emotional distress, and in children, they might have a high negative impact on the social relationships. Involvement of children in sports activities and increase in traffic accidents have contributed to transform these TDI an emergent public health problem. Aim and Objectives: The current retrospective study is to determine the prevalence of TDI reported to Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, CKS Teja Dental College, Tirupathi, during the years 2011–2016. Methodology: Sample size is the total number of patients reported to the Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, CKS Teja Dental College, Tirupathi, within the period of 2010–2016. The data were retrieved from medical records of patients who reported to the department. Results: All recorded data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences statistical software program (2012). The results were evaluated by Chi-square test. A total of 324 patients aged between 3 and 18 years met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. The highest frequency of TDI was in the 10–12-year-old participants and lowest frequency was in 3–6-year-old children. The etiology of TDI was analyzed; highest were caused by falls, followed by sports activities and then striking objectives and then followed by accidents and cycling. The most common type of injury was uncomplicated crown fracture (without pulp exposure) followed by avulsion and complicated crown fracture (with pulp exposure). Conclusion: Study observed the children in mixed dentition period as the population at risk. Hence, prevention through health promotion and correction of predisposing risk factors should be carried out in early mixed dentition period to reduce the prevalence of dental injury and to avoid the financial costs of treatment.