Preterm birth does not increase the risk of traumatic dental injuries or unintentional injuries

Abstract

To evaluate the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) and unintentional injuries (UIs) in Swedish children from 0 to 12 years of age, comparing those who were born preterm with matched full-term controls. The associations between TDI and UI and medical health problems or socio-demographic characteristics were also studied. This cross-sectional, case-control study used dental record reviews and interviews to obtain TDI data on 187 matched pairs aged from 0 to 6 (Sample I) and a structured questionnaire to study TDI and UI among 82 matched pairs aged from 0 to 12 (Sample II). Reports of TDI in the primary teeth and permanent teeth from 0 to 12 years of age were significantly more common in the control than preterm born children (p = 0.032). No significant differences were seen in the 0-6 age group. When it came to UI, there were no statistical significant differences between the preterm and control groups and no correlations between TDI and UI and medical health problems or socio-demographic characteristics. The study indicates that preterm children are no more exposed to TDI or UI than matched full-term controls. In fact, the control group parents reported significantly higher prevalence of TDI in the primary and permanent teeth.