Prevalence and factors associated to dental trauma in infants 1–3 years of age

Abstract

The aims of this study were to assess the epidemiology of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) to primary teeth in infants and toddlers between 1 and 3 years of age and investigate whether TDI was related to biological and social factors. A representative sample of infants and toddlers in the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil (n = 519) was examined during a vaccination campaign. The evaluation of clinical signs of previous dental trauma was performed by nine previously calibrated examiners (intra-examiner Kappa = 0.95%; inter-examiner Kappa = 0.88%). Data were analysed through descriptive analysis, the chi-squared test (P < 0.050) and logistic regression. The prevalence of dental trauma was 41.6%. Among the 519 children examined, 193 (37.2%) had enamel fractures, 30 (5.7%) had enamel-dentin fractures and only three (0.6%) had enamel-dentin fractures involving the pulp. Dental care had been performed within the first 24 h in 4.1% of the sample and after 36 h in 0.8% of the sample. There was no statistically significant difference between genders. The most reported aetiologies were falls (28.8%) and collisions (6.8%). There were no statistically significant associations between the prevalence of dental trauma and non-nutritive sucking habits, dental caries or lip incompetence (P > 0.050). Children of mothers with low levels of schooling (0-6 years of study) had a greater prevalence of TDI (P = 0.001). The results of the logistic regression also demonstrated a significant association between dental injury and the Social Vulnerability Index (P = 0.045). Children from families with high social vulnerability (worse living conditions) had a 1.51 (95% confidence interval 1.0-2.2) greater chance of exhibiting TDI. These results can help guide the implementation of health promotion policies.