Prevalence of Dental Trauma in Children Aged 1–3 Years in Joao Pessoa (Brazil)

Abstract

This was to determine the prevalence and distribution of traumatic injuries to primary anterior teeth in children from 1 to 3 years-old. A cross-sectional survey was carried out through clinical examination of the primary dentitions of preschool children enrolled in public nursery schools in Joao Pessoa (Brazil). A total of 293 boys and girls participated in the study. The children were clinically examined for signs of trauma according to Andreasen's classification. Traumatic injuries were identified in 10.2% of children. The largest percentage of injuries was demonstrated by 2-3 years-old, with no significant difference between boys and girls. The most common type of injury was enamel fracture and enamel-dentine fracture. The maxillary central incisor was the most vulnerable to injury, without differences between the right and left side. The data were entered in the SPSS program, and the chi square test was used with a 5% significance level. The primary dentition was most affected by fracture of enamel, especially the maxillary central incisor teeth, in patients between 2 and 3 years of age. There is a need of providing adequate preventive and treatment care for preschool children.