Traumatic dental injuries and their sequelae in visually impaired adolescents.

Abstract

Traumatic dental injuries are a public health problem. Visual impairment can be considered a risk factor for traumatic dental injury given the difficulties imposed upon visually impaired patients by limited physical perception. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of traumatic dental injuries and their sequelae in adolescents with visual impairment. Adolescents (12-18years) with visual impairment (blind or low vision) and no other special needs were included in the study. Data were collected after a clinical and radiographic examination. Data regarding gender, age, type of visual impairment, site of traumatic dental injury, tooth type, and affected tissues, care, and sequelae were obtained. The data were analyzed descriptively and with the chi-square test (p<.05). Among 96 adolescents (65% blind; 55% female), 20.8% (n=20) reported they had previously experienced a traumatic dental injury of 33 teeth (78.8% maxillary central incisors). Combined injuries (30.3%; n=10) were the most common traumatic dental injuries, followed by concussion (27.3%, n=9) and enamel-dentine fractures (21.2%, n=7). Sequelae were observed in 27.3% (n=9) of the teeth affected by a traumatic dental injury, and apical periodontitis (77.8%, n=7) was the most common. The frequency of traumatic dental injuries among visually impaired adolescents can be considered high, and the observed sequelae could have been minimized if adequate clinical and radiographic follow up had been carried out. These results suggest the importance of enhanced educational efforts to reduce traumatic dental injuries.