Traumatic Dental Injuries In Nursery School Children From Ile – Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine by age and sex the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries to primary incisor and canines and their distribution according to type in nursery school children from Ile – Ife, a suburban population in the south western part of Nigeria. A cross sectional study was conducted in which a total of 600 children (300 boys, 300 girls) aged 3 – 5 year old attending 13 nursery schools in Ife Central local government were examined. The prevalence of traumatic dental injuries was 23.2% (24% in boys and 22.3% in girls) Boys experienced more injuries than girls but the difference was not statistically significant p> 0.05. The largest percentage of injury was demonstrated by 5 year old children. The most common type of injury was enamel fracture 53.9%, followed by enamel-dentine fracture 19.2% and concussion 17.3%. The maxillary central incisor was the most vulnerable tooth to injuries 76.9%. The study showed a decline in the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries among suburban Nigerian children in Ile – Ife. However, the high prevalence of dental trauma in the nursery school children and its possible complication on permanent dentition showed that health polices need to be implemented with a view to its prevention.