Untitled Quiz

Dental Trauma Introduction

• Dental trauma occurs more frequently in children under the age of 15 years.
• Trauma to supporting tissues such as the gingiva, mucosa, cheek can cause severe injuries to primary or permanent teeth, leading to distress for both the child and parents.
• Dentists and dental teams should be prepared to address the complex and challenging problems associated with dental emergencies.
• Age is an important factor when considering dental trauma, as the same injury can have different outcomes depending on the child's age.
• There are multiple sources for seeking the cause of trauma to primary teeth, including accidental falls and physical abuse.

Epidemiology

• 30% of children experienced traumatic dental injuries in primary teeth, while 22% suffered injuries to permanent teeth.

• Boys are twice as likely as girls to have injuries to their permanent teeth.

• Dental injuries generally affect one or two anterior teeth, mainly maxillary central incisors.

• A Norwegian study revealed that 48% of all dental traumas occurred during school hours and 52% during leisure time.

• Almost half of leisure-time injuries happen during playtime, with 10% occurring in traffic, primarily bicycle accidents.

• In contrast to common belief, only 8% of all injuries are sports-related.

• In the age group 16–18 years, 23% of all orofacial injuries result from violence.

• Due to striking with the right hand, the lateral incisors (6 and 5) are often affected, resulting in a higher prevalence of injuries in this area.

• There is a low incidence of canines being affected by trauma, only occurring in severe car accidents.

History & Examination

• When treating a patient with dental trauma, a comprehensive history should be obtained to understand the extent of the injury, including whether any teeth have been knocked out, the patient's overall health, and whether immediate medical attention is required.

• In addition to history and examination, radiographs are a crucial tool to assess the extent of the trauma, including root fractures.

Etiology

• The incidence of primary teeth injuries increases from 1 year of age, with most traumas occurring in children younger than 4 years of age.
• Injuries to permanent teeth are most common between 8 and 10 years of age.
• Increased incidence of dental trauma in young children is attributed to their developing muscle coordination and judgment, making them susceptible to falls.
• Trauma to the orofacial area can also be an indicator of child physical abuse.
• The incidence of dental trauma rises with the age of 1 year for primary teeth due to children learning to walk and run, leading to increased falls, and then declines as they gain more confidence in their walking abilities and receive less parental assistance.