Methods: The sample size included 799 school children. They were proportionately selected through a multistage sampling technique. Caries experience (DMFT) and TDIs to the teeth were evaluated clinically by one examiner (intra-examiner reliability was 0.852 by Cronbach's Alpha test). The TDIs were classified according to the modified Ellis classification. Diagnosis of caries was at cavitation level. The children answered a structured questionnaire on sociodemographics and oral health behaviours. Analysis was by the use of SPSS V15.0. Pearson's Chi-squared test was used to test for association between variables. P values <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There were 450 (56.3%) boys. Age range was 12 – 21 years. Mean - 12.25 ± (0.93). About half (51.8%) were from the urban areas. Prevalence of TDIs and caries experience was 14.6% and 12.4% respectively. TDIs were more prevalent among males (P = 0.015, OR = 1.520, 95% CI = 1.049, 2.202). Enamel fracture (74.5%) was the commonest TDI noticed. Dental caries experience was commoner (57.6%) in the rural areas (p = 0.046). There was no significant association between caries experience and TDIs either by gender or location (p > 0.05). The odds of having TDIs in those with dental caries was 1.04, 95% CI = 0.581, 1.885.
Conclusions: There was no association between traumatic dental injuries and caries experience in the studied Nigerian population. Caries experience was more in the rural areas and being male was associated with a higher probability of having a traumatized tooth.