Pediatric Trauma to Anterior teeth in Ife-Central LGA,Osun-state

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence, influence of socio-economic-status (SES), aetiology and predictive factors of trauma to anterior teeth of children aged 6-13years in Ife Central Local Government Area, Osun-State Nigeria. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Ife Central LGA at four schools using stratified sampling technique between May-July, 2011. The schools' authorities approved the study protocol and parents gave informed consent. Data was obtained through interviewer-administered questionnaire and clinical examination of subjects. The severity of injury was assessed using the Ellis classification of dental Injury. Socio-economic status (SES) assessment was based on Standard Occupation Classification, London (OPCS, 1991). A 95% confidence interval with P value <0.05 was significant. RESULTS: 451 subjects met the inclusion criteria of which fifty-seven (12.6%) had dental injury to their anterior teeth. The mean age of dental injured was 10.5years±2.0years and 82.4% were aged 10-13years. The male:female sex ratio was 1.5:1.0. The majority of the dental injury was enamel fracture (61.4%) followed by enamel-involving-dentine (19.3%), enamel-dentine-pulp (5.3%) while tooth loss and fracture of crown en masse had 7.0% each. The SES of the injured was low (45.6%), high (36.8%) and middle (5.3%). Same level falls accounted for most injuries (54.4%) and majority occurred at home (73.3%). The significant predictive factors for dental injury includes age (p=0.036), overjet (p=0.049) and site of injury (p=0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of trauma to anterior teeth in Ife central LGA was 12.6% and aetiology was mainly same level falls with highest occurrence at home. The socio-economic status was not significant in the occurrence of dental injury. In order to build a sustainable capacity for improved oral health delivery, efforts should be geared towards educating parents and caregivers on the roles of identified predictive factors in the occurrence of dental injury in the community.