Frequency of maxillofacial and dental traumatisms in politraumatized patients

Objectives: The aim of this study was to verify the frequency and causes of maxillofacial and dental traumatisms in patients assisted at the Department of surgery and maxillofacial oral traumatology at the First-Aid Municipal clinic of São José dos Campos, in the period from January 1998 to April 2002. Methods: 756 cases were selected and the data regarding sex, date of birth (age), service date, causes of trauma, involved areas, dental involvement and type of dental trauma were noted in a chart. Results: 80,29% of the traumatisms occurred in males; the age group more involved was 25-29anos (51,87%); the most frequent cause was automobilist/bicycle accidents (25,33%); the area of the nasal bones was the more involved representing 32% of the cases; the anterior permanent teeth the most affected (69,39%) and the type of dental trauma more frequent was the avulsion (35,37%). It was verified by the qui-square test of adherence to an uniform distribution that there was statistical difference in all the 6 analyzed items (p<0,05). Conclusion: It was concluded that the occurrence of maxillofacial traumatism was more frequent in male adults patients, related to automobilist/bicycle accidents, being the area of the nasal bones the most affected, the anterior permanent teeth the most involved and the avulsion the most frequent dental trauma.