Some Risk Factors for Trauma of Permanent Dentition in Children

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors associated with the occurrence of injuries to anterior permanent teeth. The aim of this study was to identify particular type of dental injuries in school children referred to Department of Paediatric Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb. Methods: The study was carried out in the sample of 581 children, aged 6 to 16 years, with injured 965 permanent anterior teeth. The sample of 581 patients included 378 boys and 203 girls. The epidemiological model "agent-host-environment" has been applied in the study. Data was entered into a data base program (Microsoft® Access) designed for this project. Results: The analysis has shown that the highest frequency of injuries occurred in children between 7 and 11 years of age. The peak of distribution curve was at 8 year for both sexes. The frequency ratio between boys and girls was 1.8 : 1. The history of injuries repeating was established in 23.4% of children with dental trauma. The most frequently affected teeth were maxillary central incisors (in 81.7%). Crown fracture of tooth without pulp exposure as a most common type of injury was observed in 50.7% of cases. The complicated crown fractures were observed in 16.6% of patients. Complicated crown fractures were more frequent in boys than girls (p=0,001). Conclusion: Traumatic dental injuries are more common among boys than among girls, probably due to the rougher nature of boys' activities, and their more active participation in games and sports. The risk of any incisor injury was greater for children who were 8-10 years old and were male. Dental injuries most frequently occur in children of school age. It has preventive aspect since schoolteachers may play important role in the prevention of dental injuries.