Pattern and Average Duration of Presentation among Dental Trauma Patients

ABSTRACT: Objective: To access the pattern of dental trauma and determine the average duration of patients' presentation following the trauma. Patients and Method: The subjects for the study consisted of dental trauma patients managed at the Conservative Unit of Dental Centre, UCH, Ibadan, over a period of 5 years (May 2001 – June 2006). Information gathered from the patients' hospital records included age, gender, reasons for presenting, tooth type fractured, causes, class and duration of the fracture as well as the treatment received. The data was analysed using SPSS version 11.0. Significance level was set at P < 0.05 Ellis and Davey's classification for anterior tooth fracture was used while cuspal fracture of posterior teeth were noted. Results: Of the 136 patients seen within the period of study, the male to female ratio was 1.4:1 with a mean age of 32.4 + 12.6 years. Majority of the patients (85.3%) sustained trauma to anterior teeth. Cuspal fracture of posterior teeth was seen in 13 patients (9.6%). Fifty percent of the patients came for tooth restoration while 43.4% presented with complications of trauma such as pain, swellings and tooth discolouration. The mean duration of presentation was 6 years + 16.2 years. Single tooth injury was predominant (52.2%) while multiple teeth injury (>2) accounted for 16.9%. Upper left central incisor and lower right second premolar were the most commonly affected anteriorly and posteriorly respectively. Of 175 fractured teeth, Ellis class II fractures accounted for 40.6%. Only one hundred and twenty three patients (90.4%) were able to remember the cause of the trauma. Out of these, fall (39.8%) followed by RTA (20.3%) and mastication (17.9%) were the main causes. Conclusion: Many of the trauma cases still present late for treatment with complications of trauma which would have otherwise been prevented