Traumatic dental injuries and associated factors among Brazilian preschool children aged 1-5 years

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dental trauma in children aged 1 to 5 years old and its associated factors (gender, age group, malocclusion and labial-closing), interviewing parents and guardians for additional information on the trauma occurrence. A transversal study of 820 preschool children from the City of Caruaru, Pernambuco, Brazil was conducted. Data were collected by means of a clinical examination and a structured interview. The statistical analysis included a distribution of frequencies, a bi- and a multi-variate analysis at a significance level of 5%. Trauma prevalence was 20.1%, tooth 61 was the most often affected, and enamel fractures followed by the fractures of the enamel and the dentine were the most frequent alterations. Trauma prevalence was highest in 3- to 5-year-old males with malocclusion (open bite and protrusion) (p<0.05). According to most parents and/or guardians, the most usual etiology was falling and the place most often cited was home. All the variables studied, except for lip coverage, were associated with dental trauma. The outcome of the present study showed high prevalence of dental trauma in a pediatric population under the age of 5 years. Falls and accidental collisions were the etiological factors most often cited. The front upper incisors were the teeth most often affected, and enamel fracture was the trauma most often observed.

RESUMO

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a prevalencia de trauma dentario em criancas de 1 a 5 anos de idade e os fatores associados (genero, faixa etaria, maloclusao e selamento labial), por meio de entrevistas com os pais e responsaveis para a obtencao de informacoes adicionais sobre a ocorrencia do trauma. Um estudo transversal com 820 pre-escolares foi realizado na cidade de Caruaru, Pernambuco, Brasil. Os dados foram coletados por meio de exame clinico e de uma entrevista estruturada. A analise estatistica incluiu a distribuicao de frequencias, analise bi e multi-variada com um nivel de significancia de 5%. A prevalencia de trauma foi de 20,1%, sendo o dente 61 o mais afetado e as fraturas de esmalte e fraturas de esmalte e dentina as alteracoes mais frequentes. A prevalencia de trauma foi maior nos meninos de 3 a 5 anos com maloclusao (mordida aberta e protrusao) (p<0,05). De acordo com a maioria dos pais e responsaveis, a etiologia mais frequente foi a queda, e o lugar da ocorrencia a residencia. Todas as variaveis estudadas, exceto o selamento labial, mostraram-se associadas com o trauma dentario. Este estudo revelou uma alta prevalencia de traumatismo dentario na populacao infantil abaixo dos 5 anos de idade. Quedas e colisoes acidentais foram os fatores etiologicos mais frequentemente citados. Os incisivos centrais superiores os dentes mais atingidos e a fratura de esmalte o trauma mais observado.