Traumatic injuries to permanent anterior teeth in children: a retrospective study

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate traumatic dental injuries to permanent incisors and the treatment provided to a group of children attending Prince Ali hospital. Sixty-one pediatric patients [48 males and 13 females, age range 7-14 years] were seen in the pediatric dental clinic at Prince Ali Hospital during a period of one year [2003-2004]. Data regarding dental trauma was collected from their records and analyzed. Causes of dental injuries were numerous. Falls were the most common cause of injury [77%], collision accounted for 11% of the injuries, sports for 8%, road traffic accidents for 2% and other causes in 2%. Most of traumas occurred at home [66%] followed by school [15%]. The most commonly involved teeth were maxillary permanent incisors which accounted for 89% of the injuries. The most common type of injury was uncomplicated crown fracture [70%]. The main reason for delayed presentation was unawareness of parents [50%]. Pain was the main cause of attendance to dental clinic and the main modality of treatment for delayed cases was pulp therapy. Most of the injuries were in males; in the age group 9-10 years with uncomplicated crown fracture as the main type of injury. Most cases were seen late, after three days of trauma, with pulp therapy as the main type of treatment. This finding raises the importance of awareness of the public, including school teachers, of the crucial of immediate treatment for traumatized teeth, which can help in the prognosis of treatment provided