ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Women of the Padaung tribe in Thailand are known to wear brass neck coils (BNC) all their lives. The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of these coils on facial morphology and dental characteristics. METHODS: This study sample included 61 subjects wearing BNC (group I) and 32 subjects not wearing BNC (group II). Each group was subdivided into younger (5-15 years old) and older (more than 15 years old) groups. Facial morphologic variables were assessed by using photographic analysis and direct facial measurements. Dental variables were assessed by model analysis. RESULTS: Total and lower face heights in group I were significantly shorter than in group II (P = .04, P <.001, respectively). Upper and lower lip lengths in group I were significantly shorter than in group II (P = .01, P <.001, respectively). Overjet in group I was significantly larger than in group II (P = .01). Mandibular intercanine width in group I was significantly narrower than in group II (P = .04). Maxillary and mandibular incisor inclinations in the older subset of group I were more proclined than in the older subgroup of group II (P = .04, P = .03, respectively). Palatal height in the older subgroup of group I was less than in the older subgroup of group II (P <.001). Maximum mouth opening in group I was significantly less than in group II (P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated considerable effects on facial morphology and dental characteristics in Padaung women wearing BNC. Deformations could be avoided if they gave up this custom.
Subject(s)
Culture , Dental Arch/anatomy & histology , Face/anatomy & histology , Malocclusion, Angle Class II/etiology , Neck/anatomy & histology , Adolescent , Adult , Cephalometry , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Lip/anatomy & histology , Malocclusion, Angle Class II/diagnostic imaging , Mandible/anatomy & histology , Maxilla/anatomy & histology , Models, Dental , Neck/diagnostic imaging , Palate/anatomy & histology , Photography , Radiography , Thailand/ethnologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The objective was to assess the prevalence and factors associated with Traumatic Dental Injuries (TDI) to anterior teeth of 11-13 year old Thai children. METHODS: A cross sectional survey was carried out in a sample of 2,725 children from 52 primary school classes in the Chiang Mai urban area of Thailand. The children were clinically examined for TDI and interviewed. RESULTS: 35.0% of children experienced TDI. Males (45.3%) had TDI levels approximately twice as high as females (25.2%), and the prevalence of TDI increased with age. TDI were more common amongst children living in more disadvantaged households and whose parents were less educated. Children with an overjet greater than 5mm were also more likely to have TDI. Most of the affected children (20.6%) had trauma to I tooth, 10.3% to 2, 2.6% had 3 teeth affected. The proportion of damaged teeth was 4.6 per 100 anterior teeth. Central incisors were the most common teeth with TDI, both in the upper and lower jaws. Enamel fracture was the major type of TDI. Most of the TDI occurred at home and school. Running was the major activity leading to TDI. 'Falls' was the most common manner causing TDI (24.8%). Ground surfaces (22.4% of all cases), particularly concrete surfaces (14.6% of all cases), were the most common vectors which directly contacted or injured children. Biting hard material was the most common activity leading to TDI. CONCLUSION: Traumatic dental injuries are common and are an important dental public health problem in Thailand.
Subject(s)
Incisor/injuries , Tooth Injuries/epidemiology , Accidental Falls , Adolescent , Age Factors , Athletic Injuries , Bite Force , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Dental Enamel/injuries , Female , Humans , Male , Malocclusion/complications , Prevalence , Running/injuries , Sex Factors , Social Class , Thailand/epidemiology , Tooth Injuries/etiologyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To assess the associations between social and physical school environments and the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) in 12-year-old children in Thailand. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study in 52 urban schools in Thailand was carried out from a sample of 2,725 12-year-old children that were clinically examined for TDI and interviewed. Cluster analyses were performed to classify the schools into supportive and non-supportive schools by social and physical environmental characteristics. Analyses of the associations were performed using multilevel analyses, accounting for school variations and controlling for confounding factors at the child level. RESULTS: 35.0% of children had TDI. Prevalence was twice as high amongst boys than girls. The prevalence of TDI was significantly lower in the schools with a supportive social environment (Crude OR = 0.6 (95% CI = 0.4 to 0.8, p = 0.004)). The adjusted OR was 0.7 (95% CI = 0.5 to 0.9, p = 0.02). This statistically significant association existed in boys but there was only an insignificant tendency of association in girls. There was no statistically significant association between TDI and the physical environment of the schools. But there was an insignificant tendency of association with the physical environment in girls. CONCLUSION: TDI were much more common in boys than girls. TDI were significantly less prevalent in male children in schools with supportive, compared to less supportive social environments. In boys, there was a tendency for the more socially supportive environment to be more protective rather than the effect of any type of physical environment. In girls, this protective tendency was only apparent when school environments were both more socially supportive, and physically favourable.
