Traumatic anterior dental injuries in 7- to 12-year-old Brazilian children

• Published in: Dental traumatology 2009-04, Vol.25 (2), p.198-202
• Main Authors: Cavalcanti, Alessandro Leite, Bezerra, Priscilla Kelly Medeiros, De Alencar, Catarina Ribeiro Barros, Moura, Cristiano
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brazil - epidemiology; Chi-Square Distribution; Child; Comorbidity; Dental Health Surveys; Dentistry; Dentition, Permanent; Female; Humans; Male; Malocclusion - epidemiology; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Sex Distribution; Tooth Fractures - epidemiology; Tooth Injuries - classification; Tooth Injuries - epidemiology
• ISSN: 1600-4469; 1600-9657
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-9657.2008.00746.x

–  The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of dental trauma in the permanent anterior teeth of schoolchildren in Campina Grande, Brazil. A sample of 448 schoolchildren, 228 boys and 220 girls, aged 7–12 years, were randomly selected from 17 public schools in an urban area. The sample selection was carried out in two stages: first, schools were selected by simple sampling and then children were chosen using a proportionality coefficient. Data were collected through clinical examinations and interviews, after examiner calibration. Overjet (OJ) was considered a risk factor when it presented values higher than 3 mm, while lip coverage was classified as adequate or inadequate. Yates’ chi‐squared test verified the association between the variables and odds ratio. Significance level was set at 5%. The prevalence of dental injuries was 21%. Boys experienced more injuries than girls, 21.9% and 20%, respectively (P > 0.05). Falls and collisions were the main causes of dental trauma, 63.8% and 24.5%, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between traumatic dental injuries (TDI) and OJ (95% CI 0.22–0.63) (P