DENTAL TRAUMA IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN VALPARAISO, CHILE

This study analyzed traumatic injuries in the primary and permanent de ntition in children treated from 1990 to 1992 at the Children's Dental Traumatology Service in Valparaiso, Chile. A total of 227 records fro m patients 2 to 21 years old was studied with regard to the cause of i njury, location of injury, time elapsed before treatment, history of p revious trauma, type of injury, number of injured teeth, and how patie nts seek treatment. A total of 73 patients had injuries to the primary dentition (pD) and 154 to the permanent dentition (PD) with a total o f 357 injured teeth (115 primary, 242 permanent). Ten to 12-year-old c hildren had the highest number of injuries (33%). Falling was the most common cause of injury in both groups (82% pD, 58% PD), followed by s triking against objects (13% pD, 19% PD) and bicycle accidents (9% PD) . Most injuries in children with primary dentition (68%) occurred at h ome, while children with permanent dentition had most accidents at sch ool (38%). Most children (61%) sought treatment after 24 h (52% pD, 65 % PD), 61 children had suffered previous trauma (36% pD, 23% PD). The most common injuries in primary teeth were luxation (26%), intrusion ( 21%) and subluxation (18%). Uncomplicated crown fracture (34%), follow ed by complicated crown fracture (21%), were the main injuries in perm anent teeth. There was no difference in the number of teeth involved f or either dentition. A single tooth injury was found in 54%. Two teeth were involved in 35%, and three or more teeth in 11%. Tooth developme ntal disturbances were seen in 10 children with 14 permanent teeth inv olved, due to traumatic injuries that were unattended in the primary d entition.