Abstract
The number of children who see a pediatric dentist for traumatic dental injuries has been increasing recently. We compared the number of children treated for traumatic dental injuries at the pediatric dentistry department of Osaka Dental University Hospital between the 1978−1987 and 1999−2008 periods.The number of first-visit patients had decreased during the latter period compared with that 20 years before ; however the rate of children treated for traumatic dental injuries increased in the latter period. The male to female ratio was 1.5−1.7 to 1, and did not differ significantly between the two periods. The highest proportion of patients was from the 1−2 year-old and 7−8 year-old groups in both periods ; however, the total number of younger children seeing a doctor increased compared with that 20 years earlier. There were more cases of dental trauma caused by falls in the latter period than the earlier period, and a decline in exercise capacity of the children seemed to be one of the causes of dental trauma. Also, the number of traumatic dental injuries occurring indoors increased in the latter period, suggesting that the children were engaging more in indoor than outdoor activities compared to 20 years earlier. The anterior maxillary teeth were the ones most frequently affected by trauma, and there was no significant difference between the two periods. In the classification of trauma, there was a similar tendency between the two periods, and luxation, characterized by slight dislocation, was the predominant type of injury in both the primary teeth and permanent teeth. A higher rate of crown fractures was observed in the permanent teeth. About half of patients with traumatic dental injuries consulted a doctor within 1 day, and the amount of time until going to a hospital and seeing a doctor became shorter compared with 20 years earlier. These results underscore the need for some caution. Early treatment of patients should be promoted in cases of traumatic dental injuries.We should devise improved environments, e.g., providing safe floor surfaces to minimize falls and safer furniture in terms of injury avoidance. Also, it appears necessary to think about improving the exercise capacity of children, and educating them about prophylaxis against trauma.
