ABSTRACT

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the incidence of traumatic tooth injuries in primary school children.

Place and Duration: Conducted in Margalla Dental Hospital, Rawalpindi and Punjab Dental Hospital, Lahore for duration of six months from September 2019 to February 2020.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study based on clinical trials. It was held in public and private schools of Rawalpindi and Lahore. 450 students aged 8 to 11 were selected. Traumatic Dental Injury wasrecorded using epidemiologic classification adopted by (WHO) 1992 and modified by Andreasen et al. The obtained data was collected systematically and then subjected to statistical analysis.

Results: The study found that the incidence of traumatic tooth injury (TDI) in Lahore primary schools was 15%, with the incidence being higher in public schools than in private schools (7.11% versus 6.22%), then higher in 9-year-olds (6.00%), then 8-year-olds (5.78%). The TDI incidence in the maxilla was greater than in the mandible (10.22% vs 0.89%), and the most frequently affected front teeth were the medial and lateral incisors. The most common traumatic injury was enamel fracture (45%).

Conclusion: This study reported a low prevalence of TDI among school-age children and recommended regular oral health education programs about the causes and methods of preventing TDI.

Keywords: primary school children, injuries, morbidity, teeth.