Dental trauma in children with disabilities in India: a comparative study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Public Health
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Traumatic dental injuries (TDI) are a significant concern in pediatric populations.
• Children with disabilities may be at increased risk for TDI due to various factors.
• Limited data exists on TDI prevalence in children with disabilities in India.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and describe the characteristics of TDI in children with disabilities.
• To compare TDI prevalence in disabled children with a matched group of healthy children.
• To identify the types and locations of TDI in the study population.

Main Methods:

• A clinical examination was conducted on 231 children with disabilities (aged 6-16) and 231 matched healthy controls.
• Data collection followed the modified Ellis classification for TDI.
• Comparison between groups was performed to assess differences in prevalence and characteristics.

Main Results:

• TDI was observed in 12.1% of disabled children versus 6.9% in the control group, a statistically significant difference.
• All injuries affected maxillary incisor teeth.
• Simple fractures involving minimal dentin were the most frequent type of injury, with no gender or age differences noted.

Conclusions:

• The prevalence of traumatic dental injuries is higher in children with disabilities compared to their non-disabled peers.
• Maxillary incisors are the primary teeth affected by TDI in this population.
• Further research is warranted to understand the underlying causes and develop targeted prevention strategies.