Frequency of recurrent injuries in the deciduous dentition and associated factors

Understanding recurrent injuries in the deciduous dentition and possible associated factors could help in the control and prevention of such episodes in children. The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency of recurrent injuries in the deciduous dentition and associated factors. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted involving 517 children aged between six months and six years treated at the Clinic for Traumatic Dental Injuries in the Deciduous Dentition of the School of Dentistry of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Data were collected from dental records with information on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and bivariate and multivariate Poisson regression analyses (p < 0.05; 95%CI). The prevalence of recurrent tooth injuries in the deciduous dentition was 17.2% (n = 89). Children aged between four and six years (PR = 1.917; 95%CI: 1.055-3.484; p = 0.033), those with inadequate lip protection (PR = 1.790; 95%CI: 1.085-2.953; p = 0.023), those with uncomplicated crown and crown-root fractures (PR = 1.856; 95%CI: 1.224-2.816; p = 0.004), and those with complicated crown and crown-root fractures (PR = 1.818; 95%CI: 1.021-3.239; p = 0.042) had a greater frequency of repeated tooth injuries compared to children without these characteristics. In the present study, older age, inadequate lip coverage, and the occurrence of complicated and uncomplicated crown and crown-root fractures were associated with repeated injuries in the deciduous teeth.