Parental Risk Tolerance During Play and Traumatic Dental Injuries in Children: A Case-Control Study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Child Development
• Injury Prevention

Background:

• Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) are a significant concern in pediatric dentistry.
• Parental risk tolerance during children's play is an understudied factor potentially influencing injury risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between parental risk tolerance during play and the occurrence of traumatic dental injuries in children.
• To identify factors contributing to traumatic dental injuries in a pediatric population.

Main Methods:

• An observational case-control study involving 128 children (aged 2-13 years) and their parents at a Turkish university pediatric dentistry clinic.
• Children were categorized into groups with and without a history of traumatic dental injuries.
• Data collected via questionnaire and the Tolerance of Risk in Play Scale; analyzed using logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Parents in the control group (no dental trauma) reported significantly higher risk tolerance scores than those in the trauma group.
• Increased parental risk tolerance was associated with lower odds of children experiencing traumatic dental injuries.
• Female sex and being a first-born child were associated with lower odds of TDIs, while being second-born was associated with higher odds.

Conclusions:

• Higher parental risk tolerance during play may be a protective factor against traumatic dental injuries in children.
• While the association is noted, a case-control design limits causal inference.
• Parental supervision and hazard reduction remain critical for TDI prevention; further prospective studies are warranted.