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

To examine the association between parental risk tolerance during play and traumatic dental injuries in children.

This observational case-control study was conducted at a university paediatric dentistry clinic in Türkiye and included 128 children (73 boys and 55 girls) aged 2-13 years and their parents. Children were classified into two groups: those with traumatic dental injuries (n = 64) and those without a history of dental trauma (n = 64). Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and the Tolerance of Risk in Play Scale. Group comparisons and hierarchical logistic regression analyses were performed.

The mean Tolerance of Risk in Play Scale total score was significantly higher in the control group than in the trauma group (44.97 ± 4.88 vs. 40.77 ± 3.54, p < 0.001). In the final hierarchical logistic regression model, higher total scores were associated with lower odds of belonging to the trauma group (odds ratio = 0.794, 95% confidence interval: 0.698-0.903, p < 0.001). Female sex was associated with lower odds of traumatic dental injury status, whereas second-born children had higher odds than first-born children (p < 0.05). In unadjusted group comparisons, lower parental educational level and lower household income were more common in the trauma group.

Higher parental risk tolerance during play was associated with lower odds of TDI status in children. However, the case-control design does not permit causal interpretation. Parental supervision, appropriate safety practices, and reduction of preventable hazards remain central to TDI prevention, and prospective studies are needed to confirm the observed association.