JCDA - Canadian Dental Association

1 Background
Traumatic injuries to the teeth are among the most serious
of dental conditions, yet little is known about their
prevalence in the U.S. population. The purpose of this
study was to determine the overall and age-specific prevalence
of injury to incisor teeth among individuals 6 to
50 years of age, and to examine differences in the prevalence
of dental trauma by age, gender and ethnic group.
Methods
Data were collected as part of the oral examination
component of the National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey (NHANES) III, Phase 1, 1988–1991.
The tooth trauma index, developed by the National
Institute of Dental Research for use in epidemiologic
studies, was applied. This index is based on clinical, nonradiographic
evidence of tooth injury and treatment received
in the 8 permanent incisors, including a positive history of
injury obtained from the subject.
2 Is
Journal of the Canadian Dental Association
Clinical Abstracts
What is the prevalence of incisor trauma?
Kaste LM, Gift HC, Bhat M, Swango PA. Prevalence of incisor trauma in persons 6 to 50 years of age: United States,
1988–1991. J Dent Res 1996; 75(Spec Iss):696–705.
Background
Although traumatic dental injury is an important
problem among children, there are few data that can be
used to determine trends in the prevalence of this condition.
This study was undertaken to assess whether the
prevalence of traumatic injury to the permanent incisors of
14-year-old children living in a disadvantaged community
in the United Kingdom had changed over time.
Methods
Two cross-sectional school-based surveys were undertaken,
the first in 1995–1996 and the second in
1998–1999. The criteria used to identify traumatic dental
injuries were the same in both surveys, and identical to the
criteria used in the U.K. Child Dental Health Survey
conducted in 1993.
The first survey included all 14-year-olds attending
schools in the community (n = 2,242), while the second
included a random sample of 14-year-olds attending those
schools (n = 411).
Results
A total of 7,569 individuals were examined and the
number of people with incisal trauma was 1,702. More
than 38 million persons (24.9%) 6 to 50 years of age in the
U.S. were estimated to have at least one traumatized incisor.
Males had a higher prevalence than females (ratio of 1.5:1).
The prevalence of trauma was also positively associated
with age, with 18.4% of 6- to 20-year-olds showing
evidence of trauma compared to 28.1% of those ages 21 to
50 years. Similar prevalence rates were found amongst
whites and blacks, and among non-Hispanic whites, non-
Hispanic blacks and Mexican-Americans. Maxillary central
incisors were the most commonly affected teeth, representing
just over 60% of traumatized incisors.
Clinical Significance
This study provided the first-ever U.S. national data on
dental trauma. Results indicate that trauma to the anterior
dentition is common and affects one-quarter of those aged
6 to 50 years. The associations with gender and age suggest
that some individuals may be prone to dental trauma. C
the prevalence of dental trauma changing?
Marcenes W, Murray S. Changes in prevalence and treatment need for traumatic dental injuries among 14-year-old
children in Newham, London: a deprived area. Community Dent Health 2002; 19(2):104–8
Results
The prevalence of traumatic dental injury was 23.7% in
1995–1996 and 43.8% in 1998–1999. Both estimates
were much higher than the prevalence (17%) for the U.K.
as a whole. Increases were observed among both boys and
girls, although in both surveys the prevalence was higher in
boys. The second survey suggested that the treatment of
this condition was neglected: a total of 92.7 per thousand
incisors were damaged, 28.9 per thousand needed treatment
and only 6.7 per thousand had been treated.
Clinical Significance
The study indicated that the prevalence of traumatic
dental injury in children living in a disadvantaged community
was high and that the frequency of the problem
appeared to have increased substantially over a short period
of time. Moreover, most of those needing treatment had
not received treatment at the time of the study. C
November 2003, Vol. 69, No. 10 673