Pattern and Management of Traumatic Dental Injuries in Children

Background: Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) are a significant concern in pediatric dentistry due to their impact on oral function, aesthetics, and long-term dental health.Early diagnosis and appropriate management are essential to prevent complications. Methods:This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Dentistry at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital & Institute, Dhaka, over a 12-month period from January to December 2024.A total of 50 children aged 1 to 14 years presenting with TDIs to either primary or permanent teeth were selected using purposive sampling.Children with systemic illnesses or incomplete records were excluded.Data were collected through clinical examination and follow-up assessments.Results: Of the 50 children included, 60% were male and the most affected age group was 6-10 years (46%).Falls from height (44%) were the leading cause of injury, followed by sports-related trauma (20%) and road traffic accidents (14%).Luxation injuries were the most common (26%), followed by enamel-dentin fractures (22%) and enamel fractures (16%).Maxillary central incisors were most frequently affected (56%).Regarding treatment, the most common interventions included restoration with composite or glass ionomer cement (28%), observation and follow-up (20%), and pulp therapy (16%).Other treatments included splinting (14%), replantation (8%), and extraction (10%).On follow-up, 72% showed no complications.The most frequent complication was pulp necrosis (12%), followed by tooth discoloration (8%), root resorption (6%), and ankylosis (2%). Conclusion:TDIs were more common in male children and frequently resulted from falls.Maxillary central incisors were the most affected, with luxation being the most frequent injury.Early intervention minimized complications in most cases.