Prevalence and Orofacial Attributes of Traumatic Dental Injury among 8–12-year-old Children in the Kannur District of Kerala

Multiple risk factors for TDIs have been identified, and their complex interactions are well-established.Early recognition, monitoring, and prevention of dental trauma rely on understanding and addressing risk factors.Age-related facial changes, anatomical and developmental abnormalities, behavioral and environmental aspects, etc., can have an impact on the severity of dental trauma.Identifying individuals at greater risk allows for timely interventions that can significantly reduce the incidence and severity of dental injuries. [3][5][6] IntroductIonTraumatic dental injuries (TDI) are a public health problem and most often they require urgent care. 1 They are known to occur suddenly or circumstantially and are considered the fifth most common group of injuries in the world. 2 Mild to severe dental injuries can occur in children and teenagers, resulting in damage to soft and hard tissues. 1 More than one-third of 1.4 billion Indian population constitutes children below 15 years of age.But very few studies have been conducted in India on the prevalence of TDI among children.Dental trauma is a significant concern among school-aged children, particularly those between the ages of 8 and 12 years.During these formative years, children are actively engaging in physical activities, both in and outside the classroom, which often leads to an increased risk of accidents and injuries to their teeth.According to a systematic review by Tewari et al., 3 the pooled prevalence of TDIs in India is 13%.In children, TDI is common at 2-3/4 years of age, whereas in the mixed dentition period, it is seen mostly at 9-10 years of age with a higher prevalence in males. 4,5 Dental injuries can affect the esthetics, psychological well-being, social and behavioral issues, emotional stress, teasing, and distress, which affect the quality of life of the subject and the family.