Patterns and associated factors of traumatic dental injuries in children: a five-year retrospective study from a national paediatric referral centre in Thailand

Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) are a frequent cause of dental emergencies in children and may lead to long-term functional and developmental consequences. Evidence from Southeast Asia remains limited, and no study has examined TDI patterns in a national paediatric referral centre in Thailand. This study aimed to describe the patterns and associated factors of TDIs in children treated over a five-year period. A retrospective hospital-based study reviewed dental records of children aged 0–15 years who presented with TDIs at the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health, Bangkok, between January 2020 and December 2024. Data collected included demographics, medical conditions, aetiology and injury location, time to consultation, dentition involved, injured teeth, injury type, and emergency management. Injuries were classified according to Andreasen’s criteria. Categorical variables were analysed using chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, and odds ratios were calculated. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Among 60,008 paediatric dental visits, 287 children sustained TDIs involving 436 injured teeth. The mean age was 5.33 ± 3.76 years, and 66.9% were boys. About one-fifth had underlying medical or developmental conditions. Falls were the leading cause of injury (76.5%), occurring most often in children aged 0–6 years. Most injuries occurred at home (53.2%). Primary teeth accounted for 59.2% of injured teeth, and maxillary central incisors were most frequently affected. Fracture injuries predominated overall (57.6%), whereas luxation injuries were significantly more common in primary teeth than in permanent teeth (χ² = 9.37, p = 0.002). Luxation injuries were more frequent in children aged 0–6 years than in those aged 7–15 years (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.31–2.91). Delayed presentation (> 24 h) occurred in 66% of cases. This five-year study provides updated epidemiological evidence on TDIs among Thai children at a national paediatric referral centre. Falls, younger age, and primary dentition were associated with a higher proportion of luxation injuries, and delayed care-seeking was common. Strengthening prevention, caregiver awareness, and pathways for timely emergency dental care—particularly for preschool-aged children and those with underlying medical conditions—may help reduce the burden of paediatric TDIs in similar hospital-based settings.