Factors associated with traumatic dental injuries among 12-year-old schoolchildren in South India

Abstract

Aims: To assess the prevalence of, and correlates of traumatic dental injuries among 12-year-old schoolchildren in Kerala.

Material and methods: A cross-sectional, two-stage cluster sampling technique was used. The sample size included 838 12-year-old school children. Traumatic dental injuries to the anterior teeth were evaluated clinically by one examiner. Teeth examined were maxillary and mandibular incisors and canines. The children answered a structured questionnaire on sociodemographics, subjective oral health assessments and behavioural aspects.

Results: Six per cent of the 12-year-old school children had traumatic dental injuries to the anterior teeth. The right central incisors were most frequently affected. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that boys (Adjusted Odds Ratio (Adj OR) = 2.2, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.1-4.1) and children who disagreed that good marks in school were important to them (Adj OR = 2.3, 95% CI = 1.2-4.3) had a higher probability of having traumatized teeth than other children.

Conclusions: The prevalence of traumatized anterior teeth among 12-year-olds in Kerala was low compared with other studies. Being male and negative about future career were associated with a higher probability of having a traumatized tooth.