Trauma in Permanent Teeth: Factors Associated with Adverse Outcomes in a University Pediatric Dental Clinic

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine variables associated with adverse outcomes among traumatized permanent teeth in a university pediatric dental clinic.

Methods: Electronic charts of children treated at a university-based dental clinic for trauma in permanent teeth were analyzed. Variables evaluated included demographics (age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, and insurance type), affected tooth location, trauma characteristics, type of dental trauma, elapsed time between trauma and initial treatment, elapsed time between the initial and final treatment, initial treatment type, and initial and final restoration type. Adverse outcomes were defined as root canal treatment, decoronation, and extraction. Associations between adverse outcomes and each variable of interest were calculated using chi-square and Fisher's exact test and logistic regression. The significance level was set at five percent.

Results: Adverse outcomes were significantly associated with the type of dental trauma (P=0.001), presence of luxation injury (P=0.048), initial dental treatment (P<0.001), and initial dental restoration type (P=0.019).

Conclusions: Treating dental trauma in permanent teeth in a timely manner can strongly impact their prognosis.