Oro-dental injuries and their management among children and adolescents in Tanzania.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate, by utilising patient records, the occurrence of the various types of dental trauma and the treatment provided among children aged one to seventeen years.


METHODS
A retrospective survey of dental clinic records.


METHODS
Paedodontic clinic of the Faculty of Dentistry, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.


METHODS
Records of 130 dental patients aged one to seventeen years who were treated in 1995 and 1996.


METHODS
Types of injuries (periodontal, soft tissue, dental tissues). Types of treatment given in relation to type of injury. Evaluation of treatment provided by using European treatment standards.


RESULTS
Soft tissue injuries were recorded in 49% of the patients. Periodontal and dental tissue injuries were recorded in 34% and 8% of the patients respectively. While injured teeth were extracted in 30% of the cases, soft tissues were stitched in 70% and antibiotics were prescribed in 34% of the patients respectively. Evaluation of treatment provided showed that 31%, 52% and 17% of the teeth received the correct, wrong and unnecessary treatment respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Our observations correlate well with other reports. However, efforts on standardisation of treatment for oro-dental injuries should be undertaken.
Kahabuka
F K
FK
Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Willemsen
W
W
van 't Hof
M
M
Ntabaye
M K
MK
Plasschaert
A
A
Frankenmolen
F
F
Burgersdijk
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003792:Dental Records; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000293:injuries*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy