Prevalence of fractured incisal teeth among children in Harris County, Texas.
Trauma to the teeth is a common reason for emergency room visits among children, with the maxillary anterior teeth being mostly affected. The consequences of dental trauma include disfigurement, speech defects and psychological effects. This is a cross-sectional study comprising 1039 students, with 47% being males and 53% females. Teeth were examined for physical evidence of trauma. The prevalence of incisal fracture was 2.4% with no significant gender difference (2.9% and 2.0% among males and females, respectively). The male to female prevalence ratio was 1.45 to 1.0. The maxillary incisors accounted for 96% of fractured teeth. Among children with traumatized incisors, 86% had one tooth affected, while 14% had two traumatized teeth. The prevalence of incisal trauma was significantly higher among children of low socioeconomic status (chi2=5.86, P=0.02, df=1). Though African American and Hispanic children had higher prevalence than White children, the differences were not statistically significant. The study reports a low prevalence of incisal trauma among Harris County children and a socioeconomic difference. This study recommends further investigation of incisal trauma in this region as well as educational programs to prevent dental trauma.
Alonge
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University of Texas Houston Health Sciences Center, Dental Branch, Department of Dental Public Health and Dental Hygiene, 77030, USA.
Narendran
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Williamson
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D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044383:Black People; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003481:Cuspid / Q000293:injuries; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000293:injuries; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data