Tooth crown fractures in 3-year-old Andalusian children.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of tooth crown fractures affecting primary incisors of 3-year-old Andalusian children.


METHODS
Clinicians examined 337 three-year-old children (mean age=3.6 years) of Seville, Andalusia, southern Spain. They examined the children for several dental and oral conditions, including tooth trauma.


RESULTS
Crown fractures were found in 15% of the examined children. The prevalence of tooth crown fractures was significantly higher in males (18%) than in females (10%) (P=.04; odds ratio:0.5). In both genders, the upper central incisors had the most fractures, 77% in males and 71% in females. The most common crown fracture was found in enamel only (82%), followed by fracture into dentin (12%), and fracture involving the dental pulp (7%).


CONCLUSIONS
Dentists have a responsibility to examine primary tooth injuries at the initial presentation of children because a dental injury to a primary tooth may include more severe injuries, such as dento-alveolar fractures.
Segura
Juan José
JJ
Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, University of Seville, Spain. segurajj@wanadoo.es
Poyato
Manuel
M
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003481:Cuspid / Q000293:injuries; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000293:injuries; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000293:injuries; D003804:Dentin / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000293:injuries*; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000293:injuries*