The relationship between traumatic dental injuries and adolescents' development along the life course.
Few models have been proposed to explain the aetiology of traumatic dental injuries. Those that have, focus on risk factors at present stage of life. The contribution of risk factors for dental injuries at different stages of life needs to be investigated.


OBJECTIVE
To test the relationship between life course experiences and the occurrence of traumatic dental injuries in adolescents.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was used to collect data retrospectively. Out of a total number of 764 eligible 13-year-old-adolescents enrolled in private and public schools located in urban areas in the town of Cianorte, Brazil, 652 (85%) agreed to participate in the study. They were interviewed and examined for traumatic dental injuries by two trained dental epidemiologists using validated criteria. The interviews collected information on socioeconomic circumstances, family related variables, school grade and anthropometric measures (height and weight).


RESULTS
Adolescent boys, those from non-nuclear families, those reporting high levels of paternal punishment and those who were at lower grades at school for their age were more likely to experience dental injuries than girls, adolescents from nuclear families, those reporting low levels of paternal punishment and those who were at higher grades at school.


CONCLUSIONS
It was concluded that adolescents who experienced adverse psychosocial environments along the life course had more traumatic dental injuries than their counterparts who experienced more favourable environments.
Nicolau
Belinda
B
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Royal Free and University College London Medical School, University College London, UK. belinda.f.nicolau@mcgill.ca
Marcenes
Wagner
W
Sheiham
Aubrey
A
D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D015995:Prevalence; D011678:Punishment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D012931:Social Environment; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*