Consumer products and activities associated with dental injuries to children treated in United States emergency departments, 1990-2003.
OBJECTIVE
Describe the association of consumer products and activities with dental injuries among children 0-17 years of age treated in United States emergency departments.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, 1990-2003.


RESULTS
There was an average of 22 000 dental injuries annually among children <18 years of age during the study period, representing an average annual rate of 31.6 dental injuries per 100 000 population. Children with primary dentition (<7 years) sustained over half of the dental injuries recorded, and products/activities associated with home structures/furniture were the leading contributors. Floors, steps, tables, and beds were the consumer products within the home most associated with dental injuries. Outdoor recreational products/activities were associated with the largest number of dental injuries among children with mixed dentition (7-12 years); almost half of these were associated with the bicycle, which was the consumer product associated with the largest number of dental injuries. Among children with permanent teeth (13- to 17-year olds), sports-related products/activities were associated with the highest number of dental injuries. Of all sports, baseball and basketball were associated with the largest number of dental injuries.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate dental injuries among children using a national sample. We identified the leading consumer products/activities associated with dental injuries to children with primary, mixed, and permanent dentition. Knowledge of these consumer products/activities allows for more focused and effective prevention strategies.
Stewart
Gregory B
GB
Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, USA.
Shields
Brenda J
BJ
Fields
Sarah
S
Comstock
R Dawn
RD
Smith
Gary A
GA
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D001484:Baseball / Q000293:injuries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001490:Basketball / Q000293:injuries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001513:Beds / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001642:Bicycling / Q000293:injuries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003818:Dentition, Mixed; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006794:Household Articles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011998:Recreation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D019876:Sports Equipment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000293:injuries; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology