Evaluation of Dentoalveolar Trauma in Children and Adolescents: a Modified Classification System and Surgical Treatment Strategies for Its Management.
OBJECTIVE
To retrospectively analyze dentoalveolar trauma in pediatric patients, propose a modified classification, and delineate an approach for its urgent care from the surgeon's perspective.


METHODS
Clinical records of patients, attended at the 'A. and P. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from 2000 to 2015, were retrieved and data were analyzed.


RESULTS
A total of 365 cases of dentoalveolar trauma, affecting 363 children and adolescents (221 males and 142 females), with an age range from 1 to 15 years, were treated in the authors' department. The most common injury mechanism was falls. The trauma was graded as class II in most patients (41.65%). The anterior maxilla was injured in the majority of the patients (78.35%). In 230 patients (63%) the trauma involved the primary dentition. Two hundred eighty-nine of the patients were treated with local anesthesia on an emergency basis, while in the rest 76 patients general anesthesia was considered mandatory.


CONCLUSIONS
Accurate diagnosis, timely treatment, and follow-up are critical for the management of dentoalveolar trauma in pediatric patients. A modified more detailed and severity-specific classification and guidelines for its surgical management may assist practitioners in decision making and effective treatment planning.
University Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at 'A. & P. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital of Athens, Dental School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Nadia
N
Theologie-Lygidakis
Ourania K
OK
Schoinohoriti
Minas
M
Leventis
Ioannis
I
Iatrou
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008446:Maxillofacial Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome