ETIOLOGY AND TYPE OF DENTO-ALVEOLAR INJURIES IN PRESCHOOL CHILDRE

The aim of this study was to identify the etiology and type of dento-alveolar injuries in children. The study involved 2492 children (1344 boys, 1148 girls) aged 1-5 years examined. Injuries were classified according to drawings and texts based on the WHO classification system, as modified by Andreasen and Andreasen. Boys accounted for a higher percentage of injuries than girls. The difference in cause of injury between younger children (1-2 years) and older children (2-5 years) was statistically significant (p<0.001). The difference in affected teeth by cause of injury was statistically significant (p=0.021). The most common type of injury in children aged 1-2 years, 2-3 years and 3-4 years was subluxation, whereas the most common type of injury in children aged 4-5 was intrusive luxation. The difference in type of injury by age group was also statistically significant (p<0.001). However, there was no significant difference in type or rate of injury by sex (p=0.771). Children between 2-3 years of age had the highest rate of traumatic dental injuries.