Analysis of Reporting Pattern in Children Aged 7 to 14 Years with Traumatic Injuries to Permanent Teeth

AIM To analyze the pattern of traumatic injuries to permanent anterior teeth reporting to the dental department with regards to age, gender, cause, proportion of different types of injury and time of reporting. MATERIALS AND METHODS Children aged 7 to 14 years with trauma or related sequelae were included. The data was collected retrospectively on the basis of case history, clinical findings, radiographs and vitality tests. Ellis' classification was used to record injuries to anterior teeth. RESULTS Boys had more injuries with the highest injuries at 12 years. Various causes of trauma included Falls, RTA, hits by object/person and bicycle related. The most common injury reported were cases of Ellis' class IV (50.7%) and the maxillary central incisors being the teeth most frequently involved (75%). The time lapsed after injury was more than 1 year in 42.8% cases and 62% cases reported with complications. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that a large number of cases reported in the age group 10 to 13 years with Class IV Ellis' fracture largely when symptoms appear. Reporting was delayed by more than a year in several cases, the barriers for which need to be analyzed, to develop strategies regarding prevention of traumatic injuries and their consequences.