Clinical and radiographic sequelae in primary teeth due to dental trauma

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the presence of clinical and radiographic sequelae in primary teeth affected by dental trauma and its association with age at the time of trauma in children attended at a Public Higher Education Institution. Material and Methods: This is a longitudinal clinical study, in which 229 patients with history of dental trauma in primary teeth were examined, totaling 390 traumatized teeth. Relative frequency analysis was used, and for associations, the Chi-square test was used to verify the relationship of age at the time of trauma with variables such as type of trauma. Results: The most prevalent age group was over 24 months, and fall from own height as the main etiological factor; 71.0% of traumas had involvement of 2 teeth, 9.5% had history of anterior trauma and 66.6% of traumas involved supporting tissues. Regarding the type of injury to dental tissue, the most prevalent was enamel fracture (58.3%) and to periodontium, lateral dislocation (30.8%). Children older than two years had less trauma related to dental tissue (p<0.01), higher number of injuries to the periodontium (p=0.03); and most of them did not present extra-oral changes associated with trauma (p=0.01). During the 12-month period, 325 teeth were examined, and the most frequent clinical sequelae observed was crown discoloration. In the radiographic evaluation, inflammatory root resorption was the most prevalent. Conclusion: Children older than two years presented more injuries to the periodontium. After 12 months, the main clinical sequelae observed was enamel discoloration and the main radiographic sequelae was inflammatory root resorption.