Dental trauma in children presenting for treatment at the Department of Dentistry for Children and Orthodontics, Budapest, 1985-1999

Data on children with dental trauma who presented for treatment at the Department of Dentistry for Children and Orthodontics in Budapest over a period of 15 years were analysed. The WHO guidelines were used to classify the traumatic injuries. A total of 590 children were involved, 810 teeth being affected. Children aged 7-14 years made up 88% of the cohort. The male:female ratio was 58:42. The permanent:primary ratio for the affected teeth was 90:10. The teeth most commonly affected were the maxillary central incisors. In 70% of the cases, only one tooth was traumatised. The incidence of dental trauma peaked at 10 years of age. The most common injury type observed was enamel-dentin crown fracture. The decreasing sequence of frequency of etiological factors was playing, sports, falls, cycling, road accidents and fighting. Of the accidents, 65% occurred at school or at home. Seventy seven per cent of the patients presented for medical care in the first 3 days after the accident.