Prevalence of traumatic dental injuries and associated factors in schoolchildren of Palhoca, Santa Catarina State

The increase in the levels of violence, the number of traffic accidents and a greater participation of children in sports activities can transform traumatic dental injuries in an emerging public health problem. However, there is still a lack of data showing the behavior of this oral health event in Brazil. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries in the permanent teeth and its associated factors in 12 year-old schoolchildren in Palhoca, Santa Catarina State. A cross-sectional study was carried out involving a representative sample of schoolchildren (n = 405). The traumatic dental injuries criteria of classification were the same used in the national survey of the United Kingdom. The statistic associations between the prevalence and clinical and socio-economic factors were tested through qui-squared test. The prevalence found was 22.5%, and statistically greater in male schoolchildren. Most traumatic injury was of small magnitude, but it was found high treatment needs in teeth suitable for immediate treatment. It can be concluded that the prevalence and the treatment needs of traumatic dental injuries were high in Palhoca. The prevalence showed no association with socio-economic or clinical factors.