Aim: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries in a group of Egyptian children with special health care needs aging 6-14 years, investigating types, causes, and possible risk factors associated with dental trauma, as well as factors related to treatment.
Materials and methods:
This study was conducted through questionnaires for parents and clinical examinations for 763 children with special health care needs in fourteen different places in three Egyptian governments.
Results: The prevalence of traumatic dental injuries in children with special health care needs was 12.8% (98 children). The prevalence was highest among children with intellectual disability (49%), followed by epilepsy (18.4%). Males are more prone to traumatic dental injuries than females. The upper central incisors had the highest frequency of injury (89.7%), and enamel fracture was the most frequent type (51.8%). Falling was the most common cause of dental injuries (69.4%), and the most frequent place of trauma was at home (48.0%).
Conclusions: Inadequate lip coverage, increased overbite, anterior open bite, and increased overjet were significant risk factors associated with traumatic dental injuries. The main reasons for not receiving dental treatment were poor parental attitude and lack of dental awareness.