Pattern of dento-alveolar fracture in children
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35845/abms.2025.1.435Keywords:
dento-alveolar fractures, pediatric trauma, maxillary incisors, soft tissue injury, dental trauma epidemiologyAbstract
OBJECTIVE: Dento-alveolar fractures are a significant concern in pediatric dentistry, often resulting from falls, sports-related injuries, and motor vehicle accidents. Understanding their epidemiology, etiology, and treatment outcomes is crucial for improving preventive and therapeutic strategies.
METHODOLOGY: This retrospective study analyzed 185 pediatric patients (≤18 years) with dento-alveolar fractures. Data on demographic characteristics, etiology, fracture types, radiographic findings, and treatment modalities were evaluated using descriptive and inferential statistical analyses.
RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 10.4 ± 3.2 years, with a male predominance (68%). Falls (42%) were the most common cause of injury, followed by sports-related trauma (28%) and motor vehicle accidents (18%). Maxillary anterior teeth were the most frequently affected site (52%), particularly the central incisors (38%). Soft tissue injuries accompanied 74% of cases, with lacerations (55%) and gingival bleeding (45%) being the most frequent. Uncomplicated crown fractures (Ellis Class I: 48%; Ellis Class II: 32%) were most prevalent, while luxation injuries (20%) and avulsions (8%) were less common. Significant associations were found between gender and fracture type (p = 0.012), as well as between motor vehicle accidents and mandibular fractures (p < 0.001). Younger children (≤10 years) and sports-related injuries were independent predictors of treatment failure (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Pediatric dento-alveolar fractures predominantly affect young boys, with falls and sports injuries being the leading causes. The maxillary anterior region, particularly the central incisors, is the most vulnerable. Findings highlight the need for age-specific and gender-targeted preventive measures, including school-based safety programs and the promotion of protective gear in contact sports.
References
Azami-Aghdash S, Ebadifard Azar F, Pournaghi Azar F, Rezapour A, Moradi-Joo M, Moosavi A, et al. Prevalence, etiology, and types of dental trauma in children and adolescents: systematic review and meta-analysis. Med J Islam Repub Iran. 2015 Jul 10;29(4):234.
Tewari N, Bansal K, Mathur VP. Dental Trauma in Children: A Quick Overview on Management. Indian J Pediatr. 2019 Nov 1;86(11):1043–7.
Dental trauma in children and young adults visiting a University Dental Clinic - Jokic - 2009 - Dental Traumatology - Wiley Online Library [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 3]. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-9657.2008.00711.x
Dental trauma in children: a survey - Perez - 1991 - Dental Traumatology - Wiley Online Library [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 3]. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-9657.1991.tb00438.x
Epidemiology of traumatic dental injuries – a 12 year review of the literature - Glendor - 2008 - Dental Traumatology - Wiley Online Library [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 3]. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-9657.2008.00696.x
Prevalence of traumatic dental injuries in emergency dental services: A systematic review and meta‐analysis - Lima - 2023 - Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology - Wiley Online Library [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 3]. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cdoe.12733
Traumatic dental injuries in high school athletes in the United States of America from 2005 to 2020 - Azadani - 2023 - Dental Traumatology - Wiley Online Library [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 3]. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/edt.12800
A retrospective study of dento‐alveolar injuries - Schatz - 1994 - Dental Traumatology - Wiley Online Library [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 3]. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-9657.1994.tb00591.x
Gfeller D, Arx T von. Retrospective Analysis of Dento-alveolar Injuries at a Swiss University Clinic (2011-2015). SWISS Dent J SSO – Sci Clin Top. 2021 Jun 14;131(6):500–10.
Venere DD, Rapone B, Corsalini M. Dental trauma in the anterior sector: an analysis of the predisposing factors in a group of orthodontic patients: doi: 10.7417/CT.2020.2261. Clin Ter [Internet]. 2020 Nov 2 [cited 2025 Apr 3];171(6). Available from: http://www.clinicaterapeutica.it/ojs/index.php/1/article/view/308
Vos LM, Huddleston Slater JJR, Stegenga B. Arthrocentesis as initial treatment for temporomandibular joint arthropathy: A randomized controlled trial. J Cranio-Maxillofac Surg. 2014 Jul 1;42(5):e134–9.
Prevalence, etiology, and types of dental trauma in children and adolescents: systematic review and meta-analysis - PMC [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 3]. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4715389/
Dental Trauma Guide: A source of evidence‐based treatment guidelines for dental trauma - Andreasen - 2012 - Dental Traumatology - Wiley Online Library [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 3]. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1600-9657.2011.01059_1.x
Traumatic Dental Injuries During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Julian Woolley, Serpil Djemal, 2021 [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 3]. Available from: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2050168420980994
AGE, GENDER DISTRIBUTION AND ETIOLOGY OF DENTOALVEOLAR FRACTURES. | EBSCOhost [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 3].
Pattern and Prevalence of Maxillofacial Fractures in Rural Children of Central Maharashtra, India. A Retrospective Study | Journal of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 3]. Available from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12663-012-0425-z
PREVALENCE AND IMPACT OF DENTOALVEOLAR TRAUMA IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS | Health and Society [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 3]. Available from: https://www.periodicojs.com.br/index.php/hs/article/view/1575
Traumatic Dental Injuries to the Anterior Teeth Among 7-14 Year Old School Children at Chitradurga Town - A Prevalence Study - ProQuest [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 3]. Available from: https://www.proquest.com/openview/514b4a31b15330f3fab78992337b855e/1?cbl=2026366&diss=y&pq-origsite=gscholar
Azami-Aghdash S, Azar FE, Azar FP, Rezapour A, Moradi-Joo M, Moosavi A, et al. Prevalence, etiology, and types of dental trauma in children and adolescents: systematic review and meta-analysis. Med J Islam Repub Iran. 2015 Jul 10;29(4):234.
Dental emergencies presenting to a dental teaching hospital due to complications from traumatic dental injuries - PubMed [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 3]. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12442826/
The prevalence of traumatic dental injuries: a 24-month survey - PubMed [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 3]. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18482513/
A retrospective study of dento‐alveolar injuries of children in Ankara, Turkey - Altay - 2001 - Dental Traumatology - Wiley Online Library [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 3]. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1034/j.1600-9657.2001.170502.x
A S, V DM, A VA. The prevalence of traumatic dental injuries: a 24-month survey. J Dent Child Chic Ill [Internet]. 2007 Dec [cited 2025 Apr 3];74(3). Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18482513/
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Ashfaq Ahmad, Ahmad Khan , Mustafa Hussain, Khan Zada , Saqib ullah, Umair Bacha
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Readers may “Share-copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format” and “Adapt-remix, transform, and build upon the material”. The readers must give appropriate credit to the source of the material and indicate if changes were made to the material. Readers may not use the material for commercial purpose. The readers may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
. 
