Citation

Livny A, Sgan-Cohen HD, Junadi S, Marcenes W. Dent. Traumatol. 2010; 26(5): 330-334.

Affiliation

Department of Community Dentistry, Hebrew University Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1600-9657.2010.00922.x

PMID

20831639

Abstract

Background: Traumatic dental injuries (TDI) are recognized as an important dental public health issue among children. The West Bank, a part of the Palestinian Authority, is in immediate neighborhood to Israel. There are inadequate epidemiologic data among the Palestinian people, on dental health issues. Aim: To determine the occurrence of TDI to permanent teeth among sixth grade Palestinian schoolchildren living in four large towns of the West Bank and to investigate associations with anatomic and demographic factors. Material and Methods: Eight hundred and four children were sampled and examined in Ramallah, Bethlehem, Hebron and Jericho. Data collection included clinical examinations in schools and questionnaires for demographic and socio-economic background. Results: The prevalence of traumatic dental injuries was 17.7%. Enamel fractures and injuries involving dentine accounted for 41% and 42.5% of all injuries, respectively. The most affected teeth (89%) were upper central incisors. Only 5% of the injured teeth were treated. Results of multiple logistic regression confirmed that TDI were significantly (P < 0.001) more prevalent among boys, children presenting incisal overjet larger than 5 mm, and incompetent lip coverage. Conclusions: The relative high prevalence and very low levels of treated TDI identified in this study suggested that both prevention and treatment of TDI in the West Bank were inadequate.

Language: en