Traumatic Dental Injuries in an Dental Emergency Service From 2010 to 2013

Aim: The incidence of traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) is higher in evenings and on weekends. They require early and appropriate management to minimise complications and to save the affected tooth. Consequently, many patients present in dental emergency services, which operate outside regular consulting hours. The aim of this study was to analyse the TDI cases in a dental emergency service unit of a university hospital over 4 years. Methodology: All patients with TDIs between 2010 and 2013 were determined from the hospital database and subjected to further analysis. Demographic data, classification of trauma (according to the WHO), teeth involved, and cause of trauma were evaluated. Results: Of 16 301 patients who received treatment in the dental emergency service over a period of 4 years, 1305 (8.0%) came due to TDIs. Average age was 14.4 years (range: 0.6- 88.1). More than half of the trauma patients (54.2%) were under the age of ten and about two-thirds (74.5%) under twenty. Males experienced trauma more often than females (range 1.5 : 1). Nearly half of cases (48.2%) occurred on weekends. The most common diagnosis was subluxation (27.8%), followed by uncomplicated enamel-dentin fracture (25.9%), and lateral luxation (21.7%). 355 patients (27.2%) had an additional soft tissue injury. In 48.6% of cases only one tooth was involved, in 33.5% two. The permanent dentition was injured in 56.6% of cases, the primary dentition in 41.1%. The maxillary central incisors were affected in 79.2% of cases. The most common causes of TDIs were falls (54.6%) and sport accidents (13.4%). Conclusions: The prevalence of TDIs in the dental emergency unit was high. Due to the complexity of management, possible complications, and lifelong consequences, the dentist on duty as well as the one providing further treatment have to be aware of the endodontic and surgical measures. A regular update of the dentists' knowledge about traumatology is required and more attention should be given to the prevention of trauma. Keywords: TDI, dental trauma, traumatic dental injuries, emergency