Etiology and Incidence of Tooth Fractures

Sport activities can lead to dental injuries and have been shown to be common in high school students specially who do not use mouth guards.

Dental injuries can also result from child abuse or “battered child syndrome” and the dentist may be the first health care provider to observe these types of injuries. About 50% of abused children undergo orofacial trauma, intraoral injuries such as tooth and jaw fractures.

Sudden impact to face or head result in trauma to teeth and supporting tissues. Most common causes are falling, traffic accidents, fights, sports. About 20-60% of all traffic accidents produce some injury to facial region. Most dental injuries occur during first two decades of life, mostly occurring during 8-12 years.

Incidence is higher in boys than girls with the ratio varying from 2:1 to 3:1. Maxillary central incisors are mostly involved followed by maxillary lateral incisors and mandibular incisors.

The most common dental trauma involves fracture of enamel and dentin, without pulp involvement.

Andreason reports etiological factors as follows :

a) Human Behaviour

1) Risk taking

2) Peer relationship problems

3) Hyperactivity

4) Stress behaviour

b) Environmental Factors

1) Deprivation

2) Over crowding

c) Unintentional Injuries

1) Falls and collisions

2) Physical leisure activities (sports)

3) Traffic accidents

4) Inappropriate use of teeth

5) Biting hard items

6) Presence of illness, physical limitations or learning difficulties.