A study assessing the damage to permanent teeth following trauma to the primary dentition.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of trauma to the primary teeth, related by age at the time of injury and the type of injury sustained, to the frequency and type of developmental disturbances in the permanent successor teeth, in a representative population of Maltese children. Thirty-two children with sixty-seven traumatized primary teeth were examined and any developmental disturbances in mineralization and· morphology of the corresponding permanent teeth recorded. Analysis of the results showed that 52.2% of the permanent successor teeth exhibited developmental disturbances following trauma to their primary predecessors. The maxillary central primary incisors were the most frequently injured teeth and there was a predominance of luxation injuries over crown/root fractures. The peak incidence of injuries occurred between 1-2 years and 3-4 years. The highest frequency of malformations in the permanent dentition was found following subluxation of the primary incisors. Internal enamel hypoplasia was the commonest disturbance seen in the permanent successor teeth. External enamel hypoplasia was mainly seen following intrusion injuries to primary incisors. Intrusion injuries were also associated with the most severe malformations in the permanent dentition. The age of the child at the time of traumatic injury to the primary dentition was a principal factor in the risk of developing malformations in the permanent successor teeth. Trauma to the primary incisors between 1 and 2 years of age had a more deleterious effect on the permanent successors than in the older age groups. The study concluded that the extent of malformation of the developing tooth germ was highly related to its developmental stage and to severity and type of trauma sustained by the primary incisor.