Dental trauma experience and oral-health-related quality of life among university students

Impact of dental and orofacial trauma on oral health-related quality of life in adults: A systematic review

PURPOSE

Dental and orofacial trauma among the adult population constitutes a major public health problem. The impact is not just physical but also psychological. To analyse the impacts of dental and orofacial trauma on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in adults and determine whether the 2 variables are closely interlinked.

METHODS

This is a systematic review. The terms "dental trauma", "orofacial trauma", "oral health", "oral health related impact life", "OHRQoL", "positive and negative affect scale", "quality of life", "facial injuries", "adults", and "young adults" were researched in the databases of PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus and Google Scholar for associated studies up to December 30, 2022. A comprehensive search was designed and the articles were independently screened for eligibility by 2 reviewers. The included studies' author, year of publication, the country where the study was conducted, population demographics (number and age), an instrument used for assessing OHRQoL and the relevant result were recorded and compared. The quality of the evidence was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for observational studies.

RESULTS

Out of 482 unique records, 3 articles were included for data extraction. Observational studies were included. Two studies did not mention confounding factors. Different scales were used for dental and orofacial trauma and OHRQoL. OHRQoL has a directly proportional relationship with orofacial trauma. Adolescents with orofacial trauma have a significant impact on this value with a prevalence of 88.4%.

CONCLUSION

The highest impact on OHRQoL was seen immediately after the diagnosis of an orofacial trauma. The impact increases with the severity of the trauma. Therefore, to promote overall dental and general health, health education initiatives should include information on the causes, prevention, and requirement for prompt responses by the populace in seeking dental intervention.

Prevalence, Etiology, and Types of Dental Trauma in Self-Assessment of 18-Year-Olds in Poland

The aim of the study is to determine the occurrence and etiology of traumatic dental injuries of permanent teeth and to evaluate the relationship between diagnosed injuries and selected socio-economic indicators. In total, 1741 students aged 18 years, representing all the regions of Poland, took part in the survey. Questionnaires for monitoring studies were prepared in accordance with the criteria of the World Health Organization. Among the respondents, tooth trauma was reported by 18% of adolescents. The most common trauma occurred during other activities (e.g., playing) (64%). The most common direct cause of injury was a fall (43%) or a collision with an object or another person (36%). Risk of injury was increased by a low level of parents' education and poor financial situation of the family. Playing sports is important in the etiology of injuries. The incidence of injuries was highest in school, demonstrating the need for school education in injury prevention and first aid. Occurrence of injuries, their causes, therapy, and post-traumatic complications were similar in respondents of both genders, which can be explained by secularization trends. Risk of injury was increased by parents' low level of education and poor economic status. The research demonstrates the need for universal education on treatment of dental injuries.