Absence of an association between socioeconomic indicators and traumatic dental injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Association between socioeconomic status and traumatic dental injury in permanent teeth: A systematic review with meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to systematically review observational studies assessing the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and traumatic dental injuries (TDI) in permanent dentition.

METHODS

Electronic searches were performed in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, LILACS, CINAHL, COCHANE Library and ScoINDEX databases for articles published up to February 2023. Two independent reviewers performed the search and critical appraisal of the studies. The inclusion criteria were observational studies that evaluated the association between individual-level socioeconomic indicators and TDI (clinically examined) in permanent teeth. Quality assessment of included articles was conducted using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Global meta-analysis was performed with all studies and different subgroup analysis based on socioeconomic indicators (household income, educational level or any other indicator), age (children, early adolescents, late adolescents or young adults) and economic classification of the country (high, upper-middle or lower-middle). A random-effects model was used to estimate pooled prevalence ratios (PR) and respective 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each study.

RESULTS

The search strategy retrieved 11 315 publications. According to eligibility criteria, 17 articles were included in the meta-analysis. Individuals with low SES were 17% more likely to have TDI (PR 1.17; 95% CI 1.05-1.30). The subgroup analysis also revealed that the indicator (household income, PR 1.16; 95% CI 1.00-1.34) and the economic classification of the country (upper-middle, PR 1.19; 95% CI 1.07-1.33) influenced the association of SES with TDI occurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with lower SES were more likely to present with TDI in permanent dentition than those with higher SES.

The effect of sleep disorders, school jet lag, and anxiety in students 8-10 years of age on traumatic dental injuries

BACKGROUND/AIM

Traumatic dental injuries (TDI) constitute a public health problem. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether sleep disorders, school jet lag, and anxiety are associated with TDI in schoolchildren 8-10 years of age.

METHODS

An analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted with 739 pairs of parents/guardians and children enrolled in public and private schools. The parents/guardians answered a socioeconomic questionnaire, the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children, Circadian Energy Scale, and Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale. Four examiners underwent calibration exercises for the diagnosis of TDI (K > 0.80) using the criteria proposed by Andreasen (2007). A directed acyclic graph was used for the formulation of the theoretical model and statistical adjustments. Unadjusted and adjusted robust binary logistic regression analyses were performed (α = 5%).

RESULTS

The prevalence of TDI was 16.2%. The following variables remained associated with the outcome in the final model: family income less than or equal to the minimum monthly wage (OR = 1.77; 95% CI: 1.09-2.88; p = .02), child's height >137.6 cm (OR = 1.68; 95% CI: 1.06-2.64; p = .02), the occurrence of school jet lag (OR = 2.12; 95% CI: 1.27-3.53; p = .004), anxiety (OR = 1.77; 95% CI: 1.04-3.00; p = .04) and sleep disorders (OR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.38-1.93; p = .05).

CONCLUSION

Children from families with a lower income, taller children, those with school jet lag, those with anxiety and those with sleep disorders had a greater occurrence of TDI.

Associations between traumatic dental injuries due to violence and various drinking behaviors in Korea: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Various patterns of alcohol consumption are associated with trauma and violence. The aim of this study was to assess the association between traumatic dental injuries (TDI) due to violence and different patterns of alcohol consumption in Korean adults.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted with representative sample of Korean adults. Among the total participants, 11.8% (6489/58,999) experienced TDI, and 0.9% (520/58,999) experienced TDI due to violence. The associations between various types of alcohol consumption (frequency of drinking, frequency of binge drinking, age of first drinking) and TDI due to violence were assessed using logistic regression analyses. We confirmed differences in the prevalence experience of TDI due to violence with various types of alcohol consumption by confounders (socioeconomic status).

RESULTS

All types of drinking (frequency of drinking, frequency of binge drinking, age of first drinking) were strongly associated with TDI due to violence. After adjusting for confounders, those who started drinking at the age of 18 or younger and drank 4 or more days a week (OR: 2.86, 95% CI: 1.68-4.88), those who started drinking at the age of 18 or younger and drank 3 days or less a week (OR: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.40-4.02), and those who started drinking at the age of 18 or younger and binge drinking at least once a week (OR: 3.18, 95% CI: 1.79-5.65) had higher prevalence of TDI due to violence compared to those with no alcohol drinking.

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents evidence of an association between various types of alcohol consumption and TDI due to violence in Korean adults. These findings suggest the necessity for policies aimed at reducing alcohol consumption, frequency of drinking, and access to drinking especially in adolescent to reduce the prevalence experience of TDI due to violence.

Prevalence and attributes of traumatic dental injuries to anterior teeth among school going children of Kolkata, India

Background

Traumatic Dental Injuries (TDI) have emerged as a very significant public health and social problem, especially among children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of traumatic dental injuries to permanent anterior teeth in school going children of Kolkata aged 7-14 years.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 3762 school going children attending various private and public schools of Kolkata aged 7-14 years. A multistage random clustering sampling technique was adopted to select the children.Type of trauma using Ellis and Davey classification of fractures along with Andresen's Epidemiological Classification of Traumatic Injuries to Anterior Teeth, including WHO codes, was used. All values were considered statistically significant at P < 0.05.

Results

Prevalence of TDI to anterior teeth was found to be 9.89%. The mean age of children who presented with TDI was 11.06 ± 1.99.years. The most common place of occurrence of TDI was home. Falls were the most common causes of trauma. Children belonging to higher socioeconomic status were observed to have an increased prevalence of TDIs.The highest potential risk factor for the occurrence of trauma was a past history of trauma.

Conclusion

Present study found a prevalence of 9.89%, and a very low percentage of children had received treatment.

Does Oral Health-Related Quality of Life Differ by Income Group? Findings from a Nationally Representative Survey

OBJECTIVES

Clarify the association between income group and oral health-related quality of life.

METHODS

Data were used from a nationally representative online survey with n = 3075 individuals. It was conducted in late Summer 2021. The established Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-G5) was used to measure oral health-related quality of life. The income group (household net income) was used as key independent variable. It was adjusted for several covariates. Full-information maximum likelihood was used to address missing values.

RESULTS

Individuals in the lowest income decile had a lower oral health-related quality of life (Cohen's d = -0.34) compared to individuals in the second to ninth income deciles. Individuals in the highest income decile had a higher oral health-related quality of life (Cohen's d = 0.20) compared to individuals in the second to ninth income deciles. Consequently, there was a medium difference (Cohen's d = 0.53) between individuals in the lowest income decile and individuals in the highest income decile. Additionally, multiple linear regressions showed significant differences between individuals in the lowest income decile and individuals in the second to ninth income deciles (β = 0.72, p < 0.01). In contrast, only marginal significant differences were identified between individuals in the second to ninth income deciles and individuals in the highest income decile (β = -0.28, p < 0.10).

CONCLUSIONS

The current study particularly stressed the association between low income and low oral health-related quality of life in the general adult population. Increasing oral health-related quality of life in individuals with low income is a major issue which should be targeted.

Perspectives on Social and Environmental Determinants of Oral Health

Most oral conditions have a multifactorial etiology; that is, they are modulated by biological, social, economic, cultural, and environmental factors. A consistent body of evidence has demonstrated the great burden of dental caries and periodontal disease in individuals from low socioeconomic strata. Oral health habits and access to care are influenced by the social determinants of health. Hence, the delivery of health promotion strategies at the population level has shown a great impact on reducing the prevalence of oral diseases. More recently, a growing discussion about the relationship between the environment, climate change, and oral health has been set in place. Certainly, outlining plans to address oral health inequities is not an easy task. It will demand political will, comprehensive funding of health services, and initiatives to reduce inequalities. This paper sought to give a perspective about the role of social and physical environmental factors on oral health conditions while discussing how the manuscripts published in this Special Issue could increase our knowledge of the topic.

Association between obesity and traumatic dental injuries in pre-school children-A case-control study

BACKGROUND/AIM

Obese children are more prone to accidents due to poorer motor skills which increase the likelihood of falls and the occurrence of traumatic dental injuries (TDIs). The aim of this study was to determine the association between overweight/obesity and TDI in pre-school children.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The case group was formed by children with TDI identified during a clinical examination (n = 262). Each pre-school child identified as a case was matched by a peer of the same age, gender and pre-school but without TDI to form the control group (n = 262). TDI was evaluated using the criteria proposed by Andreasen. The weight and height of the children were measured for the calculation of the body mass index which was plotted on the growth curve established by the World Health Organization. Socio-demographic variables were collected through questionnaires sent to the parents/guardians. Data analysis involved the determination of frequency distribution, the chi-square test and logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The sample was composed of 253 children in each group. Among the children in the case group, 15.4% (n = 39) were overweight and 15.8% (n = 40) were obese. In the control group, 13.8% (n = 35) were overweight and 8.3% (n = 21) were obese. Children with trauma were more likely to be obese than children without trauma (OR = 2.05; 95%CI: 1.14 to 3.67; p = .016). In contrast, TDI was not associated with being overweight. A greater odds of TDI was also associated with an open bite (OR = 3.61; 95% CI: 1.64 to 7.96; p = .001) and accentuated overjet (OR = 2.19; 95% CI: 1.37 to 3.50; p = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-school children with a history of dental trauma were more likely to be obese than those without a history of dental trauma whereas being overweight was not associated with TDI.

Prevalence of traumatic injuries in deciduous dentition and associated risk factors in a Spanish children population

Background

The frequency of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) in primary dentition and those agents that favor them present a great variability. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of TDI in a population of Spanish preschoolers in temporary dentition and identify the factors associated with these injuries.

Material and Methods

An epidemiological observational prevalence study was carried out. A total of 343 children aged between 3 and 5 years were selected. A questionnaire was completed in relation to socioeconomic factors, cultural level, dietary habits and oral parafunction. Through an intraoral examination, information was collected on the occlusal characteristics and the presence of TDI. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS Statistics 25.0 program for Windows, using the descriptive and frequencies procedure, contingency tables, Chi-square test, and logistic regression analysis.

Results

The prevalence of TDI in the total sample was 12.2%. The most frequent lesion was crown discoloration (0.4%) followed by crown fracture (0.1%) and avulsion (0.1%). The most affected tooth was the deciduous upper central incisor. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis the presence of dental trauma did correlate significantly with the age (5 years in reference to 3 years: OR = 4.209; 95% C.I. = 1.591-11.134; p = 0.004) and overjet (OR = 2.609; 95% C.I. = 1.306-5.214; p = 0.007).

Conclusions

The prevalence of these lesions in a Spanish infant population with temporary dentition is low. Only age and overjet are risk factors. Key words:Dental trauma, deciduous dentition, risk factors.

Cumulative socio-economic disadvantage and traumatic dental injuries during adolescence

BACKGROUND/AIM

Studies on the association between socio-economic circumstances and traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) are cross-sectional and inconclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between cumulative socio-economic disadvantage and TDIs among adolescents.

METHOD

Data from 668 participants in the East London Adolescents Community Health Survey (RELACHS) were analysed. Family socio-economic indicators (parental employment, car ownership and eligibility for free school meals) were collected when participants were in grades 7 (11-12 years), 9 (13-14 years) and 11 (15-16 years). The number of periods (RELACHS waves) adolescents lived in socio-economic disadvantage was counted for each socio-economic measure, ranging from 0 (never in disadvantage) to 3 (always in disadvantage). Adolescents were dentally examined for TDIs at age 15-16 years. The association between each measure of cumulative socio-economic disadvantage and TDIs was tested in logistic regression models adjusting for demographic factors.

RESULTS

Significant positive linear trends in the prevalence of TDIs were observed by the number of periods of parental unemployment and being without a family car, but not by eligibility for free school meals. Adolescents whose parents were always unemployed had 2.06 (95% CI: 1.12-3.80) greater odds of having TDIs than those whose parents were never unemployed. Similarly, adolescents from families that never owned a car had 2.17 (95% CI: 1.26-3.74) greater odds of having TDIs than those that always had a family car.

CONCLUSION

Cumulative socio-economic disadvantage during adolescence was associated with greater odds of having TDIs.

Youth injury and parents' unemployment-the importance of socio-economic status and ethnicity context

BACKGROUND

Youth whose parents are unemployed have poorer health and well-being, including more injuries that result in hospitalization. The current study examined the possibility of an association of parents' employment status with youth injury and the interaction of this status with other socio-economic factors and ethnicity.

METHODS

We distributed to adolescents aged 11-15 years, in class, the Israel Health Behavior in School-Aged Children Survey. We distinguished between any injury and severe injury, defining the latter as one necessitating the use of a cast, stitches and crutches or overnight hospitalization.

RESULTS

Of 13 705 respondents, 6224 (45%) had an injury in the past year that required medical treatment and 1827 pupils (13.5%) reported severe injuries. The odds of any injury were 1.86 for boys as against girls (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.73-1.99), 0.80 for school grade (95% CI 0.78-0.82), 1.56 for Arabs vs. Jews (95% CI 1.43-1.70) and 1.10 for high Family Affluence Scale (FAS) vs. medium FAS (95% CI 1.01-1.21). Only in the low FAS group, when two parents were unemployed, the odds for severe injury was 1.36 (95% CI 1.03-1.78); when one or two parents were employed, the odds of severe child injury were the same (OR 1.13 and 95% CI 0.92-1.40).

CONCLUSION

Factors that were found to increase the risk of injury among youth were parental unemployment, low socio-economic status and Arab ethnicity. The home environment was the most common place for injury.

Evidence mapping and quality assessment of systematic reviews in dental traumatology

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Evidence mapping of systematic reviews (SRs) systematically and comprehensively identifies, organizes, and summarizes the distribution of scientific evidence in a field. The aims of this study were to delineate domains in dental traumatology (DT), evaluate the existing SRs within the domains, and identify the paucity of evidence for future research.

METHODS

Domains and sub-domains of DT were established according to the methods of qualitative research. The protocol for evidence mapping was prepared as per the guidelines of GEM and PRISMA. The search strategy was formulated using words and MeSH terms in eight databases without restriction of languages and year of publication. Gray literature, protocol registries, and references of selected articles were also searched. Duplicates were removed, and the final selection of SRs was completed. Data extraction and quality analysis using the ROBIS tool and the PRISMA checklist were performed.

RESULTS

The overall search resulted in 64 SRs from 1999 to 2020 with 44 published in last six years. The highest number of SRs had been performed in the Prognostic domain (n = 19) followed by the domains of Epidemiology (n = 15), Therapeutics (n = 10), Oral Biology (n = 7), Diagnostics (n = 6), Preventive (n = 5), and Research Methods (n = 2). Within each domain, there were variabilities in the number of reviewers, a priori protocols, search limitations, risk of bias methods, and meta-analysis. Of the SRs, including 4 Cochrane reviews, 28.4% were inconclusive. A low risk of bias was found in 48.4% of the SRs. Among the registered and ongoing SRs, six were from the domain of epidemiology, two in the domain of therapeutics, five from prognostics, and one each in the domains of prevention and research methods.

CONCLUSION

The SRs in DT could be mapped in seven domains with variabilities in the methods. The majority had an a priori registered protocol and a low risk of reporting errors. Within the Epidemiology and Preventive domains, SRs were present in all the sub-domains with the majority demonstrating low-risk of bias (ROB). The domain of prognosis had SRs in most sub-domains but with a high ROB. Insufficient numbers of SRs were present in most sub-domains of the Diagnostics, Therapeutics, Research Methods and Oral Biology domains.

Associations and risk factors for dental trauma: A systematic review of systematic reviews

OBJECTIVE

We sought to revise, qualify and summarize the body of evidence based on current information on the known associations and risk factors for traumatic dental injury (TDI) occurrence with an overview of systematic reviews.

METHODS

Electronic searches were performed with no language nor date restrictions.According to the PECO strategy, systematic reviews that investigated participants (P) with (E) and without (O) the presentation of factors relating to TDI and these factors' association with TDI episodes (O) as primary or secondary outcomes were included. Quality assessment and bias control were carried out according to the AMSTAR 2 checklist. In cases of systematic review results of discordance, the Jadad decision algorithm was applied.

RESULTS

After titles, abstracts and full texts were read, 19 systematic reviews were included in this overview. Four were classified with critically low, eleven with low and four with moderate methodological quality, respectively. In all studies, 249 cross-sectional, 34 epidemiological surveys, 22 cohort, 9 case-control, 4 longitudinal, 3 ecological and 30 unspecified studies were included. Male gender, child age, greater overjet, inadequate lip coverage, anterior open bite, caries in the permanent dentition, overweight, a previous history of TDI, tongue piercing, the use of alcoholic beverages and participation in sports were all associated with a greater chance of suffering TDI.

CONCLUSIONS

Sociodemographic, clinical and environmental factors are associated with a greater chance of TDI occurrence. However, most of the systematic reviews included were of a low quality and may not provide an accurate and comprehensive summary of the available research that addresses the question of interest. Well-designed primary studies on different aspects of TDI are encouraged to provide higher quality scientific evidence.

Oral status, sense of coherence, religious-spiritual coping, socio-economic characteristics, and quality of life in young patients

BACKGROUND

Several factors can influence the oral health.

AIM

To explore the clinical factors, individual characteristics, and environmental factors (religious-spiritual coping-RSC, sense of coherence [SOC], and socio-economic status) related to oral status and impact on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children/adolescents (C/A).

DESIGN

This study evaluated C/A up to 15 years old and their caregivers. Number of decayed (NDT) and missing teeth (NMT); history of dental trauma; caregiver's RSC and SOC, socio-economic factors, and OHRQoL were evaluated. Theoretical model exploring the direct and indirect effects was tested using a structural equation analysis.

RESULTS

For younger group (0-6 years), having more NDT or more NMT had a greater impact on the OHRQoL (β = 0.382, β = 0.203, respectively). In the oldest group (7-15 years), a higher SOC had an inverse relationship with the impact on the family OHRQoL (β=-0.201). The higher the age of the C/A, the lower the NDT (β=-0.235), and the higher the family income the lower, the need for social benefit (β = 0.275). Indirect relationships were observed between schooling with social benefit and OHRQoL in younger group. The family income indirectly influenced the OHRQoL in oldest group.

CONCLUSIONS

Quality of life is affected directly and indirectly by environmental characteristics, oral status, and the age of patients.

The Relationship between Income and Oral Health: A Critical Review

In this critical review, we summarized the evidence on associations between individual/household income and oral health, between income inequality and oral health, and income-related inequalities in oral health. Meta-analyses of mainly cross-sectional studies confirm that low individual/household income is associated with oral cancer (odds ratio, 2.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.59-3.65), dental caries prevalence (prevalence ratio, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.18-1.41), any caries experience (odds ratio, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.19-1.65), tooth loss (odds ratio, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.48-1.86), and traumatic dental injuries (odds ratio, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.65-0.89). Reviews also confirm qualitatively that low income is associated with periodontal disease and poor oral health-related quality of life. Limited evidence from the United States shows that psychosocial and behavioral explanations only partially explain associations between low individual/household income and oral health. Few country-level studies and a handful of subnational studies from the United States, Japan, and Brazil show associations between area-level income inequality and poor oral health. However, this evidence is conflicting given that the association between area-level income inequality and oral health outcomes varies considerably by contexts and by oral health outcomes. Evidence also shows cross-national variations in income-related inequalities in oral health outcomes of self-rated oral health, dental care, oral health-related quality of life, outcomes of dental caries, and outcomes of tooth loss. There is a lack of discussion in oral health literature about limitations of using income as a measure of social position. Future studies on the relationship between income and oral health can benefit substantially from recent theoretical and methodological advancements in social epidemiology that include application of an intersectionality framework, improvements in reporting of inequality, and causal modeling approaches. Theoretically well-informed studies that apply robust epidemiological methods are required to address knowledge gaps for designing relevant policy interventions to reduce income-related inequalities in oral health.

Family environment and traumatic dental injuries in adolescents

BACKGROUND/AIMS

No comprehensive assessment of the influence of the home environment on traumatic dental injuries (TDI) has been conducted to date. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between family environment and TDI among adolescents from East London.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study used data from 646 adolescents who participated in phase III of the Research with East London Adolescents Community Health Survey (RELACHS). Family environment was measured with four indicators (non-nuclear family, discordant parental relationship and levels of parental support and parental punishment) measured through a self-administered questionnaire. Clinical examinations were performed for TDI, overjet and lip coverage. Logistic regression was used to test the crude and adjusted (controlling for sociodemographic and clinical factors) association of each family environment characteristic with TDI prevalence.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine percent of adolescents were from non-nuclear families, and 52.3% reported a discordant parental relationship. The mean score for parental support was -0.01 (SD: 0.90, range: -0.11 to 0.08), and the mean parental punishment score was 0.03 (SD: 0.86, range: -0.04 to 0.10). Adolescents from non-nuclear families had 1.63 (95% confidence interval: 1.06-2.53) greater odds of having TDI than those from nuclear families. However, this association was fully attenuated after adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical factors. The other three indicators of family environment were not associated with TDI either in crude or adjusted regression models.

CONCLUSION

This study found weak evidence of an association between family environment and TDI.

Risk factors for traumatic dental injuries in the Brazilian population: A critical review

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Strategies for the prevention of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) should consider the risk factors involved for each population studied. The aim of this study was to perform a critical review regarding the risk factors for TDI in the Brazilian population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed in the MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Lilacs, and BBO databases using MeSH terms, synonyms, and keywords, with no language or date restrictions. In the first step, all relevant studies identified, regardless of the type of statistical analysis performed, were grouped according to their geographic location. In a second step, the studies using Andreasen's criteria to classify the injuries and multivariate analysis to identify the risk factors for TDI in Brazilian subjects were included for data extraction.

RESULTS

The search strategy initially identified 3373 articles. However, only 108 articles assessed TDI with predisposing factors and were included in the first step. From those, 28 were deemed eligible for inclusion in the second step. No consensus related to the relationship between gender and TDI in the primary dentition was achieved. Nonetheless, males were found to be more prone to trauma in the permanent dentition. Overjet, inadequate lip sealing and anterior open bite increased the risk for TDI, both in primary and permanent dentitions. Social environment was related to trauma only in primary dentition. For permanent dentition, dental caries, obesity, binge drinking, and drug use were identified as considerable risk factors for TDI.

CONCLUSION

The risk factors for TDI in the Brazilian population are similar to those found worldwide. However, some differences can be observed, such as gender and socioeconomic indicators as predisposing factors.

Income inequality and traumatic dental injuries in 12-year-old children: A multilevel analysis

BACKGROUND/AIM

Contextual socio-economic factors have been associated with traumatic dental injuries (TDIs). However, evidence concerning the role of income inequality on TDIs in children is scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between contextual income inequality over a 10-year period and TDIs in Brazilian children.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The study population comprised a representative sample of 5027 children aged 12 years who participated in the Brazilian oral health survey in 2010. City-level Gini Index was used to measure contextual income inequality in the years 2000 and 2010, as well as the variation in income inequality between 2000 and 2010. Covariates were gender, ethnicity, family income, number of people per room and incisal overjet. Clinical examinations were used to assess TDIs. Multivariable multilevel ordered multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate cumulative Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals between income inequality and TDIs.

RESULTS

The prevalence of children who had one tooth with TDI and two or more teeth with TDIs was 15.2% and 6.4%, respectively. The maxillary central and left lateral incisors were the teeth most affected by TDIs. Gini coefficient reduction between the years 2000 and 2010 decreased the odds of TDIs even after adjustment for demographic and socio-economic characteristics, and incisal overjet. The likelihood of more TDIs decreased 21% for each 0.05 unit decrease in the Gini coefficient between the years 2000 and 2010. Boys, brown skin colour, overcrowding and incisal overjet greater than 5 mm remained statistically associated with TDIs in the final model.

CONCLUSIONS

The decrease in income inequality over a 10-year period was inversely associated with TDIs among Brazilian children aged 12 years.

Risk factors for traumatic dental injuries in the primary dentition: concepts, interpretation, and evidence

The purpose of this comprehensive review is to explore the main concepts related to quantification and interpretation of risk factors and investigate characteristics associated with traumatic dental injuries (TDI) in the primary dentition. Initially, the main concepts related to causality and risk factors were summarized, including how to measure, express, and compare risk as well as interpret statistical significance. Based on a structured search through PubMed, original research articles regarding TDI and associated factors in the primary dentition were then reviewed by two examiners. Studies with a sample size of at least 300 children aged between 0 and 6 years were summarized according to journal, country, study design, and type of statistical analysis. Variables associated with TDI in primary teeth were identified from studies with multivariable analysis. Measures of effect size and P values were presented. Thirty-two studies were retrieved: most were cross-sectional in design and only 17 (53.1%) performed multivariable analysis. Most investigations did not find an association between gender and socioeconomic variables with TDI. Increased overjet was the only factor consistently identified as an associated factor. Behavioral characteristics have been recently investigated and suggested as potential risk factors for TDI in the primary dentition. In conclusion, increased overjet is undoubtedly associated with TDI in the primary dentition. As behavioral factors may be targeted by preventive strategies, their role on TDI occurrence should be clarified in future cohort studies. Clinicians should understand the terms and measures described in studies on risk factors to properly apply knowledge and benefit patients.