The pattern of traumatic dental injuries in children in a tertiary health care facility in Nigeria

To assess the causes and pattern of traumatic dental injury (tdi) among children that presented in the dental clinic of a tertiary health institution. retrospective review of dental records in the dental clinic for traumatic dental injuries among children up to 16 years. information retrieved included demographic data,presenting complaint,cause of trauma,where it occurred,how it occurred,and time interval before presentation for care in clinic. other information retrieved were on lip competence and type of dental injuries. data analyzed using spss version 20. ninety seven (5.7%) subjects; 59 (60.8%) males and 38 (39.2%) females presented with dental trauma. they had a mean age of 6.14 (+ 3.95) years. the 1 to 4 years age group was the majority 38 (39.2%). most (40.2%) subjects presented for treatment in the clinic less than a week after the injury. the commonest cause of tdi was falls (85.2%),most (76.2%) incidents occurred in homes and their concern at presentation majorly (62.9%). was aesthetics. increased overjet and lip incompetence was found in 13.4%and 9.9%children,respectively. seventy-five percent tooth supporting structures injuries and 63.1%dental fractures occurred in the primary and permanent dentitions,respectively. multiple teeth injury was the commonest presentation. the commonest cause of tdi was falls and they occurred at homes. the most frequently affected age group was the 1 to 4 year age group and this may have resulted from inadequate supervision /care and hard impact absorbing surfaces.