DENTAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DENTAL TRAUMATIC INJURIES (DTI)

DTIs are a great concern for every dentist. They are the second more frequent problem in dentistry. According to the literature the prevalence of DTIs varies from 6-49%, trauma occurs more often during the first decade of life, rarely after the age of 30. They represent an irreversible injury. In many cases, an interdisciplinary treatment is needed. For all these reasons, scientists are studying more in depth the cause of traumas and factors that may be associated with them. In this lecture we will show the results of a study about DTIs, performed in Tirana. The aim of the study was to find out general information about them (prevalence, differences between genders, type of trauma more frequent, cause of trauma, the most vulnerable tooth, etc.). We also investigated about different factors associated with DTIs. We will be more focused on dental factors (molar class, overjet, overbite, etc.) associated with DTIs. We found a strong correlation between DTIs and large over-jet, lip incompetence and compared our findings with other similar studies. Arguments about early or late treatment, will be discussed. We will present information that recent literature offers about different appliances we can use to improve the situation and prevent DTIs. The treatment of some clinical cases will illustrate our experience on this issue. Even though we focused on dental factors associated with DTIs, based on literature, many other factors such as social, psychological, financial factors are engaged. Preventive measures should not be addressed only to dentists, but also to global politics against bullyism and violence, financial back-up to health promoting schools, safe traffic transport, the use of helmets and mouth guards during sport activities and an overall safer environment.