Traumatismo dentário em pré-escolares de Salvador - BA

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced children’s access to dental services, compromising the prevention and management of oral conditions such as dental trauma. This scenario was exacerbated by limited professional follow-up, resulting in consequences that extended beyond the clinical sphere, with impacts on esthetic, functional, and psychological aspects, particularly among socially vulnerable populations. OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence and distribution of dental trauma in children in Salvador, Bahia, during the years 2022 and 2023, as well as potential factors associated with its occurrence. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on the oral health of preschool children aged 2 to 6 years enrolled in municipal daycare centers in Salvador, Bahia. The study included 523 participants and was approved by the Ethics Committee of the School of Dentistry of the Federal University of Bahia (CAAE: 60817222.6.0000.5024). Descriptive analyses were performed, including the prevalence and types of dental trauma (tooth discoloration, enamel-limited fracture, and complete crown fracture). Sociodemographic and behavioral variables (age, skin color, maternal education, and social isolation) were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression, adopting a 95% significance level. RESULTS: The results indicate that 18.55% of preschool children in Salvador experienced dental trauma, with tooth discoloration and enamel-limited fractures being the most common types, especially affecting the maxillary central incisors (51 and 61). A higher occurrence and greater severity of dental trauma were associated with Black ethnicity (OR = 2.33; 95% CI: 1.22–4.44) and the presence of malocclusion (OR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.01–2.46). CONCLUSION: Dental trauma showed a relevant prevalence among the preschool children evaluated during the study period, with greater involvement of the maxillary central incisors, and was more frequent among children of Black ethnicity and those with malocclusion. These findings reinforce the importance of preventive and educational actions focused on child oral health, particularly in home and school settings.