Resumo:
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.
