A 9-year retrospective study of dental trauma in Piracicaba and neighboring regions in the State of São Paulo, Brazil.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of dentoalveolar trauma during a 9-year period in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Division at Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas in patients from the Piracicaba municipality and neighborhood regions in São Paulo, Brazil.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective epidemiologic study from January 1999 to December 2007 evaluated all patients who presented at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Division at Piracicaba Dental School with sustained oral and maxillofacial traumatic injuries associated with dentoalveolar trauma. Information regarding age, gender, etiology, use of protective devices such seatbelts, crash helmets, and presence of facial fractures and general trauma, oral condition, stage of dentition, date of trauma, drug abuse, type, teeth affected, and classification of the trauma were gathered from the medical files. Descriptive analysis was conducted.

Results: In total, 2,785 patients were analyzed and 542 (19.46%) were included in this study. The male to female ratio was 2.81:1. Most patients presented with oral hygiene as regular (51.85%). Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were the most prevalent days. Smoking was the most common harmful habit analyzed (16.05%) followed by alcohol use (15.87%). Bicycle accidents (26.94%) were the most common cause, followed by falls (22.69%). With regard to protective devices, 31.51% of drivers were wearing seatbelts during the accidents and helmets were used by 84.38% of motorcycle drivers at the moment of injury. One hundred thirty-five facial fractures were associated with dental and dentoalveolar traumas, and the mandible was the facial bone most associated with dentoalveolar trauma. Upper and lower limbs were most frequently associated with general trauma, accounting for 140 (38.78%) and 111 (30.75%), respectively.

Conclusion: This study shows that dentoalveolar trauma rates and patterns in the Piracicaba municipality and neighborhood regions in São Paulo are similar to other populations. The weekend is the period with the major incidence of dentoalveolar trauma. Alcohol consumption was linked with this type of trauma. Dentoalveolar trauma is involved in and closely related to severe maxillofacial trauma. The use of a helmet is as important as that of a seatbelt. More studies are necessary for a better knowledge and understanding when considering protocols and organization charts in emergency rooms.