Assessment of Traumatic Dental Injuries Among Children at a Teaching Hospital in Lagos State

Traumatic dental injuries cause significant morbidity in children and require prompt professional management to prevent long-term consequences, making their clinical documentation in Lagos an important contribution to paediatric dental epidemiology. This study assessed the pattern, severity, and management of traumatic dental injuries among children aged 6 to 14 years presenting to the Department of Paediatric Dentistry at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital over a five-year period (2018 to 2022). A retrospective review of 316 patient records was conducted. Data extracted included patient age, sex, cause of injury, tooth involved, Ellis classification of injury, time elapsed between injury and presentation, management provided, and follow-up outcome. Falls were the most common cause of injury (52.5 percent), followed by road traffic accidents (21.5 percent) and sport-related trauma (18.0 percent). Ellis Class II fractures were the most prevalent (38.9 percent). Upper central incisors were the most commonly affected teeth. The mean time from injury to presentation was 4.2 days, indicating significant delays. Boys sustained injuries at a higher frequency than girls (ratio 2.1:1). Crown fractures with pulpal exposure accounted for 27.8 percent of cases. Complete avulsion occurred in 12.7 percent, with a low reimplantation success rate due to delayed presentation. Recommendations include school-based dental injury prevention and first-aid education, sports mouthguard promotion, and community awareness campaigns on the importance of immediate dental attendance following tooth trauma in Lagos State.

Keywords: traumatic dental injuries, children, Ellis classification, paediatric dentistry, Lagos