Prevalence, Etiology, and Risk Factors of Traumatic Dental Injuries in Children with Special Needs of Puducherry

While there are very few studies on TDI in the diverse sample of children with special needs, the prevalence and the associated etiological/risk factors of traumatic dental injuries remain unexplored in Indian statistics, especially in the South Indian population.In view of the above findings as aims and objectives, this study was conducted in children with SHCN attending special schools. Materials a n d Methods Ethical ApprovalThe study was approved for ethical clearance from the Institutional Review Board and the Institutional Ethical Committee.Permissions were also obtained from the school institution to screen the children.For their children's participation, the parents/legal guardians provided their written consent. introductionChildren with special needs constitute a considerable sector of the community, accounting for an estimated 10% of the worldwide population.Lately, the phrase "disability" has been defined as "an impairment that restricts or limits daily activity in some manner." 1 In India, as per the 2011 census report, approximately 26.8 million people are classified as disabled.2 Compared to the healthy population, children with special needs are at a higher risk of developing oral diseases throughout their lives.3 These children have the equal right to health care as their able-bodied counterparts.4 Multiple studies examined the oral health of special needs children reporting worldwide prevalence ranging between 9.2% 5 and 45.2%.6 Despite the in-depth review of literature only three studies were documented from India and are available as a database regarding the prevalence of traumatic dental incident (TDI) in adolescents and children with special needs.Traumatic dental incidents (TDIs) in children and young adults are a serious public health issue.7 Traumatic dental injuries (TDI) and orofacial injuries are extremely common around the world, affecting an estimated 20-30% of the permanent teeth and frequently leading to compromised esthetics and function.8 In addition, recent studies showed that dental trauma experience had a negative impact on children's and parents' quality of life.9 Dental trauma in special healthcare needs people occurs both at a young age, during which growth and development take place, and also in adulthood.The nature of their health condition, as well as their neurodevelopmental, intellectual, behavioral, and functional limitations, increase susceptibility to unintentional injury, which causes facial and dental tissue damage.3 Dental trauma may also lead to dental injuries, impacting both maxillofacial structures and bone, resulting in functional, aesthetic, mental, and social aspects.