Socio-economic correlates of traumatic injuries to the permanent incisors in schoolchildren aged 12 years in Blumenau, Brazil.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of injuries to the permanent incisors in Blumenau, Brazil. In addition, the relationship between dental injuries and socio-economic indicators was examined. A cross-sectional survey was carried out. It included a random sample of 652 children aged 12 years, from both sexes, attending public and private primary schools in Blumenau, Brazil. Multi-stage sampling technique and proportional representation were adopted. A trained and calibrated dentist collected the data through clinical examinations and interviews. Clinical examination included type of damage, treatment provided and needed, size of incisal overjet and type of lip coverage. The response rate was 82.5%. The prevalence of dental injuries was 58.6%. Boys experienced more injuries than girls, 67.2% and 50.2% (P=0.001), respectively. Children from mothers with higher schooling experienced more dental injuries than those from of mothers with lower schooling, 68.2% and 56.6% (P=0.03). Father's level of education, parents' employment status and family income were not statistically significantly associated with dental injuries (P>0.05). There was a tendency for children with incisal overjet greater than 5 mm (P=0.2) and inadequate lip coverage (P=0.1) to have more dental injuries, but differences were not statistically significant. Nearly all (97.3%) children who had dental injuries needed treatment. In conclusion, the prevalence of dental injuries in Blumenau, Brazil, was very high, treatment of dental injuries was severely neglected, and boys and children from mothers with high schooling were more likely to have experienced dental injuries.