Dental trauma in Brazilian children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

Background: Assessing the frequency and factors associated with dental trauma in pediatric populations with cerebral palsy is impor- tant for the planning and implementation of prevention and health promo- tion programs. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with dental trauma in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. Material and methods: Cross-sectional study with a non- probabilistic sample of 80 patients aged 2-18 years was treated in a reha- bilitation institution in northeastern Brazil. Caregivers completed a socio- economic questionnaire, while oral exams were performed by a calibrated investigator (K = 0.75-1.00), with record of the Dental Trauma Index, DMFT and dmft, and Dental Aesthetics and malocclusion indices. Bivari- ate and multivariate Poisson regression analyses (a = 0.05) were performed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 17. Results: The prevalence of dental trauma was 36.3%, enamel fracture was the most common trauma (89.1%), and the upper central incisors were the most affected dental elements (63.0%). Patients with dental trauma were male, aged 7-18 years, with family income more than one minimum wage, care- giver's education over 4 years, increased overjet, lip hypotonia, quadriple- gia, epilepsy, oral breathing, and severe communication skills. The presence of dental trauma was not associated with socioeconomic charac- teristics (gender, age, family income, and caregiver's educational level), oral health perception, and systemic and oral conditions (dental caries, maloc- clusion, and lip hypotonia) were evaluated (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of dental trauma was high, but not associated with clinical vari- ables and evaluated socioeconomic indicators.