A survey of dental and oral trauma in south-east Queensland during 1998

Background: This project investigated the aetiology of dental and oral trauma in a population in southeast Queensland. The literature shows there is a lack of dental trauma studies which are representative of the general Australian population. Method: Twelve suburbs in the south-east district of Queensland were randomly selected according to population density in these suburbs for each 25th percentile. All dental clinics in these suburbs were eligible to participate. Patients presenting with dental and oral trauma were eligible to participate. Results: A total of 197 patients presented with dental/oral trauma over a 12 month period. The age of patients ranged from 1-64 years whilst the most frequently presenting age group was 6-10 years. There was a total of 363 injured teeth with an average of 1.8 injured teeth per patient. Males significantly outnumbered females in the incidence of trauma. Conclusions: The highest frequency of trauma occurred in the 6-10 year age group. Most injuries in this group occurred while playing or riding bicycles. In the next most prevalent trauma group, 16-20 years, trauma occurred as a result of fighting and playing sport. Overall, males significantly outnumbered females by approximately 1.8:1.0. The majority of injuries in the deciduous dentition were to periodontal tissues. In the secondary dentition most injuries were to hard dental tissue and pulp

Multidisciplinary approach for the treatment of an oblique root fracture: a case report

This clinical case study describes a multidisciplinary modified technique for the treatment of an oblique root fracture. A-38-year old woman with a history of trauma and a broken tooth was referred to our clinic. There was an oblique crown fracture extending the coronal third of the root just underneath the cingulum of the crown. The patient was willing to keep her tooth in function by any means. Two weeks after root canal therapy the flap was raised. The coronal two third of the root canal was enlarged. An impression of the enlarged root canal and tooth surface with surrounding bone was taken. The flap was sutured and the impression was sent to the laboratory for the post-casting preparation. After 7 days, the flap was opened again and casting was cemented. The flap was sutured. Ten days after the second surgery, three anterior teeth were prepared and a final impression was taken for the preparation of porcelain crowns. Restoration was finished 15 days after the second operation. The patient is still under maintenance therapy and the 12 month results are presented in this report. Extraction may not be the only alternative for the root fractures. Even for fractures under the alveolar margin, alternative multidisciplinary approaches can be used to restore and allow the tooth to survive