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International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2011 Aim. To assess the relation between type of traumatic injury and use of pacifier at the time of a fall accident in 0- to 2-year olds. Material and methods. The study draws on data from the database on traumatic dental injuries at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital. Results. The study includes 1125 patients ≤2 years of age, representing a total of 1886 injuries. A total of 176 patients had fallen while using a pacifier, whereas 949 children suffered a fall without using a pacifier. In the pacifier group, 11.9% had crown fractures compared with 20.0% of children who had fallen without a pacifier (P = 0.012). Tooth displacement (lateral luxation, extrusion or avulsion) was relatively more frequent in children falling with a pacifier compared to children falling without a pacifier (64.8%vs 54.8%; P = 0.014). Furthermore, soft tissue injury was less frequent among the former (28.4%vs 38.3%; P = 0.013). Conclusions. Injuries occurring while using a pacifier tend to be tooth displacement rather than fractures. This is in accordance with the theoretical consideration that a blunt impact tends to favour displacement, whereas a sharp impact tends to favour fractures of the hard dental tissues. Language: en

Aim. The aim of this study was to classify early arrested eruption of primary molars and to analyse and explain the sequelae for the surrounding alveolar bone and the succeeding premolar. Design. The position of the arrested primary molars in the mandible, the height of the local alveolar bone, and the morphology and location of the succeeding premolar were evaluated on radiographs from 29 children. Results. Four groups of arrest from mild to severe with regards to infra-position were categorized (Groups I–IV). Mean ages at the time of referral decreased from Groups I (8 years, 10 months) to Group IV (5 years, 9 months). Sequelae. (i) Reduction of alveolar bone height (Groups I–III); (ii) delayed maturity of the succeeding premolar (two-thirds of the cases); (iii) malformation of the succeeding premolar (mainly Groups III and IV); and (iv) ectopically located premolar occlusal to the retained molar (Group IV). Conclusions. The deeper in the alveolar process a primary molar is retained, the earlier the disturbance in the eruption has occurred, and the greater is the risk of the permanent tooth germ being malformed and malpositioned. It is estimated that the earliest occurrences of arrested eruption of primary molars supposedly occur before the age of 3.

The aim of this study was to classify early arrested eruption of primary molars and to analyse and explain the sequelae for the surrounding alveolar bone and the succeeding premolar.The position of the arrested primary molars in the mandible, the height of the local alveolar bone, and the morphology and location of the succeeding premolar were evaluated on radiographs from 29 children.Four groups of arrest from mild to severe with regards to infra-position were categorized (Groups I-IV). Mean ages at the time of referral decreased from Groups I (8 years, 10 months) to Group IV (5 years, 9 months). SEQUELAE: (i) Reduction of alveolar bone height (Groups I-III); (ii) delayed maturity of the succeeding premolar (two-thirds of the cases); (iii) malformation of the succeeding premolar (mainly Groups III and IV); and (iv) ectopically located premolar occlusal to the retained molar (Group IV).The deeper in the alveolar process a primary molar is retained, the earlier the disturbance in the eruption has occurred, and the greater is the risk of the permanent tooth germ being malformed and malpositioned. It is estimated that the earliest occurrences of arrested eruption of primary molars supposedly occur before the age of 3.

Aim. To analyse the type and extent of injuries presented by patients seeking treatment for traumatic dental injuries at a major trauma centre. Furthermore, to analyse acute and subsequent treatment demands and treatment costs. Methods. A therapeutic and economic analysis was performed of 7549 patients treated for traumatic dental injuries in a major trauma centre located at the University Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark. Cases were divided into uncomplicated (concussion, subluxation, enamel and enamel-dentine fractures) and complicated cases (crown fractures with exposed pulps and crown-root fractures, luxation injuries with displacement of the tooth and bone fractures). Results. Primary tooth injuries were found in 2874 patients, involving 5443 teeth, among which 62·8% had complicated injuries. Permanent tooth injuries were found in 4525 patients, involving 10673 teeth, among which 40·4% had complicated injuries. The cost of treatment (including acute trauma service, follow-up and subsequent restoration) was estimated to be 0·6–1 mill USD a year for the patients treated in this trauma centre. If this figure is transferred to the estimated trauma population in Denmark, a yearly cost of traumatic dental injuries appears to range from 2 to 5 mill USD per 1 mill inhabitants per year according to the treatment scenario. Conclusion. Thus, treatment of traumatic dental injuries comprises an expensive part of the health services in Denmark.