Prevalence and Pattern of Traumatic Dental Injuries in Children and Adolescents With Severe to Profound Hearing Impairment: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Background/aim: Traumatic Dental Injuries (TDIs) are an emerging public health problem and a realm of research for oral health enthusiasts. Certain populations can be more vulnerable to injuries such as those with a sensory deficit. Nevertheless, literature is scarce, especially for those with hearing impairment. Therefore, the aim of the study was to compare the prevalence and patterns of TDI in children and adolescents with severe-to profound hearing impairments and children without hearing impairments.

Material and methods: Three hundred and ninety participants (195 severe to profound hearing impaired and 195 age and sex-matched controls) between 4 and 18 years were recruited from a tertiary care setting. A single calibrated examiner evaluated TDI for both groups. Among those with TDI, a vestibular function test (VFT) was also performed to assess postural balance. A single examiner from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology evaluated the VFT results.

Results: The overall prevalence of TDI was found to be 12.82% among the severe to profound hearing-impaired individuals, and 11.79% in controls. The majority of participants were aged between 7 and 13 years, in the mixed dentition stage, and were males. Among the cases, the majority had profound hearing loss (≥ 91 dB HL) and bilateral ear involvement. The most common type of TDI was uncomplicated crown fractures. Falls were identified as the most common cause of TDI in both groups. Vestibular dysfunction and loss of postural control were identified in 12 out of 14 patients tested with VFT. A significant association was found between TDI and the dentition type, that is, primary dentition was more affected among the severe to profound hearing impaired as compared to controls (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: There was no significant association between the severity of hearing impairment and the prevalence of dental trauma in children and adolescents with severe to profound hearing impairment. However, hearing-impaired individuals were susceptible to trauma at an early age compared to their healthy counterparts.