Pattern of dental trauma in Sri Lankan children
Professor Lilani Ekanayake from the Division of Paediatric Dentistry at the Dental Hospital, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, investigated the trends of traumatic dental injuries in children seeking care at the hospital. Over a period of three years, a total of 197 children aged between 2 and 17 years sought treatment for 304 traumatized teeth. In most cases, there was a substantial delay in seeking care for the injuries, and the recommendation was that educational programmes be conducted for parents to create awareness about the importance of immediate management of traumatized teeth. Professor Ekanayake discussed the study further with Dental Learning Hub.
Question: What is the background of your research?
Lilani Ekanayake: It was observed that a number of children attend the Division of Paediatric Dentistry of the University Dental Hospital seeking care for traumatic injuries. Moreover, many seeking care attend the clinic long after the injury had occurred. As there are no published studies on traumatic injuries to teeth among Sri Lankan children, it was considered important to assess the pattern of traumatic injuries in children seeking care at the paediatric dental unit.
Question: Your study showed that half of the patients only sought treatment 1 month after the trauma occurred. What were the main attributing factors for this that emerged from the questionnaires?
Lilani Ekanayake: Lack of symptoms by the children and lack of time by the parents.
Question: How does this delay in receiving treatment compromise or challenge the eventual treatment of the injury?
Lilani Ekanayake: Prompt attention may have reduced treatment costs by significant proportions. Also early attention may lead to better prognosis.
Question: Your paper concludes that parent education is essential to reverse the current trends. What programmes or methods will be employed to achieve this?
Lilani Ekanayake: Sri Lanka has a well established network of maternal and child health clinics which provide curative and preventive care to mothers and children. Health workers attached to these clinics could be instructed to educate mothers on the importance of immediate management of traumatic dental injuries. Moreover care givers of children who seek treatment at the Paediatric dental unit also could be educated on this subject.
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Full article
‘Pattern of traumatic dental injuries in children attending the University Dental Hospital, Sri Lanka’ Dental Traumatology
Volume 24 Issue 4, Pages 471 - 474
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Professor Lilani Ekanayake from the Division of Paediatric Dentistry at the Dental Hospital, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, investigated the trends of traumatic dental injuries in children seeking care at the hospital. Over a period of three years, a total of 197 children aged between 2 and 17 years sought treatment for 304 traumatized teeth. In most cases, there was a substantial delay in seeking care for the injuries, and the recommendation was that educational programmes be conducted for parents to create awareness about the importance of immediate management of traumatized teeth. Professor Ekanayake discussed the study further with Dental Learning Hub.
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