The aims of this study were to assess the epidemiology of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) to primary teeth in infants and toddlers between 1 and 3 years of age and investigate whether TDI was related to biological and social factors. A representative sample of infants and toddlers in the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil (n = 519) was examined during a vaccination campaign. The evaluation of clinical signs of previous dental trauma was performed by nine previously calibrated examiners (intra-examiner Kappa = 0.95%; inter-examiner Kappa = 0.88%). Data were analysed through descriptive analysis, the chi-squared test (P < 0.050) and logistic regression. The prevalence of dental trauma was 41.6%. Among the 519 children examined, 193 (37.2%) had enamel fractures, 30 (5.7%) had enamel-dentin fractures and only three (0.6%) had enamel-dentin fractures involving the pulp. Dental care had been performed within the first 24 h in 4.1% of the sample and after 36 h in 0.8% of the sample. There was no statistically significant difference between genders. The most reported aetiologies were falls (28.8%) and collisions (6.8%). There were no statistically significant associations between the prevalence of dental trauma and non-nutritive sucking habits, dental caries or lip incompetence (P > 0.050). Children of mothers with low levels of schooling (0-6 years of study) had a greater prevalence of TDI (P = 0.001). The results of the logistic regression also demonstrated a significant association between dental injury and the Social Vulnerability Index (P = 0.045). Children from families with high social vulnerability (worse living conditions) had a 1.51 (95% confidence interval 1.0-2.2) greater chance of exhibiting TDI. These results can help guide the implementation of health promotion policies.

The high prevalence of dental trauma found among adolescents in the city of Diamantina (Brazil) was greater among those at high risk for problems related to alcohol intake and was significantly associated with hazardous alcohol use.

BackgroundHazardous drinking among adolescents is a major public health concern. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of binge drinking/alcohol consumption and its association with different types of friendship networks, gender and socioeconomic status among students in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study on a representative random sample of 891 adolescents (41% male, aged 15–19 years) from public and private schools in 2009–2010. Information on friendship networks and binge drinking was collected using two validated self-administered questionnaires: the Integrated Questionnaire for the Measurement of Social Capital and the first 3 items in the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT C). We used the area-based Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), mother and father’s educational background, and the type of school to assess socioeconomic status. The chi-squared test was used to examine the associations between sample characteristics or the type of friends and binge drinking (p-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant). Ordinal logistic regression was used to estimate the association between binge drinking and the independent variables.ResultsA total of 321 (36%) adolescents reported binge drinking (5 or more drinks in one occasion), and among them, 233 (26.2%) adolescents reported binge drinking less than monthly to monthly, and 88 (9.9%) weekly to daily. Binge drinking was associated with being male (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.01–2.28) and with living in a low vulnerability area (having the best housing conditions, schooling, income, jobs, legal assistance and health) (OR = 1.66, 95% CI 1.05–2.62). Students who reported that their closest friends were from school (as opposed to friends from church) had an increased risk of binge drinking (OR = 3.55, 95% CI 1.91–5.87). In analyses stratified by gender, the association was significant only among the female students.ConclusionsThe prevalence of binge drinking was high in this sample of Brazilian adolescents, and gender, low social vulnerability and friendship network were associated with binge drinking.

The prevalence of dental trauma in the study population was high. The same was true regarding alcohol and illicit drug use among the adolescents examined, although no statistically significant associations were found between these variables and a history of TDI. Private school system and accentuated overjet were significantly associated with dental trauma.

The prevalence of dental trauma was high and associated with the use of illicit drugs.