Trauma Patterns in Paediatric Dental Patients During Covid-19 Lockdown

Abstract

Introduction: Injuries to the dentoalveolar complex that are traumatic in nature are the most commonly encountered oral health problem world-wide. Epidemiological reports indicate and suggest that the characteristics of TDI’s to be relatively consistent. In January 2020,COVID 19 outbreak happened and lockdown was imposed in India. Dental treatment turned out to be most vicious culprit during that period. Most inaccessible and precautious was the dental treatment.

Aim: To evaluate the characteristics of TDI’s under the measures to prevent transmission in Chennai city during COVID 19 pandemic using an epidemiological investigation.

Materials And Method: This retrospective study ,epidemiological data such demographic entities, number of patients and parameters of TDI such as time of injury and time taken for clinical visit, etiology, location of tooth along with injury type were recorded. Records in the hospital were also collected during 2 periods; Period 1-January 15,2020 to April 15,2020 and Period 2-January 15,2019 to April 15,2020. Data were compared and analysed

Results: There was a decrease in the count of TDI’s in the year 2020 compared to 2019. Most patients visited the dental hospital under 24 hours of the trauma. Fights with siblings was the main reason for TDI during COVID 19 lockdown

Conclusion: The transmission control measures that were exercised during COVID-19 pandamic had a huge impact on epidemiology and etiology of TDI’s in Chennai.