Comparison of the traumatic dental injuries between visually impaired and their peer sighted children in Kerman, Iran

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Trauma is a common problem among blindness and visually impaired children. The purpose of the current study was the assessment of the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries and the enamel defects resulted from these injuries among 6-12 years old blind children in comparison to the sighted children in Kerman. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, sample size was considered as census. All of 80 blind elementary school children that lived in Kerman, Iran, were examined and 80 sighted students were examined as control group. Data were collected by clinical examination of the permanent incisor teeth and a valid check list. Data was analyzed by SPSS software version 16 and chi-square statistical test. RESULTS: Regarding the history of trauma to the incisor primary teeth, there was statistically significant difference between the two groups. The blind children had significantly higher percentage of traumatic injuries to their incisor permanent teeth than the sighted children. There was a statistically significant difference regarding the prevalence of the enamel defects on labial surface between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Blind children are at risk of multiple traumatic dental injuries and subsequently the enamel defects. So they need more attentions and care for preventing this type of morbidity.