New Delhi: More than one billion people globally have experienced traumatic dental injuries, making it a significant yet often overlooked public health concern with potentially long-term consequences for oral health and quality of life, AIIMS experts said.
Observed annually on September 21, Global Dental and Oral Trauma Day is supported by the Indian Society of Dental Traumatology to raise awareness about prevention, timely management and equitable access to care for traumatic dental injuries.
A study published in Dental Traumatology journal in 2018 reported that more than one billion living people worldwide have experienced traumatic dental injuries (TDI).
Researchers highlighted that TDI represents a neglected condition of substantial global burden, noting that, if included among the world’s most frequent acute and chronic diseases and injuries, it could rank fifth in terms of prevalence.
“Dental trauma can happen anytime, anywhere and to anyone. It can have both immediate and long-term consequences. It is not simply a broken or displaced tooth. For many patients, a traumatic injury can initiate a lifelong cycle of treatment, follow-up and rehabilitation,” said Dr Ajay Logani, Professor of Endodontics at Centre for Dental Education and Research (CDER), AIIMS Delhi said.
Logani stressed the emphasis has to shift from treating trauma only after it occurs to preventing injuries. The public should also know what to do immediately after an accident, he said.
Falls, road traffic accidents, sports injuries, domestic violence and everyday accidents are among the common causes of dental trauma.
Children are particularly vulnerable to dental trauma, and the first few minutes after an injury can be critical, Dr Nitesh Tewari, Professor of Pediatric Dentistry at CDER, AIIMS Delhi said.
“For a child, a traumatic injury can affect not only the tooth but also facial development, appearance, psychological trauma and quality of life. Parents should know that dental trauma requires timely assessment and should not be dismissed as ‘just a broken tooth’,” said Dr Tewari.
Experts said awareness about immediate first aid remains inadequate, despite the fact that the response in the first few minutes can influence the outcome of an injured tooth.
“The first person to handle a dental injury may be a parent, school teacher, sports coach, or even a bystander. A few simple fact — what to do with an injured tooth, what not to do, how to transport it and where to seek care — can potentially make a lifelong difference,” said Dr Sidhartha Sharma, Associate Professor of Endodontics, CDER, AIIMS, Delhi.
Dental trauma education therefore needs to move beyond dental clinics and into schools, sports facilities, emergency services and the community, Sharma underlined.
“Teachers, coaches and parents should be equipped with basic information on recognising serious injuries and taking appropriate immediate steps. This can help reduce avoidable complications and improve the chances of preserving an injured tooth,” he stated.
Tewari said prevention should include safer sports practices, use of appropriate protective equipment, road safety measures and greater awareness of risks in children and young people.
Experts stressed that dental trauma should not be viewed merely as a cosmetic problem, as injuries can have long-term consequences for oral health, function, appearance and quality of life.
The observance carries a message extending beyond the dental profession: prevent injuries where possible, know the correct first-aid response when trauma occurs, and ensure timely access to evidence-based care.
