Abstract:

Objective: Treatment failures in soft tissue injuries may result in economic, psychological, and esthetic problems. The aim of this study was to investigate the presentation of soft tissue injuries in dento-alveolar traumas. Material and Methods: The data were obtained from 268 children aged 1-15 years who were referred to a pedodontics clinic within one week of experiencing dental trauma during 2010-2015. The criteria used to categorize the data obtained from the dental trauma records were gender, age, localization (lips, gingiva, cheeks, tongue, and perioral tissues), wound type (abrasion, laceration, contusion, and mixed), time elapsed to treatment of the injury, and classification of the dento-alveolar trauma. Results: Soft tissue trauma was noted in 90 (33.6%) children. There was no statistically significant difference between the patients according to gender, age, and the time elapsed between the injury and treatment. With regard to the type of soft tissue trauma, 18.9% were contusions, 7.8% were abrasions, 43.3% were lacerations, and 30% were mixed injuries. Soft tissue injuries were frequently (64.4%) accompanied by periodontal injuries. Conclusion: Soft tissue injuries are occasionally seen in dento-alveolar traumas. Within the limits of this study, the type, localization, and classification of the trauma were more important factors than gender in soft tissue injuries.

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