Pediatric Sports- and Recreation-Related Dental Injuries Treated in US Emergency Departments

Abstract

This study investigated characteristics and trends associated with sports- and recreation-related dental injuries among children <18 years old treated in US emergency departments using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System for 2000 to 2017. There were an estimated 198 787 (95% confidence interval = 162 216-235 358) injuries during the study period, averaging 11 044 injuries annually. The rate of dental injuries per 100 000 US population <18 years old fluctuated during the study, starting at 16.9 in 2000 and ending at 13.9 in 2017. Injuries most commonly occurred among males (69.8%) and children 7 to 12 years old (44.6%). Pediatric sports- and recreation-related dental injuries were most commonly associated with bicycles (28.6%), playground equipment (15.3%), and baseball/softball (12.4%). Although emergency department visits for pediatric sports- and recreation-related dental injuries decreased during the study period overall, sports and recreation remain an important source of preventable dental injury, particularly among children 7 to 12 years old.