Tooth wear, enamel hypoplasia and traumatic dental injuries among cerebral palsy children of Riyadh city

ObjectivesTo determine and describe tooth wear, enamel hypoplasia and traumatic dental injuries (TDI) in cerebral palsy (CP) children of Riyadh city.MethodsOne hundred and forty non-institutionalized CP children (82 males and 58 females) were examined in the dental clinic of the Disabled Children Association Center, Riyadh, for presence of tooth wear, enamel hypoplasia and traumatic dental injuries.ResultsThe children were divided into three age groups; the first group (3–6 years) consisted of 41 children, second group (7–9 years) consisted of 52 children and third group (10–12 years) had 47 children. The prevalence of tooth wear was 9.3%, while enamel hypoplasia was found in 25% of the children. Age and gender were not correlated to tooth wear or enamel hypoplasia in the examined CP children (p > 0.05). TDI were recorded in 12.1% of the children with a statistically significant difference between the first age group and; the second and third age groups (p < 0.05). The incidence of TDI was higher in older age groups with no statistically significant difference between males and females (p > 0.05).ConclusionsAbout one in each 10 children examined had tooth wear, while one quarter of them had enamel hypoplasia. Age and gender were not correlated to tooth wear or enamel hypoplasia. More than one tenth of the examined CP children had TDI with higher incidence in older age group.