Parent-Reported History of Traumatic Dental Injuries and Current Sports Participation Among Paediatric Dental Patients in Central Poland: A Cross-Sectional Study
- 1Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
Abstract
Background: Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) are among the most common oral health problems in children and adolescents and may significantly affect quality of life and long-term oral health outcomes. Participation in sports activities has been identified as an important risk factor for dental trauma; however, epidemiological data concerning Polish paediatric populations remain limited. Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the proportion and characteristics of parent-reported traumatic dental injuries among children attending a university paediatric dental clinic in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship and to evaluate the associations between a parent-reported history of dental trauma, current sports participation, and selected demographic characteristics. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among parents and legal guardians of children aged 7–15 years attending the Department of Paediatric Dentistry at the Medical University of Warsaw. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling during routine dental visits between 2023 and 2025. The questionnaire included items concerning demographic characteristics, current sports participation, and the child’s history of traumatic dental injuries. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, Fisher’s exact tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, and logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 735 questionnaires were included in the analysis. Traumatic dental injuries were reported in 42.9% of children. A history of TDI was reported for 47.7% of boys and 37.3% of girls (p = 0.006). A reported history of dental trauma was more common among children currently participating in sports than among non-participants (49.7% vs. 31.3%; p < 0.001). Football participation was associated with a higher occurrence of reported TDI. Rural residence and lower parental education level were also associated with a higher occurrence of reported TDI. In the fitted logistic regression model, current sports participation was associated with higher odds of a reported TDI history (OR = 2.33; 95% CI: 1.69–3.21). Conclusions: A history of traumatic dental injuries was frequently reported among children attending a university paediatric dental clinic in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship and was associated with sports participation and selected demographic characteristics. Owing to the clinic-based convenience sampling, these findings should not be interpreted as population-level prevalence estimates for children in Central Poland.
Related
- Prevalence and characteristics of self-reported sports-related injuries among university students: a cross-sectional study
- Pickleball injuries, search interest, and participation in the United States, 2014-2023: an ecological time series study
- Editorial: Visual rehabilitation of mild traumatic brain injuries or concussion
- Simulation‐Based Education in Traumatic Dental Injuries: A Systematic Review
- Cryogenic Sintering Decellularized Tissue Particles Creates Porous Scaffolds that Support Long-Term Alternative Macrophage Infiltration in Large Traumatic Injuries
BibTeX
@article{spodzieja2026parentreported,
title = {{Parent-Reported History of Traumatic Dental Injuries and Current Sports Participation Among Paediatric Dental Patients in Central Poland: A Cross-Sectional Study}},
author = {Karolina Spodzieja and Dorota Olczak-Kowalczyk},
journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/jcm15197720},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/19/7720},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Parent-Reported History of Traumatic Dental Injuries and Current Sports Participation Among Paediatric Dental Patients in Central Poland: A Cross-Sectional Study
AU - Karolina Spodzieja
AU - Dorota Olczak-Kowalczyk
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Journal of Clinical Medicine
DO - 10.3390/jcm15197720
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/19/7720
AB - Background: Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) are among the most common oral health problems in children and adolescents and may significantly affect quality of life and long-term oral health outcomes. Participation in sports activities has been identified as an important risk factor for dental trauma; however, epidemiological data concerning Polish paediatric populations remain limited. Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the proportion and characteristics of parent-reported traumatic dental injuries among children attending a university paediatric dental clinic in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship and to evaluate the associations between a parent-reported history of dental trauma, current sports participation, and selected demographic characteristics. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among parents and legal guardians of children aged 7–15 years attending the Department of Paediatric Dentistry at the Medical University of Warsaw. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling during routine dental visits between 2023 and 2025. The questionnaire included items concerning demographic characteristics, current sports participation, and the child’s history of traumatic dental injuries. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, Fisher’s exact tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, and logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 735 questionnaires were included in the analysis. Traumatic dental injuries were reported in 42.9% of children. A history of TDI was reported for 47.7% of boys and 37.3% of girls (p = 0.006). A reported history of dental trauma was more common among children currently participating in sports than among non-participants (49.7% vs. 31.3%; p < 0.001). Football participation was associated with a higher occurrence of reported TDI. Rural residence and lower parental education level were also associated with a higher occurrence of reported TDI. In the fitted logistic regression model, current sports participation was associated with higher odds of a reported TDI history (OR = 2.33; 95% CI: 1.69–3.21). Conclusions: A history of traumatic dental injuries was frequently reported among children attending a university paediatric dental clinic in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship and was associated with sports participation and selected demographic characteristics. Owing to the clinic-based convenience sampling, these findings should not be interpreted as population-level prevalence estimates for children in Central Poland.
SN - 2077-0383
ER -