Parent-Reported History of Traumatic Dental Injuries and Current Sports Participation Among Paediatric Dental Patients in Central Poland: A Cross-Sectional Study.

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.