Abstract Dental referrals to the Endodontics Specialty Clinic (ESC) are routine owing to the complexity of endodontic treatments. To obtain a better prognosis for treatment, students/dentists must perceive their technical limits. This study sought to investigate the referrals of patients to the ESC from different clinics of the Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas - SP, Brazil, and check: a) the demographic profile of patients and the most commonly affected tooth; b) the clinic with the largest number of referrals; c) the reasons for referrals; d) the complexity of the cases; e) and the difficulty in assessing the referred cases based on the classification provided by the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) and Souza-Filho. The study sample consisted of patients’ electronic dental referral records from February 2015 to June 2019. A total of 1,707 patients were referred to the ESC during the study period, and 62.4% were female. Lower molars were the most frequently involved teeth (34.8%), and 60.7% of the cases were referred due to the presence of root curvature. The AAE classification showed prevalence of highly difficult cases (71.3%), whereas Souza-Filho classification demonstrated a high rate of class III cases (85.8%). This study highlights the difficulties encountered by undergraduate students before or during endodontic treatments, reinforcing the need for clear criteria for selecting cases appropriate for each education level, thus improving endodontic treatment prognosis.

Resumen: Este estudio tuvo como meta investigar la prevalencia de trauma dental en niños y adolescentes brasileños. Se realizó una revisión sistemática considerando ocho bases de datos: MEDLINE (via PubMed), LILACS, BBO, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, Open Access Theses and Dissertations y OpenThesis. Solamente se incluyeron estudios de prevalencia que usaron un método de muestreo probabilístico, sin restricción sobre el año o lengua de publicación. Se usó las herramientas de evaluación crítica del JBI para estudios de prevalencia studies para evaluar el riesgo individual de sesgo. Los estudios individuales se combinaron en metaanálisis, usando un modelo de efectos aleatorios. La heterogeneidad entre los estudios se analizó mediante las estadísticas de Cochran Q e I-cuadrado. Se realizó un análisis de meta-regresión para evaluar las fuentes de heterogeneidad. El enfoque GRADE evaluó la certidumbre de evidencia a través de los estudios incluidos. La búsqueda resultó en 2.069 registros, de los cuales treinta y seis se incluyeron en el estudio. Los estudios elegibles se publicaron entre 2000 y 2021, con una muestra total de 40.194 niños y adolescentes. La mayoría de los estudios (75%) tenían un bajo riesgo de sesgo. En los dientes permanentes la prevalencia de trauma dental fue 21% (IC95%: 16,0; 26,0) y en los dientes deciduos la prevalencia de trauma dental fue 35% (IC95%: 26,0; 44,0). La prevalencia trauma dental entre niños fue más alta que entre niñas en ambas denticiones. Basado en una baja certidumbre, la prevalencia de lesiones traumáticas dentales en niños y adolescentes brasileños es más alta que la encontrada en el resto del mundo, tanto en dientes deciduos como en dientes permanentes. Asimismo, la prevalencia de trauma dental entre niños es más alta que entre niñas.

Resumo: O estudo buscou investigar a prevalência de trauma dentário em crianças e adolescentes brasileiros. Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática em oito bases de dados: MEDLINE (via PubMed), LILACS, BBO, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, Open Access Theses and Dissertations e OpenThesis. Foram incluídos apenas estudos de prevalência que usavam métodos de amostragem probabilística, sem limitação de ano ou idioma de publicação. Para avaliar o risco individual de viés, foram utilizadas as ferramentas de avaliação crítica da JBI para estudos de prevalência. Os estudos individuais foram combinados na metanálise com o uso do modelo de efeitos aleatórios. A heterogeneidade entre os estudos foi analisada pelas estatísticas Q de Cochran e I-quadrado. A análise de metarregressão foi realizada para avaliar as fontes de heterogeneidade. A abordagem GRADE avaliou a certeza das evidências entre os estudos incluídos. A busca resultou em 2.069 registros, dos quais 36 foram incluídos no estudo. Os estudos elegíveis foram publicados entre 2000 e 2021, com uma amostra total de 40.194 crianças e adolescentes. A maioria dos estudos (75%) teve baixo risco de viés. Nos dentes permanentes, a prevalência de trauma dentário foi de 21% (IC95%: 16,0; 26,0) e nos dentes decíduos foi de 35% (IC95%: 26,0; 44,0). A prevalência de trauma dentário foi mais alta no sexo masculino que no feminino, para ambas as dentições. Com base na baixa certeza, a prevalência das lesões dentárias traumáticas em crianças e adolescentes brasileiros é mais alta que no resto do mundo, tanto nos dentes decíduos quanto nos permanentes. Além disso, a prevalência de trauma dentário é mais alta em meninos que em meninas.

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of dental trauma in Brazilian children and adolescents. A systematic review was conducted considering eight databases: MEDLINE (via PubMed), LILACS, BBO, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, Open Access Theses and Dissertations, and OpenThesis. Only prevalence studies that used a probabilistic sampling method were included, without restriction on year or language of publication. The JBI critical appraisal tools for prevalence studies were used to assess the individual risk of bias. The individual studies were combined in the meta-analysis using the random-effects model. The heterogeneity between the studies was analyzed by Cochran’s Q and the I-square statistics. A meta-regression analysis was performed to evaluate the sources of heterogeneity. The GRADE approach assessed the certainty of evidence across included studies. The search resulted in 2,069 records, of which 36 were included in the study. The eligible studies were published from 2000 to 2021, with a total sample of 40,194 children and adolescents. Most studies (75%) had a low risk of bias. In permanent teeth, the prevalence of dental trauma was 21% (95%CI: 16.0; 26.0) and in deciduous teeth; 35% (95%CI: 26.0; 44.0). The prevalence of dental trauma among boys was higher than among girls for both dentitions. Based on a low certainty, the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries in Brazilian children and adolescents is higher than that found worldwide both in deciduous and permanent teeth. Also, the prevalence of dental trauma among boys is higher than among girls.