AIIMS Experts Call Dental Trauma a Neglected Global Health Issue Affecting Over a Billion People

More than one billion people around the world have suffered tooth and mouth injuries, which experts from AIIMS describe as a major public health issue that does not get enough attention. Global Dental and Oral Trauma Day is marked every year on September 21 with support from the Indian Society of Dental Traumatology to spread awareness about prevention and care. A 2018 study in the Dental Traumatology journal noted that if these injuries were counted alongside the world's top diseases and conditions, they could rank fifth in overall frequency.

Causes and Impact

Common triggers for these injuries include falls, road accidents, sports mishaps, domestic violence, and daily accidents. Experts warn that an injured tooth is not just a cosmetic issue or a simple fix, but often starts a lifelong path of treatments, dental visits, and recovery. Children face higher risks, and trauma can harm their jaw and facial growth, looks, and mental well-being. Ajay Logani, a professor of endodontics at the Centre for Dental Education and Research at AIIMS Delhi, stated that care must focus more on stopping accidents before they happen.

First Aid and Prevention

Many people still lack proper knowledge about what to do in the first few minutes after an accident, which is a crucial time for saving a damaged tooth. Sidhartha Sharma, another endodontics professor at the AIIMS center, pointed out that teachers, parents, sports coaches, or bystanders are often the first to handle such cases. Nitesh Tewari, a professor of paediatric dentistry at AIIMS Delhi, added that prevention steps should include safer sports gear, better road safety rules, and early risk awareness for young people.

Context

Dental and oral injuries are often treated merely as minor cosmetic damage, but dental professionals emphasize that timely first aid can determine whether a tooth is saved or lost for good. Spreading basic training outside hospitals and into schools and sports centers helps communities respond faster to sudden accidents.