Comparative Evaluation of Dental and Craniofacial Injury Patterns in Conventional and Electric Two-Wheeler Riders in Urban Settings: A Cross-Sectional Survey-Based Study.

Authors

Aditya Talwar, Puneet Batra, Abdur Raheem Abdul Mannan, Isha Duggal, Vishal Sharma, Prem Kumar Biswas

Published in

Dental traumatology : official publication of International Association for Dental Traumatology. Oct 20, 2026. Epub Oct 20, 2026.

Abstract

To assess and compare the prevalence and pattern of dental and craniofacial injuries sustained by conventional two-wheeler riders versus electric two-wheeler (e-bike/e-scooter) riders involved in road traffic accidents (RTAs), and to evaluate the role of protective gear, riding practices, and behavioral factors on injury outcomes.
Six hundred and fifty-two riders (340 conventional two-wheelers, 312 e-bike/e-scooter) were examined and interviewed from an urban setting using a structured questionnaire. Data encompassed demographics, vehicle type, compliance with protective gears, riding behavior and practices, accident characteristics, and oro-facial injury profile. Chi-square, Fisher's exact tests, and descriptive statistics were applied (significance: p < 0.05). A supplementary binary logistic regression, adjusted for vehicle type, helmet compliance, commercial rider status, age group, usual vehicle speed, and pre-ride training, was performed to identify independent predictors of facial injury.
Road traffic accident involvement was significantly more prevalent among e-bike riders than conventional two-wheeler riders (70.8% vs. 47.1%; RR = 1.51; p < 0.001). Among accident cases, facial or oral injuries were significantly more frequent in e-bike riders (72.9%) than in conventional two-wheeler riders (39.4%; OR = 4.13; p < 0.001). Lacerations were the most common injury (39.3%), followed by chipped or broken teeth (21.0%), jaw or facial bone fractures (14.7%), tooth avulsion (9.8%), and tooth displacement/luxation injuries (7.1%). No significant intergroup differences were identified for any individual injury category. Accident rates were similar between commercial and personal use within vehicle groups: E-Bike: 70.6% vs. 71.0% (RR = 0.995; OR = 0.984); Road Bike: 50.0% vs. 45.5% (RR = 1.098; OR = 1.196). Consistent use of protective gear was reported by 72.6% of conventional two-wheeler riders, compared with only 5.8% of e-bike riders (p < 0.001). Pre-ride training was received by 63.8% of conventional riders, compared with 14.7% of e-bike riders.
Electric two-wheeler riders demonstrate a markedly higher risk of accidents and orofacial injuries compared with conventional riders. After multivariable adjustment, the association between e-bike riding and injury remained significant (aOR = 4.213, p < 0.001). However, correlated behavioral predictors (such as helmet use and pre-ride training) could not be reliably disentangled. Low helmet compliance and urgency-driven riding behavior among delivery riders in quick commerce represent critical characteristics of the e-bike cohort that warrant further investigation.

PMID:
42902488
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 21 Oct 2026.

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