Traumatic injuries to the dentition and its surrounding structures resulting from sporting activities or from an accident require immediate care and may involve a long recovery.
The entire dental team which includes the dentist, specialist, hygienist, assistants, and staff plays a significant role in managing an emergency dental trauma.
The goal is to provide immediate care and comfort for the patient, to restore the damaged dentition, and to improve the long term prognosis.
Dental trauma can be classified as: A.
Crown fractures B.
Root fractures C.
Luxation Injuries: 1.
Concussion 2.
Subluxation, 3.
Extrusive luxation, 4.
Lateral luxation 5.
Intrusive luxation D.
Avulsions E.
Alveolar Fractures There are three categories of treatment for dental trauma: primary, secondary, and tertiary care.
Primary care is the urgent care immediately following an injury.
The dental team is in emergency care mode, quickly assessing the situation, gathering information, obtaining diagnostic radiographs, and formulating a diagnosis.
Treatment involves repairing or reattaching fractured teeth, splinting luxated teeth, or the reimplantation of avulsed teeth.
Chipped or fractured teeth, with or without pulp exposure, can be treated within 48 hours with the pulp's long-term outcome not affected.
Secondary care which follows primary care consists of evaluation and monitoring of the pulp and surrounding structures.
Treatment may include endodontic therapy, soft tissue therapy, surgery, restorations, or the decoronation of a tooth for a young patient.
Tertiary care is definitive treatment which may occur years after the injury.
It may include: fixed partial dentures, dental implants, orthodontics, or autotransplantation.
Treatment for any of the above injuries should follow the general guidelines for treatment of permanent teeth from the American Academy of Endodontists and International Association of Dental Traumatology.
References can also be found in the Andreasen et al textbook on dental trauma.
Although these are guidelines for care, all clinical judgments based on need are critical.
Dental trauma during sporting activities or from an accident can be very traumatic.
These injuries, if not addressed properly and within a timely manner, can result in future damages that may not be reversible.
The function and health of the dentition is critical, but esthetic consideration is also of high priority when an injury occurs in the esthetic zone of the patient.
Proper home care after an any injury is also important, such as Chlorohexdine rinses and pain medication if indicated.
A soft food diet and continued brushing and flossing.
In today's society being active is commonplace and dental injuries can be a result.
The dental team must be prepared to handle any resultant injuries.
The entire dental team which includes the dentist, specialist, hygienist, assistants, and staff plays a significant role in managing an emergency dental trauma.
The goal is to provide immediate care and comfort for the patient, to restore the damaged dentition, and to improve the long term prognosis.
Dental trauma can be classified as: A.
Crown fractures B.
Root fractures C.
Luxation Injuries: 1.
Concussion 2.
Subluxation, 3.
Extrusive luxation, 4.
Lateral luxation 5.
Intrusive luxation D.
Avulsions E.
Alveolar Fractures There are three categories of treatment for dental trauma: primary, secondary, and tertiary care.
Primary care is the urgent care immediately following an injury.
The dental team is in emergency care mode, quickly assessing the situation, gathering information, obtaining diagnostic radiographs, and formulating a diagnosis.
Treatment involves repairing or reattaching fractured teeth, splinting luxated teeth, or the reimplantation of avulsed teeth.
Chipped or fractured teeth, with or without pulp exposure, can be treated within 48 hours with the pulp's long-term outcome not affected.
Secondary care which follows primary care consists of evaluation and monitoring of the pulp and surrounding structures.
Treatment may include endodontic therapy, soft tissue therapy, surgery, restorations, or the decoronation of a tooth for a young patient.
Tertiary care is definitive treatment which may occur years after the injury.
It may include: fixed partial dentures, dental implants, orthodontics, or autotransplantation.
Treatment for any of the above injuries should follow the general guidelines for treatment of permanent teeth from the American Academy of Endodontists and International Association of Dental Traumatology.
References can also be found in the Andreasen et al textbook on dental trauma.
Although these are guidelines for care, all clinical judgments based on need are critical.
Dental trauma during sporting activities or from an accident can be very traumatic.
These injuries, if not addressed properly and within a timely manner, can result in future damages that may not be reversible.
The function and health of the dentition is critical, but esthetic consideration is also of high priority when an injury occurs in the esthetic zone of the patient.
Proper home care after an any injury is also important, such as Chlorohexdine rinses and pain medication if indicated.
A soft food diet and continued brushing and flossing.
In today's society being active is commonplace and dental injuries can be a result.
The dental team must be prepared to handle any resultant injuries.