Abstract

Many patients with facial injuries are first seen by doctors in the emergency room. Injuries affecting teeth and alveolar process are common in children; approximately half of all children have sustained such an injury before adulthood. Dentoalveolar trauma does not pose a significant morbid risk for the trauma patient. However, failure to recognise or obtain appropriate consultation can result in premature tooth or alveolar bone loss, resulting in problematic prosthetic rehabilitation. Emergency room doctors should know the initial treatment guidelines for traumatic dental injuries to provide optimal treatment before the patient can seen by a dentist. An avulsed tooth should be replanted immediately, or kept moist until it can be replanted. Prognosis is related to storage media and the length of the extra-alveolar period. Teeth replanted within 5 minutes have the best prognosis. If the primary consultation is by phone the patient, or the parent, should be informed to replant the avulsed tooth. If this is not feasible the tooth should be stored in milk, saliva (oral cavity) or physiologic saline until replanted. Primary teeth are not replanted.