ABSTRACT
Dental emergencies in childhood fall into three main categories, trauma, infection and bleeding.
26.1 Trauma
In the 1993 UK Children’s Dental Health Survey of over 19000 children, 26% showed signs of dental trauma by the time they were 15 years of age. In addition, some children will have had tooth and soft tissue oral injuries that will have healed leaving no signs, giving an estimated 30% of children sustaining oral or dental injuries. The peak incidence of this trauma occurs in children between the ages of 1 and 3 years when they are learning to walk, and 8 and 11 years when their activities become more boisterous and less cautious. The upper central incisors are most vulnerable to injury. Risk factors include:
• protruding front teeth • hyperactivity • physical handicap • contact sports
26.1.1 History
In addition to a general medical history, the history of when, where and how any injury happened is important. Details of first aid given and any previous dental trauma will help to guide management. If a tooth is broken, all fragments should be accounted for. They could be inhaled, ingested or remain embedded in a laceration.
