Dental traumatology : official publication of International Association for Dental Traumatology
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In order to fill the discrepancy between the necessity of providing prompt and proper treatment to dental trauma patients, and the inadequate knowledge among medics and corpsmen, as well as the lack of instructions in first-aid textbook and manuals, and after reviewing the dental literature, a simple algorithm for non-professional first-aid management for various injuries to hard (teeth) and soft oral tissues, is presented. The recommended management of tooth avulsion, subluxation and luxation, crown fracture and lip, tongue or gingival laceration included in the algorithm. Along with a list of after-hour dental clinics, this symptoms- and clinical-appearance-based algorithm is suited to tuck easily into a pocket for quick utilization by medics/corpsmen in an emergency situation. Although the algorithm was developed for the usage of military non-dental health-care providers, this method could be adjusted and employed in the civilian environment as well.
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There is little epidemiological research regarding dental trauma in Australia. Previous research has largely focused on specific sub-populations with data not necessarily applicable to a general rural Australian population. Studies from other countries have presented variable data and the relevance of their findings to the Australian setting is questionable. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, causes and presentation of dental trauma in a large rural centre in Australia. ⋯ The maxillary central incisors were the most commonly injured teeth in both the primary and permanent dentitions. Uncomplicated crown fractures were the most common injury followed by luxations and subluxations. No significant differences in frequency were reported for the different days of the week, the different months or seasons of the year. Only one-third of the patients presented for dental treatment within 24 h of the injury while the remainder delayed seeking treatment for varying times up to 1 year.
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Comparative Study
An ultrastructural study on indirect injury of dental pulp caused by high-speed missile projectile to mandible in dogs.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of indirect injury of dental pulp caused by high-speed missile projectile to mandible in dogs. Eighteen dogs aged 12-13 months were divided equally into six groups (n = 3 in each group) with random allocation, then a high-speed missile projectile (a ball bearing of stainless steel, phi6.0 mm, 0.88 g) was shot at right mandible body (the wound tract was below the fourth premolar, 1 cm or so to the root tips) of each dog, but the teeth were not wounded directly. ⋯ On the wound side, dental pulp of the fourth mandibular premolar was injured seriously and irreversible necrosis happened in the end; yet, dental pulp of the second mandibular premolar was injured less seriously, reversibly; on the opposite side, dental pulp of the second mandibular premolar was injured slightly and temporarily. It may be concluded that there are several characteristics in indirect injury of dental pulp caused by high-speed missile projectile to dogs' mandible: the injured area is relatively extensive; traumatic degree decreases progressively and sharply with the distance to the wound tract increasing; ultrastructural change of nerval damage takes place in early stage after wound, etc.
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Dental trauma has been considered as a public health problem that affects mainly children and youngsters and due to its impact on the patient's quality of life. This study presents the results of a 6-year survey of the occurrence and characteristics of dental trauma in patients admitted to the Service of Surgery and Oral and Maxillofacial Traumatology of the School of Dentistry of Araçatuba (UNESP, Brazil) after emergency care in hospital facilities in the region of Araçatuba, SP, Brazil. For such purpose, the clinical files of patients treated at the Service between 1999 and 2005 were reviewed. ⋯ Injuries to the periodontal tissues were the most frequent type of tooth injuries (408 teeth; 82.26%), occurring in 118 primary and 290 permanent teeth. Among the injuries to the periodontal tissues, avulsion was the most common (32.86%) (29.41% for primary and 34.0% for permanent teeth), followed by extrusive luxation (19.15%) (25.21% for primary and 17.24% for permanent teeth). In conclusion, in the surveyed population, cases of tooth injuries were more frequent in males aged 16-20 years old due to cyclist accidents with predominance of injuries to the periodontal tissues, in particular, avulsions.