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4.1 Basic Principles
The
following three basic principles should guide the management of dental
emergencies in young children:
- The management of a problem
with a primary tooth has implications for the underlying developing
permanent tooth. The dentist must weigh treatment benefits and
risks.
- Evidence that supports therapies
for injured primary teeth is limited and often anecdotal.
- Young children have difficulty
localizing pain, which can complicate diagnosis and, in cases of
non-dental etiologies, make it difficult to identify a cause.
Treatment of young children is complicated by the child’s
inability to communicate clearly and effectively and by the likelihood
that the child will be uncooperative. The child’s behavior
is likely to be the limiting factor in providing treatment. (For
more about behavior management, see module
2.) The dentist must
know when to refer a child to a specialist and should have a list
of referral sources (both medical and dental) available.
Tip
In cases of trauma, the dentist needs to remain mindful that,
in addition to the dental injury, other non-dental injuries may
also be present. Young children are anatomically different from
adults and may not respond as an adult with a cranial injury would.
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