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Key Points
- The following three basic principles
should guide the management of dental emergencies in young children:
(1) 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. (2) Evidence that supports therapies
for injured primary teeth is limited and often anecdotal. (3) Young
children have difficulty localizing pain, which can complicate diagnosis
and, in cases of non-dental etiologies, make it difficult to identify
a cause.
- Oral injury types include alveolar
injuries, avulsed teeth, and cellulitis.
- In diagnosing the origin of oral
pain and swelling in young children, dentists should be guided by
the following principles: (1) rule out dental etiology by conducting
a thorough examination and taking x-rays, if possible; (2) keep in
mind that young children are far more likely to have a non-dental
infection than a dental one; and (3) If warranted, refer the child
to a medical professional for evaluation.
- Although young children present
at the dentist with pain resulting from an injured tooth, frequently,
the tooth pain is caused by other factors, such as the herpes virus,
dehydration, ulcerations, lymphadenopathy, and tongue lacerations.
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