TRAUMATIC ANTERIOR TEETH INJURIES: A QUICK OVERVIEW ON MANAGEMENT IN PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

Aim: Traumatic Dental Injuries (TDIs) of permanent teeth occur among school age children. These often involve upper central incisors and are the cause of first dental visit. The IADT classification is based on anatomical, therapeutic and prognostic considerations. Prognosis depends on type of TDI, emergency treatment and time elapsed till definitive treatment. Methods: a comprehensive search was carried out on electronic databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane. The following terms were searched individually and combined together: trauma, permanent incisors fracture, management, risk factors, prevention. The review included 22 papers published between 1972 and 2022. Results: the main dental injuries are crown fractures and dislocations. Many risk factors are: male gender, age, obesity, recreational activities, sports, overjet, overbite, lip incompetence and protrusion of upper incisors. Many authors suggest protocols, methods, trauma first aid, patient examination and the importance of communicating treatment options and prognosis to parents’ patients. The management includes clinical findings, radiographic examination, photos, pulp status evaluation, stabilization, patient instructions, stage of root development and follow ups. Antibiotic use is still a clinicians’ choice. Conclusions: the therapy of dental trauma in children should consider the age and the collaboration. Preserving pulp vitality is important. Necrosis may occur, so the pulp vitality follow ups must be made. Pediatric dentists can play a significant role in diagnosis, health advice, emergency care.