Emergency traumatic dental injuries: the dental nurse's role

Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) are one of the major oral health problems associated with not only childhood, but also adulthood. The Children's Dental Health Survey 2003 (Lader et al, 2005) revealed the proportion of children in the United Kingdom sustaining accidental damage to their permanent incisors increased with age from 5% at age 8, to 11% by age 12. Boys sustained injuries more frequently than girls.

TDIs can result in pain and distress to the patient and their loved ones, as well as causing costly and lengthy treatment. Given that a TDI could occur almost anywhere, any member of the public may be faced with a situation where appropriate and timely emergency advice needs to be provided. This could improve the prognosis of the injured teeth. However, the knowledge of lay people (as well as professional caregivers) has been found to be inadequate and inappropriate in many studies (Glendor, 2009a).