P.D.H.P.E Assessment Task 4: First Aid

By Thomas Barlow

Teeth Injuries

Tooth Injuries may be defined as damage to teeth from the result of falls, accidents and other

mishaps.These types of occurrences may lead

to teeth becoming chipped, cracked, partially displaced or completely removed from the

socket in the mouth.

Introduction

Signs & SymptomsIn most cases, the signs of a tooth injury

can be physically seen. But in other situations, that might not always be the case. For example, where a person has had a concussion, the primary incisors have been known to change colour, also after a concussion, a sign of damage to a tooth is feeling pain when tapped with a dental instrument.

A Subluxation is when a tooth is loosened but not knocked out of place. A symptom of this could be bleeding around the top of the tooth.

Signs & SymptomsFractures to the teeth are also a common injury to attain from accidents, such as a sharp blow to the head from balls etc.

If the fracture travelled to the enamel and dentin, this could lead to an increase in sensitivity of that tooth to food and drinks (hot or cold) or air.

Severe fractures of the teeth which have lead to the pulp can cause bleeding in that area or may cause the formation of a small red spot.

Management Techniques

Avulsion – Complete dislodge of teeth Gently clean away any dirt from the tooth

with milk, saline, water or victim’s saliva.

Place tooth back into open socket, if possible. If unable, keep moist in either milk, saline, water or victim’s saliva. If unavailable, wrap in aluminium foil.

Victim should now be assessed by dental care at the first available opportunity.

Remember To Only Handle The Tooth By The Crown.

Chipped Teeth Recover and store the broken tooth fragments to

aid the dentist. (These can be temporarily, but securely attached back onto the tooth).

Seek the advice of a dentist at the earliest opportunity.

Luxation – Tooth loosened or pushed out of position

Move the tooth into the correct position as soon as possible.

Stabilise the tooth if necessary, by: BEST – By using a Splinting Disc. 2nd BEST - Biting into a towel. 3rd BEST - Hold the tooth in place by using finger pressure.

Remember: DO NOT store the tooth in dry gauze

or tissue. DO NOT touch the roots. (Yellow

areas) DO NOT scrape or rub the root

surface. DO NOT scrub the tooth. DO NOT sterilise the tooth. DO NOT allow the tooth to dry out.

The End

Bibliography1. http://www.sma.org.au/sportstrainers

/hints/teeth.asp Retrieved: 27/08/08 (Online) ‘Sports Medicine Australia’

2. Royal Life Saving Book – (Offline) Retrieved: 29/08/08

3. http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/tooth-injuries.html?pageNum=6#6 Retrieved: 01/09/08 (Online) ‘Your Total Health’