Trauma kits for the dental office.

The old Boy Scout's motto, "Be Prepared," can be beneficially applied to the management of dental trauma. A large number of dental injuries occur every year, primarily in the 7- to 15-year age group. Preserving the natural dentition during that time period is critically important, because tooth loss at an early age presents significant lifelong dental problems. Being prepared to manage an emergency can make the difference between tooth loss and a successful outcome. Two factors contribute to achieving the better outcome: knowledge of the essentials of dental traumatology, and being prepared with the dental materials needed for appropriate treatment. It is the hope of the authors that these factors are clearly elucidated in this article.