Management of dental trauma by general practitioners.

BACKGROUND

Patients who sustain dental trauma commonly present to their general practitioner (GP) or the emergency department, especial-ly to seek help after hours. It is important, therefore, for medical practitioners to correctly diagnose and manage these patients.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this paper is to familiarise GPs with different presentations of dental-related trauma, and a brief management plan for each condition.

DISCUSSION

Time is of the utmost importance when dealing with trauma in the dentition. Initial management of dental trauma, primarily by GPs working in rural or remote areas, can have a significant impact on the prognosis of oral hard and soft tissues.