[Dental injuries during general anaesthesia and their forensic consequences (author's transl)].

145 dental injuries in 83 patients occuring during general anaesthesia are classified on the basis of the material from a liability insurance company. These mainly affected the upper incisors. In childhood only luxations occured, in other ages no characteristic distribution of different types of damage could be found. Besides intubation, 20 per cent of injuries were caused by Guedel oral airways. Damage to teeth is the main cause of claims in tort from its total number. Damage of healthy teeth generally is due to carelessness, whereas an injury to teeth damaged by other reasons before administration of general anaesthesia causes liability of the anaesthesiologist because of inadequate examination and exploration.