Long Term Challenges in Trauma Management

Question 1

Why is dental trauma such a bad thing?

Answer 1

Takes longer to treat and more expensive than many other bodily injuries

Question 2

what are some potential long term complications after dental trauma?

Answer 2

• discolouration
• loss of vitality
• inflammatory root resorption
• unfavourable tooth positioning
• defects in hard & soft tissues

Question 3

what colour can a traumatised tooth appear?

Answer 3

• yellow
• pink/red
• gre/black

Question 4

what is yellow discolouration indicative of?

Answer 4

• canal obturation
• deposition of tertiary dentine reduces light transmission

Question 5

what is pink discolouration indicative of?

Answer 5

• rupture of blood vessels during severe trauma may cause haemorrhage in pulp chamber
• blood components flow into dentinal tubules, causing discolouration of the surrounding dentine

Question 6

what can cervical root resorption present as?

Answer 6

pink discolouration at the cervical margin of the crown

Question 7

what is brown/grey/black discolouration indicative of?

Answer 7

• not infection
• accumulation of the haemoglobin molecule or other haematin molecules

Question 8

What occurs following trauma if revascularisation fails?

Answer 8

pulp necrosis and apical periodontitis

Question 9

what are diagnostic indicators of pulp necrosis?

Answer 9

• periapical radiolucency
• discolouration of tooth
• no response to pulp sensitivity test
• TTP
• presence of fistula

Question 10

how is pulpal necrosis treated?

Answer 10

• primary endodontics
• internal bleaching
• extractions and prosthetic replacement

Question 11

what can make a tooth more likely to experience displacement?

Answer 11

unfavourable tooth position

Question 12

what is not suitable for treatment of infra-occluded teeth?

Answer 12

orthodontics

Question 13

what is involved in the management of bone deficiencies?

Answer 13

• bone grafting procedures
• orthodontic extrusion therapy

Question 14

what is involved in the management of soft tissue deficiencies?

Answer 14

• mucogingival surgery
• connective tissue grafting to increase volume of keratinised mucosa

Question 15

what are examples of long term complications of trauma?

Answer 15

• inflammatory root resorption
• altered tooth positions
• root fractures exhibiting developing pathology
• loss of teeth as a result of trauma