TRAUMATICALLY EXTRACTED TEETH

If a tooth has been traumatically extracted from the socket, notify the dentist as soon as possible. The dental officer may instruct you to replace the tooth back in the socket after rinsing it with sterile saline. Time is of the essence for the replantation to be a success. Perform emergency treatment guidelines and control hemorrhaging until the dentist arrives.

FRACTURES OF THE MANDIBLE AND MAXILLA

The dentist will treat this type of injury. Your responsibility is to prevent further injury and to lessen the pain while waiting for the dentist. A person who has a fractured jaw may suffer serious interference with breathing. One of the most important phases of emergency care is to clear the upper respiratory passage of any obstruction. Fractures are usually the result of a high-velocity accident (e.g., the face striking the dashboard of a car). Of all the facial bones, the nasal bones, followed by the mandible, are the most frequently injured.

Less common is a fracture of the maxilla. It can be distinguished from a mandibular fracture because the fractured maxilla will cause severe malocclusion consisting of an open bite. The face will also look elongated. Both the mandible and maxilla fractures are treated in the same manner until a dentist arrives.

Symptoms

Symptoms for fractures of the mandible and maxilla may include some of the following:

Difficulty in breathing, talking, eating, or swallowing

Pain when the mandible or maxilla is moved

Figure 6-8.\Bandaging to immobilize both mandible and maxilla.

An inability to move the mandible or maxilla

Bleeding from the gums and around the teeth

A complaint from the patient that the teeth do not meet right

A complaint that the lower lip is numb (mandibular fracture)

Signs

Upon examination you may observe:

Facial swelling

Abnormal occlusion

Fractured bones on dental radiographs ordered by the dentist

Abnormal movement of mandible or maxilla

Treatment

Emergency treatment for fractures of the mandible and maxilla may include performing emergency treatment guidelines and the following:

Reporting the patient's condition to the dentist.

Immobilizing the injured area by applying an elastic bandage as shown in figure 6-8. Ensuring that you have a pair of scissors standing by to cut the bandage off if the patient starts to vomit or has respiratory difficulties.

Applying ice packs to reduce swelling of the injured area and to lessen the pain.