Dental Injury
Considerations
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Upper central incisors are most frequently injured
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Need to inform patient of risk of dental damage whenever manipulating airway
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Can be caused by:
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Intubation
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LMA placement
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Suctioning
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Extubation
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After extubation (i.e. biting down on OPA)
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Risk factors:
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Difficult intubation
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Poor dentition
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Previous dental work
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Major morbidity if tooth fragments aspirated into airway
Management
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Dislodged teeth should be put in saline
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Ensure all tooth fragments are found and removed
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Consult dentistry
Prevention
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Careful technique
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Choose VL over DL
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Consider use of mouth guard during DL/VL
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Use muscle relaxants
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Use bite block
References
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Berkow, LC. Complications of airway management in adults. In: UpToDate, Hagberg, CA (Ed), UpToDate, Waltham, MA, 2023.