ABC of oral health: Dental emergencies

doi:10.1136/bmj.321.7260.559

BMJ 2000;321:559-562 ( 2 September )

Clinical review

ABC of oral health

Dental emergencies

Graham Roberts, Crispian Scully, Rosemary Shotts.

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Most oral emergencies relate to pain, bleeding, or orofacial trauma and should be attended by a dental practitioner. However,in the absence of access to dental care, a medical practitionermay be called on to help. Jaw fractures require the attentionof oral or maxillofacial surgeons.

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Dental pain

Pulpal pain is spontaneous, strong, often throbbing, and exacerbated by temperature and outlasts the evoking stimulus. Localisationis poor, and pain tends to radiate to the ipsilateral ear, temple,or cheek. The pain may abate spontaneously, but the patient shouldstill be referred for dental advice, as the pulp has probablynecrosed, and acute periapical periodontitis (dental abscess)will probably follow in due course. Endodontics (root canal treatment)or tooth extraction are required.

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Periapical periodontitis pain is spontaneous and severe, persists for hours, is well localised, and is exacerbated by biting.The adjacent gum is often tender to palpation. An abscess mayform ("gumboil"), . . . [Full text of this article]