Joana Leonor Pereira

Traumatic dentoalveolar injuries to the primary dentition constitute a common cause of emergency pediatric dental care and are particularly prevalent between the first and the second years of age, when children are learning to walk and still developing motor coordination.

Immediate or urgent care for dental traumatisms in young children is frequently distressing for the child, parents and for the Pediatric Dentist, presenting multiple diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Furthermore, children’s quality of life can be negatively affected by traumatic dental injuries, depending on its severity and sequelae. In this context, careful and proper management should aim to not only treat lesions in primary teeth, but also to avoid and/or minimize the occurrence of sequelae to the underlying permanent tooth germ(s).

This presentation will firstly illustrate dental traumatisms in primary dentition and its sequelae, underlining strategies toward preventing injuries in childhood. The most recent clinical guidelines for the management of traumatic dental injuries will also be covered, aiming to assist dentists delivering the best care possible and maximizing the chances of a positive outcome.