Anaesthesia and dental trauma

Abstract 

Damage to the teeth during general anaesthesia is a frequent cause of morbidity for patients and a source of litigation against anaesthetists. Most injuries occur as a result of laryngoscopy. The use of an oropharyngeal airway as a bite block can increase the risk of dental damage and should be avoided. Bite blocks should be made from an appropriate material and placed between molar teeth rather than incisors. Patients should be advised about the possibility of dental trauma during anaesthesia and should be advised to have preoperative dental treatment to minimize dental factors that increase the risk of injury. Children in a mixed dentition phase (between the ages of about 5–12 years) are a high-risk group. Anaesthetic departments should have local protocols to refer patients for dental treatment postoperatively in the event of trauma.

Keywords: anaesthesia, dental, laryngoscopy, trauma