Robert W. Comer

Oral trauma. Emergency care of lacerations, fractures, and burns

Emergency physicians are usually the first to see patients with injuries to oral and facial tissues. Because many of these patients may have life-threatening neurologic injuries, secondary oral and perioral problems may be overlooked initially. These injuries, however, have a profound potential for causing lifelong disability and disfigurement and should be addressed as soon as the patients condition stabilizes. It is essential to diagnose and manage these problems effectively in the emergency setting and then to make prompt direct referral to an appropriate specialist when the patients condition permits.

Dental emergencies: Management by the primary care physician

PreviewAlthough most patients with dental emergencies should be referred to a specialist, the primary care physician is often able to start treatment to relieve pain and preserve function. The authors of this article, all specialists in dentistry, offer guidelines for diagnosing and treating acute odontogenic problems that physicians may be the first to see.