International Association of Dental Traumatology guidelines for the management of traumatic dental injuries: General introduction

Abstract

Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) occur most frequently in children and young adults. Older adults also suffer TDIs but at significantly lower rates than individuals in the younger cohorts. Luxation injuries are the most common TDIs in the primary dentition, whereas crown fractures are more commonly reported for the permanent teeth. Proper diagnosis, treatment planning and follow up are very important to assure a favorable outcome. These updates of the International Association of Dental Traumatology's (IADT) Guidelines include a comprehensive review of the current dental literature using EMBASE, MEDLINE, PUBMED, Scopus, and Cochrane Databases for Systematic Reviews searches from 1996 to 2019 and a search of the journal Dental Traumatology from 2000 to 2019. The goal of these guidelines is to provide information for the immediate or urgent care of TDIs. It is understood that some follow-up treatment may require secondary and tertiary interventions involving dental and medical specialists with experience in dental trauma. As with previous guidelines, the current working group included experienced investigators and clinicians from various dental specialties and general practice. The current revision represents the best evidence based on the available literature and expert opinions. In cases where the published data were not conclusive, recommendations were based on the consensus opinions of the working group. They were then reviewed and approved by the members of the IADT Board of Directors. It is understood that guidelines are to be applied using careful evaluation of the specific clinical circumstances, the clinician's judgment, and the patient's characteristics, including the probability of compliance, finances and a clear understanding of the immediate and long-term outcomes of the various treatment options vs non-treatment. The IADT does not, and cannot, guarantee favorable outcomes from adherence to the Guidelines. However, the IADT believes that their application can maximize the probability of favorable outcomes.

Keywords: avulsion; luxation; prevention; tooth fracture; trauma.