In this weeks blog post we are visiting the treatment of Dental Trauma. A shoutout to Medland Orthodontics for supplying the below information.
REMAIN CALM: Your response or reaction to illness, injury and trauma will affect a person’s ability to cooperate. All incidents should be handled calmly and quietly. A panicked person is more likely to cause difficulty for caregivers providing first aid or treatment and may lead to further trauma. In all cases, staff will remain with the person and not leave them unattended.
SURVEY SCENE FOR SAFETY: When a person is injured, ensure the environment is safe to proceed to the person without causing additional harm to self or others. Ensure others who are not directly involved with providing care are not allowed to stand about and impede the progress of care provided. Ensure the environment is safe and free from other potential hazards. (If the environment remains unsafe to provide first aid care, call 000 or local emergency medical services for assistance).
PROVIDE APPROPRIATE FIRST AID CARE: If the injury is ‘life-threatening’ call 000. Perform DRSABCD and FIRST AID.
DRSABCD (In life-threatening conditions):
D – Danger: Ensure the area is safe for yourself, others and the patient.
R – Response: Check for a response when you talk to them, touch their hands or squeeze their shoulder. No response – send for help. Response – make comfortable and monitor response.
S – Send for help: Call triple zero (000) or ask another person to make the call. Try an answer as many questions asked by the operator.
A – Airway: Open the mouth and check the airway for foreign material. Foreign material- place in the recovery position and clear the airway. No Foreign material- leave in position. Open the airway by tilting the head back with a chin lift.
B – Breathing: Check if the casualty is breathing: Look, Listen, and Feel for 10 seconds. Not normal breathing- ensure an ambulance has been called; start CPR. Normal breathing- place in the recovery position and monitor breathing.
C – CPR: 30 chest compressions: 2 breaths. Continue CPR until help arrives or the patient starts breathing.
D – Defibrillation: For unconscious victims who are not breathing, apply an automated external defibrillator (AED) if one is available. They are available in many public places, clubs and organisations.
First Aid for Dental Trauma (In non-life-threatening conditions)
Injury to Gums or Lips:
1. Wear Latex or vinyl gloves and control bleeding with direct pressure.
2. Apply cold compress or ice to the swollen area.
3. Person to see a dentist or doctor if bleeding continues or wound is large.
Injury to Tongue:
1. Wear latex or vinyl gloves and control bleeding by pressing both sides of the tongue firmly but gently with gauze.
2. If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes of firm but gentle pressure, contact emergency room for immediate treatment.
Fractured Tooth:
1. Rinse any debris from the tooth with cool to luke warm water. Try to find the broken piece and store in milk or water.
2. Place a cold compress over the injured area.
3. Contact the dentist for immediate treatment.
Knocked Out:
1. Find the tooth – this is for adult teeth only
2. Do not touch the tooth root with fingers.
2. Rinse any debris from the tooth with cool to lukewarm water.
3. If the tooth is intact, reinsert it in its socket and have the person bite down on a clean dressing to keep it in place.
4. If the tooth cannot be reinserted in its socket, place the tooth into a clean container of cool milk or water.
5. Contact the dentist for immediate treatment.
Loose:
1. Try to move the tooth/teeth gently back into their original position.
2. Close the mouth and use either a piece of gauze, napkin or a clean handkerchief between the upper and lower front teeth.
3. Contact the dentist for immediate treatment.
Keeping Record: A record should be kept (detail of first aid procedure and so forth) in case there are issues relating to insurance and public liability.
With thanks to Medland Orthodontics
