Mobile Health Assessment of Traumatic Dental Injuries Using Smartphone-Acquired Photographs: A Multicenter Diagnostic Accuracy Study.

Background: Mobile health (mHealth) has an emerging potential for remote assessment of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) and support of emergency care. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of TDI detection from smartphone-acquired photographs. Methods: The upper and lower anterior teeth of 153 individuals aged ≥ 6 years were photographed using a smartphone camera app. The photos of 148 eligible participants were reviewed independently by a dental specialist, two general dentists, and two dental therapists, using predetermined TDI classification and criteria. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and inter-rater reliability were estimated to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the photographic method relative to the reference standard established by the dental specialist. Results: Of the 1,870 teeth screened, one-third showed TDI; and one-seventh of the participants had primary or mixed dentitions. Compared between the specialist's reference standard and four dental professionals' reviews, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for TDI versus non-TDI were 59-95% and 47-93%, respectively, with better performance for urgent types of TDI (78-89% and 99-100%, separately). The diagnostic consistency was also better for the primary/mixed dentitions than the permanent dentition. Conclusion: This study suggested a valid mHealth practice for remote assessment of TDI. A better diagnostic performance in the detection of urgent types of TDI and examination of the primary/mixed dentition was also reported. Future directions include professional development activities involving dental photography and photographic assessment, incorporation of a machine learning technology to aid photographic reviews, and randomized controlled trials in multiple clinical settings.

Assessment of the validity and reliability of a novel dental trauma index.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Traumatic dental injuries (TDI) are one of the most commonly encountered dental health complications. In order to standardize the evaluations and compare the findings of TDI, a carefully defined dental trauma index may serve as a good tool for the correct recording of dental trauma. A new dental trauma index, the Modified Eden & Baysal dental trauma index (MEBTI), has been introduced. It is an expanded index to record soft tissue injuries in addition to dental injuries. The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the MEBDTI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The archival data of 20 patients with different traumatic injuries were selected. A web-based form including the radiographs and photographs of selected cases was created. Following a training session, 12 dentists with a minimum of 10 years of clinical experience were asked to score the cases using the MEBDTI on an online form. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to test the normality. The Kruskal-Wallis Test was used for intergroup comparisons. Inter-observer agreement was investigated by reliability analysis. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate the agreement among observers. The Chi-Square test of independence was used to determine if there is a significant relationship between two nominal variables (p < .05). RESULTS: The rate of correctly assessing the alveolar bone fracture was 96.9% followed by apex maturity (92.7%), root fracture (85.4%), luxation injury (76.5%), crown fracture (76.2%), and soft tissue injury (50%). Considering all parameters, the soft tissue injuries were statistically different in terms of the answers given by the 12 dentists (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The accuracy of the scores of participants was high and in accordance with each other except for the identification of soft tissue injuries. In favor of this novel index, the data on dental trauma cases could be recorded practically and reliably.

Comparison of Different Clinical Decision Support Tools in Aiding Dental and Medical Professionals in Managing Primary Dentition Traumatic Injuries.

BACKGROUND: Many patients are taken to the emergency room for dental trauma treatment, but studies reveal that medical professionals do not feel confident in diagnosing and treating children with traumatic dental injuries. The purpose of this study was to determine if a clinical decision support tool (CDST) would improve dental trauma knowledge of primary teeth in medical students and pediatric dentists. Another purpose was assessing effectiveness of print and mobile app CDSTs. METHODS: Medical students (n = 100) and pediatric dentists (n = 49) were given a pretest to assess baseline dental trauma knowledge. All subjects were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups for the posttest: no CDST, print CDST, and mobile app CDST. Test scores and total time spent on each test were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with medical students, pediatric dentists scored significantly higher in both pretest (8.57 ± 0.96 vs 4.20 ± 1.58; P < 0.001) and posttest (8.37 ± 1.09 vs 4.96 ± 1.99; P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in time spent to complete the 2 tests between both groups. Medical students and pediatric dentists who utilized the mobile app CDST had scored highest (P = 0.028) but took the longest time (P < 0.001) on the posttest. CONCLUSIONS: Both print and mobile app CDSTs improved diagnosing and managing traumatic dental injuries in primary dentition significantly compared with those without aid. Medical students with CDSTs showed significant improvement in managing primary dental trauma; therefore, it is recommended for better, more accurate diagnosis and treatment in patients.

Introducing dental trauma (a non-curricular topic) into medical education: A viewpoint.

The aim of this paper is focused on expanding medical students' knowledge and understanding of a non-core curricular subject not normally offered in the medical curriculum. The critical juncture explored how to introduce a health-related subject into medical education that complements without competing for space/time in medical students' core studies. Using dental trauma as an example, this paper supports the opportunity for medical students to learn online about managing dental injuries and to raise their awareness of the need for accurate diagnosis and treatment of traumatic dental injuries before they graduate as medical doctors.

Extension of a novel diagnostic index to include soft tissue injuries: Modified Eden Baysal Dental Trauma Index.

AIM: Accurate records of traumatic dental injuries are important for clinical management and data collection for research. Soft tissue injuries often accompany dental trauma and should be appropriately recorded. The Eden Baysal Dental Trauma Index (EBDTI) provides an easy recording system of useful information about traumatic dental injuries on a tooth basis. The aim of this study was to extend the EBDTI index to record soft tissue injuries in a concise format and to approve the face and content validity of this version as the modified EBDTI (MEBDTI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: An extension to EBDTI was developed by adding superscript numbers from 0 to 8 to represent soft tissue injuries related to dental trauma. The Rand e-Delphi method was used to evaluate this version of the index. A definition and two statements about the index were sent to 15 international panel experts to be assessed independently on a 9-point Likert scale where 1 represented "total disagreement," and 9 indicated "total agreement." The panel needed to reach a 75% consensus for validation. A numerical code was suggested using zero to depict no soft tissue injury; 1-4 to record extra-oral injuries; and 5-8 to record intra-oral injuries (for example, gingiva, frenulum, and palate). Traumatic dental injury of the tooth/teeth is recorded using EBDTI in square brackets, and soft tissue codes are used as superscript numbers outside the brackets on a patient basis. RESULTS: The panel reached a consensus on the definition (86.7%) and two statements (86.7% and 93.3%) in one round. Various cases are presented to demonstrate the application of the index. CONCLUSION: The Modified Eden Baysal Dental Trauma Index was developed to record soft tissue. injuries on a patient basis and was approved for face and content validity.

Introduction of an interactive tool (the Dental Trauma Guide) in the undergraduate dental teaching to manage traumatic dental injuries.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Traumatic dental injuries (TDI) are complex problems where lack of proper care may result in serious complications. The need to improve the management of TDI is a frequently addressed concern. Methods of improvement in their diagnosis and management are continuously evolving. The interactive Internet tool, the Dental Trauma Guide (DTG), helps to simplify diagnostic and management dilemmas. However, it is not a freely available tool. The aim of the current study was to assess the knowledge and diagnostic skills of undergraduate dental students with access to the DTG compared with students without such access, in order to validate and promote this tool in dental education. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two groups of students were randomly selected where one group of final year dental undergraduate students were exposed to lectures, demonstrations, discussions and tutorials on the management of TDI according to the standard undergraduate curriculum in Sri Lanka. Another test group of 21 students were provided with access to DTG during their training in paediatric dentistry. At the end of the study period, students were assessed on their knowledge of TDI using MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions) and OSCEs (Objective Structured Clinical Examination), based on the DTG. RESULTS: The students with access to the DTG were more knowledgeable in providing the correct answers to three out of the seven OSCE questions. Evaluation based on the MCQs did not reveal a significant difference (p = .913). However, users of the DTG showed a statistically significant difference with better overall knowledge based on their answers (p = .028). Following this period of evaluation, all of the students were provided with access to the DTG to supplement their learning experience. CONCLUSION: The Dental Trauma Guide is a useful supplementary tool for undergraduate students to arrive at a correct diagnosis and treatment plan for TDI.

Traumatic dental injuries in the primary dentition - a review.

Traumatic oral injuries in children involve trauma to the dentition and the surrounding oral soft tissue structures. They usually present as an emergency hence their management poses a challenge globally. Treatment of a tooth fracture, displacement or loss is determined by the type and severity of the injury independent of the etiology. It necessitates the experience for behavior management in a child, ascertaining a patient centered diagnosis, formulating a definitive treatment plan, explanation and consent of oral care to the parents or carer with optimal operator skills. This article provides an overview on the types of oral injury in a child patient, their recognition, diagnosis and management based on credible, practical and readily understandable evidence.

Pulp aspects of traumatic dental injuries in primary incisors: Dark coronal discoloration.

Dark coronal discoloration is a common outcome of traumatic dental injuries in primary incisors. However, there are only a few research studies on the mechanism that causes dark discoloration, the condition of the pulp, and the preferred treatment of such teeth. This article is a summary of the author's research studies and personal experience regarding dark coronal discoloration of traumatized primary incisors.

Evaluation and diagnosis of the traumatized dentition.

Traumatic dental injuries comprise a number of the dental emergency patients who are often seen after hours or on an unscheduled basis in a dental practice environment. Although there are a variety of traumatic dental injuries that can occur, each with their own recommended treatment protocols, the initial evaluation and diagnosis of the traumatized dentition make up a critical aspect of the management of these cases. This article will highlight the key components of a thorough and efficient examination process of the traumatized dentition to include (a) documenting an accurate history of the events causing the injury, (b) performing a systematic clinical examination to include the use of clinical photographs and pulp sensibility tests, (c) obtaining appropriate radiographic images and scans, (d) understanding some considerations unique to evaluating young patients with traumatic injuries, and (e) recognizing the importance of having accurate and thorough documentation of these types of cases. Once the evaluation and diagnosis phase has been completed, the necessary treatment protocols can be initiated in an appropriate manner.

Dentists' knowledge of dental trauma based on the International Association of Dental Traumatology guidelines: A survey in South Brazil.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Dental trauma is a public health issue with a high prevalence in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge of dentists in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, of the management of traumatic dental injuries, using the International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) Guidelines as a reference. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic questionnaire investigating personal and professional characteristics and 12 questions about dento-alveolar trauma, was sent to all registered dentists of the Regional Council of Dentistry of Rio Grande do Sul (n=14 753). The respondents were grouped according to the sociodemographic and professional profiles and the data were evaluated by the Student-T test or one-way ANOVA, with Tukey's post-hoc, with α = 5%. RESULTS: A total of 1414 dentists responded to the survey (9.59% response rate). The overall mean self-reported knowledge of dental trauma was 5.87 ± 1.57, of a maximum possible score of 12. Some factors associated with a higher knowledge of the IADT guidelines were: female gender, previous clinical experience, years from qualification, self-reported knowledge, and academic postgraduate degree. Dentists who are specialized in endodontics (6.58 ± 1.63) and pediatric dentistry (6.05 ± 1.44) achieved higher levels of knowledge on dental trauma. Analysis of the characteristics (gender, location, and proportion of specialists) of the respondents confirmed that they were representative of the target population. CONCLUSION: The overall level of knowledge of dentists from Rio Grande do Sul of the IADT guidelines is moderate. These results highlight the need for continuing education on dento-alveolar trauma in this population.

Embedded Tooth: Unique Mimicker of Keratoacanthoma.

A 58-year-old woman presented with a 30-day history of a moderately painful enlarging nodule on her upper cutaneous lip. Two weeks prior to presentation, she fell on the sidewalk leading to injuries of the oral mucosa, right temple, and knees. Physical examination revealed a 1.3-cm erythematous crusty nodule on the upper cutaneous lip and vermillion border resembling a keratoacanthoma-type squamous cell carcinoma. With gentle compression, a tooth was expressed from the wound. Dental traumas are usually associated with damage to the surrounding tissues, varying from bruises to deep lacerations. Potential complications include abscess formation and neurovascular damage. Tooth fragments, if undetected at the time of trauma, may remain undiagnosed for longer periods, leading to infection and disfiguring fibrosis.

Diagnostic ability of a smart phone app (injured tooth) in diagnosing traumatic injuries to the teeth - a multicentre analysis.

BACKGROUND: Dental trauma is not uncommon. The initial management provided at the time of injury is critical in predicting prognosis. However, initial management depends on correct diagnosis. Recently an App named 'Injured Tooth' was made available to diagnose traumatic injuries to the teeth and supporting structures. AIM: To test the diagnostic ability of the Injured Tooth App compared with the conventional method of diagnosing traumatic injuries to the teeth. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted at three different centres with 176 patients aged 0-15 years, having 201 injured teeth. Diagnosis of the injured teeth in these children at every centre was done independently by one experienced faculty using the traditional method and by a student using the Injured Tooth App. RESULTS: Injured Tooth App gave a correct diagnosis for 197 teeth included in the study. Statistical analysis showed that there was good agreement (Kappa = 0.973) between the diagnosis given by the App and the experienced faculty. CONCLUSIONS: The study found that the diagnosis given by the Injured Tooth App was in good agreement with the diagnosis given by an experienced faculty. Hence, the App can be successfully used by dental students to arrive at diagnosis.

[Analysis of medical diagnostic reports (constats) on dental injuries from terminological, dental and forensic medical points of view]. / Fogászati sérülésekrol készült látleletek komplex terminológiai, fogászati és igazságügyi orvosszakértoi elemzése.

Writing a constat is a professional skill required of every general physician and dentist. Constats are issued by healthcare providers on the investigating authority's, court's or injured person's request. This document is an official judicial evidence, a record of medical examination, and it is also a medical opinion which can determine the outcome of the subsequent legal process. Incomplete and incorrect injury descriptions make it difficult for forensic experts to form accurate and appropriate opinions. The authors examined 147 dental and oral surgical constats from the Universities of Pécs and Debrecen using multidisciplinary approach (according to terminological, dental, surgical, forensic and criminal legal aspects). Several medical reports contained mistakes in terms of inaccuracies and self-contradictions, terminology and professional medical practice. The documents included 352 injuries (11.1% of which were tooth injuries, 47.7% bone injuries and 41.2% soft-tissue injuries). The low number of attributes per injury (0.64 on average) indicates insufficient documentation. As a result of the comparative analysis, significant differences were found between the documentation of dental injuries and that of other bone injuries pertaining to their information content. We can state that physicians are most consistent when describing bone injuries, while they are less articulate about tooth injuries. The authors provide an overview of the legal consequences of injuries as well as the legal practice regarding tooth injuries in Germany and Austria, and recommend the creation of a nationwide, unified terminology for both dental and trauma departments on nasal and dental injuries. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(51): 2154-2161.

Evaluation of Dentoalveolar Trauma in Children and Adolescents: a Modified Classification System and Surgical Treatment Strategies for Its Management.

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze dentoalveolar trauma in pediatric patients, propose a modified classification, and delineate an approach for its urgent care from the surgeon's perspective. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical records of patients, attended at the 'A. and P. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from 2000 to 2015, were retrieved and data were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 365 cases of dentoalveolar trauma, affecting 363 children and adolescents (221 males and 142 females), with an age range from 1 to 15 years, were treated in the authors' department. The most common injury mechanism was falls. The trauma was graded as class II in most patients (41.65%). The anterior maxilla was injured in the majority of the patients (78.35%). In 230 patients (63%) the trauma involved the primary dentition. Two hundred eighty-nine of the patients were treated with local anesthesia on an emergency basis, while in the rest 76 patients general anesthesia was considered mandatory. CONCLUSIONS: Accurate diagnosis, timely treatment, and follow-up are critical for the management of dentoalveolar trauma in pediatric patients. A modified more detailed and severity-specific classification and guidelines for its surgical management may assist practitioners in decision making and effective treatment planning.

Traumatically Intruded Permanent Teeth: Three Case Reports and a Review of Current Recommendations.

Intrusion of permanent teeth is not extensively covered in the literature compared to other injuries. Treatment guidelines have been published and clinical data is accumulating to support the current recommendations, which are illustrated in the three cases here. This review evaluates the current information about management of traumatically intruded permanent teeth. As more data accumulates, uncertainties with respect to both treatment recommendations and long-term outcomes can be expected to be elucidated.

[Forensic analysis of injuries in dentistry]. / Fogászati jellegu sérülések törvényszéki vizsgálata.

INTRODUCTION: Documentation and evaluation of dental injuries in forensic medicine are rather problematic. It needs a professional work up why dental injuries are out of focus, and how the diagnosis, pattern and treatment are influenced by novel approaches of dentistry. AIM: The aims of the authors were to characterize dental injuries, to compare their own findings to literature data concerning the type and characteristics of injuries, and propose a diagnostic workflow. METHOD: Expert's reports between 2009 and 2013 at the Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Szeged were reviewed. RESULTS: Review of about 7000 reports revealed only 20 cases with dental injury, which is in contrast with literature data indicating a significantly higher frequency of dental injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Although the number of "dental cases" was low, there were several additional cases where the trauma probably affected the teeth but the injury was not documented. In future more attention is needed in forensic evaluation of the mechanism, therapeutic strategy and prognosis of dental injuries.

Diagnosis of acute dental trauma: the importance of standardized documentation: a review.

In 1985 Andreasen and Andreasen published a paper on the diagnosis of luxation injuries and outlined the importance of standardized clinical, radiographic, and photographic techniques. Now 30 years later, these recommendations remain current in the International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) guidelines for the management of dental trauma and describe circumstances surrounding the time of injury, the extent of trauma (e.g., type of luxation injury), healing potential (e.g., stage of root development) as well as information concerning subsequent treatment. The purpose of this review was to include findings for other types of trauma and to discuss more recent studies that augment and/or improve on the original findings from 30 years ago. The present review discusses the use of a standardized clinical registration (pulpal sensibility testing, laser Doppler flowmetry, mobility testing), radiographic survey, and photographic registration of the traumatized patient. Moreover, the value of digital radiographs and recent developments in computer tomography with respect to possible enhancement of the trauma diagnosis are discussed.

Dental problems in athletes.

Orofacial injuries and diseases occur in athletes, and they may not always have access to dentists. Therefore team physicians should be aware of the common injuries and initial management. Treatment of dental injuries will depend on whether the teeth are primary or permanent. The most common type of fracture is crown fracture, but there are other dental injuries that can lead to future complications if not treated promptly and monitored closely. Tooth avulsions need to be handled properly, and athletes should see a dentist as soon as possible. Despite the urgency of some injuries, other orofacial injuries or diseases, such as lacerations and caries, should not be overlooked. Proper education and use of mouth guards can assist athletes in reducing their risk of orofacial injuries.

Traumatic injuries to athletes.

The timeliness of treatment after dental trauma is crucial to successful tooth preservation. This article focuses on the emergency treatment of common forms of dental trauma in athletes, both at the site of the injury and at the dental office. When dental injuries happen to young patients, saving the tooth is an absolute priority, because few long-term replacement solutions can be performed in a growing child. Preserving pulpal vitality of immature teeth is essential to allow continued root development.

Management of dental trauma by general practitioners.

BACKGROUND: Patients who sustain dental trauma commonly present to their general practitioner (GP) or the emergency department, especial-ly to seek help after hours. It is important, therefore, for medical practitioners to correctly diagnose and manage these patients. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is to familiarise GPs with different presentations of dental-related trauma, and a brief management plan for each condition. DISCUSSION: Time is of the utmost importance when dealing with trauma in the dentition. Initial management of dental trauma, primarily by GPs working in rural or remote areas, can have a significant impact on the prognosis of oral hard and soft tissues.