[The importance of triage in dental trauma. De differences between the hospital and dental practice]. / Het belang van triage bij tandletsel: de verschillen tussen het ziekenhuis en de tandartspraktijk.

In dental trauma, the first thought is often: 'Where is that tooth?' And, of course, it is certainly true that fast repositioning is beneficial for the prognosis of the tooth. Nevertheless, it is extremely important to focus on the condition of the patient before focussing on the treatment. A structured approach is mandatory for optimal diagnosis and treatment. This includes possible concomitant injuries such as neurotrauma. The principle of initial screening of the severity of the injury is called triage. There is a clear difference in the severity of injuries of patients with dental trauma presenting themselves in hospital or the dental practice. In hospital there are protocols for primary care; these principles can be applied in the dental practice as well.

[Dental trauma: an overview]. / Tandletsel: een overzicht.

It is estimated that, in the Netherlands, 20-30% of 18-year-olds have suffered some form of dental trauma. A third of them must bear the consequences for the rest of their lives. Adequate care and treatment can make a difference and considerably improve the prognosis of a traumatised tooth. Knowledge about the various types of injuries, forms the basis of optimal treatment. Based on the literature currently available, this article provides an overview of the ways in which details in clinical research can be helpful in more effectively estimating the risk of losing teeth and thus in determining treatment options, in such a way that they are immediately applicable in daily practice.