Anaesthesia and dental trauma

Damage to the teeth during general anaesthesia is a frequent cause of morbidity for patients and a source of litigation against anaesthetists. Most injuries occur as a result of laryngoscopy. To prevent damage during emergence from anaesthesia, bite blocks should be placed between molar teeth. However oropharyngeal airways should not be used. Patients should be advised about the possibility of dental trauma during anaesthesia and should be advised to have preoperative dental treatment to minimize dental factors that increase the risk of injury. Those with preexisting dental problems and children in the mixed dentition phase (normally between the ages of 5 and 12 years) are at particular risk. Anaesthetic departments should have local protocols in place to refer patients for dental treatment postoperatively in the event of trauma.