Emergency Department Clinical Pathway for Evaluation/Treatment
of Children with Emergent Dental Pathology and/or Trauma

Dental Trauma
Primary Teeth
Luxation Injury, Primary Teeth
  • Minor injury
    • May not require treatment
  • Severe injury
    • May require tooth extraction and dental consult
Fractures
  • Dental consult for exposed nerve/pulp
Permanent Teeth
Avulsion
  • Place tooth in Save-a-Tooth
  • Dental consult to replant tooth
  • Review tetanus status
  • Antibiotics
Luxation Injury, Permanent Teeth
  • Minor injury
    • May not require treatment
  • Severe injury
    • Dental consult required
Fractures
  • Dental consult for exposed nerve/pulp
  • Consider Antibiotics
  • Prompt outpatient dental follow-up
  • Consult OMFS for Abscess I&D
  • Antibiotics
  • PO antibiotics vs. IV antibiotics and admission depending on severity of infection
Posted: August 2019
Revised: October 2022
Authors: E. Szydlowski, MD; K. Castelo, CRNP; B. Pagliaro, RN; H. Giannakopoulos, MD; E. Hajishengallis, PhD