Dental concussion: suggested protocol for controlling its consequences, treatment, prognosis and follow-up

Alberto Consolaro

Dental concussion does not lead to changes in tooth anatomy or function immediately, except for occasional painful sensitivity which ceases within a few hours, with or without the use of analgesic drugs. Dental concussion exerts an intense and sudden force over the tooth and alveolar structures, but it is not capable of fracturing the tooth or alveolar process bone. Force concentrates within a small area; thus, causing local lesion. Dental trauma can be divided into two categories, particularly regarding patient’s perception: 1) Clinical – luxation, avulsion, intrusion, extrusion, root displacement and fracture — with the patient seeking immediate professional care, since damage is explicit and, in patient’s opinion, requires therapeutic intervention; 2) Subclinical – dental concussion and occasional subluxation — with the patient remaining unaware of or not attaching great importance to the problem; thus, going on with his/her daily life and even forgetting about the problem. In future evaluations, it is not rare that the patient deny the occurrence of dental trauma in the region. The overall population should be aware of the importance of seeking professional care when faced with a minor trauma or hitting a tooth accidentally. Whenever faced with a dental concussion report, the practitioner must adopt a protocol for early control and diagnosis of the seven potential consequences that might arise from concussion. Thus, a checklist comprising 13 points to check and control the effects of concussion is presented in the present study.

Keywords: Dental trauma. Dental concussion. Tooth resorption. Aseptic pulp necrosis. Pulp calcific metamorphosis.

How to cite: Consolaro A. Dental concussion: suggested protocol for controlling its consequences, treatment, prognosis and follow-up. Dental Press Endod. 2015 Sept-Dec;5(3):10-20. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14436/2358-2545.5.3.010-020.end

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