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Evaluation of dental injury following endotracheal intubation using the Periotest ® technique
Author(s) -
Hoffmann Jürgen,
Westendorff Carsten,
Reinert Siegmar
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
dental traumatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1600-9657
pISSN - 1600-4469
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-9657.2005.00318.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endotracheal intubation , intubation , dental trauma , tracheal intubation , dentistry , tooth mobility , periodontal disease , anesthesia , orthodontics
Abstract – The hazards of damage to teeth and their periodontal attachment during tracheal intubation are well known. Dental trauma represents the commonest single reason for complaints against anesthesiologists. In order to predict the possible risk of perianesthetic iatrogenic tooth luxation we evaluated the use of a measuring method (Periotest ® technique), being well established for the diagnosis of periodontal disease. In 120 patients undergoing elective surgery, we compared the amount of tooth mobility before and after general anesthesia to different scores assessing the difficulty of tracheal intubation. Furthermore, the level of work experience of the intubating anesthetist was compared with the degree of postoperative tooth mobility. Changes of periodontal attachment could not be detected by the Periotest ® technique. The Periotest ® technique does not seem to have the ability to detect early periodontal changes associated with endotracheal intubation.