Early Childhood Dental Emergencies and First Aid Measures in the Classroom

Abstract

The series of events that occur in the formative years of a child have an impact on his/her growth and development into adulthood. It is therefore important for schoolteachers to be aware of the dental emergencies that may arise among their early childhood pupils and the appropriate first aid measures to carry out. Dental emergencies involving the deciduous and/or permanent teeth as well as other facial structures are to be treated promptly and efficiently because the face and its associated structures contribute immensely to the aesthetics of humans and as such affect their self-perception as well as their quality of life. This literature review will discuss the various dental emergencies that may be encountered in early childhood classrooms and will equip the teachers for the appropriate first aid measures to be carried out in order to preserve dental tissues and/or facial structures in such emergency cases.