title: Oral trauma. Emergency care of lacerations, fractures, and burns.
abstract: Emergency physicians are usually the first to see patients with injuries to oral and facial tissues. Because many of these patients may have life-threatening neurologic injuries, secondary oral and perioral problems may be overlooked initially. These injuries, however, have a profound potential for causing lifelong disability and disfigurement and should be addressed as soon as the patient's condition stabilizes. It is essential to diagnose and manage these problems effectively in the emergency setting and then to make prompt direct referral to an appropriate specialist when the patient's condition permits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Diagnosis and Patient Services, Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry, Augusta 30912.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Comer
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Fitchie
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Caughman
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Zwemer
mesh_terms: D002058:Burns, Electric / Q000628:therapy; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D007572:Jaw Fractures / Q000628:therapy*; D008046:Lip / Q000293:injuries; D009055:Mouth / Q000293:injuries*; D014059:Tongue / Q000293:injuries; D014084:Tooth Avulsion / Q000628:therapy; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000628:therapy*