An introduction to the Saving Smiles project and this CPD course, awarding 4 hours of verifiable CPD
Saving Smiles
A CPD course providing 4 hours of verifiable activity that describes and explains the new Greater Manchester Saving Smiles guide – helping practitioners to manage dental trauma. Key to the CPD is the Saving Smiles document that you should read in addition to the material presented in the course.
While designed by dentists in Greater Manchester the document, the learning programme and the objectives are relevant to all dental practitioners.
You can access the document here.
At the end the course, you can complete the feedback form and obtain 4 hours of verifiable CPD – a certificate will be emailed to you.
Learning outcomes
To understand why the trauma toolkit is important and how it can help practitioners help their patients.
To understand the aetiology and classification of differing dento-alveolar injuries.
To understand the principles behind management of fracture and displacement injuries.
To reflect on the differences between injuries to the primary and secondary dentitions and how to alter management accordingly.
To recognise which patients should remain in the primary care setting and when to refer patients into secondary care services.
To recognise when to engage and how to access safeguarding services.
To recognise the importance of follow-up and what the key signs of pathology may be.
To understand the diagnosis and management of endodontic conditions that may present following trauma.
To increase awareness of other resources available to support practitioners improve outcomes from dental trauma.
Lessons
1. Introduction – Saving Smiles
2. History, Assessment & Diagnosis
This lesson explains the process of history, assessment and diagnosis of dental trauma.
3. Maxillofacial Considerations
It is the role of the clinician to identify issues which require maxillofacial input if the patient presents to the dental surgery first. Generally, because of the health care system structure in the UK, most patients with significant trauma will present to A&E rather than the dental surgery, but the clinician should remain vigilant. The two general considerations to be aware of are facial lacerations and fractures.
4. The Paediatric Patient
Covers aspects relating to consent and safeguarding.
5. Management 1: The primary dentition
The commonest reasons for trauma to the primary dentition are falls and bumps but it is important to rule out non-accidental injury.
6. Management 2: Fractures
Teeth can break in a number of ways furthermore each tooth can have multiple different breaks. Fractures may occur in the root, the crown and/or involve both crown and root.
7. Management 3: Displacements
Displacement injuries present in all forms as teeth can be moved bodily apically, coronally, laterally or totally avulsed.
8. Management 4: Splinting
Splinting immobilizes the tooth in the correct position, reducing the risk of further trauma and allowing healing.
9. When to Refer
It is expected that all practitioners should be capable of managing acute dental trauma in primary care; not only does this ensure treatment is delivered rapidly and locally but emphasises the importance of a good understanding of dental trauma and the practicalities of the follow-up process.
10. Long Term Consequences
Trauma to the dentition can have a two fold effect. There are the immediate problems caused during the acute phase, but also the long term consequences.
11. Case example
A case example of trauma to consider and answer questions.
Saving Smiles CPD Certificate
Thats it, all done. If you remember we asked some questions on the first lesson to test your knowledge – here they are again – just complete them before you…
