NEW!
IADT-ASD Guidelines for the Prevention of Traumatic Dental Injuries
The International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) and the Academy for Sports Dentistry (ASD) are proud to present the first-ever set of guidelines for the prevention of traumatic dental injuries (TDI). This document, the first of its kind to exclusively address the prevention of dental trauma, is the culmination of an intense collaborative effort between the IADT and the ASD aimed to highlight the key role that dental professionals play in the prevention of TDI.
Dental professionals play a crucial role in dental trauma prevention at all levels and for all age groups. In primary prevention (preventing the first injury) they educate patients and various stakeholders, provide preventive care by recognizing the risks and addressing them, and offer guidance on the use of various safety devices and other measures. In secondary prevention (preventing further injuries to the same tooth/teeth), an area almost exclusively in the domain of dental professionals, they must be available in an emergency to provide care by being well-versed in TDI management according to the 2020 IADT guidelines, published in the journal Dental Traumatology.
The IADT-ASD prevention guidelines are now available as a special issue of Dental Traumatology and can be accessed for free using this link:
IADT-ASD Guidelines
The prevention document is written in a format and language that is easily understood by non-dental personnel. It can be used to educate the general public, the victims of TDI, and any other persons who may be present at the scene of an accident. It will enable them to provide the appropriate first aid for these injuries. In effect, parents, sports coaches, schoolteachers, teammates, and other bystanders become an essential part of the dental and oral healthcare team.
The prevention guidelines present valuable information for the primary prevention of dental trauma. It includes the use of mouthguards and face shields, the secondary prevention of dental injuries to teeth that have been previously traumatized, and prevention education for both professionals and the general public. In addition, it highlights the role of orthodontics for the prevention of dental and oral trauma, the availability of the ToothSOS app for first aid for TDI by the general public, and the role of dental professionals in educating the public about dental trauma.
Please take the time to review the prevention document in its entirety. We hope that each of its ten sections will provide a valuable resource for the prevention of traumatic dental injuries worldwide.
Finally, visit: https://youtu.be/A-223fcKRC4 to hear important information from the guidelines’ authors about each section.