An investigation of dental injuries treated in an acute care general hospital.

Longitudinal studies are required to determine the long-term effects of treatment and nontreatment of injured teeth. Eleven percent of subjects came for emergency care 21 days or more after the accident with complications of the original injury. It would be reasonable to advise early attendance for evaluation of any person suffering from accidental trauma to mouth and jaws. Fewer than 10% of published research reports discuss trauma to the dentofacial structures. Traumatology should be part of the education of health personnel.