Assessment of awareness among anesthetists regarding emergency management of tooth avulsed during tracheal intubation

Anesthesiologist always works around the oral and peri oral soft and hard tissue. Oral/nasal intubation might injure hard tissue or “knock out” the tooth. The present study was conducted among anesthetic specialist to assess the measures that they would take to manage an avulsed tooth that might occur during intubation & laryngoscopy. The present study involved 40 anesthetists working in private hospitals. They were asked to answer a questionnaire designed to evaluate the line of action that an anesthetist would follow in case of an iatrogenic tooth avulsion. Anesthesiologists were aware that trauma to oro-facial region might occur during intra oral manipulation. However few knew the correct protocol to be followed in handling the avulsed tooth. There is a need to make anesthetist aware that immediate reimplantation and stabilization of a permanent avulsed tooth should be done.