[Tooth injuries during general anesthesia, oral endoscopy and vibro-massage]

It is generally recognized that dental injury during and after tracheal intubation is a significant problem. Damage may occur during oro-tracheal intubation, oral endoscopy or seismotherapy. The incidence was reported in a study conducted in the contentious department of Lyon hospitals, in France, from 1978 to 1988. Results confirm that damage is relatively common and that the majority of damaged teeth (67%) were known to have been previously restored, or weakened through periodontal disease prior to the damage occurring. Maxillary incisors were the most frequently injured teeth. Fracture of crowns and roots of natural teeth (44,8%), followed by partial luxation (20,8%) and avulsion (20,8%) were the most common injury. Several cases are presented which reveal the clinical value of dental damages that occur during orotracheal intubation, oral endoscopy or seismotherapy. Besides dental or gingival complications can appear immediately but also after a few days or weeks. Some of the most recent development in dental therapy such as the butterfly bridge, titanium implants and porcelain laminate veneers are described. Tooth protective guards must be put into widespread use. Legal implications of dental lesions occurring during oro-tracheal intubation, oral endoscopy or seismotherapy are presented.