Fundamentals of
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Lesson 4  Emergency Treatment for Oral Diseases and Injuries
Select one of the following reading assignments

4-1 Emergency Treatment Guidelines

4-2 Diseases of the Tissues of the Teeth

4-3 Diseases of the Periodontal Tissues

4-4 Other Oral Conditions

About This Lesson

The dentist is responsible for all patient diagnosis and treatment. However, certain circumstances may warrant that you, the dental technician, provide emergency dental treatment to a patient. Always contact a dental officer if an emergency occurs. The dentist will indicate the treatment plan and authorize you to perform treatment. You may provide temporary treatment that provides relief from pain, combats infection, or prevents further damage to the oral structures.

This lesson describes oral conditions in terms of symptoms and signs. A symptom is what a patient tells you about his or her disease or injury (for example, this person tells you of a toothache or sore gums). A sign is what you observe when you examine the oral structures (for example, bleeding gums, carious lesion, or heavy deposits of plaque or calculus).

Acknowledgements

Major portions of this online textbook are provided courtesy of the Department of the Navy.

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