OCCUPATIONAL
INJURIES OF THE
ORAL CAVITY
Occupational injuries of oral cavity occur as a
result of work or occupational [Link]
examination of oral cavity in study of
occupational disease is of generally accepted
importance, since local effects are recorded both
in the teeth and soft tissues.
OCCLUSAL TRAUMA
Clinical features of
occlusal trauma
● Mobility
● Pain on chewing
● Tooth migration
● Thermal sensitivity
● Wear facets
● Fractured teeth
● Occlusal forces can cause changes in alveolar
bone and periodontal connective tissue both
in presence and absence of periodontitis.
● Occlusion and Local irritants are two factors in
etiology and pathogenesis of periodontal
disease .
● Occlusal trauma and periodontal
inflammation act as co-destructive agents in
periodontal disease.
Excessive occlusal forces result in typical
changes in periodontal [Link] may be
acute or chronic.
Acute trauma occurs when biting on a hard
food [Link] causes acute inflammation
of pdl and results in pain and mobility.
Acute Occlusal
Trauma
Acute Occlusal Trauma
Biting on a hard food substance
Acute inflammation
ResultsAcute
in pain,sensitivity
inflammation to percussion
of pdl and
mobility
If left untreated, it progresses to necrosis
Acute traumatic force sufficient to produce
traumatic injury to periodontium also results in
specific changes in tooth attachment.
For example:A force which tips the tooth sharply to
buccal side results in crushing of periodontal
ligament fibers and perhaps that of alveolar crest
bone. The blood vessels in the involved area becomes
thrombosed and oedema [Link] the opposite side
of tooth there is often tearing of periodontal
ligament
Clinical Features
1. Pain
2. Sensitivity to percussion
3. Increase tooth mobility
CHRONIC
OCCLUSAL
TRAUMA
Chronic occlusal trauma is relatively more
common than acute forms.
Causes:
● Faulty occlusion
● Physiological tooth wear
● Drifting
● Parafunctional habits like bruxism, clenching
and improper orthodontic tooth movements
In chronic trauma, the periodontal ligament
gradually becomes denser, and the periodontal
space widens.
The alveolar bone becomes denser and teeth will
show obvious ‘wear patterns’ with definite facets
on crown of teeth.
Clinical Diagnosis Of
Occlusal Trauma
● Tooth mobility
● Wear patterns
● Thermal sensitivity
Management
1. Reduce/eliminate tooth mobility
2. Eliminate parafunctional habits
3. Correction of occlusal relation
4. Splinting of loose teeth
5. Eliminate cuspal interference
