Risks Associated With Endotracheal Intubation

Injury To The Teeth

One of the most common complications of endotracheal intubation is injuries to the teeth and other dental structures. The most common dental injuries associated with this procedure include but are not limited to broken bridges, fractures to the enamel, loosened teeth, chipped teeth, subluxated teeth, crown fracture, tooth avulsion, fracture of the tooth root, dislodged implants, broken teeth, and chipped veneers. The patients who are most at risk of experiencing injury to their teeth during endotracheal intubation are those who practice poor dental hygiene, have preexisting dental problems, or have a history of poor oral health. The most common cause of dental injury during endotracheal intubation is laryngoscopy. The next most common cause of dental injury with endotracheal intubation is during extubation. The most common teeth injured in patients who undergo endotracheal intubation are the upper left and right incisors. Most injuries to the teeth are discovered by the performing anesthesiologist, while fewer are discovered later on by the patient who underwent the procedure.