• Navot Givol, Yael Gershtansky, Talia Halamish-Shani, Shlomo Taicher, Azriel Perel, and Eran Segal.
• Sheba Medical Center, Goldshager School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
• J Clin Anesth. 2004 May 1;16(3):173-6.

Study ObjectiveTo conduct a retrospective analysis of incident reports concerning dental injury, the most common cause for litigation against anesthesiologists, to determine specific risk factors that will help in formulating a risk reduction strategy for this clinical problem.DesignRetrospective chart review of a large professional liability insurer.InterventionsOf 40 hospitals that report to the MRM Co. as part of the professional liability insurance, during the years 1992-1999, 18 hospitals reported dental injury. A Maxillofacial surgeon (GN) and an anesthesiologist (ES), using a structured form, reviewed the reports. Evaluation of the cost of injury was determined from the patient's claims or from an evaluation of rehabilitation plan constructed by the maxillofacial surgery consultants to the company.Measurements And Main ResultsThere were 203 incidents due to dental injury. The patients were most commonly in their 5(th) to 7(th) decade. Eighty six percent of the injured teeth were the upper incisors. Lower incisors were more likely to be injured during an urgent intubation, or due to airway manipulation other than intubation. (i.e., oral airway insertion) In only 38 (18.6%) cases was there a previous assessment of an expected difficult intubation. Dentition was judged to be pathological in 32% of the patients.ConclusionsIn elective intubation, the teeth most likely to be injured are the upper incisors, in patients aged 50-70 years. In most cases dental injury is not associated with a pre-event prediction of difficult intubation.

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