[Dental trauma: an overview].

It is estimated that, in the Netherlands, 20-30% of 18-year-olds have suffered some form of dental trauma. A third of them must bear the consequences for the rest of their lives. Adequate care and treatment can make a difference and considerably improve the prognosis of a traumatised tooth. Knowledge about the various types of injuries, forms the basis of optimal treatment. Based on the literature currently available, this article provides an overview of the ways in which details in clinical research can be helpful in more effectively estimating the risk of losing teeth and thus in determining treatment options, in such a way that they are immediately applicable in daily practice.