A patient fell on his face and presents with facial lacerations and dental injuries. After securing the airway, what should you evaluate next?

Correct answer: C. Neurologic status, including level of consciousness and signs of head injury

• A. Periodontal charting has no place in acute trauma assessment.
• B. Occlusal evaluation is important for detecting jaw fracture but comes after life-threatening injury has been excluded.
• C. CORRECT. Facial trauma is head trauma until proven otherwise. Following the ABCs, NEUROLOGIC assessment takes priority: level of consciousness (Glasgow Coma Scale), pupil size and reactivity, amnesia, vomiting, cranial nerve function, and signs of basilar skull fracture (CSF rhinorrhea or otorrhea, Battle sign, raccoon eyes). Any positive finding requires immediate medical referral — a concussion or intracranial bleed will kill the patient long before a fractured incisor matters.
• D. Pulp testing after acute trauma is often unreliable anyway (transient loss of response is common) and is not urgent.

Note: Priority sequence: Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability (neurologic), Exposure. Only then move to the dental injuries.