Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to assess the general knowledge and awareness of school teachers regarding the first aid emergency dental management of tooth avulsion in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A self-administered, anonymous, close-ended structured questionnaire was given to school teachers in Saudi Arabia. It included information regarding gender, knowledge, and awareness [three parts: basic demographic characteristics focusing on the gender (part one), questions regarding knowledge of school teachers toward emergency management of tooth avulsion (part two), and questions regarding awareness of school teachers toward emergency management of tooth avulsion (part three)]. Results: A total of 615 school teachers (58% males and 42% females) completed the questionnaire. Approximately 54.3% of the school teachers preferred to immediately refer the child to the dentist if trauma affects permanent teeth (p < 0.05), and only 2.1% opined regarding reposition of the tooth in a normal position. Another 22.9% responded that they would scrub the tooth to clean the dirt and rinse with water, while 19.7% reported that they would keep the tooth in a wet handkerchief until they reach the dentist. Conclusion: The knowledge and awareness of schoolteachers regarding the management of avulsed teeth are insufficient; thus, education programs on traumatic dental injuries are essential.
Highlights
Traumatic dental injury in preschool and school children is most common, which is related to immature motor control, unguarded play, and hyperactivity [1, 2]
A total of 615 (58% males and 42% females) school teachers responded to the questionnaire
About 54.3% of the school teachers preferred to immediately refer the child to the dentist if trauma affects the permanent tooth (p< 0.05), and only 2.1% opined repositioning the tooth in a normal position. 47% of the school teachers responded that they would reimplant the tooth within 30 minutes, while 38% of the participants answered that they would reposition the tooth immediately
Summary
Traumatic dental injury in preschool and school children is most common, which is related to immature motor control, unguarded play, and hyperactivity [1, 2]. The luxation injury most commonly occurs in primary teeth due to soft, pliable young alveolar bone and affects the surrounding structures, such as soft tissue, between ages one to three years [3 - 5]. A previous study reported that 22% of children sustain injuries to permanent dentition and 30% to primary dentition [6]. It is estimated that over 50% of children are exposed to traumatic. Basim Almulhim health status of the periodontal dental ligament (based on the extra-oral time and type of storage media) [2, 9]. The possibility of replantation largely depends on critical extra-oral time [11]
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