Knowledge of parents from public and private school students on emergency management of avulsed permanent teeth

Abstract

To evaluate the level of general knowledge of parents with regards to first-aid measures for permanent tooth avulsion and to correlate such knowledge with their children’s school setting (public or private). A total of 179 parents answered a questionnaire containing 6 objective questions regarding the management of dental avulsion and emergency procedures. Data concerning the age and schooling of the respondents were also obtained. Parents from the private school group had higher levels of education and were more likely to have a correct attitude regarding the immediate replantation of the avulsed tooth as compared to parents of children studying in public schools (p < 0.05). However, the pattern of answers given for the questions concerning the cleaning of the avulsed tooth and the appropriate storage medium was very similar between both groups of parents, suggesting a lack of technical information among the participants. Parents were found to have low levels of knowledge regarding first-aid measures in an emergency related to permanent tooth avulsion and replantation, irrespective of their children’s school setting.