Abstract
The management of the avulsion of primary and permanent teeth in children is well outlined in trauma guidelines. However, little information is available about the level of knowledge in the management of avulsed teeth among young dentists in Turkey.
Aim: This study, which was performed in 2016, therefore aimed to investigate the knowledge and attitude of newly graduated dentists regarding emergency management of avulsed teeth.
Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey regarding the immediate emergency management of avulsed teeth was performed. The questionnaire was sent via email to a convenience sample of 90 dentists (60 female; 30 male) who graduated from Marmara University Dental School during the period 2012–2016. Simple descriptive analysis was undertaken using Microsoft Excel. In Turkey ethics approval is not required for surveys of health staff such as this one, in which completion of a questionnaire is voluntary and anonymous.
Results: The majority of the dentists 82 (91%) stated that they did not receive any training in the emergency management of dental trauma during their undergraduate education. Seventy nine (87%) of responding dentists recalled replanting an avulsed permanent tooth in a child. Twenty seven percent of the respondents reported that they used rigid splints for treating avulsed teeth and 59 (65%) that a flexible splint should be used. Among the respondents, 85 (94%) said that an avulsed primary tooth cannot be re-implanted. Questions on storage medium, preparation of the alveolus and splint time for receiving the avulsed tooth received a high number of correct answers. The best way to transport an avulsed tooth to the dental clinic was reported as “milk” 88 (98%).
Conclusions: In this pilot study, among the young dentists who responded, there appeared to be appropriate knowledge regarding the emergency management of avulsed teeth, the benefits of timely care and its prevention. However, they acquired this knowledge after graduating.
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