Knowledge, Attitude and practice of emergency management of tooth avulsion among school dentaltherapists and trainee school dental therapists in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Tooth avulsion is one of the most severe forms of dental trauma with multifaceted consequences impacting dental and overall development of thechild. The prognosis of avulsed teeth hinges upon prompt and appropriate emergency management. School dental therapists play a pivotal role as initial responders, given that most of these incidents occur within school premises. Understanding the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding emergency management of avulsed teeth among the school dental therapists and trainee school dental therapists is essential for favorable treatment outcomes. Aim of this research is to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of emergency management of tooth avulsion among school dental therapists and their trainees in Sri Lanka. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among trainee school dental therapists who were following the school dental therapists training program in 1st and 2nd years at dental therapists training school, Maharagama and island- wide school dental therapists with the aid of pre-tested,self-administered questionnaires.Two hundred and thirty- seven (65.83%) SDTs and 47(87.03%) trainee SDTs had responded to this survey. The majority of SDTs (86.5%) had high knowledge regarding emergency management of tooth avulsion. Only a few (7.6%) of SDTs and 25.5% of trainee SDTs knew the best storage mediumfor avulsed teeth. Only 79.3% of trainee SDTs and 85% SDTs knew the replantation should be carried out within 60 minutes for a better prognosis.One hundred and fifty-two of SDTs came across avulsion cases, but only 7of them had tried for replantation. The study revealed that school dental therapists have a high level of knowledge while trainees have average knowledge about emergency management of tooth avulsion. Both groups need reinforcement in weak areas such as storage media, extra oral dry time for avulsed teeth and clinical practice of SDTs regarding replantation of avulsed tooth.