Investigation of lay knowledge of the management of avulsed permanent incisors

Abstract

The prognosis of replanted avulsed permanent incisors depends largely on prompt and appropriate emergency management. The aim of this study was to investigate lay knowledge and attitudes in this respect. Postal questionnaires were sent to all physical education teachers, school nurses and secretaries, attendants in swimming baths and leisure centres and to 220 parents of teenage children in a defined area of North West England. The overall questionnaire response rate was 86.9%. Knowledge of methods of dealing with this problem was generally inadequate in both parents and the other groups. Although 53.6% of respondents claimed to have received first aid training only 3.1% could remember dental injuries being included. There was evidence that dental health education in this field can be effective, since the highest mean knowledge score was found in the 11.5% of respondents who recalled receiving advice from sources such as posters, magazines and newspapers. More than 80% of the respondents stated that they would not want to replant an avulsed incisor themselves, the main reason being lack of knowledge and training. It is suggested that there is a need for potentially effective dental health education in relation to this problem.

Influence of seminar and mailed guidelines on knowledge of school teachers regarding emergency treatment for dental injures

“…The current study shows that the school teachers have inadequate knowledge on the management of traumatised teeth, similar to what has been reported in previous studies (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). As children spend more time at schools it means that teachers with inadequate knowledge should provide inappropriate initial management to children who sustain dental trauma at school.…”

“…Investigations on dental trauma reveal that the lay public does not have adequate knowledge on the management of traumatised teeth (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). This information is unfavourable, because at best prompt and appropriate emergency management needs to be started by lay persons prior to the child's initial contact with a dental practitioner (6).…”

Incisal edge reattachment: indications for use and clinical technique

“…2,3 More recent investigations through clinical examinations of large adolescent populations and surveys of lay knowledge on the management of avulsed teeth provide dentoalveolar trauma incident estimates ranging from 6-34%. 1, [3][4][5][6] These reports confirm that dentists are confronted with managing dental trauma and restoring fractured teeth on a regular basis. Techniques that speed and simplify treatment, restore aesthetics, and improve long-term success rates are therefore of potential value and should be considered.…”

Knowledge of dental trauma first aid (DTFA): the example of avulsed incisors in casualty departments and schools in London

“…Subsequently, several requests were made by medical practitioners and accident and emergency doctors. 28,29 Although such educational campaigns were RESEARCH BRITISH DENTAL JOURNAL 5 commendable, it is unclear if any evaluation of their effectiveness was carried out. 29 In recognition of the important role played by other professionals in DTFA prior to a child's initial contact with a dentist, educational campaigns such as those held in countries such as Brazil, USA, Denmark and Australia have been attempted in parts of the UK previously.…”