Knowledge of Primary School Healthcare Teachers Regarding the Management of Avulsed Teeth in Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

Background: Traumatic dental injuries can be considered as an important social problem because they can affect daily lives of children, and their management is a major challenge in dentistry. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the primary school healthcare teachers' knowledge regarding the management of avulsed teeth in Tabriz, Iran. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 160 healthcare teachers were selected from Tabriz schools. A questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic characteristics and knowledge. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and independent t-test, using SPSS version 16.0. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: Among 160 healthcare teachers, 2.5% were male and 97.5% were female. The mean age of the participants was 39.2±4.6 years. All the healthcare teachers had university education and 89.4% (143 subjects) of them had bachelor's degrees. Of all the subjects, 96 (60%), 58 (36.2%) and 6 (3.8%) teachers had poor, moderate and good knowledge, respectively. Conclusions: The knowledge of school healthcare teachers in Tabriz about management of avulsed teeth is inadequate. Therefore, it is suggested that appropriate training programs be provided in this area, and it is recommended that the management of dental injuries be reviewed in educational programs and other health-related topics.