Awareness of management of dental trauma among medical professionals in Pondicherry, India

Dent Traumatol. 2009 Feb;25(1):92-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-9657.2008.00714.x.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to establish the level of knowledge on the management of dental trauma among physicians at Pondicherry, India. A questionnaire was designed and was given to physicians working in medical colleges or as residents in advanced training programs in medicine in Pondicherry, India. The questionnaire contained a clinical situation of tooth avulsion and various treatment options. Only 5.5% of the medical professionals knew about reimplantation and none knew that the patients' mouth was the best transport medium. 90% of them accepted that they had no knowledge on dental trauma management. As the physicians get an opportunity to attend a case of dental trauma in emergency or private practice, it is vital that they possess sufficient knowledge on primary management of tooth avulsion, before referring to dentists.

MeSH terms

  • Attitude of Health Personnel
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • India
  • Organ Preservation / methods
  • Organ Preservation Solutions
  • Physicians / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Tooth Avulsion / therapy*
  • Tooth Replantation

Substances

  • Organ Preservation Solutions