Knowledge of emergency management of traumatized teeth among schoolteachers in Mashhad, Iran

Dental trauma is an important oral health problem in children that requires immediate and appropriate management for long term success. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of elementary school teachers about emergency management of traumatic dental injuries in children. A total of 163 teachers from 21 elementary schools from Mashhad, Iran participated in this study. Data were collected using a two-part questionnaire comprised of questions regarding demographic data and participants'' knowledge about dental trauma. The level of the teachers'' knowledge was moderate (53.3%). Of the 163 participants, 104 (63.8%) were females and 59 (36.2%) were males. Among several predictors that were surveyed in this study, only the age of respondents significantly impacted the teachers'' knowledge (P = 0.004). The results of this study showed the moderate level of knowledge of teachers regarding emergency management of traumatized teeth. Adding dental trauma management courses in the teacher training curriculum and requiring teachers to be updated in regards to this issue can improve their knowledge and thus led to better management of traumatic dental injuries in children.