Knowledge of Emergency Dental Trauma Management amongst Physicians and Dentists in a Nigerian Tertiary Health Care Center

Knowledge of emergency dental trauma management

Abstract

Objective: To assess the knowledge of emergency dental trauma management among physicians and dentists in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out using a three-part online questionnaire including demographic data, knowledge and self-assessment. A pilot study was carried out among three dentists and three physicians. The questionnaire was forwarded to the various online professional association platforms of physicians and dentists at OAUTHC to fill in. The surveyed data were statistically analyzed using descriptive analysis and the Chi-Square test for bivariate analysis.

Results: One hundred completed questionnaires (75 dentists and 25 physicians) were recorded within the study period. Only 8 (11.6%) of the physicians acknowledged the urgency to replant an avulsed tooth as soon as possible, contrasting with 61 (88.4%) dentists. This finding was statistically significant p < 0.01. Out of the 48% of the study participants who were satisfied with their current level of knowledge about emergency traumatic dental injuries (TDI) management, 42.0% were dentists while 6% were physicians. This finding was statistically significant p < 0.01. Physicians (92%) and dentists (56%) acknowledged the need for further professional training in emergency TDI management.

Conclusion: This study showed that physicians’ knowledge of emergency TDI management was inadequate. TDI management should be included in the medical education curriculum to improve the skill of the physicians for the emergency management of TDI and more favourable outcomes for dental trauma patients.