Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of first aid measures for a permanent tooth avulsion among parents in Kuwait and to assess the effect of different sociodemographic characteristics. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 554 parents who visited 5 dental specialty centers in Kuwait. Parent sociodemographic data and responses to avulsion management questions were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive and binary logistic regression analyses were used for data analysis. Results: In the 554 responses from patients, gaps were identified in the following areas: replantation (199, 35.9%), cleaning of the tooth (182, 32.9%), and transport media (84, 15.2%).Most parents demonstrated satisfactory knowledge levels regarding the urgency to seek professional help (391, 70.6%) and the first place of contact after the injury (525, 94.8%). Having previous information on emergency management of dental avulsion was a significant predictor of good knowledge (OR 2.138, 95% CI 1.347-3.395, p = 0.001). Of the 544 parents, 99 (17.8%) had received information on dental avulsion management: 30 (30.3%) from the Internet, 19 (19.2%) from books, 12 (12.1%) from television, 6 (6%) from smart phone applications, 2 (2%) from newspapers, and 30 (30.3%) from other sources. Conclusion: In this study, parents in Kuwait did not have adequate knowledge of emergency management for dental avulsion. Future educational campaigns on dental avulsion are urgently needed to educate parents.

BACKGROUND:Dentists as health care providers should maintain a competence in resuscitation. This cannot be overemphasized by the fact that the population in our country is living longer with an increasing proportion of medically compromised persons in the general population. This preliminary study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude of general dentists towards cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). METHODS:A cross-sectional study was carried out among 250 licensed general dental practitioners working in ministry of health. Data were obtained through electronic self-administered questionnaire consisting of demographic data of general dentists, and their experience, attitude and knowledge about CPR based on the 2010 American Heart Association guidelines update for CPR. RESULTS:Totally 208 general dentists took part in the present study giving a response rate of 83.2%. Only 36% of the participants demonstrated high knowledge on CPR, while 64% demonstrated low knowledge. Participants' age, gender, nationality, years of experience, career hierarchy, and formal CPR training were associated significantly with CPR knowledge. Almost all the participants (99%) felt that dentists needed to be competent in basic resuscitation skills and showed a positive attitude towards attending continuing dental educational programs on CPR.CONCLUSION: This study showed that majority of general dental practitioners in Kuwait had inadequate knowledge on CPR. It was also found that CPR training signifi cantly infl uenced the CPR knowledge of the participants. Therefore, training courses on CPR should be regularly provided to general dentists in the country.

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