Factors Associated with Knowledge and Attitude of Management of Traumatic Dental Injuries: A Cross-Sectional Study among Turkish Dentists

Abstract

To evaluate the factors associated with knowledge and attitude of dentists regarding management of traumatic dental injuries (TDI). Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional and correlational study, the sample consisted of 136 Turkish dentists. A specialized questionnaire was developed and validated to collect data. The first part of the questionnaire included questions about sociodemographic characteristics, education level, working experince, working place, last dental trauma course, self-efficacy about management of TDI, and treatment frequency. The second part included a total of 17 questions with multiple choice and single correct answers regarding the management of intrusion and extrusion, avulsion, complicated crown fracture and crown-root fracture injuries in children. Descriptive statistics, multivariate analysis of variance, and partial eta squared coefficient (η 2) were used for statistical analysis. Results: There was a moderate level of knowledge among participants. The level of knowledge was statistically correlated (p < 0.05) in terms of working experience, working place, last dental trauma course and education level of participants, but not according to gender, self-efficacy, and treatment frequency (p > 0.05). General dentists had lower self-efficacy than specialist dentists (p < 0.05). Conclusion: While Turkish dentists working in a province seem to have a moderate level of knowledge regarding treatment of different types of TDI, it is necessary to carry out necessary studies to improve the knowledge and raise self-efficacy.

Knowledge of general dentists, endodontists and pediatric dentists about the management on dental traumas: a survey in turkey

“…Buldur and Kapdan [11] reported that dentists working in university hospitals had a higher level of knowledge of TDIs as compared with that of dentists working in other institutions. The findings of our study are in agreement with with those of Buldur and Kapdan [11].…”

“…Buldur and Kapdan [11] reported that dentists working in university hospitals had a higher level of knowledge of TDIs as compared with that of dentists working in other institutions. The findings of our study are in agreement with with those of Buldur and Kapdan [11]. As noted in the previous study [11], the findings can be attributed to dentists in university hospitals gaining more experience and training due to higher numbers of TDI cases presenting to these hospitals.…”

“…In cases of inappropriate or no treatment after a dental trauma, tooth discoloration, tooth mobility, sensitivity, pulpal necrosis, root or bone resorption, and eventually tooth loss may occur [9]. Previous studies showed that general dental practitioners were ill prepared to deal with TDIs due to insufficient training and that their management of TDIs was inadequate [10,11]. In a literature review, we found that there were few studies on the knowledge levels of TDIs among general dental practitioners and specialists in Turkey.…”

Conhecimento dos acadêmicos de odontologia sobre traumatismos em dentes decíduos

“…Segundo Buldur e Kapdan (2018), o nível de conhecimento dos dentistas varia de acordo com o tipo de lesão dentária traumática. O baixo nível de conhecimento dos dentistas sobre trauma dentário indicam a necessidade de programas de educação continuada para os profissionais nesse assunto 15 . Como a gestão de lesões traumáticas é importante e o conhecimento sobre este assunto está em constante mudança, é necessário um planejamento adequado para atualizar o conhecimento dos dentistas gerais sobre o tema 3 .…”

“…A presença de profissionais treinados em lesões traumáticas dentária em instituições e policlínicas que prestam serviços de tratamento de emergência podem melhorar o prognóstico dos tratamentos, proporcionando uma intervenção imediata e correta aos dentes traumatizados 15 .…”