Knowledge of Traumatic Dental Injuries Among Dentists and Dentistry Students in Bosnia and Herzegovina

ObjectiveTraumatic dental injuries (TDI) are among the most common public health issues in dentistry. The dentist's role in the immediate treatment of traumatic injuries is crucial, as it impacts the long-term outcome of treatment and the patient's quality of life. Dentists should have good knowledge of dentoalveolar trauma to be ready to act promptly in emergencies and to be able to provide appropriate guidance and advice to eyewitnesses or injured individuals at the scene of an accident. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge regarding TDI among dental students and dentists.Materials and MethodsParticipants included fourth- and sixth-year dental students, dentists, oral surgery residents and specialists, with a response rate of 61.99% from 1059 participants. Data collection involved face-to-face and email methods. Quantitative data analysis utilised Student's t-test and ANOVA, while categorical data was analysed using Pearson chi-square test, with RStudio and Excel for data analysis.ResultsDental students had a mean score of 15.0 +/- 4.7, indicating the highest theoretical knowledge of TDI compared to other examined groups. However, 83.5% reported never experiencing TDI. Oral surgical residents scored lowest at 7.8 +/- 2.3. Interestingly, dentists with less than 5 years of experience outperformed those with 5-10 years of practice. Most participants (92.4%) prioritised direct tooth replacement, but only 67.7% identified proper tooth-preserving media, and just 38.0% understood the ideal splint for avulsed teeth.ConclusionWhile dental students demonstrated a strong understanding of TDI management, there are areas needing further education, especially among oral surgical residents. Since TDI knowledge tends to decline throughout the years of practice, continuous education on TDI for dental practitioners is essential.