HEALTH EDUCATION IN FIRST YEAR STUDENTS OF SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY ABOUT DENTAL TRAUMA MANAGEMENT IN UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID (SPAIN)

Traumatic dental injuries frequently affect school-age children. They are considered as emergencies and the most common causes are games, sports and abuse. Therefore, it is essential to act appropriately to prevent, detect or intervene immediately in relation to cases that may occur. Objectives: To evaluate the level of knowledge of first year students of School of Dentistry in Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain) regarding dental trauma management and educate them to be able to apply the acquired knowledge if they encounter these kinds of injuries, especially tooth avulsion and crown fracture without pulp exposure. Materials and methods: A three part survey was given to 78 students. The survey contained questions about dental trauma management in primary dentition and secondary dentition, and other related questions. After that, a dental trauma lecture was given in order to enhance their training on the field. Results: Permanent dentition part of the survey showed that 60% would transport a tooth fragment in liquid storage media and only 24% would replant an avulsed tooth. In deciduous teeth part it is showed that just 65% would go immediately to the dentist after dental trauma and there were 34% of the students who would keep an avulsed tooth in paper tissue until dentist care. In related questions part it is observed that 91% of the students declared they did not have enough knowledge about the management of these injuries and 32% admitted having witnessed a dental avulsion case. Conclusions: This study showed the lack of knowledge of these future dentists; educational campaigns are necessary to improve the emergency management of traumatic dental injuries.