Knowledge, Attitude, and Awareness of Adolescents on the Emergency Management of Traumatic Dental Injuries

TL;DR

Adolescents have poor knowledge and awareness of how to manage traumatic dental injuries, despite being willing to help others, suggesting a need for better education.

Contribution

This study quantifies the knowledge, attitude, and awareness gaps in adolescents regarding emergency dental trauma management.

Findings

Only 26.3% of adolescents knew avulsed teeth can be replanted.

Just 7% identified an appropriate storage medium for avulsed teeth.

Mouthguard use was reported by only 11.5% of participants.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs), particularly avulsion, require immediate and appropriate first aid to ensure favorable outcomes. Adolescents are often the first responders during school or sports activities, yet their preparedness remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and awareness of adolescents regarding the emergency management of TDIs. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 400 adolescents aged 15 to 18 years from four randomly selected colleges in Mangaluru, Karnataka. A structured, validated 16-item questionnaire assessed demographic characteristics and domains of knowledge (6 items), attitude (6 items), and awareness (6 items). Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and one-way ANOVA. Results: The mean knowledge score was 2.50 ± 1.04 (95% CI: 2.40–2.60), indicating limited knowledge of dental trauma management; only 26.3% of participants recognized that avulsed permanent teeth can be replanted and 7% identified an appropriate storage medium. The mean attitude score was comparatively high (4.38 ± 1.12; 95% CI: 4.27–4.49), with 88.8% of students willing to assist an injured peer, reflecting a large attitude–knowledge discrepancy (Cohen’s d = 1.47). The mean awareness score was 2.24 ± 1.24 (95% CI: 2.12–2.36), indicating limited awareness of preventive practices, including low mouthguard use (11.5%). Shapiro–Wilk testing confirmed non-normal distribution of KAA scores (p < 0.05); accordingly, non-parametric analyses showed no significant differences across schools, academic streams, gender, or education level (Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests; p > 0.05). Conclusions: Despite favorable attitudes toward assisting peers, adolescents demonstrated limited knowledge and awareness regarding the emergency management and prevention of traumatic dental injuries, particularly in tooth replantation, appropriate storage media, and mouthguard use, highlighting the need for targeted, school-based dental first-aid education programs.

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