Assessment of knowledge and attitude of parents on emergency management of avulsion of permanent teeth, in Kottayam district - A cross sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Dental avulsion is characterized by the entire tooth being forced out of its socket, the periodontal ligament being cut, and either an alveolar bone fracture or not. Because of its benefits on both a physiological and psychological level, reimplantation of the avulsed tooth is regarded as the best option of treatment. The prognosis of a reimplanted tooth is determined by the vitality of the periodontal ligament cell on the root surface. It is thought that parents' awareness of the critical actions that must be performed right away following a tooth avulsion is essential to the treatment's success.Aim: To assess the knowledge and attitude of parents in Kottayam district about avulsed permanent tooth of their children and their emergency management using a questionnaire. Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of 159 parents of children, aged between 6 to 12 years, conducted among different schools in Kottayam district. A pre-validated, self-administered structured questionnaire in regional language(Malayalam) as google form was used for data collection. Chi square and T test were used for statistical analysis. Results: The overall knowledge level of parents was found to be inadequate on analyzing each of the responses they have marked. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of educational qualification, gender, residential area and age group and the attitude of participants. Majority of parents showed a positive attitude. Conclusion: There is a lack of awareness among parents regarding how to handle dental avulsions in children in an emergency and that educational initiatives are required to enhance the appropriate handling of dental avulsions in an emergency.