Knowledge about tooth avulsion and replantation among students from public schools

Resumo

Research on knowledge regarding tooth avulsion and replantation among children and adolescents is still scarce. Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the knowledge about tooth avulsion and replantation and their association with independent variables among 7th-grade students in public schools. Material and methods: Data collection on the knowledge regarding tooth avulsion and replantation (nine questions) and sociodemographic profile was performed through semi-structured and self-administered questionnaires. The presence of trauma in permanent incisors of students (n=251) was obtained in a clinical examination performed by a calibrated examiner in Sertaozinho, Sao Paulo, Brazil. After a descriptive data analysis, association and multiple logistic regression tests were applied at a significance level of 5%. Results: Most of the students were female (61.4%), were residents in suburban areas (89.6%) and did not present dental trauma (87.7%). Students answered correct 42.2% of the questions. The variable “last visit to the dentist” was the only one that showed a statistically significant association with knowledge about tooth avulsion and replantation in the bivariate analysis (p = 0.007) and the logistic regression (p = 0.031). Conclusion: The level of knowledge was low, and the students whose last visit to the dentist was two years or longer showed a greater chance of having less knowledge about tooth avulsion and replantation. Clinical Significance: During routine dental visits, the dental team should educate patients about the procedures to manage different situations of dental trauma.