Empowering paramedics to save teeth: a comprehensive assessment of their knowledge and skills in managing dental traumas

Abstract

Aims: Dental traumas are prevalent injury types worldwide, and the time of the first intervention is crucial for a favorable prognosis. Paramedics are often the first to arrive at the scene of dental trauma. The significance of paramedics’ knowledge of dental trauma cannot be overstated, yet studies on this subject are limited. This study aims to assess the level of dental trauma knowledge among paramedics. Methods: A Google Forms link measuring dental trauma knowledge level consisting of 17 questions was sent to 1576 participants via WhatsApp. The forms were fully and consistently completed by 300 participants (19.3%). The data collected through Google Forms were imported into Microsoft Excel for statistical analysis. Statistical Analysis: The Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine whether there was a difference between the categories. The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to determine whether there was a difference between the categories of the qualitative variable and more than two categories in the quantitative variable since average distribution as sumptions were not met. The statistical significance level was taken as 0.05. Results: There are 300 paramedics, with 159 males and 141 females. 87% of the participants did not receive any training regarding dental trauma. According to 85.3% of paramedics, dental traumas are considered an emergency situation. The most important type of dental trauma is avulsion. Only 21.7% of paramedics knew reimplantation was possible, while 78.4% believed that a dentist should do it. Research shows that 38.4% of paramedics prefer using a sterile sponge when storing avulsed teeth, while 10.7% prefer milk. 82.7% of the paramedics reported lacking the knowledge to handle dental traumas, and 84% expressed interest in receiving training. Conclusion: The research revealed that paramedics have insufficient knowledge regarding dental trauma. Most participants stated their preference not to intervene in cases of dental trauma. They believed that a dentist or emergency physician should handle it.