Knowledge and attitudes of final year medical students to first aid management of traumatic tooth avulsion: A cross-sectional survey

Abstract

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study aimed at assessing the knowledge of final year medical students  at the University of Benin regarding emergency management of traumatic tooth avulsion. Data collected were information on demographics, knowledge and practice regarding emergency management of traumatic tooth  avulsion. Results showed that majority (83.0%) knew what an avulsed tooth was while only (16%) knew the best emergency treatment for an avulsed tooth. Only 7.5% opted to replant a tooth at an avulsion site  whereas majority 64 (68.1%) preferred to refer a patient with an avulsed tooth to the dentist at the site of an avulsion. Most (51.1%) of the respondents selected saline as their preferred medium for preservation of an  avulsed tooth. The findings of this survey shows that majority of the final year medical students had little or no awareness about the emergency management of avulsed teeth.