A cross-sectional evaluation of knowledge among Chinese dentists regarding the treatment of traumatic injuries in primary teeth.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Injuries to the primary dentition affect children's esthetics, function, and mental health. They may also affect the development of the permanent teeth. The knowledge of dentists about deciduous tooth trauma is rarely evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of dentists in China regarding traumatic dental injuries to primary teeth. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A self-administered online questionnaire containing questions on demographic data and knowledge based on a clinical scenario was given to a purposive sample of dentists, recruited by a non-probability convenience sampling method. The chi-square test was used for statistical analysis, with the significance level set at P <.05. RESULTS: A total of 394 out of 409 dentists provided valid data. There was no significant difference in demographic data. Questions about the treatment of hard dental tissue injuries in primary teeth presented a correct-response rate of 66.4%, with the highest correct-response rate for enamel fracture (n = 368, 93.4%) and lowest for complicated crown-root fracture with pulp exposure (n = 104, 26.4%). Questions about treatment of luxation injuries in primary teeth presented a correct-response rate of 66.6%, with subluxation presenting the highest correct-response rate (n = 391, 99.2%). Factors associated with higher correct-response rates were specialist disciplines, educational qualifications, workplaces, experience of injured teeth treated, and educational experience about primary tooth trauma. No significant differences were found in the correct-response rates of dentists with different years of work experience. Lack of cooperation from children was considered a major obstacle for treatment. Special lectures and Internet courses were the most preferred methods of obtaining knowledge. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that it is necessary to enhance dental trauma education for dentists in China. More attention needs to be paid to trauma in primary dentition to ensure adequate treatment for traumatized primary teeth.

Step-by-step teaching method: improving learning outcomes of undergraduate dental students in layering techniques for direct composite resin restorations.

BACKGROUND: Layering techniques for direct composite resin restorations might be complicated for inexperienced learners, as a number of materials and instruments are required at each step. The present study aimed to compare and assess the teaching effect of step-by-step and all-in-one teaching methods in layering techniques for direct composite resin restorations among undergraduate dental students. METHODS: A total of 68 junior dental students participated in this study, which was a prospective and single-blind trial. The students were randomly divided into a step-by-step group (experimental group, n = 34) and all-in-one group (control group, n = 34). The same teacher taught the two groups, ensuring a comparable teaching effect. The final score of each student was an average of scores by two experts who were blinded to the grouping. The scoring system was consisted by five parts. Each part was assigned scores of 3.0, 1.5, or 0. The total maximum score was 15 and minimum was 0. The total time taken by each group was also calculated. RESULTS: The values of the quality of tooth restorations evaluated by experts for step-by-step and all-in-one groups were 11.29 ± 2.13 from 15 and 9.00 ± 2.71 from 15 (t = 3.88, P < 0.001), respectively. In addition, the time spent by the experimental group was significantly lesser than that spent by the control group, which was 122.47 ± 2.82 and 137.18 ± 6.75 min, respectively (t = 11.72, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: With regard to the layering techniques for direct composite resin restorations, the outcomes were better in the step-by-step group than in the all-in-one group.