Traumatic dental injuries: Knowledge assessment of dentists in the Norwegian Public Dental Service of Vestland.
Dent Traumatol
; 40(4): 398-409, 2024 Aug.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38459663
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIM:
Most children and adolescents in Norway attend the Public Dental Service (PDS) where they are treated free-of-charge until the age of 19 years. Thus, general dentists employed in the PDS are the primary care providers for traumatic dental injuries (TDI) in young patients. This cross-sectional study assessed the knowledge of PDS general dentists on the acute management and follow-up of TDI and its socio-demographic and attitudinal covariates. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
All general dentists employed in the Vestland County PDS, Western Norway, (N = 170) received an online questionnaire. Socio-demographic and professional profiles of respondents as well as attitudinal indicators were queried. Clinical case scenarios on emergency treatment and further follow-ups of TDI were used to calculate a dental trauma knowledge score (DTKS; range 0-21). Mann-Whitney U tests and Kruskal-Wallis tests determined differences between the demographic subgroups. Logistic regressions determined the potential of single factors in explaining the variability in dental trauma knowledge.RESULTS:
The response rate was 46%. Most participants (60.5%) had not participated in a TDI course after graduation but would like such a course (84.2%). Mean DTKS was 13.82 (±2.6). Knowledge scores differed significantly between age groups (p = .014) and years since graduation (p = .0018). Younger dentists and recently graduated dentists scored highest. Dentists under the age of 30 years scored higher than 30-39- and 40-49-year-old dentists in these areas emergency treatment of crown fractures with pulp exposure, identification of complications after avulsion, and management of severe intrusive luxation injury.CONCLUSION:
Younger dentists had a higher theoretical knowledge of TDI. Continuing professional development among dentists in the Norwegian PDS is needed for emergency treatment and complication management after TDI.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Traumatismos Dentários
Limite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Child
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
País como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article