Journal of Dental Medicine

Background and Aims: Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) are of the most common dental problems in children and adolescents, which usually occur in the anterior segment and have a significant role in patient’s physical and psychological health. Immediate intervention for damaged teeth can elevate the success rate of treatment in TDI. Thus, general dentists’ knowledge and their effective intervention in TDI are important factors in prognosis of traumatized teeth. The objective of this study was to assess the general dentists’ knowledge and awareness regarding the diagnosis and management of traumatic dental injuries.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the questionnaire data were collected from 130 general dentists, including the demographic data and general dentists’ knowledge about TDIs. The data were analyzed using the Student t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Spearman’s and Pearson’s correlation coefficient.

Results: The mean score of general dentists’ knowledge was 8.5 ± 1.5 (total score:10) and it was the same between both males and females (P=0.083). Dentists’ work place does not have any influence in their knowledge (P=0.133). Also, there was no statically significant relationship between the age, job experience and dentists’ knowledge (P=0.805). The relationship between the frequency of TDI managed cases and dentists’ knowledge was not significant (P=0.507).

Conclusion: Considering that the overall knowledge of general dentists regarding the management of TDI was sufficient, it could be a good opportunity in treating these injuries. As TDI is a developing science, it is important to motivate general dentists being up to date regarding this matter.

Background and Aims: Tooth decay is still one of the most prevalent pediatric diseases. According to the role of general dentists and importance of first dental visit in prevention, the aim of this study was to evaluate dentist’s knowledge and attitude regarding children’s first dental visit in Gorgan, Iran.
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 140 general practitioners participated. In order to assess the level of knowledge, a questionnaire including 2 parts was used as the main tool. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis and Pearson correlation coefficient.
Results: Our findings revealed that the level of knowledge in both sex was equal (P=0.067). There was no significant relationship between the workplace (P=0.68), age (P=0.77), work experience (P=0.84) and the level of knowledge. Interest of practitioners to get the necessary training about examination and treatment of 0-2 year-old children was medium. 51.17% of dentists, admitted the treatment of 8-12 year-old children. 34.5% of dentists revealed that misbehavior of children during treatment was the main reason for unwillingness to accept treating them. 46.9% of dentists, revealed that the most effective result of child’s dental visit at an early age is increasing parents’ knowledge about prevention of carries in primary dentition.
Conclusion: The results showed that general dental practitioners in this study had a good level of knowledge about the first dental visit. Regarding to their little tendency to treat children, it seems necessary to hold workshops and seminars for better desired motivation in this field.