The Knowledge of the First Aid Problems in Tooth Luxation in Primary School Teachers

Overview

The aim of the study was to evaluate the knowledge of teachers at Primary Schools in Pilsen about the problem of providing first aid care in most serious injuries of permanent teeth – luxation (avulsion) of the tooth from the alveolus. We elaborated a questionnaire for this investigation consisting of 9 questions and a letter of information about aims of the study. In their answers the teachers could make choice from two of 7 possibilities and mark even more answers. We selected 9 primary schools in Pilsen at random and delivered 300 questionnaires there. Two hundred and twenty three filled-out questionnaires returned (74.3%). Seventy percent of the interviewed teachers reported that they had never been informed about the problems of providing the first aid in tooth injuries. Twenty percent of teachers encountered the situation of a knock-out permanent tooth in practice and sport activities proved to be the most frequent cause there. Most teachers (82.5%) considered the correct procedure in the case of tooth luxation to transport the child immediately to a dentist and to inform the parents. The worst shortcomings (93.6% erroneous answers) were noticed in the knowledge of a correct care of the luxated tooth and a correct transport medium.

The level of knowledge of primary school teachers about the problems of first aid in luxation of permanent teeth proved to be insufficient. The authors considered very useful to get relevant information to the teachers in a brief and comprehensible way.

Key words:
tooth luxation – knowledge – teachers – first aid