TO EVALUATE KNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS, AND ATTITUDE REGARDING EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OF DENTAL TRAUMA AMONG (ELEMENTARY) SCHOOL TEACHERS OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA PROVINCE IN PAKISTAN

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, awareness, and attitudes of elementary school teachers in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province of Pakistan regarding the emergency management of dental trauma. Materials and methods: A total of 618 questionnaires were distributed among elementary school teachers across various districts of KPK, representing both private (34%) and public (66%) sectors. Data were collected through a survey utilizing a self-administered questionnaire, which was structured into three major sections comprising multiple-choice questions. Results: Out of 618 teachers, 610 returned the completed questionnaire. Among them, 54% were male and 46% were female, with the majority (60%) having less than three years of teaching experience. The responses indicated a broad variation in knowledge and awareness levels. Notably, 79% of participants had never received any first aid training for trauma management, and 60% had never encountered a case of dental trauma requiring immediate emergency care. When asked about their approach to managing dental trauma, 67% of respondents indicated they would stop the bleeding, contact the child’s parents, and refer them to a dentist. In contrast, 20% suggested placing the avulsed tooth in a solution and guiding the child, while only 13% were aware of the correct first-aid procedure—reimplanting the tooth in its socket before referral. Regarding the appropriate handling of an avulsed tooth, 80% of teachers stated they would wrap it in tissue paper, 13% preferred storing it in milk, and 7% opted for tap water for transportation. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the majority of elementary school teachers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lack adequate knowledge of emergency dental trauma management. However, they demonstrated a positive attitude towards learning and adopting the appropriate practices for handling such situations.