Comparison of Knowledge of General Dental Practitioners and Specialists about Emergency Management of Traumatic Dental Injuries in Pakistan

Background: Traumatic dental injuries pose significant challenges in dental practice, requiring prompt and accurate management to optimize patient outcomes.Objective: To compare the knowledge between General Dental Practitioners and specialists regarding the emergency management of traumatic dental injuries.Materials and Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted with 40 participants (20 General Dental Practitioners and 20 operative dental specialists) using a convenience sampling technique through an online survey. Participants were selected based on their qualifications, age (25-60 years), and Pakistani nationality. Exclusion criteria included dental students, house surgeons, technicians, and postgraduate residents. The questionnaire included 12 questions assessing Traumatic dental injuries management knowledge. Chi-square tests were used to compare awareness levels between General Dental Practitioners and specialists.Results: No significant differences were found in age, gender, or experience between General Dental Practitioners and specialists. Specialists showed significantly higher awareness and knowledge in managing traumatic dental injuries (TDIs). Specifically, specialists were more knowledgeable about orthodontic repositioning for immature permanent maxillary tooth intrusion (p < 0.001), management strategies for mature maxillary tooth extrusion (p = 0.005), and handling of avulsed teeth (p = 0.001). Significant differences were also observed in pulp exposure management (p < 0.001 for pinpoint exposure; p = 0.001 for large exposure) and storage media preference (p = 0.001). No significant differences were found for splint duration (p = 0.2), antibiotic choices (p > 0.9), and replantation of avulsed primary teeth (p = 0.2).Conclusion: Specialists demonstrated significantly higher knowledge than General Dental Practitioners in managing traumatic dental injuries Keywords: General Dental Practitioners, Knowledge, Specialists, Traumatic Dental Injuries