A Study on the Parental awareness of the emergency management of avulsed teeth in children

국민학교 학생들의 치아탈구에 대한 학부모의 응급처치지식에 대한 연구

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate, by means of a questionaire, the parental awareness of the emergency management of avulsed teeth in children. 297 parents were surveyed during a six week period at Yooseuk elementary school in Seoul. The results indicated that the person who experianced a avulsion of teeth was 16.6%. 35% of parents would attempt replantation of an avulsed tooth but further questioning showed they did not know the correct procedures. 36% of parents were unaware of adequate time for emergency dental services. 62% of parents felt they should seek professional help urgently following an avulsion injury, but their knowledge of transport media for the tooth was poor. Only 8% of parents knew that milk was the medium of choice for both washing and transporting an avulsed tooth. 76% of parents surveyed had never received advice in what to do in the event of an accident where a tooth was avulsed. This study revealed the need for educational campaigns aimed at parents to increase their knowledge of the emergency procedures required when a tooth is avulsed.