School teachers' knowledge of first aid for dental trauma in the permanent dentition before and after receiving information on the subject

• Grant number: 25/01297-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Ticiane Cestari Fagundes
• Grantee: Marcela do Amaral Alcantara
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Dental trauma is an oral health problem that can damage function and aesthetics. According to the WHO, 16% to 40% of children between the ages of 6 and 12 suffer dental trauma. Successful treatment depends on immediate emergency care and early professional management after the trauma. Educators can play an important role in improving the prognosis of traumatized permanent teeth in schools after being informed about the immediate and appropriate dental first aid measures to be taken at the time of the accident. Therefore, the aims of this extension project will be: (i) to assess the level of knowledge of emergency measures for dental trauma in the permanent dentition among elementary school teachers and (ii) to provide practical guidance for teachers on how to identify, prevent and manage dental trauma in children and adolescents in the school environment. This project will include teachers from schools in the region of Araçatuba, who teach children aged between 6 and 14, and whose coordinators have signed up to the project through the municipal education department. Initially, the teachers will answer a questionnaire on their knowledge of first aid for dental trauma. This will be followed by a brief lecture on dental trauma, covering a detailed review of the most common types of trauma, their causes and the first aid needed to minimize damage and ensure proper treatment. After the lecture, the teachers' level of knowledge will be reassessed using the same method. At the end, it is hoped that teachers will be better prepared to protect their students' dental health, contributing to a safer and healthier school environment. Demographic data will be presented descriptively and appropriate statistical tests will be used to assess the degree of knowledge acquired by the teachers.