Impact of a child's history of traumatic dental injury on parental knowledge and attitudes toward emergency management

Background: This study aimed to evaluate parental knowledge and attitudes regarding the emergency management of traumatic dental injuries among parents whose children had experienced dental trauma and to determine the influence of previous trauma experience on parental awareness. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 200 parents. Participants were divided into two groups according to whether their children had a history of dental trauma. Parental knowledge and attitudes were assessed using a validated questionnaire. Differences between the groups were analyzed using the Chi-square test, and statistically significant findings were interpreted based on the effect size, as measured by Cramer’s V (p < 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of selected knowledge-related outcomes. Results: Parents of children with a history of trauma demonstrated greater awareness of selected aspects of emergency management for traumatic dental injuries. Significant differences were observed particularly for preserving fractured tooth fragments (p = 0.016) and selecting appropriate storage media after trauma (p = 0.048). However, the effect sizes for these differences were generally small (Cramer’s V ≤0.24). Parental attitude patterns were similar between the groups. After adjustment, previous dental trauma experience remained independently associated with locating fractured tooth fragments and selecting gauze or milk as a storage medium, but it was also associated with the incorrect practice of reinsertion without cleaning. Conclusions: A child’s experience of dental trauma was associated with a limited increase in parental knowledge regarding emergency management. However, this improvement remained clinically insufficient, and parental awareness was still inadequate. These findings highlight the need for structured and widely accessible educational programs for parents on dental trauma management.

Dental trauma; Emergency management; Knowledge; Parents; Pediatric dentistry

[1] Patnana AK, Chugh A, Chugh VK, Kumar P, Vanga NRV, Singh S. The prevalence of traumatic dental injuries in primary teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Dental Traumatology. 2021; 37: 383–399.

[2] Vieira WA, Pecorari VGA, Figueiredo-de-Almeida R, Carvas Junior N, Vargas-Neto J, Santos ECA, et al. Prevalence of dental trauma in Brazilian children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cadernos de Saúde Pública. 2021; 37: e00015920.

[3] Tewari N, Goel S, Srivastav S, Mathur VP, Rahul M, Haldar P, et al. Global status of knowledge of parents for emergency management of traumatic dental injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Evidence-Based Dentistry. 2023; 24: 91.

[4] Dave M. EBD spotlight: global parental knowledge of dental trauma. BDJ Team. 2023; 10: 38–39.

[5] Al Sheeb M, Al Jawad FA, Nazzal H. Parents’ knowledge of emergency management of avulsed permanent teeth in children and adolescents in the State of Qatar: a questionnaire cross-sectional study. European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry. 2023; 24: 643–650.

[6] Antipovienė A, Narbutaitė J, Virtanen JI. Traumatic dental injuries, treatment, and complications in children and adolescents: a register-based study. European Journal of Dentistry. 2021; 15: 557–562.

[7] Levin L, Day PF, Hicks L, O’Connell A, Fouad AF, Bourguignon C, et al. International Association of Dental Traumatology guidelines for the management of traumatic dental injuries: general introduction. Dental Traumatology. 2020; 36: 309–313.

[8] Laforgia A, Inchingolo AM, Inchingolo F, Sardano R, Trilli I, Di Noia A, et al. Paediatric dental trauma: insights from epidemiological studies and management recommendations. BMC Oral Health. 2025; 25: 6.

[9] Cantao AB, Levin L. Translating knowledge into practice in dental trauma: from education to emergency response and prevention. Dental Traumatology. 2025; 41: 619–624.

[10] O’Connell AC. Contemporary approach for traumatic dental injuries in the primary dentition. Dental Traumatology. 2025; 41: 17–26.

[11] Aleric K, Gavic L, Draganja M, Gorseta K, Ambarkova V, Tadin A. Parental knowledge and attitudes toward emergency management of dental trauma in children: a cross-sectional Croatian study. Pediatric Reports. 2026; 18: 11.

[12] Hashim R. Investigation of mothers’ knowledge of dental trauma management in United Arab Emirates. European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry. 2012; 13: 83–86.

[13] Ozer S, Yilmaz EI, Bayrak S, Tunc ES. Parental knowledge and attitudes regarding the emergency treatment of avulsed permanent teeth. European Journal of Dentistry. 2012; 6: 370–375.

[14] Mendoza-Mendoza A, Iglesias-Linares A, Yañez-Vico RM, Abalos-Labruzzi C. Prevalence and complications of trauma to the primary dentition in a subpopulation of Spanish children in southern Europe. Dental Traumatology. 2015; 31: 144–149.

[15] Ramos-Jorge ML, Ramos-Jorge J, Mota-Veloso I, Oliva KJ, Zarzar PM, Marques LS. Parents’ recognition of dental trauma in their children. Dental Traumatology. 2013; 29: 266–271.

[16] Al-Jundi SH. Knowledge of Jordanian mothers with regards to emergency management of dental trauma. Dental Traumatology. 2006; 22: 291–295.

[17] Rajab LD. Traumatic dental injuries in children presenting for treatment at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Jordan, 1997–2000. Dental Traumatology. 2003; 19: 6–11.

[18] Singh B, Pandit IK, Gugnani N, Bhatia TK, Gupta M, Kumar V. Anterior dental injuries in 8–12-year-old schoolchildren of Yamunanagar, northern India: a districtwide oral health survey. International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry. 2022; 15: 584–590.

[19] Hamilton FA, Hill FJ, Holloway PJ. An investigation of dento-alveolar trauma and its treatment in an adolescent population. Part 1: the prevalence and incidence of injuries and the extent and adequacy of treatment received. British Dental Journal. 1997; 182: 91–95.

[20] Gassner R, Bösch R, Tuli T, Emshoff R. Prevalence of dental trauma in 6000 patients with facial injuries: implications for prevention. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology. 1999; 87: 27–33.

[21] Al-Asfour A, Andersson L. The effect of a leaflet given to parents for first aid measures after tooth avulsion. Dental Traumatology. 2008; 24: 515–521.

[22] Lembacher S, Schneider S, Lettner S, Bekes K. Prevalence and patterns of traumatic dental injuries in primary teeth: a 3-year retrospective overview study in Vienna. Clinical Oral Investigations. 2022; 26: 2085–2093.

[23] Sakaryalı Uyar D, Uyar T, Memiş Özgül B. Attitudes and emotional status of parents regarding traumatic dental injuries. Dental Traumatology. 2023; 39: 2–10.

[24] Islam A, Papageorgiou SN, Hamza B. Trends in accident-related traumatic dental injuries among children: a 10-year retrospective study of patients attending a university clinic. Clinical Oral Investigations. 2025; 29: 450.

[25] Bragança-Souza KK, Lisboa JL, Guimarães MO, Vieira-Andrade RG, Freire-Maia FB, Martins-Júnior PA, et al. Determinant factors for immediate care seeking after traumatic dental injury among Brazilian children. Brazilian Oral Research. 2021; 35: e112.

[26] Wang Y, Chang H, Chen C, Yang X, Quan M, Liao X, et al. Traumatic dental injuries in children and adolescents presenting to a tertiary children’s hospital in Shenzhen, China. BMC Oral Health. 2025; 25: 1102.

[27] Alharbi R, Aboalshamat K, Alrabghi K, Alassiri A, Bashammakh A, Alghamdi A, et al. Assessment of parents’ knowledge and attitudes on emergency management of permanent avulsed teeth in Western Saudi Arabia. The Open Dentistry Journal. 2020; 14: 396–402.

[28] Momeni Z, Afzalsoltani S, Moslemzadehasl M. Mothers’ knowledge and self-reported performance regarding the management of traumatic dental injuries and associated factors: a cross-sectional study. BMC Pediatrics. 2022; 22: 665.

[29] Šimunović L, Špiljak B, Vranić L, Negovetić Vranić D. Treatment priorities and arrival time of traumatic dental injuries—an 8-year retrospective study. Dental Traumatology. 2024; 40: 11–21.

[30] Al-Sehaibany FS, Alajlan R, Almubarak D, Almaflehi N, Aljabaa A, AlBarakati SF. Knowledge on management of traumatic dental injuries among Saudi mothers. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dentistry. 2018; 10: 123–128.

[31] Aierken W, Ayoufu A, Abuduweili R, Tang R, Kang W, Leng C, et al. Knowledge and practice gaps in the emergency management practices of children with dental trauma: a cross-sectional survey among primary school health teachers and parents in Urumqi. BMC Oral Health. 2025; 25: 1480.

[32] Iskander M, Lou J, Wells M, Scarbecz M. A poster and a mobile healthcare application as information tools for dental trauma management. Dental Traumatology. 2016; 32: 457–463.

[33] Özveren N, Yıldırım S. Effectiveness of an educational cartoon animation on the knowledge of children about traumatic dental injuries. Dental Traumatology. 2022; 38: 512–518.