Background: Tooth avulsion, a traumatic dental injury, prevalent in children, causes tooth loss if mismanaged. Immediate proper treatment is crucial for tooth survival and preventing lifelong functional / esthetic complications.
Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge of general dentists and postgraduate students in Shiraz regarding tooth avulsion management based on the 2020 international association of dental traumatology )IADT (guidelines, and to assess the effectiveness of an educational pamphlet intervention.
Materials and Method: A descriptive-analytical interventional study was conducted on 243 participants (general dentists and postgraduate students) using a validated 12-item questionnaire. Knowledge was assessed at three time points: before intervention (T0), one-week post-intervention (T1), and three months post-intervention (T2). The educational intervention consisted of a pamphlet developed according to IADT 2020 guidelines. Data were analyzed using t-tests, ANOVA, chi-square tests, and subgroup analyses comparing general dentists and postgraduate students with SPSS v27, with significance set at p<0.05.
Results: Baseline knowledge (T0) averaged 6.42±1.96 (poor), improving significantly to 10.09±1.92 (good) at T1 (p Value< 0.001), then declining to 8.90±1.80 at T2 (p< 0.001vs T1). Postgraduate students scored higher than general dentists at T0 (p= 0.021), with pediatric postgraduate students outperforming other specialties. No significant associations were found with gender, work experience, or trauma exposure history. Critical gaps were identified: only 1.2% knew all recommended storage media at T0. Management of open-apex teeth showed particularly low awareness (9.9% correct at T0).
Conclusion: Educational pamphlets significantly improve short-term knowledge of avulsion management, but knowledge retention declines over time. This study underscores the importance of accessible, evidence-based educational materials in dental trauma management to maintain guideline adherence.