title: Teachers' knowledge of emergency management of traumatised teeth in preschools.
abstract: Dental trauma remains one of the major oral health problems in childhood and is the cause of much pain and distress. It may occur as a result of a sports mishap, an altercation or a fall while playing inside the school premises. Prompt and appropriate management of traumatised teeth is essential for a good prognosis of an injured tooth.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess teachers' knowledge of emergency management of traumatized teeth in early childhood developmental centres (ECDCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data among teachers in ECDCs in Hillbrow and Berea suburbs, Johannesburg, South Africa.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Almost all respondents (98.1%) were female; 59.6% were between 20 and 29 years of age. Almost a quarter of the centres were not registered and 39.1% of the school teachers were not formally qualified as ECDCs teachers. A small percentage (11.5%) received dental emergency training as a part of their school health education programs. Knowledge of ECDCs teachers on the emergency management of traumatized teeth appeared inadequate; in the event of emergency dental trauma, substantial number of teachers would not be able to respond appropriately. All teachers should have training on basic management of dental trauma.
authors.affiliation: Dental Specialist Facility, Polokwane-Mankweng Hospital Complex, Dept of Health and Social Development, Limpopo Province, RSA. Ve2si@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nemutandani
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yengopal
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rudolph
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D005260:Female; D005392:First Aid; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000293:injuries; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions / Q000145:classification; D012578:Schools, Nursery; D057566:Self Report; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching; D014084:Tooth Avulsion / Q000628:therapy; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000628:therapy; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D014090:Tooth Replantation; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000293:injuries; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions