Oral Health and Dental Management

Abstract

Knowledge of Moroccan Dentists about the Management of Dental Hard Tissues Trauma

Said Dhaimy, Assakhen Ilyas, Khadija Lahlou, Mouna Hamza, Chouaib Rifki

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the management of dental hard tissues traumas in the city of Casablanca, Morocco, as well as to analyze, whether there was any correlation between practitioner's socio-demographic characteristics and their actual level of knowledge. A questionnaire containing questions on demographic data and knowledge was distributed among 309 dental practitioners randomly chosen in Casablanca. A multiple logistic regression model was used to evaluate the level of knowledge based on collected correct answers, as a function of the respondents' socio-demographic characteristics. A total number of 205 questionnaires were evaluated. Among the surveyed dentists, 3.4% stated they encounter tooth injuries several times a month, while 69% of the practitioners indicated that they face that kind of traumas once or twice a year. Most of the dentists (86.2%) considered their knowledge as being sufficient or comprehensive and 19.1% of them have undergone postgraduate training in dental trauma. The answers given by practitioners on the proposed traumatic situations were in general unsatisfactory. The statistical analysis showed that practitioners who have graduated recently and those who attended postgraduate courses on dental traumatology have generally better responded to the questions. On the basis of the findings of this study, it can be suggested that the level of knowledge among dentists in the city of Casablanca, Morocco is rather poor. An improved postgraduate education on dental traumatology is needed to ensure an adequate treatment for patients with tooth injuries.