Conhecimento de pais/responsáveis sobre traumatismo dentário e condutas de urgência de pré-escolares da zona urbana de Lagarto-SE

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Dental trauma is a worldwide public health problem and is becoming more frequent among children and adolescents, causing serious functional and aesthetic problems, requiring immediate assistance, thorough and integrated care. It can be triggered by external factors, such as impacts on sports activities, child maltreatment, accidents and especially falls. The highest incidence of trauma to the deciduous dentition occurs between 1 and 3 years of age, when motor coordination is still under development. The lack of knowledge of the parents/guardians about this issue results in delay in the search for care and in worse prognoses. Thus, dental education and prevention of dental trauma plays a decisive role in the successful treatment of traumatic injuries. AIM: To verify the prior knowledge of parents/guardians about childhood dental trauma and emergency behavior and to evaluate the outcome of information acquisition after an educational-preventive lecture. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a prospective, paired, qualitative and quantitative study, carried out through the analysis of the knowledge of 100 parents/guardians of preschoolers between the ages of 2 and 6 years on dental traumatisms in children assessed by means of a questionnaire before and after specific orientation provided. RESULTS: Of the total sample, 17% reported that the child had suffered tooth trauma. Of these, only 29.41% sought dental care after the accident. As for previous knowledge, 75% of the parents/guardians did not know what was “dental trauma” and 44% said they did not know what to do if his/her child had dental trauma. The majority of respondents answered that treatment in cases of coronary fracture is possible and dental avulsion treatment is impossible, 27% would condition the avulsed permanent tooth without any liquid and only 2% would keep it stored in milk. After the lecture, 92% of the interviewees reported knowing what dental trauma is, 95% reported they would know what to do after an eventual dental trauma, of which 91% answered that they would seek dental care and 67% of the interviewees chose by keeping an avulsioned permanent tooth in milk. Finally, 99% answered that they believe it is important to seek a dental surgeon in the event of dental trauma. CONCLUSION: Periodic and participative programs for the transmission of information are very effective regarding the knowledge of parents/guardians about dental traumatism, influencing the success of the treatment to be performed by the dentist.