Parent’s Knowledge of Emergency Management of Avulsed Permanent Teeth in Children and Adolescents in the Kingdom of Bahrain: A Questionnaire Cross-Sectional Study

Keywords:  Dental avulsion, Emergency dental care, Parental knowledge, Permanent teeth, Pediatric dentistry, Tooth replantation,Dental trauma, Bahrain, Cross-sectional study, Oral health awareness.

A. Abbas¹, S. A. Alkhashram², N. Alsayed³, and M. A. AlSheeb⁴
¹Pediatric Dentistry Specialist, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Bahrain
²Pediatric Dentist Specialist, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Bahrain
³Assistant Professor, Ahlia University, Manama, Bahrain

Introduction: Background: Tooth avulsion, a common form of dental trauma in children and adolescents, requires urgent management for favourable treatment outcomes, impacted by factors such as extraalveolar time and storage medium Aim: is to assess parents’ knowledge regarding emergency management of avulsed permanent teeth in children and adolescents in Bahrain Method: A cross-sectional study involving 496 participating parents whose children had been visiting Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) for dental treatment from April 2024 to November 2024 Results: (86.9%) were Bahraini and predominantly female (82.3%). Over half of the participants (56.3%) held a basic university degree. 54.23% were able to differentiate the tooth.

(75.60%) believed that reinsertion was not possible. Less than half (49.19%) were aware of the critical 30-minute window for treatment. Regarding storage, 38.71% chose fresh milk, while 23.99% opted for tissue. (37.30%) would use tap water to clean the tooth before reinsertion. 56.85% would seek dental help within 30 minutes. One-way ANOVA results showed that nationality, gender, and education significantly influenced parent knowledge scores. Statistics: The data underwent analysis using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for normality assessment. ANOVA or the Kruskal-Walli’s test was used to compare means across multiple groups, and the t-test or Mann-Whitney test was employed for two-group comparisons, considering data normality. Statistical significance was determined at p < 0.05 for all analyses Discussion: This study found that Bahraini parents had a moderate level of knowledge regarding the emergency management of avulsed permanent teeth (mean score: 3.84/8), which was lower than that reported in Qatar (5.6/10) and comparable to Western Saudi Arabia (4.77/10) [1,2]. Only 24.4% believed replantation was possible, and 19.8% would attempt reinsertion themselves—despite IADT guidelines recommending immediate replantation when feasible [3]. Awareness of the critical 30-minute window for replantation was limited (49.2%) [4]. While 38.7% correctly selected milk as a storage medium, many opted for inappropriate alternatives such as tissue or tap water, reflecting ongoing misconceptions [5,2]. Similarly, 37.3% would rinse the tooth under tap water, risking periodontal damage [6]. The majority of respondents were Bahraini mothers, consistent with regional caregiving patterns [7]. Although over half held a university degree, only 33.3% had prior knowledge of dental avulsion management, showing a gap between education level and awareness [8]. Preferred information sources included social media and multi-platform tools, aligning with trends in Qatar [1]. Statistical analysis showed that gender and education significantly influenced knowledge scores, while nationality did not. ANOVA results confirmed these associations [1,9]. These findings underscore the need for targeted, gender-sensitive, and digitally delivered awareness campaigns to improve parental response in dental emergencies [10]. Conclusion: Bahraini parents showed moderate awareness of dental avulsion management, but key gaps remain in reinsertion, storage, and response timing. Gender and education significantly affected knowledge, and digital platforms were preferred for learning—highlighting the need for targeted, modern awareness strategies to improve emergency response.

                        

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  Biography: Dr. Maryam Abdulwahab is a Bahraini Pediatric Dentistry Specialist with an MSc in Pediatric Dentistry from Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE. She currently practices in multiple clinics across Bahrain and has prior clinical experience in the UAE. Dr. Maryam has published and presented several abstracts in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences, including the BSPD and the International Dental Conference. She is a member of the IADT, IAPD, BSPD, and the Bahrain Dental Society. Her clinical expertise includes trauma management, behavior guidance, and full oral rehabilitation under general anesthesia.#DentalResearch #AvulsedTeeth #ToothAvulsion #EmergencyDentalCare #DentalTrauma #OralHealth #PediatricDentistry #ChildDentistry #AdolescentDentistry #ParentsAwareness #PublicHealthDentistry #DentalFirstAid #ToothInjury #DentalEducation #KnowledgeAssessment #CrossSectionalStudy #DentalQuestionnaire #DentalManagement #TraumaticDentalInjury #PermanentTeeth #EmergencyManagement #DentalAwareness #SchoolDentalHealth #DentalPrevention #DentalCareAwareness #ToothCare #DentalHealthResearch #DentalEmergency #AvulsedToothManagement #BahrainDentistry #MiddleEastDentistry #DentalKnowledge #DentalScience #PaediatricOralHealth #DentalParentsAwareness #DentalCommunity #DentistryResearch #AvulsionManagement #ToothTraumaCare #OralHealthAwareness #ClinicalDentistry #DentistryStudy #DentalSurvey #ToothEmergency #PreventiveDentistry #ParentsKnowledge #GlobalDentistry #DentalStudies #HealthResearch #OralTraumaManagement