Resumo

SANTOS, Marconi Eduardo Sousa Maciel et al. Level of knowledge of Nursing, Physical Education and Dentistry professionals on dentoalveolar trauma and avulsion. Rev. cir. traumatol. buco-maxilo-fac. [online]. 2010, vol.10, n.1, pp. 95-102. ISSN 1808-5210.

Characterized by the total displacement of the tooth from its socket, avulsion is the dentoalveolar trauma that causes the most harmful, esthetic and psychological damage to individuals. Many health professionals may be directly or indirectly involved in this type of trama when performing preventive and/or emergency procedures. This study thus aims at evaluating the level of knowledge of dental surgeons, physical education professionals and nurses regarding dentoalveolar avulsion associated with age, sex, previous experience and information and, in the case of dentistry, the specialty practised. In this observational, analytical and cross-sectional study conducted in accordance with bioethical principles, a questionnaire was applied in two stages: the first evaluated general knowledge (session I) and focused on all professionals, while the second dealt with specific knowledge (session II) and was restricted to dental surgeons. The data were analyzed using parametric and nonparametric tests with a 5% significance level. The results showed that in session I physical education and nursing professionals had little knowledge of the subject, their means of correct answers being 5.33 ± 2.26 and 5.33 ± 2.23 points, respectively. The dental surgeons did not perform well in specific questions (4.73 ± 2.04 points), and pediatric dentistry was the specialty with the highest means of correct answers. The factor past experience with associated with a higher mean of correct answers only for physical education professionals and nurses. The variables sex and age had no influence on means of correct answers. It is clear that the level of knowledge on dentoalveolar avulsion was low for all professionals and specialties included in this sample.

Palavras-chave : Tooth avulsion; dental trauma; knowledge.