Dental trauma management knowledge among primary healthcare professionals in the Valencian Community, Spain: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Dental trauma represents one of the main dental emergencies, with a significant prevalence in both pediatric and adult populations. Primary healthcare settings constitute the first point of contact for patients experiencing dental trauma. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledgeexperience, and self-perceived competenceof primary healthcare professionals from public and private sectors in the Valencian Community regarding the immediate management of dental trauma in pediatric patients. A cross-sectional, observational, and descriptive study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. The survey link was distributed by electronic mail and through a quick response code with the collaboration of professional associations and healthcare centers across the Valencian Community. The instrument collected data on knowledge, experience and self-perceived competence, prior training, and awareness of clinical protocols for dental trauma management. Group comparisons used non-parametric tests (KruskalWallis and MannWhitney U), and associations between qualitative variables were examined with the chi-square test. Of the 410 healthcare professionals surveyed, 404 were ultimately included in the analysis. A total of 63.9% demonstrated a low level of knowledge regarding dental trauma management. The overall mean knowledge score was 4.69 ± 1.52. Physicians had significantly higher knowledge scores than nurses ( p = 0.027), while pediatric nurses achieved the highest knowledge scores among the professional groups evaluated ( p = 0.004). Among all participating primary healthcare professionals, 9.9% reported feeling capable of replanting an avulsed permanent tooth, while 88.8% reported having received no specific training in dental first aid. Furthermore, only 6.4% reported being aware of any clinical protocol for managing dental trauma. Among primary healthcare professionals in the Valencian Community, knowledge and self-perceived competence regarding the immediate management of pediatric dental trauma were generally low. Academic and continuing training in dental traumatology appear insufficient, and most participants reported being unaware of any clinical protocol for dental trauma management in their workplace. Targeted education and protocol standardization are urgently required to improve the initial management of dental trauma in community settings. Not applicable.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. BMC Oral Health, 2026 · DOI ↗