Preschool teachers' knowledge on traumatic dental injuries first-aid in Shanghai, China

Abstract Background: Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) are considered a public health problem as it occurs frequently and negatively impacts quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of preschool staff in Shanghai with regard to TDIs first-aid and the management of broken teeth.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among the staff at selected preschools. A stratified random sampling method was first used to identify suitable subjects. Data were obtained using a self-completed questionnaire. Results: A total of 1,069 subjects completed the questionnaire. According to the survey, 25% of teachers correctly answered that the tooth should be replanted in the original alveolar. 48% of teachers knew that avulsed teeth should be stored in a liquid environment, 66% knew that broken teeth should be stored in saline, and 11.8% knew that broken teeth could be stored in fresh milk. 35.4% of teachers with college degree or above chose to store the avulsed teeth in a liquid environment, and 5.9% of teachers with a high school degree or below made the same choice (χ2=2.890, p=0.009). Conclusions: The level of first-aid knowledge among preschool teachers in Shanghai regarding TDIs was low.