AUTHOR(S): Rika Mayasari Alamsyah and Sondang Pintauli

ABSTRACT:Teachers have an important role in dealing with dental trauma on children, because the trauma occurred most frequently at schools. The purpose of this study is to measure the mean score of knowledge before and after dental education and the difference in mean score of teachers’ knowledge between Public and Private Primary School in Medan on handling trauma on children's teeth. The study was an experimental studies, pre and posttest group design; 50 Public and 53 Private Primary School teachers were participated. The knowledge score was measured using questionnaire before and after giving dental education with the material on the definition and types of trauma, effects of trauma, the handling of the fractured tooth, tooth dislocation, avulsed teeth and soft tissue injuries. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon and Mann Whitney test. The results showed a mean score of initial knowledge of public primary school teachers on handling trauma on children's teeth was 1.70 ± 1.03 which increased after being given education to 5.86 ± 0.95. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between the scores of knowledge before and after education (p = 0.000). Similar results were shown in the mean score of the initial knowledge of private primary schools teachers at 1.72 ± 1.46 and increased after being given education, to be 5.06 ± 1.48. The results also showed a statistically significant difference between the scores of knowledge before and after education (p = 0.000). The results showed a statistically significant difference between teachers’ knowledge on public and private primary school teachers (p = 0.037). Dental education on dental trauma on children increased the knowledge of the teachers, therefore teachers need to be equipped with basic knowledge about handling of trauma on children's teeth to deal with cases of trauma that often occurred at schools.

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