Effect of custom made poster regarding knowledge and awareness of emergency tooth avulsion management in a cohort of government primary school teachers

Aim: To evaluate influence and impact of custom made local language poster on awareness and knowledge of primary school teachers in Ambala district concerning emergency management regarding dental trauma. Materials and Methods: A cluster randomised study consisting of primary school teachers was carried out in Ambala district, Haryana (India). A cohort group of 100 primary school teachers and physical instructors from 9 government primary schools in Ambala, Haryana participated in study. They were requested to answer an awareness and knowledge assessment questionnaire containing eleven questions about tooth avulsion and its emergency management in first phase. After which a self-explanatory poster showing a sikh boy explaining in Hindi language containing knowledge on tooth avulsion and its emergency management was displayed .The same cohort was made to re answers the same questionnaire again. Results: 22.2% teachers had previous information about tooth avulsion statistically significant improvement in knowledge and awareness was observed after poster presentation. Knowledge that broken tooth fragment can be reattached increased from 16.7% to 51.4%, statistically significant(p value < 0.001).Knowledge on tooth replantation increased significantly from 13.9% to 62.2% , also the knowledge regarding time of reimplantation increased from 28.6% to 66.7%(p value <0.05). Conclusion: graphic Display of educational posters at primary schools in Ambala District for 2 weeks significantly improved level of knowledge on the management of dental trauma. Furthermore educational campaigns on dental trauma must be organized to improve knowledge on emergency management of dental avulsion.