Appropriate emergency action by teachers could help save permanent teeth that are accidentally knocked out at school by falls and collisions. However, very few teachers have the necessary know-how, and Hong Kong has shown a serious lack of relevant teacher-training in the past decade, according to research done by the Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong.

Insufficiency Dental Traumas Knowledge At Past 10 Years

A study co-authored by Prof Gary SP Cheung in the journal Dental Traumatology in 2001 was the first to highlight the need for local teacher-training on dental trauma. The situation has not improved much in the past decade, according to research co-authored by Prof Lim K Cheung in the October 2012 issue of the Hong Kong Medical Journal.

The past data showed less than 50% primary and secondary school teachers have the sufficient knowledge to handle the dental trauma appropriately. The result of 2012 report, it can be seen that only 32.8% of the teachers who could recognize going to see dentist is the suitable way. 16.3 % of the teachers understood the tooth should be put back to the socket. In the report, there are 29.6% teachers confirm they could differentiate primary teeth and permanent teeth. Besides, 83.6% of the teachers who have first aid training but haven’t dental trauma management training. The reason is dental trauma management training has not been embraced in the syllabus of first aid courses before 2010.

School Teachers Training Workshops In Dental Emergencies

Thereby, as a first step in remedying the situation, a team of staff and students from the HKU Faculty of Dentistry has been running workshops for primary and secondary school teachers on how to handle dental traumas. The project is Management of Jaw, Face and Dental Trauma, Education Campaign for Primary and Secondary School Teachers. The Anglican (Hong Kong) Primary Schools Council and the Hong Kong Council for Educational Administration were external collaborators for this "HKU Student Knowledge Exchange Project".

Miss Tiffany Chan, the project team leader and the year-5 student, discovered the primary and secondary teachers have the similar performance as 2012 report that indicated insufficient dental trauma knowledge. For example, more than 80% teachers couldn’t confirm how to manage the avulsed tooth, or there are over 50% teachers who don’t know the chances of repairing a fractured or avulsed tooth. Both Professor Cheung believed it is difficult to have 100% recovery, owing to different reasons. Many elements, how to tackle the avulsed tooth? How long could the client travel to dentist, could affect the probability of recovery.

As regards to the avulsed tooth, most people have the knowledge to handle it. In 2012 report, a little bit more than 20% teachers could use the milk, saline water, saliva. Although most of the teachers have insufficient knowledge of dental trauma, there is an obvious improvement after the workshop.

Project Is Useful To All

Dr Mike YY Leung was very satisfied with the Faculty project, which was funded by the HKU Knowledge Exchange Fund. "Our training course gave the school teachers practical information, and afterwards they felt more prepared to handle dental trauma,” he says. “I am also happy that our dental students can apply what they have learnt to help more people."

Mr. Tse, the Chief Administrator of the Anglican (Hong Kong) Primary Schools Council, emphasizes, "in fact, this project is good for the teachers and parents, I hope this is a starting point, not the end. It's helpful for Hong Kong, the dental trauma is not only promote to schools, but also to the child. It's a good training." He anticipates this project could be subsidized by HKSAR government, and this project could prolong the benefits to all people in Hong Kong.

About the project, there are 441 teachers participated, received more than 300 questionnaires, 11 workshops have been held, and included 10 schools.