A survey on the present status of dental trauma in People's Armed Police stationed in Xizang

ZHANG Yu; PANG Yuan-shu; LIU Chun-peng; LI Xiao-fei; FU Chong-jian

doi:10.15956/j.cnki.chin.j.conserv.dent.2025.01.007

Abstract：AIM:To understand the present status of dental trauma in grassroots troops in high-altitude areas,and to provide suggestions for improving the ability of grassroots troops to prevent and treat dental trauma.METHODS:A survey questionnaire was used to investigate the basic information,participation in force confrontation training,wearing of oral protective equipment and evaluation of its protective effect,occurrence of dental injuries during service,awareness of dental trauma and related emergency protection knowledge,and evaluation of the emergency medical treatment capability of the unit for dental trauma among officers and soldiers stationed in high-altitude border areas.RESULTS:All respondents(178 people)had participated in strength confrontation training,among which 86 people(48.31％)reported that the intensity of such training was relatively high(more than 3 times a month);Nearly one-third of the respondents did not wear dental protective gear(mouth guard)during the training,and rated the protective effect of the currently issued protective gear as"average"(53 people)or"poor"(8 people);36 people have suffered from dental trauma during their service,with the reasons for the injuries being strength confrontation training(13 people),sports(10 people),riot control tasks(9 people),and other reasons(such as fainting,traffic accidents,etc.,4 people).The types of dental trauma include loose teeth(21 people),broken teeth(11 people),tooth loss(3 people),and alveolar bone fracture(1 person).Among them,17 people reported not receiving timely dental specialist treatment after being injured;Although over 90％of the respondents stated that dental trauma would have an impact on the combat effectiveness of the military,there are still 94 people who are not familiar with first aid knowledge related to dental trauma,80 people who are not familiar with mouth guard,and 78 people who say that their unit's medical support capabilities cannot effectively prevent the occurrence of dental trauma emergencies.CONCLUSION:The incidence of dental trauma in grassroots troops in high-altitude areas is relatively high,but their medical rescue capabilities for dental trauma are insufficient.It is necessary to take multiple measures,such as scientific training,research and promotion of dental protective equipment suitable for military use,and strengthening the education and training of dental trauma emergency knowledge,to strengthen the construction of emergency treatment capabilities for dental trauma in grassroots troops and improve the self-protection ability of grassroots medical forces for dental trauma.