Tooth avulsion knowledge and practices among dental professionals in Saudi Arabia: Evidence from a systematic review

Tooth avulsion is a severe traumatic dental injury in which prognosis depends on prompt and appropriate emergency management. Dental professionals play a critical role in its management; however, variability in knowledge and preparedness has been reported. This systematic review aims to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of tooth avulsion management among dental professionals in Saudi Arabia. Comprehensive searches were performed across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCO databases up to September 2025. Cross-sectional studies assessing knowledge, attitudes, or practices of dental professionals in Saudi Arabia regarding tooth avulsion management were eligible for inclusion. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed quality using the AXIS tool. The initial search retrieved 57 articles. After removal of duplicates and screening, seven studies conducted between 2015 and 2025 were included, representing 2150 dental professionals from Riyadh, Jazan, Qassim, Al-Kharj, and Jeddah. All studies were cross-sectional and questionnaire-based. Overall, dental professionals demonstrated moderate to inadequate knowledge of avulsion management. Deficiencies were most evident in identifying appropriate storage media, recognizing the critical time for replantation, determining correct splinting duration, and awareness of long-term follow-up protocols. Specialists and dentists with postgraduate training scored significantly higher than undergraduates and general practitioners. Female dentists, those employed in public institutions, and those with prior exposure to workshops or training consistently achieved better knowledge scores. Four studies were rated high quality, one moderate–high, and two moderate on the AXIS appraisal. This review highlights persistent knowledge gaps among Saudi dental professionals in managing tooth avulsion, despite the recognized importance of prompt and correct intervention. Educational exposure, clinical experience, and professional environment strongly influenced knowledge levels. Findings underscore the need for curricular reforms, structured continuing professional development, and adoption of national evidence-based guidelines to enhance clinical preparedness and improve patient outcomes in dental trauma care.