Background: Accidental ingestion or aspiration of foreign bodies is a complication often reported during dental procedures. Failure to identify and manage these complications appropriately can prove to be a potential life-threatening emergency situation. Dental students are amongst the least trained hands tending to the care of dental patients, and thus they may encounter such situation during their training /formative years.
Aim: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of dental students regarding the management of foreign body ingestion/aspiration in patients undergoing dental treatment through a web-based questionnaire study.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out and a pre-validated web-based questionnaire that comprised close-ended and partially close-ended questions in four categories was circulated through e-mail along with the informed consent to 303 students.
Results: Undergraduate, graduate and post graduate students have knowledge about the ingestion/aspiration of foreign bodies during dental procedures. However, there was no statistically significant difference in knowledge and attitude scores amongst them.
Conclusion: This study concludes that though there is awareness amongst dental students regarding ingestion/ aspiration of various materials during dental procedures, the reporting of such accidents is minimal as they are intimidated by the notion of its consequences. Thus, the suggested methods should be considered and brought into execution.
Keywords: KAP, aspiration/ingestion of foreign bodies
