Knowledge and Awareness of Recommendations for the Management of Dental Trauma Among Final‐Year Dental Students and Dental Interns in Poland: A Multi‐Institutional Study

Background/Aim Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) are common clinical emergencies that require prompt and evidence‐based management to ensure favourable outcomes. The International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) provides widely accepted guidelines; however, adherence to these recommendations depends on clinicians' knowledge and clinical preparedness. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and awareness regarding the management of TDIs among final‐year dental students and dental interns in Poland, based on the 2020 IADT guidelines. Material and Methods A nationwide, multi‐institutional cross‐sectional survey was conducted among final‐year dental students and dental interns from all ten dental universities in Poland. A validated questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic questions, self‐reported awareness and experience, and twelve clinical scenarios related to TDI management was distributed online. Results A total of 1144 respondents participated (801 students and 343 interns), yielding an overall response rate of 65.0%. Interns reported significantly greater awareness of dental trauma guidelines (90.96% vs. 85.64%, p = 0.013) and more frequent clinical experience in TDIs managing compared with students (37.03% vs. 19.98%, p < 0.001). Self‐rated good or very good knowledge was more frequently reported by interns (31.49% vs. 18.85%, p < 0.001). For all clinical scenarios evaluated, interns demonstrated significantly higher consistency with IADT recommendations ( p < 0.001), particularly in the emergency management of avulsion (91.84% vs. 61.17%), splinting duration (85.13% vs. 51.44%) and endodontic management of replanted mature teeth (81.63% vs. 60.17%). However, knowledge gaps were observed in both groups, especially regarding the selection of optimal transport medium, where milk was correctly identified as first‐choice by only 4.96% of interns and 15.98% of students. Interns demonstrated significantly higher knowledge scores than students (median 8 [Q1–Q3: 6–9] vs. 6 [4–8], p < 0.001), with a greater proportion classified as having good knowledge (40.23% vs. 17.23%), while agreement between self‐assessed and actual knowledge was weak to moderate (Kendall's tau: 0.135–0.309, p < 0.001). Conclusions Although dental interns demonstrated superior knowledge and confidence compared with final‐year students, notable gaps in guideline‐based management of TDIs persist in both groups. These findings highlight the need for enhanced undergraduate education, increased clinical exposure and structured training in dental traumatology to improve preparedness for managing traumatic dental injuries.