Awareness and Knowledge Among Dental Practitioners in Pakistan Regarding Management of Gunshot and Ballistic Injuries to Face: A Cross-Sectional Study

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Published: 2026-06-30
DOI: https://doi.org/10.61919/xmhmj324
Keywords:
ballistic injuries, dental practitioners, facial trauma, gunshot wounds, maxillofacial trauma, Pakistan, trauma preparedness

Main Article Content

Azka Fatima
BDS, Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry, Karachi, Pakistan
Muskan Sahetiya
BDS, Bibi Aseefa Dental College, Larkana, Pakistan
Hira Karim
BDS, Bhittai Dental and Medical College, Mirpurkhas, Pakistan
Fleha Haseeb
BDS, Islamic International Dental College, Islamabad, Pakistan
Muhammad Abdullah
BDS, de’Montmorency College of Dentistry, Lahore, Pakistan
Muhammad Farrukh
BDS, Margalla Institute of Health Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Facial gunshot and ballistic injuries are complex maxillofacial emergencies that may compromise the airway, circulation, oral function, facial aesthetics, and psychosocial well-being. Dental professionals may contribute to early recognition, stabilization, referral, and multidisciplinary care; however, their preparedness for such injuries in Pakistan remains insufficiently documented. Objective: This study assessed self-reported awareness, knowledge, confidence, prior exposure, perceived barriers, and training needs regarding the management of facial gunshot and ballistic injuries among dental professionals in Pakistan. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional survey was conducted from November 2025 to January 2026 using a self-administered online questionnaire. General dental practitioners, house officers, postgraduate trainees, and oral and maxillofacial surgeons practicing in Pakistan were recruited through convenience sampling. Descriptive statistics were calculated using IBM SPSS Statistics version 27. Results: A total of 307 participants completed the survey. Most respondents identified airway, breathing, and circulation assessment as the first trauma priority (96.7%) and computed tomography as the gold-standard imaging modality (75.6%). Prior exposure to facial ballistic trauma was reported by 58.3%, but only 27.4% had received formal training. High confidence in clinical decision-making was reported by 47.5%, while 21.5% reported low confidence. The most common barriers were lack of guidance (43.4%) and limited resources (36.2%). Workshop interest was reported by 97.4% of participants. Conclusion: Dental professionals demonstrated basic theoretical awareness but important gaps in formal training, confidence, guideline awareness, and implementation support. Structured training, workshops, and curriculum integration are needed to improve preparedness for facial ballistic trauma management

Article Details

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 12 (2026)

Section

Articles
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

1.
Azka Fatima, Muskan Sahetiya, Hira Karim, Fleha Haseeb, Muhammad Abdullah, Muhammad Farrukh. Awareness and Knowledge Among Dental Practitioners in Pakistan Regarding Management of Gunshot and Ballistic Injuries to Face: A Cross-Sectional Study. JHWCR [Internet]. 2026 Jun. 30 [cited 2026 Jul. 31];4(12):1-8. Available from: https://jhwcr.com/index.php/jhwcr/article/view/1873

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