Assessment of knowledge and clinical attitudes of Indian dentists in the diagnosis and management of oral traumatic neuroma: a case-based online questionnaire study

Introduction
Oral traumatic neuroma, a rare but important condition, often results from nerve injury during dental procedures, such as extractions or local anesthesia administration. Due to its uncommon nature, many dentists may lack awareness of this condition, leading to potential misdiagnosis or inadequate management. The study aimed to assess the knowledge and clinical attitudes of Indian dentists towards the diagnosis and management of oral traumatic neuroma through a case-based online questionnaire.

Material and methods
A cross-sectional, structured questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 1,400 registered Indian dentists from June to October 2024. The questionnaire consisted of 16 questions addressing demographics, clinical approach, and knowledge of traumatic neuroma. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, c2, and logistic regression tests, to evaluate associations between participants’ characteristics (i.e., age, experience, occupation, and qualification), their knowledge, and clinical attitudes.

Results
Of the 703 responses, 71.7% exhibited poor knowledge, 26.4% had moderate knowledge, and only 2% demonstrated good knowledge of traumatic neuroma. Private practitioners had higher odds of poor knowledge compared with academicians (OR: 1.64, p = 0.025). Regarding clinical attitudes, 57.7% had poor attitudes, while 42.3% exhibited a fair-to-good clinical approach. A significant association was found between 15-20 years of experience and a better clinical attitude (OR: 0.24, p = 0.025). The majority of participants opted for radiographic tests, but few selected Tinel’s test, highlighting a gap in clinical knowledge.

Conclusions
The study reveals significant gaps in both the knowledge and clinical attitudes among Indian dentists regarding traumatic neuromas.