Evaluation of the Awareness of Physicians and Dentists for the Relationship Between Periodontal Status and Systemic Diseases

Aim: It is important that physicians and dentists have knowledge about the relationship between systemic and periodontal diseases and work collaboratively when necessary. The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness of physicians and dentists of the relationship between periodontal status and systemic diseases. Materials and Methods: A 14-item questionnaire was sent to 6974 participants via social media and e-mail. The questionnaire items were related to periodontal disease and information about diabetes, cardiovascular disease, pregnancy and medication. Responses were obtained from 167 physicians and 228 dentists, and these were compared between the groups. Results: The vast majority of participants (97%) agreed that periodontal disease is a complication of diabetes mellitus. More than half of the physicians (69%) thought periodontitis was a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Physicians had significantly less awareness than other groups about drugs that can cause gingival growth. The awareness of physicians about possible complications of pregnancy related to periodontal disease was significantly low. Almost all of the dentists thought that the second trimester of pregnancy was the best time for dental treatments, while this rate was 40% for specialist physicians and 30% for general practitioners. Conclusion: Physicians should consider that there may be a bidirectional relationship between periodontal status and systemic diseases. For physicians and dentists to to be able to increase their awareness and update their knowledge it would be beneficial to have regular training programs and courses organized