Public Awareness on Perio-systemic Interplay: A Cross-Sectional Survey in South India

Background: The oral cavity has been referred to as "the gateway to overall health." It is also said to be the meeting point of medicine and dentistry. Aims: Our study sought to determine the extent to which the public was aware of the connection between oral/periodontal conditions and general health. Settings and Design: The observational cross-sectional study's questionnaire was sectioned into oral health awareness, systemic influence on oral health, and personal oral health assessment. Materials and Methods: A total of 994 responses were recorded and a Chi-square test was performed to uncover the relationships using SPSS version 22.0. According to responses, 70% of the population on average comprehended the responses to the majority of the oral health awareness-related questions. Results: It has been noticed that only 30% of the general public was aware of the prevalent health issues like diabetes, hypertension, and malnutrition's impact on dental health. However, more than 60% had confidence in their oral health and gave a rating of at least 5. Conclusion: The study indicates that a good number of the population was prioritizing their oral health. However, there exists a definitive need to improve oral health awareness thereby ameliorating the overall health of an individual.