KNOWLEDGE & ATTITUDE OF GENERAL DENTIST, REGARDING PERIODONTAL DISEASE DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT PROTOCOL AND PERIODONTAL SPECIALIST REFERRAL

Authors

  • Mahirah Iqbal Department of Periodontology, Peshawar Dental College, Peshawar, Pakistan.
  • Hussam Muhammad Ashfaq Department of Periodontology, Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar, Pakistan.
  • Muhammad Ifham Khan Jadoon Department of Periodontology, Dental Section Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad, Pakistan.
  • Muhammad Jamil Department of Periodontology, Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar, Pakistan.
  • Azeem Khan Department of Periodontology, Peshawar Dental College, Peshawar, Pakistan.
  • Abira Hamid Department of Periodontology, Peshawar Dental College, Peshawar, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33279/jkcd.v14i03.745

Keywords:

Periodontal disease, General dentists, Referral practices, Treatment protocols, Dental education.

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of general dentists regarding periodontal disease diagnosis, treatment strategies, and referrals to specialists.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 185 dentists in Peshawar, utilizing a pre-customized, closed-ended questionnaire through convenience sampling technique. The survey included practitioners from dental government and private teaching hospitals as well as independent clinics, encompassing both genders and any age. Informed consent was incorporated into the questionnaire. Exclusion criteria were undergraduate students, house surgeons, and periodontists. Data were collected using the questionnaire based on participants' understanding of periodontal diseases, diagnostic frequency, referral practices, and treatment approaches.
Results: Most dentists favored scaling as the primary treatment for bleeding on probing (n=149, 80.54%) and identifi ed loss of attachment as the cause of tooth mobility (n=158, 85.41%). The study revealed a significant association between years of experience and various aspects of  periodontal care, including referral practices (p=0.047), diagnostic accuracy (p=0.018), and treatment strategies (p=0.05). Despite a recognized link between poor oral hygiene and periodontal diseases, the referral rate to periodontists was notably low (10.27%).

Conclusion: General dentists exhibit defi ciencies in knowledge concerning the causes, referral processes, and the importance of specialized care in periodontology.

Author Biographies

Mahirah Iqbal, Department of Periodontology, Peshawar Dental College, Peshawar, Pakistan.

 

 

Hussam Muhammad Ashfaq, Department of Periodontology, Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar, Pakistan.

Chairperson and Assistant Professor

Department of Periodontology,

Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar, Pakistan.

Muhammad Ifham Khan Jadoon, Department of Periodontology, Dental Section Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad, Pakistan.


Assistant Professor,
Periodontology Department,

Ayub Dental Section Ayub Medical College Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Azeem Khan, Department of Periodontology, Peshawar Dental College, Peshawar, Pakistan.

Trainee Medical Officer

Department of Periodontology

Peshawar Dental College, Peshawar, Pakistan.

Abira Hamid, Department of Periodontology, Peshawar Dental College, Peshawar, Pakistan.

Medical Officer

Department of Periodontology

Peshawar Dental College, Peshawar, Pakistan.

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Published

2024-09-30

How to Cite

Iqbal, M., Ashfaq, H. M., Jadoon, M. I. K., Muhammad Jamil, Khan, A., & Hamid, A. . (2024). KNOWLEDGE & ATTITUDE OF GENERAL DENTIST, REGARDING PERIODONTAL DISEASE DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT PROTOCOL AND PERIODONTAL SPECIALIST REFERRAL. JOURNAL OF KHYBER COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY, 14(03), 20–27. https://doi.org/10.33279/jkcd.v14i03.745