Dental patients appear to be unsure about whether they have been diagnosed with periodontitis or have been treated for their chronic gum inflammation. The study was published on February 8 in the Journal of the American Dental Association.
It is not only believed to be the first study conducted to identify gaps in patient knowledge about periodontal diseases and their effect on quality of life, but the findings also suggest that clinicians need to spend more time discussing periodontal diseases with patients.
"Patients generally have a limited understanding of their periodontitis diagnosis and treatment," wrote the authors, led by Dr. Fernando Suárez-López del Amo, MS, of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in Ann Arbor, MI.
In the U.S., more than 40% of adults are affected by periodontal disease. Periodontal disease compliance and treatment outcomes rely on patients' understanding of the diseases. Determining the most prevalent and relevant gaps in periodontal disease awareness and understanding can translate into better compliance and, ultimately, better treatment success rates.
To explore patients' understanding of periodontal diseases and their experience after periodontal therapy, an observational, survey-based study was conducted. Patients undergoing dental care at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry were surveyed about topics related to general knowledge, treatment outcomes and satisfaction, and oral health-related quality of life as it related to periodontal diseases, according to the study.
Of the 190 patients who responded to the survey, nearly 20% reported that they did not know whether they had received a diagnosis of periodontitis, and approximately 14% didn't know if they had undergone treatment for it, they wrote.
Furthermore, patients with gum disease better understood what a periodontal pocket was than healthy patients (79% versus 48%). About 92% of patients with periodontitis agreed that smoking tobacco products could worsen the condition, while only 69% of healthy patients reported the same, the authors wrote.
Nevertheless, the study had limitations. The study location may have affected patients' reported outcomes and, therefore, may not apply to other geographical areas and settings, they wrote.
"The results indicated a general lack of understanding among patients related to their periodontal diagnosis and treatment," Suárez-López del Amo and coauthors wrote.
