Dentists' Attention to Periodontal Therapy in the Patients Treatment Planning to Dental Clinics of Isfahan City1

Abstract

Periodontal disease is among the most common oral conditions. However, due to the absence of patient complaints in most cases, dental clinicians often pay less attention to periodontal status. This study aimed to assess the dental clinicians' attention to periodontal therapy in the treatment planning of patients presenting to dental clinics of Isfahan city during 2016-2017. This cross-sectional study evaluated 251 patients presenting to dental clinics in Isfahan. The treatment plan suggested by dental clinicians for patients was recorded in a checklist. The suggested treatment plan concerning periodontal treatments was then compared with the actual patient needs to be determined by the community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24 via the chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and kappa coefficient at P<0.05 level of significance. The treatment plans of 200 patients did not include any periodontal therapy; whereas, 28 of these patients required oral hygiene instruction, 51.5 required oral hygiene instruction and scaling and root planing (SRP), and 3.5 required oral hygiene instruction, SRP, and periodontal surgery. According to the results, dentists' attention to periodontal disease is low and the level of knowledge, attitude, and behavior of general dentists should be improved concerning periodontal disease.