The Extent of Periodontal Awareness and Treatment Modalities among Patients from North Malabar Region

Abstract

AbstractThe aim of this study was to explore and understand the patient’s views on their periodontal condition, their attitudes to oral health, awareness of different periodontal treatment modalities as well as oral-systemic disease link with the help of a questionnaire survey. A total of 370 patients comprising of 201 males and 169 females were included in the study. The patients were interviewed on a questionnaire basis. A questionnaire contained 22 questions relating to oral hygiene measures, knowledge and awareness regarding periodontal condition, its various treatment modalities, and the relation between oral and systemic disease. The completed questionnaires were then analyzed statistically to obtain percentage data. The results showed an extreme lack of awareness of the periodontal condition and oral hygiene measures as well as limited knowledge regarding different periodontal treatment modalities. Only 5.6% of the study population were aware of the relationship between oral and systemic disease. Since the level of awareness in this regard is at a bare minimum, there is an urgent need to educate and raise awareness of different treatment modalities available to improve periodontal health among general population groups.