IADR Abstract Archives
Periodontal Referral Patterns of General Dental Practitioners in Singapore
Objectives: Periodontitis affects up to 65% of Asian and Oceanian populations. This is due to a lapse in detection and management of disease resulting in more severe periodontitis being noted at the time of referral. This study thus aims to investigate general dental practitioners’ (GPs) referral patterns and their attitude towards periodontal disease and its management.
Methods: Written and online surveys that assessed practitioner, patient and periodontist related factors influencing the periodontal referral process, and GPs’ attitudes towards periodontics, were sent to 1,012 GPs in Singapore. Descriptive, bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed.
Results: Most GPs (69.2%) referred at least 1 patient to a periodontist within the last month. GPs commonly referred patients for surgical periodontal therapy (94.3%), crown lengthening (73.1%), periodontal consultation and treatment planning (64.5%), and implant related therapy (52.9%). They referred mostly cases with pocket depths of 6-7mm (61.4%) and/or moderate bone loss (72.7%). A high proportion of GPs recommended tooth extraction when the pocket depths were ≥ 8mm (86.6%) or when the bone loss was > 50% (92.7%). While all GPs felt that periodontal treatment is important, only 46.2% of GPs found periodontal therapy to be rewarding and satisfying and 66.9% perceived that patients were not interested in periodontal care. Bivariate analysis showed that the decision to refer was significantly associated with years of practice (p=0.010), practice type (p=0.017) and GPs’ lack of interest (p=0.029) or time (p=0.050). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed only years of practice to be a significant predictor. GPs who have been practising for > 20 years were 63.6% less likely to refer than those with ≤ 5 years of experience (p=0.007).
Conclusions: Therefore, it is important to increase the profile of periodontics among dentists and also the public so that both parties will appreciate the importance of periodontal care.
Methods: Written and online surveys that assessed practitioner, patient and periodontist related factors influencing the periodontal referral process, and GPs’ attitudes towards periodontics, were sent to 1,012 GPs in Singapore. Descriptive, bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed.
Results: Most GPs (69.2%) referred at least 1 patient to a periodontist within the last month. GPs commonly referred patients for surgical periodontal therapy (94.3%), crown lengthening (73.1%), periodontal consultation and treatment planning (64.5%), and implant related therapy (52.9%). They referred mostly cases with pocket depths of 6-7mm (61.4%) and/or moderate bone loss (72.7%). A high proportion of GPs recommended tooth extraction when the pocket depths were ≥ 8mm (86.6%) or when the bone loss was > 50% (92.7%). While all GPs felt that periodontal treatment is important, only 46.2% of GPs found periodontal therapy to be rewarding and satisfying and 66.9% perceived that patients were not interested in periodontal care. Bivariate analysis showed that the decision to refer was significantly associated with years of practice (p=0.010), practice type (p=0.017) and GPs’ lack of interest (p=0.029) or time (p=0.050). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed only years of practice to be a significant predictor. GPs who have been practising for > 20 years were 63.6% less likely to refer than those with ≤ 5 years of experience (p=0.007).
Conclusions: Therefore, it is important to increase the profile of periodontics among dentists and also the public so that both parties will appreciate the importance of periodontal care.