Knowledge and practice attitudes regarding the relationship between diabetes and periodontitis: a survey among Swiss endocrinologists and general physicians

BACKGROUND: The objective of the present survey is to assess the knowledge about the relationship between oral health and diabetes and to identify the practice behaviors of Swiss endocrinologists and general practitioners regarding oral health in diabetic patients. METHODS: A thirty- item questionnaire was mailed to 428 internists and 99 endocrinologists working in the French speaking part of Switzerland. Participants were asked about their awareness of the relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease, their practice behaviors as well as their willingness for an interdisciplinary education and collaboration with oral health professionals. The questions were answered according to a three-point or five-point Likert scale. RESULTS: The response rate was 23%. All participants were aware of the inflammatory and infectious nature of periodontal disease. They all agreed that good periodontal health is important for overall health. However, most of the practitioners responded that only rarely received information during their education curricula on the link between systemic and oral health or concerning periodontal problems in diabetic patients (60.9% for endocrinologists and 54.1% for general physicians); thus, only a minority of health practitioners addresses oral health care to their patients (13% and 15.3%, respectively). Both endocrinologists and general health physicians agreed that an oral health screening could be included in their practice (79% for both groups). CONCLUSIONS: An interdisciplinary education and collaboration among medical and dental health providers should be established to effectively prevent, manage, and control both diabetes and periodontal disease in diabetic patients.