Table 2 Knowledge regarding periodontal disease and the link between periodontitis and diabetes
Questions | Endocrinologists (n = 23) | General health physicians (n = 98) | P value | Total (n = 121) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Definition of periodontal disease (multiple answers) | ||||
 Inflammatory and multi-infectious process | 23 (100%) | 98 (100%) |  | 121 (100%) |
 Degenerative process | 3 (3%) | 8 (8.2%) | 0.436 | 11 (9%) |
 Auto-immune process | 0 | 2 (2%) | 0.999 | 2 (1.6%) |
 Osteoporosis | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
 Mono-infection | 1 (4.4%) | 0 | 0.190 | 1 (0.8%) |
Which are the main clinical signs associated with periodontal disease? (multiple answers) | ||||
 Gingival bleeding | 22 (95.7%) | 94 (95.9%) | 0.999 | 116 (95.9%) |
 Pain | 16 (69.6%) | 72(73.5%) | 0.906 | 88 (72.7%) |
 Tooth mobility | 16 (69.6%) | 74 (75.5%) | 0.747 | 90 (74.4%) |
 Alveolar bone destruction | 10 (43.5%) | 29 (29.6%) | 0.301 | 39 (32.2%) |
 Caries | 1 (4.4%) | 12 (12.2%) | 0.458 | 13 (10.7%) |
 Tooth loss | 15 (65.2%) | 57 (58.2%) | 0.701 | 72 (59.6%) |
Good periodontal health is important to overall health | ||||
 Agree | 22 (95.6%) | 97 (99%) | 0.312 | 119 (98.4%) |
 Disagree | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
 Unsure | 0 | 1 (1%) | 1 (0.8%) | |
 No answer | 1 (4.4%) | 0 | 1 (0.8%) | |
Periodontitis can negatively affect the control of glucose levels in diabetic patients | ||||
 Agree | 16 (69.6%) | 65 (66.3%) | 0.076 | 81 (66.9%) |
 Disagree | 2 (8.7%) | 1 (1%) | 3 (2.5%) | |
 Unsure | 5 (21.7%) | 32 (32.7%) | 37 (30.6%) | |
 No answer | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Diabetics with poor metabolic control are at higher risk to develop severe periodontal disease | ||||
 Agree | 20 (86.9%) | 80 (81.6%) | 0.586 | 100 (82.6%) |
 Disagree | 1 (4.4%) | 2 (2%) | 3 (2.5%) | |
 Unsure | 2 (8.7%) | 16 (16.4%) | 18 (14.9%) | |
 No answer | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Periodontal treatment may improve glycaemic control | ||||
 Agree | 11 (47.8%) | 45 (45.9%) | 0.928 | 56 (46.3%) |
 Disagree | 1 (4.4%) | 6 (6.1%) | 7 (5.7%) | |
 Unsure | 11 (47.8%) | 47 (48%) | 59 (48.8%) | |
 No answer | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
It is recommended that physicians should ask their patients if they have regular dental check-ups | ||||
 Agree | 19 (82.6%) | 84 (85.7%) | 0.425 | 103 (85.1%) |
 Disagree | 1 (4.4%) | 3 (3.1%) | 4 (3.3%) | |
 Unsure | 3 (13%) | 9 (9.2%) | 12 (9.9%) | |
 No answer | 0 | 2 (2%) | 2 (1.7%) | |
Patients with poor glycaemic control should have more frequent dental checkups and more frequent scaling | ||||
 Agree | 20 (86.9%) | 77 (78.6%) | 0.042* | 97 (80.2%) |
 Disagree | 2 (8.7%) | 2 (2%) | 4 (3.3%) | |
 Unsure | 1 (4.4%) | 19 (19.4%) | 20 (16.5%) | |
 No answer | 0 | 0 | 0 | |