Journal of Nature and Science of Medicine (Jan 2020)

Assessment of dental health status, knowledge, and practice among Saudi diabetic patients attending general practice Clinic

  • Aljohara Saud Almeneessier,
  • Nouf Saud Almunaiseer,
  • Banna M Alnufaiy,
  • Shaima O Bahammam,
  • Nada A Alyousefi,
  • Mohammed A Batais,
  • Abdulaziz A Alodhayani,
  • Turky H Almigbal,
  • Rawan K Alkhalaf

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/JNSM.JNSM_64_20
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 4
pp. 292 – 298

Abstract

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Objective: Diabetic quality indicators are missing a major part of diabetes care management. We aimed to explore the diabetic patients' knowledge of oral health care and identify the periodontal health status among them. Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study on diabetic patients at a diabetic care clinic in the primary care setting. Data collection instrument was structured to measure knowledge and dental hygiene practice. Clinical examination was done to assess dental health using the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) and Periodontal Screening and Recording. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 22). Results: One hundred and ninety-five individuals were included in the study, with a mean age of 54.32 ± 11.58. Knowledge assessment showed that 47.2% of the respondents answered ≥50% of the questions. Dental hygiene behavior showed that 58.6% brushed teeth one to two times per day, 66.8% never used flossing, and 14% never visited a dental care clinic. Forty-seven individuals had dental examination. The mean OHI was 1.71 ± 1.06. The relationship between OHI and glycated hemoglobin, fasting blood sugar, diabetes duration, brushing, flossing, and vegetable and fruit consumption could not be detected with P= 0.61, 0.78, 0.93, 0.97, 0.86, 0.98, and 0.7, respectively. Patients' perception of dental health status is positively correlated with the clinical dental examination and statistically significant with P= 0.004. Conclusions: Oral health literacy should be improved with implementation of educational intervention. A positive correlation between patient perception and dental examination will help the health-care provider in diabetic care adoption of oral health care within diabetic management at the primary care setting, which will improve the quality of diabetic care.

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