ASSESSMENT OF THE AWARENESS, KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS PERIODONTAL DISEASE AND ITS MANAGEMENT, AMONG THE PATIENTS VISITING A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, BANGALORE CITY

Dr. Suchetha Aghanashini, *Dr. Aparna Suraj N., Dr. Sapna Nadiger, Dr. Darshan B. Mundinamane, Dr. Apoorva Sokke Mallikarjunappa and Dr. Swati Georg

ABSTRACT

Awareness of one’s dental status is expected to vary across populations depending on education level and utilization of dental care. The education level and awareness of the general population would be much lower than among health professionals.[1] Because periodontal diseases often progress slowly, without clear signs and symptoms, especially in their early stages, awareness of and the proper attitude toward these diseases are crucial for health promotion and disease prevention.[2] Many people neither recognize the symptoms of periodontal disease nor do they associate existing symptoms with the disease. Thus, well informed health care professionals can be an important source to educate their patients regarding these knowledge deficits and can act as role models in the society. Hence, assessing and improving the existing knowledge about periodontal disease among the general population by the dentists will be beneficial to the society.[3]

Keywords: knowledge, attitude, management, periodontal disease.[1,2,3]