Periodontal Screening: Patient Attitudes and Clinical Care Decision Making.

Background: There is a common understanding in the scientific community about the key factors involved in the development and advancement of periodontal disease. Oral health care providers have relied on patient symptoms and clinical manifestations when attempting to identify and diagnose periodontal disease. The purpose of this study was to determine if microbiological testing and education would change patient attitudes and beliefs toward periodontal screening. Methods: A convenience sample of 15 individuals completed a pre-experimental survey and submitted plaque samples for the benzoyl-DL-arginine-naphthylamide test. Patients then received test results and education. Thirty Southern California based RDHs participated in an online survey to determine their awareness and use of these tests in private practice. Results: Of the 15 patients surveyed, the pre-BANA-enzyme survey results indicated that 46.7% (n=7) of the patients believed they had low susceptibility to periodontal disease. The second post-BANA-enzyme test survey showed that 60% (n=9) preferred a comprehensive periodontal evaluation and 40% (n=6) of patients preferred a "cleaning." Conclusion: Providing laboratory-confirmed risk assessment test results and periodontal disease education provided a 46.7% increase in patients who preferred a comprehensive periodontal examination rather than a cleaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]