Attitudes and practices of dentists with respect to nutrition and periodontal health.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the opinions and attitudes of general dental practitioners and hygienists towards the role of nutrition in periodontal health.

SETTING

The study was completed by general dental practitioners and dental hygienists throughout the UK.

METHOD

A questionnaire was sent out with the British Dental Journal and BDA News together with explanatory information about the study. Postage was pre-paid for replies.

RESULTS

Eight hundred and seventy-nine questionnaires were completed. Sixty-six percent of respondents believed nutrition plays a role in periodontal health. Dietary factors that were considered most important were vitamin C (70%), fruit and vegetables (64%) and antioxidant vitamins (45%). Forty-four percent had recommended nutrition supplements to their patients, with multivitamin and mineral supplements (37%) and vitamin C (30%) the most popular. Eighty-two percent of respondents sourced information from dental journals. Qualitative data highlighted uncertainty amongst respondents about the evidence base around nutrition and periodontal health and a lack of training opportunities.

CONCLUSIONS

A majority of dentists consider that nutrition and dietary factors play a role in maintaining periodontal health. However, there was a need to increase awareness of the current state of the evidence for a role of nutrition in maintaining periodontal health. Concern regarding lack of an evidence base for the role of nutrition in the treatment of periodontal diseases suggests a need for further research into the therapeutic role of nutrition in periodontal disease management.