A comparison of the attitudes of dentists and the public to periodontal health in Ireland.

The Irish National Gum Health Campaign began in 1989 and consisted of three stages. A questionnaire was sent to all dentists on the Irish Dental Register regarding their perception of their patients' knowledge of periodontal health and disease. In addition a postgraduate programme was established for dentists to learn a soft tissue screening programme based on the CPITN method but termed the Basic Periodontal Examination. Finally public attitudes were assessed by questionnaire and the results compared. The public had a far greater awareness of periodontal disease than the dentists had perceived. Overall the Campaign showed encouraging results primarily through the raising of awareness in both the dental profession and the public of the importance of periodontal health.