Assessing Dentists' Knowledge, Perception, and Attitudes Towards Dental Caries and Systemic Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Aim: This study aimed to assess dentists' knowledge, ‎perceptions, and attitudes regarding dental caries and its relationship with systemic ‎diseases in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods: An online questionnaire was distributed to ‎‎590 practicing dentists in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The survey included demographic ‎questions, and 16 multiple-choice items focused on knowledge about dental caries and ‎its associations with various systemic diseases. Descriptive statistics and chi-square ‎tests were employed for data analysis. Results: A total of 203 responses were received. ‎While 87.2% (n=177) of dentists acknowledged a general link between dental caries and ‎systemic diseases, their knowledge of specific conditions varied. Diabetes was the most ‎recognized condition at 95.6% (n=194), followed by rheumatoid arthritis at 57.1% ‎‎(n=116) and systemic lupus erythematosus at 39.4% (n=80). Conversely, awareness of ‎the connections between dental caries and male infertility was low (9.9%, n=20), as was ‎knowledge of links to Alzheimer’s disease (28.1%, n=57) and digestive issues (24.6%, ‎n=50). Conclusion: While dentists generally recognize the connection between oral ‎health and general health, their understanding of specific systemic diseases associated ‎with dental caries is limited. Enhancing awareness among dental professionals about ‎these links is essential for improving overall patient health.