Evaluation of Dental Practitioners Understanding and Approach Towards Oral Mucosal Diseases in Türkiye

Aim: Oral mucosal disease (OMD) includes immune-mediated disorders such as oral lichen planus (OLP), erythema multiforme (EM), pemphigus vulgaris (PV), chronic ulcerative stomatitis (CUS), and others. These conditions often affect the oral mucosa and may even begin with oral involvement. Therefore, oral health professionals must be familiar with these disorders' clinical features and understand their crucial role in management. This study aims to assess dental practitioners' awareness, knowledge, and attitude regarding OMD in Turkey. Material and Methods: A total of 203 dentists, aged between 23-72, participated in the survey, which utilized a structured questionnaire distributed via Google Forms. Data analysis was performed using PASW Statistics 20, and chi-square tests were used for intergroup comparisons. Results: The results showed that 30% of participants were periodontists (P), 39% specialized in other dental fields (S), and 31% were general dentists (GD). Periodontists reported the highest frequency of encountering OMD at 93%, followed by GD group at 78% and S group at 68%. OLP was the most common lesion, followed by CUS. The GD group performed significantly worse on the knowledge assessment, particularly in questions related to diagnosis and treatment, including the use of autoantibodies for diagnosis (p = 0.019). Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of clinicians' familiarity with mucocutaneous manifestations of OMD for early diagnosis, optimal management, and improved patient quality of life. Addressing the identified deficiencies in OMD diagnosis among dentists is crucial, as it can enhance patient compliance, expedite diagnoses, and mitigate concerns regarding malignant transformations