Primary care physicians and oral health care: competency gaps and opportunities for training

Primary care physicians’ (PCPs) play a central role in oral health promotion. This study aimed to identify predictors of oral health competency among primary healthcare physicians and to assess their perceptions regarding oral health education and training. This cross-sectional study targeted all PCPs (n = 323) working in primary healthcare centers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed via WhatsApp. Ten oral health competencies were assessed using a scale from 0 to 4, where 0 indicates no experience and 4 indicates expert-level experience. Associations between oral health competency scores and demographic factors, prior oral health education/training, and perceptions of PCPs’ about oral health education were examined. Linear regression (Coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CIs)) and logistic regression (Odds ratios (ORs and 95% CIs) analyses were performed. Mean oral health competency score of PCPs was 14.2 (SD = 6.8, n = 107). Nearly 36% and 44% reported no or limited experience in taking oral health histories and performing oral examinations; 24% and 38% had no or limited experience in diagnosing dental caries; and 30% and 53% had no experience in assessing patients’ caries risk or in applying fluoride varnish for dental caries prevention. About 74% of PCPs expressed willingness to learn. The most preferred learning format was self-learning (37.4%), followed by live online (32.7%) and in-person courses (31.8%). Lack of prior oral health training was significantly correlated with lower competency scores (coefficient: -5.20, 95% CI: -8.66 to -1.74), while positive perceptions of oral health education were correlated with higher scores (coefficient: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.54). This study highlights significant gaps in PCPs’ competencies in oral healthcare tasks. Key recommendations include integrating oral health training into medical curricula, offering subsidized continuing education programs, and promoting interprofessional collaboration. A systematic approach is essential to empower PCPs in leading oral health promotion and enhancing patient outcomes.