Periodontal knowledge and clinical attitudes of family physicians in Turkey: a cross-sectional survey

Periodontitis is one of the most prevalent non-communicable chronic diseases globally, and its early recognition is critical for preventive healthcare. Primary care providers, particularly family physicians, occupy a strategically advantageous position for early detection of oral diseases and timely referral for professional dental care. The primary aim of this study was to explore whether differences exist in periodontal knowledge and clinical attitudes between certified family physicians (CFPs) and family medicine specialists/residents (FMSs) compared with dentists, with the latter serving as a professionally trained reference group. A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted in Turkey between June and August 2020. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling via professional social media networks (WhatsApp and Facebook groups). A 42-item online questionnaire was distributed to dentists, CFPs, and FMSs via Google Forms. Of 818 initiated responses, 808 met the inclusion criteria (completion rate: 98.8%). Internal consistency for the knowledge domain was assessed using the Kuder–Richardson Formula 20 (KR-20 = 0.74). Statistical analyses employed chi-square tests with Cramér’s V effect sizes, Kruskal–Wallis tests, and multivariable logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, and professional experience, with Bonferroni-corrected post-hoc comparisons (significance level p < 0.05). The final cohort consisted of 377 dentists (46.7%), 227 CFPs (28.1%), and 204 FMSs (25.2%). Family physicians demonstrated significantly lower knowledge than dentists across all assessed domains (p < 0.001). The majority of family physicians (69.2% of CFPs, 71.6% of FMSs) erroneously identified toothache as a primary sign of periodontitis. Only 13.7% of CFPs and 13.2% of FMSs correctly identified all three drug classes associated with gingival enlargement, versus 63.1% of dentists. Awareness of adverse pregnancy outcomes linked to periodontitis was low among CFPs (52.5%) and FMSs (38.7%). Direct referral of suspected dental infections without prior antibiotic or antiseptic prescription was observed in only 24.2% of CFPs and 8.3% of FMSs. After adjustment for demographic confounders, professional group remained a significant independent predictor of knowledge outcomes (adjusted OR range: 0.04–0.38 for family physicians vs. dentists as reference; all p < 0.001), confirming that the observed differences were not attributable to age, sex, or experience. These findings suggest that family physicians in Turkey may have notable gaps in periodontal knowledge across multiple domains. While these results should be interpreted with caution given the convenience sampling methodology and cross-sectional design, they are consistent with comparable international studies. Further research employing probability-based sampling and interventional designs is warranted to determine whether targeted educational initiatives could improve interdisciplinary oral–systemic care.