Evaluation of General Dental Patients’ Awareness of the Relationship Between Periodontal and Systemic Diseases: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose: Periodontitis (PD) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with numerous systemic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease. The purpose of this study was to measure the level of awareness and knowledge regarding the link between PD and systemic diseases among a patient population in Turkey.Material and Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted among 273 adult patients using a structured questionnaire. Data on demographics, oral hygiene practices, medical history, and knowledge of PD symptoms and its systemic links were collected. Multivariable binary logistic regression models were used to identify independent predictors of awareness.Results: While 56.0% of participants reported knowing the symptoms of PD, awareness of the association between PD and systemic diseases was markedly lower: 27.5% for heart disease, 16.5% for diabetes, 11.0% for rheumatoid arthritis, and 6.6% for Alzheimer’s disease. Lower education was a significant predictor of poor awareness for the links to diabetes (OR=0.242, p=0.001) and heart disease (OR=0.325, p=0.001). Conclusion: This study highlights a significant deficit in patient knowledge regarding the relationship between periodontal and systemic health In Turkey. This deficit is particularly pronounced among individuals with lower education levels.