The integration of oral health‐related best practice recommendations in the management of patients with diabetes: a cross‐sectional survey of primary care physicians

Objective To determine whether best practice recommendations are being followed by primary care physicians (PCPs) by examining the integration of oral health‐related practices in their management of patients with diabetes. Methods A cross‐sectional study design was used to examine PCPs' knowledge of the bidirectional link between diabetes and periodontal disease (PD), their adherence to international best practice recommendations, and their experience of interprofessional collaboration with dentists via an online survey. Results In total, 79 of 173 PCPs completed the online survey. Almost 90 percent of PCPs neither inform patients with diabetes about the link with PD nor advise dental care. Approximately, one‐third of PCPs (32 percent) felt confident facilitating access to dentists. However, 93 percent of PCPs do not refer patients with diabetes to dentists as part of diabetes management. Conclusion PCPs tend not to inform their patients with diabetes of the bidirectional link with PD, or provide advice or referral to attend dental care as part of diabetes management.