Poor patient awareness of the relationship between smoking and periodontal diseases

Key Points Provides evidence that smoking is a major risk factor in the progression of periodontitis. Only 6% of referred patients are aware of the damage smoking causes to their periodontal health. Emphasises the undervalued role of dental practitioners in providing smoking cessation counselling to their patients. Highlights the ineffectiveness of public health campaigns in educating patients that smoking increases the risks of their teeth 'falling out' by more than 300%. Objective To investigate patients' knowledge of the effects of smoking on periodontal health. Design Patient answered questionnaires, which were anonymous. Setting Patients who attended GKT Dental Institute, King's College, London for dental treatment. Subjects One thousand patients attending Restorative Consultant Clinics and Primary Dental Care Results Seventy-eight per cent of patients were aware that smoking had a negative impact on health. However, 52% of these patients who were aware could not state what the negative effects were on oral health. Seven per cent of patients stated that smoking affected the gums but did not state how it affected the gums. Only 6% of respondents knew specifically of the link between smoking and periodontal disease. The only statistically significant factors associated with increased awareness were smoking status, ie being a non-smoker and being registered with a general dental practitioner. Non-smokers and those registered with GDPs were more likely to be aware of the association between smoking and periodontal diseases. Conclusions This study highlights patients' lack of awareness of the relationship between smoking and periodontal diseases, with only 6% of respondents knowing of the link between tobacco and periodontal diseases.